Syd Barrett - Madcap Laughs
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Free Music Notes for Madcap Laughs
Free Music Review: psychedelia's fallout
Hit: 5 Stars
Undoubtedly a brilliant album, but very disturbing. Elements of Syd's pop genius still shine through in parts, notably "Octopus." Still, is this so much a work of art or a voyeuristic examination of somebody's mental collapse? Whichever it is, this album is defenitely a one of a kind.
The shimmering production from "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is gone here, but then again so are the fairytale lyrics and cosmic explorations. The celestial kamikaze had certainly crashed and burned by this point. What Syd was left with was a shattered psyche and that's what he wrote about. The intensely personal lyrics can be overwhelming.
After the production/songwriting pefection on Floyd's first album, the loose and erratic arrangements on MADCAP are heartbreaking. Why? Because they are wholly representative of Syd's mental state. And for a human being to undergo the trauma that Syd did, is very unfortunate.
But back to the songs themselves. The opening track, "Terrapin," is one of the prettiest love songs ever. And it's about a turtle in love with a fish, for Pete's sake. "Late Night" is spooky and eerie, the logical conclusion to Jugband Blues." None of the songs, even the fragmentary ones, are out of place on this odd album.
Highly recommended.
Free Music Review: Shine on Syd
Hit: 5 Stars
Syd Barrett was kicked out of his beloved Pink Floyd after his what can be described as almost heroric intake of LSD had finally taken to far a mental affect on him. The madcap Laighs which was his 1st solo album shows that under that surface, the genius still that had created The Piper at the Gates of Dawn still existed. The songs on this album, while not the same loudness as Piper, still has the same quality of song. Some of the later songs on the album such as She took a Long cold Look, Feel, If its in You, and Dark Globe show Syd pretty stressed ,even not being able to choose a note to sing on in 1 of them, but even these are remarkebly good. No Mans land with its acid guitar, and No good Trying are probally the closest Syd comes to the loudness of the old Floyd days. Terrapin, which begins the album is a real nice gentle love song, Love You and Here I Go are other love songs but they have much more of a beat to them. The best track on the album is Octopus, which was alo the only single Syd released in his solo years. It's a really fast and happy song with lyrics that are tettering on the brink of nonsesne but can also sense, its also where the album gets its title from.Free Music Review: How Did He Get This Way?
Hit: 5 Stars
Syd Barrett was easily one of the greatest lyricists of his generation. While I don't necessarily think this album a great introduction to his work (heard often: "Is this him warming up?"), I do find it to be a sort of magnum opus for the man. It's not a terribly happy album. It's a kind of direct snapshot of a person going completely off the rails in front of your eyes. But that's what makes it so fascinating. What do the lyrics signify to the person writing them? Or is Syd not even there at all, as he seemed to say in his last song with Pink Floyd, "Jugband Blues.":"I'm wondering who could be writing this song?" As for the songs, they are cracked and beautiful things. "Dark Globe" is easily one of the most tragic but mysterious songs ever penned for recording, and the feeling of finality and wandering strings the album together. It's a complete piece of music, not a few great ones pasted together with a lot of filler. In order to love this album, you need to appreciate Barrett as a person, and appreciate his latent insanity. This is the key to growing on the crazed artist. Experience Syd Barrett, do not listen.Free Music Review: Don't believe the jerk below me
Hit: 5 Stars
Obviously the reviewer below doesn't have any sense. Even if you don't like syd barrett's music you still have to give him credit for creating the mold and sound for pink floyd. Without syd barrett's approach to songwriting as displayed here on Madcap Laughs, Barrett, Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn, and Saucerful of Secrets, there is no Darkside, there is no Wall, there is no Pink Floyd. Numerous artists have cited Syd Barrett as an influence, Paul McCartney (whom the reviewer below me obviously holds in high regard) and Pete Townshend are early self-proclaimed Barrett fans. We can thank Barrett a little for the more experimental, later Beatles albums and definitely Who powerhouse albums like Quadrophenia and Tommy. David Bowie, Brian Eno, Jimmy Page, Phish, Radiohead, and other major artists have all acknowledged influence from Syd Barrett.
As for this album, as well as Barrett, it is a must have for any serious Pink Floyd or psychedelic music fan.
Free Music Review: Syd did not completly loose it!
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all, if your just a Floyd fan and not also a Barrett fan, u should just stop reading. But anyways The Madcap Laughs have songs that some can be described as some of the best Syd ever wrote. The songs range from strange love ballads such as "Terrapin" where the things in love are sea creatures, to "No man's land" where syd shows he was still able to play awesome guitar, and up to "Octupus" which i think is the highlight of the album(also its where the album gets its title from the line, "the madcap laghed at the man on the border")There are some songs though that seemed just a bit rushed as for one thing you can hear them talking in the studio, and in such as in the song "Feel" & "If it's in you" Syd seems nervous and in the latter can't seem to figure out what key to sing in. But put all together it makes for a landmark album by one of music's greatest songwriter ever. Anyone who likes this should also get "Barrett" which is another fine album by Syd.