Pink Floyd, “The Dark Side of the Moon” (Harvest, 1973)

Keefer– You help me challenge my perception and comfortability in music, and you always have since I met you; without you, I would be a less empathetic and enlightened human being, let alone a music lover. So many people love this album, so I dedicate this review to you for the same reasons. Love you, man.

Music is such an essential part of history. It’s honest, all-seeing. It’s a first-hand account of human experience in thousands of ways. Music’s significance has become so overlooked today partially because of how accessible music is and how our society has progressed throughout the decades. But Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” is an extremely popular album. No question. To understand why many regard it as one of the most significant albums out of any decade, we must understand the historical implications that lead to its social impact. Through this album’s technical construction, tone and emotional message, we can begin to comprehend what this piece of art means to millions of people, appreciate the artistry and understand where the world was in the 70s much more profoundly than we could with history textbooks. 

Although they are explicitly talking about the state of economics, morals and social issues plaguing the UK at that time, people from all around the globe at (unfortunately) any time between then and the present day can feel this frustration and anger.

One of the most distinct parts of this album is the continuous nature of the track list; they all seamlessly lead into one another. Tied in with the subject matter, the band hints at how interconnected all the problems are within a general concept matter; this album practically encourages people to step back and question how and why life takes form in these ways. Only when you get to the switch to the B side of the album, from “The Great Gig in the Sky” to “Money,” do you notice a stop in music. The abrupt silence might’ve been because, back then, you needed to flip the vinyl over, but you can’t help but feel like there might’ve been a greater purpose to that stop. It might’ve been because there’s a distinct change in sound from one side to another, with the first side being more black-and-white while the other is more prismatic. 

Side A of the album deals with straightforward topics such as death and eerie anxiety about time passing you by; it’s bleak and dramatic. These topics form the foundation of growing up and shaping your life from start to finish, akin to viewing it on a timeline; it can be intimidating and anticipated. Side B is much more adult and involved, covering topics like greed and conflict, but most of all, mental health. There’s a softer tone to the album’s first half; it’s sentient and melancholic. But once you get to “Money,” everything gets much more complicated production-wise, with explosive electric elements, heavy drums and emotional saxophone placement. The lyrics get more angry, rash and frustrated. The words and the music hint at the emotionally moral reality Pink Floyd lived back then.

One of the most spectacular things about this album is its ability to capture human life and emotion raw and empathetic. There are many albums where an artist tries to paint a picture of the emotion they attempt to grasp, but only a few albums make you feel that way and help you see the realities converging and making sense as one. Pink Floyd simultaneously lets their listeners take a walk in their shoes while taking a walk in their listener’s shoes. They feel so strongly about how we as a world feel.

In “The Great Gig in the Sky,” the album prominently showcases profound emotional depth, explicitly exploring the concept of death. Guest vocalist Clare Torry begins a tirade of almost 4 minutes of screaming, moaning and singing (Interestingly enough, the band told her to sing the emotions rather than the words. Best decision ever.) It starts strained, hurt, almost gasping for air. The song begins soft on piano, building up to a more giant sound, where the drums and guitar come in harshly. It’s evil and ruthless, and the screams come off like someone’s last attempt at screaming for forgiveness until the sudden slowing of the music again as it returns to just the piano. The cries are no longer painful. Instead, they’re heavenly, soulful. Thankful. The wavering projections are with the intention of self-actualization, the epitome of the album, and the ending of the first side of a spiritual journey.

“Money,” however, has an intensely different vibe than the track mentioned above, featuring a slightly more upbeat and faster tempo; the guitar is energetic, the bass is heavy, and the drums blend it all together with every hit ragey. The soundscape at the beginning gives the listener an illustrious view into the social and monetary economy of the world in the 70s, with aggressive cash register sounds and coin sounds intentionally recorded by the band, aiding in making the message unlikely to be ignored.

Although Pink Floyd had been experimenting with the acoustic environment they produced for years before their 1973 album, the soundscapes on “The Dark Side of the Moon” benefit the general message the band created through all ten tracks of the album. This feat is still impressive today, considering the music technology available in the 70s. Take the synthesizers the band experimented with throughout the album; they influenced the environments the band put together in songs like “On the Run.” The pure anxiety and terrified nature you may feel when listening to that track is credited to the band’s understanding and curiosity toward technologically advanced musical instruments. This experimentation is sonically attractive and transformative; it transports listeners into a different realm where these issues stab you right in the eardrum. 

The curated soundscapes featured on this album tie together each track in a very cohesive way. The heartbeats featured at the beginning of the album round out the overall message conveyed as they reappear at the end of the album. “Eclipse” encompasses all the tools and ideas featured throughout to create one of an album’s most impactful last tracks. Listen carefully as Pink Floyd gives listeners a lesson on life (and perhaps space); we only see the bright white of the moon because it’s reflecting the sunlight. The moon is ALWAYS dark. That’s a somewhat sorrowful thing to think about, but perhaps comforting because although you may be going through all the ups and downs of life, we wouldn’t be able to recognize or reminisce on the good without the evil. Similarly, when you picture a solar eclipse, the sun may be blocked but the light still prevails.

“And all that is now/And all that is gone/And all that’s to come/And everything under the sun is in tune/But the sun is eclipsed by the moon.”

Thankfully, “The Dark Side of the Moon” is a fantastic example of what music meant to people in the 70s. It was a chance for people to be angry. It encompassed many people’s frustrations of the time; it talked about subjects many people were too scared to approach in music. Pink Floyd turned what was taboo to speak of into what was mainstream and at the forefront of social and moral changes throughout the next 50 years.

As the songs flow together, we hit a wall of energy as we slow down once again. One of the more noticeable aspects of this album’s second half is the music’s importance and highlight through the saxophone; it gives this album a sophisticated yet heartbreaking sound. This album will have a more emotional impact than your first love. The melodic and sonic choices displayed on this album change what it means to be culturally impactful. Every note becomes thought through and analyzed, humanly perfecting the song’s purpose. Messy but beautiful, sometimes impossible to understand, but if you look deeper, you will find the meaning.

Many albums still lack the depth that music used to have; yes, some albums are significant as art, but will they last half a century? Will people still play those albums all the way through? Will they still have that cult following?

Progressive rock or psychedelic rock might not be your cup of tea, but no amount of words can emphasize just how meaningful and vital this piece of art is to millions of people across the globe. Listen for yourself; perhaps you’ll come out of it feeling more understood, less alone, or even a Pink Floyd fan.