Syd Barrett - The Best of Syd Barrett: Wouldn't You Miss Me?
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Free Music Notes for The Best of Syd Barrett: Wouldn't You Miss Me?
Free Music Review: We Do Miss You Syd!!!
Hit: 4 Stars
Even though Syd had dropped out of the music scene around 1975, his presence and legacy continued on in his influence on so many musicians, including the band he helped to found, Pink Floyd.
This collection is a well put together sampling of some of his best solo works. There are a few parts that are a bit of a hard listen, partly because of Syd's penchant for off-beat lyrics and dissonant sounds, but also because, if you listen closely, you'll hear those hints at the troubles that plagued Syd's life.
There is a dichotomy also; witness the gleeful trippiness of "Octopus": ("...they'll never put me in their bag")/ ("The squeaking door will always squeak...").
Somewhere among the word plays- deadpanned with amusing poetic license- I am certain Syd is trying so 'say something' in his own inimitable way.
Then there's the trance inducing "Opel", with the loooong held vocal notes ("I'm which is just plain spooky, but I love it.
As other's have mentioned, buy it also for "Bob Dylan Blues" and "Two Of A Kind" even if you have the rest of his works. The latter has an early Donovan feel, and the former is a left-handed compliment to its namesake ("...and the wind, you can blow it"---nice).
These are two excellent songs which I'd never heard before, and enjoy immensly. There's a nice progression in the song order and selection. Bottom line, this is put together really well and is a fitting tribute to one of the greats.
RIP Syd, you are missed.
Free Music Review: Flashes of Brilliance
Hit: 4 Stars
I am tempted to say that a burned out Syd Barrett wrote better lyrics than a stone cold sober Roger Waters or a not so sober David Gilmour, but that would be posturing. Besides, Syd Barrett's reputation hasn't suffered any from his absence from the studio these many years. In fact it is due in part to his absence from the recording studio that people have been able to build up his persona to it's now legendary status. Wouldn't You Miss Me doesn't bust that bubble or blow it up even more; it just confirms what his fans have been saying all these years: that Syd Barrett had a unique lyrical talent that even mental illness could not completely tarnish. There is a distinct Floyd (circa 1969) sound to these tracks: lots of jangly 12 strings, close-mic'd vocals and analog synth swirls in the backround. This may have to do with the production assist from Gilmour et al in the making of Barrett's post-floyd albums. But, if you listen to the singer as he struggles his way through each number, you can hear sparks of verbal interplay and imagination that far outstrip anything his former bandmates have done since. It just makes my heart ache to think of what he could have accomplished had he not succumbed to his drug-aggravated mental illness. These songs are a testament not only to Syd Barrett's genius but to the striving of a noble soul undone by the vagaries of life: there but for the grace of God go I...Free Music Review: Worth 5 stars, but...
Hit: 4 Stars
I love Syd Barrett's work, with and without Pink Floyd, and musically it deserves 5 stars, but I think after all thses years his fans deserve more. What the record company should've done is put out an album of rare Syd songs from his carrer including non-released songs like "Vegetable Man" and "Scream thy Last Scream", and early song just never put on record like "Stoned Alone", "Lucy Leave" and "King Bee"Free Music Review: Just a cult following collection!
Hit: 3 Stars
I am sure that if I had not known Syd Barret as the main founding member and first main songwriter of Pink Floyd, and as the author of most of the compositions of that classic and always fascinating album that is "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn", I would not have cared less for either listening or buying this collection. None of the songs here are really memorable, "Astronomy Domine" "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play", among others, are indeed unforgettable. In the folk song genre, under which the songs of this collection more or less fit, Syd Barret is very far behind someone like Nick Drake, for example, just to mention one. Syd's talent thrived in crafting precious and elaborated pop songs, as well as sonic improvisational suites (Interstellar Overdrive, for example)and to achieve that he borrowed from 60s psychedelia what fitted better with his works. In that order, he was for Pink Floyd what Brian Wilson was for The Beach Boys. This songs collected in the reviewed album, with minor exceptions, drift away from that path. Having said that, the main value of this collection is to have Pink Floyd fans with completist compulsion (as I am myself) satisfied with full knowledge of the post Pink Floyd output of the ill fated genius called Syd Barret.Free Music Review: A CD for new Barrett fans
Hit: 3 Stars
This Syd Barrett CD contains songs which can be found on his other, previously released CDs. The only new song is Bob Dylan Blues (which is a great song), but I see no point in getting this album for the sole purpose of hearing this one song. If you are a new to Syd Barrett, I reccomend purchasing this CD - it outlines Barrett's music and will give you a good overview of his lyrical skills. Otherwise, spend your money elsewhere.