Opel [Import]

Syd Barrett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 1, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI
• ASIN: B000024KBF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #291,669 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Japanese pressing of this collection of unreleased late 60s/early '70s material and outtakes from the former Pink Floyd member, originally released in 1989, featuring six bonus tracks: alternate versions of 'Gigolo Aunt', 'It Is Obvious' (two versions), 'Clowns And Jugglers', 'Late Night' and 'Effervescing Elephant'. Virgin. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Different vision, May 26, 2000

By 

kennedy19 "kennedy19" (wakefield, ma USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opel (Audio CD)

Fans of Syd Barrett will justly celebrate this collection of outtakes and previously unreleased recordings, culled from the last few years of Barrett's brief creative career. Known for his querly songwriting in Pink Floyd, this collection finds Barrett less self-consciously trying to wrestle a psychedelic vision, and just letting his inner world flow out. Syd's playing is often clumsy, but never insincere in these uncompromising yet good-humored numbers. The sound quality is excellent and pared-down, often merely Syd and his guitar feeling his way through the new material (though there are some fascinating experiments like the murky basses on "Swan Lee" and the vibraphone instrumental version of "Golden Hair.") It gives me chills to hear his quiet, accented voice gently intoning a series of random words on "Word Song" - some of them ("glaucous") quite nonsensical. There is a childlike purity to this work that defies proper description. For those who prefer stream of consciousness, visionary work to radio pandering, you will not want to miss this. Fans of Barrett's other solo work will enjoy the intimacy of this inclusion to the canon.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting odd and ends collection of Syd Barrett's work., June 20, 2005

By 

Joseph P. Ulibas "Captain Couth" (Florin, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opel (Audio CD)

Opel is a collection of unreleased recordings from Syd Barrett, they're either demos, alternate versions or unfinished tracks. Syd was one strange dude and very unperdictable. He would wander into the studio and start playing and would quit without warning. While he was in the studio, the backing members of Soft Machine would hang around and try to play along. But Syd would change chords or notes so often that it became virtually impossible to keep up with him. A collection of Syd Barrett's material was released a few years ago and it uses tracks from all three albums, a definitive collection of music world's most eccentric individual.

Recommended for psychedelic music fans.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great because he's mad, September 27, 2003

By 

Stendhal Johnny - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opel (Audio CD)

It's sad to me to read some of these reviews that long for "what could have been" with Syd Barrett. The man was little off and that's what made his music, his singing and his lyrics so great and original. If he'd been like the other glam-pop acts of the seventies, he would've just written shallow overproduced radio cotton candy crap that melts in your brain as soon you hear it and sticks, not because it's sincere, but just because it's intentionally catchy, and ultimately without much heart and soul. That is one thing that Barrett had in spades without really seeming to try, yet very evidently paying for it. Listen to the end of the title track "I'm trying to find you," repeated over and over and tell me you don't feel his sincerity and anguish. I've listened to a lot of music in my days, and I don't hear that kind of heart anywhere. Barrett pours out his soul and it makes you want to cry for him, for yourself for the whole bloody doomed race of man. He remains one of the most original singer-songwriter, artist, musician, mystery, tragedy whatever you want to call him and he's always a consideration in my mind. Opel is a great collection of rough tracks - the best way to hear any musician - with great gems like Clowns and Jugglers (aka Octopus); Rats; Wouldn't You Miss Me (a thorazine-laden version of Dark Globe); and Milky Way. Also on this collection are just plain weird songs like Dolly Rocker, Word Song and Birdie Hop. "Birdie hop, he do, he hop along." That always makes me bust out laughing. You're only as mad as you don't realize. Maybe Barrett wasn't so crazy after all. Maybe he just had real artistic integrity.