David Bowie - David Bowie (1967)

In honor of the death of all-around music god David Bowie I've decided I need to listen to a completely non-classic and forgotten album from Bowie's catalog. Because let's face it, everyone on the day after the death of a legend wants to listen to their equivalent of Ziggy Stardust or Heros. Hell my initial reaction to Bowie's death was to listen to Station To Station as many times as possible. Instead I really feel I must listen to Bowie's equivalent of The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, which I would call Pink Floyd's slightly embarrassing debut they'd rather everyone were ignorant of.

The Cure - Disintegration (1989)

Pink Floyd - The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

So far I haven't really enjoyed my deeper dives into Pink Floyd music. I like some of the band's music but more on an individual song basis and not all in one continuous sitting. This time might be different. The Dark Side of the Moon is the album that vaulted the band to superstardom, while The Wall is their career-defining epic.

Meanwhile The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn is their debut, when they were still a relatively unknown band led by the enigmatic Syd Barrett. Roger Waters, who wrote most of the stuff you know as "Pink Floyd music" was a supporting player for this album, and David Gilmour, my personal favorite member of Pink Floyd, wasn't a part of the band at this point. I am extremely intrigued by the possibilities of this prototype Pink Floyd, even though debut albums tend to be extremely rough around the edges.

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (1978)

I didn't have a great response to The Wall, which was the first Pink Floyd album I've ever listened to in its entirety. Two words from that review that really stick out for me are obtuse and whiny. That was a shame, because I had previously heard some of the music from that album and liked it. Same is true with today's subject, a predecesor of The Wall, which I am reviewing now. Hopefully I won't have as sour an experience this time.

MC5 - Kick Out The Jams (1967)

(originally posted on Facebook)

Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)

(originally posted to Facebook)