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52 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Saucerful Of Floyd, January 7, 2005
Released in 1968, Pink Floyd's second album, "A Saucerful of Secrets," shows the band in a transitional period. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Syd Barrett was ousted from the band due to his LSD use & erratic behavior (though the Floyd still allow him a final appearance at the album's end). Taking Syd's place was singer/guitarist David Gilmour, while bassist Roger Waters picked up the bulk of the songwriting duties, along with a pair of contributions from keyboardist Richard Wright. Some have criticized "Saucerful" as being a mixed bag, but I say that's total nonsense, because I've always loved this album. Roger Waters branches out as a songwriter very well with his trio of trippy psychedelic rock songs, "Let There Be More Light," "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun," and the very amusing "Corporal Clegg" (representing the first of Waters' various war-themed songs, though this particular tune is done with humor, including a solo on kazoo). Richard Wright delivers a fine pair of atmospheric songs, "Remember A Day" and "See-Saw." But the big centerpiece of the album is the 11-minute title track, an avant-garde, three-part instrumental in which the Floyd give the listener the aural equivalent of a war. The first part is the tension build-up, the middle section is the war (with drummer Nick Mason's tribal percussion loop, Gilmour running his guitar up and down a microphone stand, Waters repeatedly smashing a gong, and Wright pounding his piano senseless), and the final part is the release, the calm after the battle. It's an amazing piece, one of Pink Floyd's best, and it points in the musical direction that the Floyd would take on future releases.But it is Syd Barrett who gets the final, haunting word on "Saucerful" with his Pink Floyd swansong, "Jugband Blues," recorded just before his exit from the band, and which the Floyd rightfully saved for release on "Saucerful Of Secrets." The song---featuring some very twisted lyrics and a cameo by a Salvation Army band---may indeed represent Barrett's tragic fall into dementia, but he still sings it with tremendous feeling, and no diehard Floyd fan will ever forget Barrett's final, jarring line, "And what exactly is a joke?". "A Saucerful Of Secrets" is a terrific Pink Floyd album.
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26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Time for Change, February 1, 2006
Its sad that people who are listening to "Wish You Were Here" don't know who the song is referring to. Being a Syd fanatic, I tend to focus on the first two albums. By the time of Saucerful of Secrets, Syd Barrett was being edged out of the band because of his erratic behavior (such as writing a song called "Have You Got it Yet?" and constantly changing the chords to frustrate the other band members). This was not the end of his career as he did two quite brilliant solo albums and still paints to this day. However, by the time of Saucerful of Secrets, David Gilmour has been enlisted as the singer and Roger Waters took over the creative control. On a song by song basis:
1.Let There Be More Light-dark, somber, very heavy, prog rock starts here.
2.Remember a Day-whimsical ode to childhood, obviously inspired by Barrett
3.Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun-Performed live during the Barrett era but obviously a Roger Waters song-absolute classic
4.Corporal Clegg-"Corporal Clegg earned his medal in a dream"-anti-war without being preachy. Another classic
5.A Saucerful of Secrets-Close to avant-garde classical. Another prog rock inspired masterpiece.
6.See Saw-Too close to Remember A Day to be original
7.Jugband Blues- Syd's last work of genius. The only song he sang on Saucerful but he claims to have guested on guitar on a couple of others-To some a self diagnosis of schizophrenia but lines like "I'm greatful to you for making it clear that I'm not here" are jabs at his by now former bandmates as well.
Anyone who considers themselves a Pink Floyd fan and has not heard this and the first album, "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is missing out.
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21 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One Word - WOW!, December 8, 1999
I am a very BIG Pink Floyd fan and i have to say this is THE greatest album they've ever done (or ever will do)! I have nothing but great things to say about this album, and if i were to write them all down here i'd be here for years! Listening to "Remember" a Day and "See-Saw" really depresses me, because of Rick Wright's waning lyrical contributions in later years. He has the ability to write the most beautiful songs. *sigh* Oh-well. The rest of the album is equally fantastic. Starting with Rogers "Let There Be More Light" with its dark mysticysm. "Set The Controls..." and its menacing undertones. "Corporal Clegg"; (fabulous manic guitar Syd),Waters first scoff at war. "A Saucerful of Secrets"; winding, falling, climax of sound. And finally Syd's "Jugband Blues" a song so hauntingly sad he almost makes you want to cry. I miss you Syd
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