Relics

Pink Floyd | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: March 29, 2004
• Release Date: April 1, 2004
• Label: Capitol
• Copyright: (C) 1996 Pink Floyd Music Ltd under exclusive licence to EMI Records Ltd This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 EMI Records Ltd
• Total Length: 49:19
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000SXMR9G
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pink Floyd: The Early Years, April 21, 2005

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Relics (Audio CD)

"Relics" is a collection of very early Pink Floyd singles and rare tracks, covering the band's first couple of years from 1967 to 1969. Consider it "Pink Floyd: The Early Years," if you like. Five tracks come from the group's first three albums: the classic, trippy instrumental "Interstellar Overdrive" and the half children's song/half freak-out number, "Bike" (both from "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"), the breezy "Remember A Day" (from "A Saucerful Of Secrets"), and a pair of tunes from the "More" movie soundtrack: the eerie "Cirrus Minor," and the thunderous rocker, "The Nile Song." All superb stuff, but the main selling point of "Relics" are the six rare Floyd tracks that make up the remainder, such as the classic early singles "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play," both great little blasts of late-60's psychedelic pop, the jaunty "Paintbox," and the lovely, mysterious atmosphere of "Julia Dream." Also included is the original studio version of "Careful With That Axe, Eugene," an outstanding Floyd instrumental that's probably more famous in it's live version from the "Ummagumma" album. Although the live version of "Eugene" IS more monstrous and powerful, as the Floyd were able to slowly build it up and expand on it in concert, the slightly-faster studio version is nothing to sneeze at either, and the band give it a studio performance that's very impressive, skillful, and passionate. And finally, there is what is quite possibly the happiest, most upbeat song in the entire Pink Floyd catalog, "Biding My Time." Although the song starts out softly, before long the band turn it into a full-throttle jazz-rock rave-up, complete with horn section! Sounds to me like the Floyd had a grand ol' time in the studio when they recorded this number, and it shows. Love it! Pink Floyd's "Relics" may indeed be, as the album cover says, "a bizarre collection of antiques & curios," but oh, is it good. Floyd fans everywhere should definitely add this album to their collection.

91 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The LP was better, August 29, 2004

By 

Steven L. Grace - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Relics (Audio CD)

I'm not going to comment much on the music; you've probably been able to gather that "Relics" contains five tracks from the first three Pink Floyd albums plus six non-album tracks from the same time period (1967-69). It's somewhat of an odd collection that I'd give 3-1/2 stars to for just the music.

HOWEVER...I'd like to point out some issues that none of the previous reviewers have mentioned. First, this CD has obvious audio defects. "Interstellar Overdrive" has at least five audio dropouts. "Paint Box" and "Julia Dream" each have a moment where one channel loses the high end. To add insult to injury, the track times printed on the CD seem to correspond to the "More" CD, not "Relics", and the booklet is a complete waste of paper that omits the minimal information (recording dates) from the original US LP.

I bought this CD to replace the LP, but in this case the LP was better. Capitol Records should be embarrassed.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unearth this Relic, March 21, 2001

By 

The Minister of Martinis (Olive Grove) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Relics (Audio CD)

During the early days of Punk, Johnny Rotten was famed for his "I hate Pink Floyd" T-shirt. Ironically, the Sex Pistols tried to enlist the band's founder, the elusive Syd Barrett, to produce their first album. Why? Because the '67-era Floyd were every bit as groundbreaking as the Pistols were in '77.

Proof comes in the form of Relics, re-released as part of Capitol's remastering of the group's back catalog. A collection of singles and album tracks, this disc kicks off with three Barrett diamonds, "Arnold Layne," the awe-inspiring "Interstellar Overdrive," and "See Emily Play." Barrett's drug-induced psychological breakdown led to his replacement by David Gilmour in 1968, but not before he graced Rick Wright's "Remember a Day" with mournfully loopy slide guitar work.

Relics' Roger Waters-era highlights include "Cirrus Minor," "The Nile Song," and a personal favorite, "Careful With That Axe, Eugene." The disc closes with Barrett's "Bike," further proof that Syd wasn't like the rest of us anymore.

Relics surprises at every turn, mixing pop songcraft, avant-garde deconstructionism, and eerie melody. It's a much-needed boarding pass to a place few minds have dared journey.