Customer Reviews

Dub Side of the Moon [Vinyl]

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

With perfect timing to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary celebrations of Pink Floyd's classic, Dark Side Of The Moon, comes this ambitious, authentic and even amusing reinvention.

Using the pick of the reggae and soul community, who spent over three years on the work, Dub Side Of The Moon is one of the more outrageous attempts at reworking Floyd tunes that has come along over the years. And it works fantastically well! It might seem sacriligious to some, but I think this is a great album! A fantastic job has been done from beginning to end. If you are a purist, hate cover bands, cover versions, and the like, you will probably hate this. If, however, you enjoy hearing fresh versions of old favourites, I urge you to check this out...

The idea came about in 1999 when New York reggae label vice president Lem Oppenheimer convinced his colleagues that this was a viable concept to cover. He imagined it would "echo Dark Side's album artwork - refracting Pink Floyd's music vision through a prism of reggaes's rich rhythmic and instrumental possibilities". Gathering some of the best musicians of their genre, the producers have approached the work seriously - so seriously in fact, that the (alleged) Wizard Of Oz syncronicity apparently works throughout!

Nyabinghi drumming kicks off the album, along with the heartbeat (this bookends the album). Speak To Me, with re-recorded comments (every sound, voice, whatever - has been rerecorded in an appropriate style) moves into a nice version of Breathe, easing the listener gently into the different sound given to this very familiar work. A great vocal as well from Sluggy Ranks.

A kicking drum'n'bass version of On The Run follows. The style fits this fairly timeless synth heavy track well. The song climaxes, then some very funny alarm clocks herald the start of Time. The opening (once the chimes have subsided) plays down the normal rototom drum solo, David Gilmour's solos have been replaced by some toasting, which works well. The song seems none the worse for the lack of guitars...

Great Gig In The Sky has been done really well - lovely, atmospheric, and a soulful vocal from Kirsty Rock. Money then kicks off - no cash registers but the sound of bongs (apparently - not that I would know) which puts a smile on the face. Musically, the song is very similar to the original. The vocal is provided by Gary "Nesta" Pine and Dollarman, who provides the effective toasting that replaces David's traditional solo.

Up next, Us and Them. A nice, uplifting bass line and a pretty faithful sax performance. Frankie Paul does a pretty straight reading of this track, just adding a touch of his own interpretation. Like Money, not a huge departure from the original. Us And Them blends into another faithful (if reggae flavoured) reading of Any Colour You Like, with David's solo replaced effectively with horns.

A stripped down Brain Damage follows, with Dr Israel sounding like he's singing through a megaphone in places, which naturally leads to Eclipse, which to my mind is the least successful rendering on the album. For what should be the climax, it seems poorly paced, particularly vocally, and muted. However, the Nyabinghi drumming that leads out, nicely wraps things up.

There are four bonus tracks - and they enter heavy dub territory! You get Time, which starts like a Zabriskie outtake, before heading into an instrumental, dub version. Great Gig In The Sky gives you more of the same but with some awesome bass. A great version! Finally, you have Step It Pon The Rastaman Scene/Any Dub You Like, which is based on Any Colour You Like but dramatically different, with a nice vocal by Ranking Joe.

It is a sign of a great piece of music that it can be covered in different ways successfully - think about the many ways that Lennon & McCartney songs have been covered; Dark Side is arguably the pinnacle of Pink Floyd's career. To still be so respected thirty years on, and in this case, in a completely different music community, is a sign of Dark Side's enduring quality and appeal.

As a concept, it sounds like it just shouldn't work - but it does. Their obvious respect and love for the original shines through and ensures the album stands up to repeated playings. This is no "interesting novelty" that a project like this could be in danger of becoming. Go on - give it a try. You'll be missing a treat if you don't!

Dark side of the moon, remade, Reggae style. And it works. Second for second the same, but different, and it even claims to be 'Wizard of Oz Compatible'.

Unoforunately, the best song from this remake is not on the samples provided by Amazon - the 'Speak to Me' transitions into 'Breathe', with its familiar but Reggae feel, the experience is absolutely surreal - worth buying the album for that experience alone - expecially if you are a real fan of Pink Floyd.

As a whole, the reggae feel fits on top of the themes from Dark Side of the Moon naturally - you can easily forget what the 'original' sounds like, because you begin to think it should have sounded like this the first time around. The album has its moments though where the singer just becomes... annoying, and it goes a little over the top. Normally with an album like Dark Side, I would just get lost in the audio experience, almost meditative. While this happens with this version, the annoying singer 'pulls me out' of that a couple of times. There are just a couple of those moments though, and the do not spoil the entire experience. Prevents it from getting a '5' though.

Pink Floyd's epic 1975 album Dark Side of The Moon is one of the most listened to albums of all time without question. It is concept album of all things that drive humans mad, money, being late, war, and of course that celestial orb, the moon. Well, folks now it's 2003, and we are all very mad these days and what a better time to revisit this album for it's devine tranquility in a whole new guise. 2003 finds Dark Side of the Moon in a new mantle, a reggae infusion of the highest magnitude featuring that monstrous invention of Jamaican reggae of the seventies, Dub. Yes, Dub- that mysterious collection of reverb, sound effects and dj chatter. Easy Star records has re-created Dark Side of the Moon and pun intended, dubbed it "DUB SIDE OF THE MOON". Utilizing some of the great artists that have worked with Easy Star over the past couple of years such as the Meditations, Ranking Joe, Gary Pine (Wailers)we have something both Reggae fans and Pink Floyd fans will want to grab quickly.
Using Roots, Dub, DJ, even some techno and jungle beats, DUB SIDE OF THE MOON is something I am sure the members of Pink Floyd could agree is a loving tribute to their music, unlike some horrid "techno" redo's of some of their albums going round.
Even those who are just not "OLD" enough to enjoy the availble orchestral versions of Dark Side and other Pink Floyd material, this album does not loose you during listening unlike other "tributes", it stays to the recognizable framework of the original album. One does not expect to hear a DJ like Ranking Joe coming ripping into the mix just a bubbling, and that is what makes the magic. Also included are 3 bonus remixed tracks which use different mixes including some great horns and melodica. All these tracks are great but especially Breathe, Time, Eclipse.
As a reggae DJ and Pink Floyd fan, I think this was a great idea whose time was long overdue and I have to hand it to excellent folks at Easy Star Records in NY, this one scores BIG!

Like the album that this is a cover of, this all reggae version of "Dark Side of the Moon" is a masterpiece in its own right. Being an avid Pink Floyd fan, I could've either been completely upset with somebody ruining the album, or I could be so biased that I would have loved it no matter what. But, neither is the case here. It not only does the original album full justice but goes off on its own I couldn't be more pleased with the result.

The first time I heard was at my brothers house. I had told him to pick it up (with him having a job and me none, so he's got the cash), then forgot about it. I was over to visit one day and he just popped it on without me knowing about it. As soon as the bass dropped in for "Breath" I was, simply put, awe struck. I shut up and just listened to the entire album and was mesmorized with how good it was.

The respect and attention to detail put into this album is self-apparant and all of the hard work put into it shows. This is a quality piece of work. This is probably only the second honest 5-star review I've ever written. Do yourself a favor and listen to this album.

For any of you out there who grew up on Pink Floyd and especially "Dark Side of the Moon" and know a Reggae fan (you know what connects the two groups) you need to get together and drop this one! This is the most amazing and exciting CD I've heard in years. It is by far one of the greatest marriages of music genres anyone could think of. It's like the original recording. Lots of the same Waters/Gilmore sound effects and phrasing. Your mind shifts into a region of familiarity. You know what's coming and your brain prepares you for what you SHOULD hear and then............WHAT! The first track "Speak to me/Breathe" is a perfect example of what I mean. The rest of the album keeps on amazing your mind and your sense of rhythm and timing. Hearing something you've always known and love in a fresh new way can really stimulate you. I know what some rock fans are thinking "Dumb idea!" Don't even think this is a typical cover album or rip off. This CD kicks serious [butt] whether you like reggae or not. Classic album.

Reggae collective Easy Star All Stars paid homage to Pink Floyd and their artistic triumph, Dark Side Of The Moon, with this album, which was cheekily titled Dub Side Of The Moon.

Too many cover albums are overly reverent and will sometimes find the artist trying too hard to adapt to the style of the artist that originally performed the song. Here, while each track is easily recognizable, the songs all take on unique identities of their own thanks to the clever touches used by the All Stars. These are most prominent in "Time", with the cuckoo sounds complementing the famous ticking of the clock along with the toasting of lines like "Time is the master / Time can be a disaster", and "Money", with bong hits replacing the cash register sounds. Floyd purists may cringe at the prospect of their songs being tinkered with, but the message comes through loud and clear, and the songs are true enough to the originals that Dub Side Of The Moon is compatible with The Wizard Of Oz, much like the album that inspired it.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that the joyful exuberance that accompanies the island sounds are present in most of these Floyd renditions. That certainly helps to give the album its own unique personality. All of the performers that appeared on Dub Side also give each track a unique touch with their distinctive voices. You also have to love the dub tracks at the end of the album if you are a fan of the genre. Whether taken as a whole or each track individually, the songs here are a great listen and make for great driving music.

In summary: Dub Side Of The Moon is that rare tribute album that rises above the status quo and stands strong as a recording of its own. It's nearly as good as the original, and that in itself is an accomplishment. It almost sounds as if the songs were intended to be recorded this way, as the reggae adaptation goes very smoothly. Highly recommended if you're a fan of Pink Floyd or reggae, or are looking for something very different and unexpected. Also check out Radiodread, the Easy Star All Stars's tribute to another classic album, Radiohead's OK Computer.

At first glance, you might dismiss this album as yet another bad remake of perfectly fine classic music in an unexpected style that manages to parody both the classic music and the new style (as in Hayseed Dixie). Dub Side of the Moon, however, was clearly made by individuals who love and respect both Dark Side of the Moon and roots reggae. They manage to do justice to both in this album.

If you lived in a cave for the last 30 years and didn't know anything about Dark Side of the Moon, you would easily mistake this album for a landmark reggae effort. It's fine reggae and a fine version of Dark Side of the Moon. The only things keeping this album from 5 stars is that it wasn't an original work and some of the transitions between songs lack the fluidity of the original. All in all, a very worthwhile purchase.

After I heard a review of Easy Star's Dub Side of the Moon on National Public Radio, I rushed out to buy a copy. Since then, I've played it over and over.
Dub Side is a visionary CD. While remaining totally respectful of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, it is unique in its own right. The musicianship and artistry, by all involved, are of the highest quality and originality. In the first few seconds, you'll know you're in for an intriguing ride that satisfies over and over. I've introduced it to lots of friends and all of them love it.
While all the cuts are interesting, my favorites are Breathe, Us and Them, and Brain Damage. But this is one to be enjoyed from start to finish, and over and over. Dub Side is so creative and ambitious that I can't wait for Easy Star's next production.

I have been in love with this CD since I first heard it two months ago. The love that went into the production is clear, and the results are music to the ears. Even though it compliments the original so well, after a few listens, it takes on a life of it own, and soon you find yourself forgetting what Dark Side sounds like. Of course nothing can replace Dark Side, and it is fun to go back and remember why that album is as great as it is. But Dub Side stands on it's own as one of the best releases in the last few years.

Ok... imagine taking Pink Floyd's all time classic album Dark Side of the Moon and sending it on holiday to Jamaica for six months to hang out in the sun with some of reggae's finest and it'd come back sounding like this... it shouldn't be possible but it is!

As has already been mentined above, what gets me is how close to the original they get it... its like it sounds the same, just different with more bounce and a twist of humour while still retaining the same overall feel and musical/emotional journey. The production is excellent as is the overall conception... how on earth did someone decide that you could subsitute cash draws with bong hits? While having read these reviews its understandable that fans of the original might be dubious by this point, but whether you think you'll like it or not you NEED to hear this album... it's a revelation! If you're at all into reggae or dub you'll love it, if you're not you're in for a treat.. a real testament to the true potential of dub music, whichever way you look it put's a smile on your face...