omggz!Narek wrote:I just don't like Grantchester Meadows.
You weird person, that is officially the best song on the album!
Ummagumma (a Rick Wright idea)
-
PublicImage
- Supreme Lord!
- Posts: 11146
- Joined: Sat May 21, 2005 2:55 pm
- Gender: Male
-
Tenniru
- Hammer
- Posts: 1401
- Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:34 pm
- Location: Sterling, VA
I think it could've worked, but none of them had the skills needed (yet) to pull off a one-man solo project, even if it was just twelve minutes long.
Sysyphus is probably a good song to someone who likes classical music. However, I think even the classical ear would note that it was impossible for Rick to get that to sound right when he didn't have access to an orchestra, or at least a well-stocked mellotron.
Had it been done a bit more like how the band usually sounded, it would've been a hefty non-side-consuming instrumental masterpeice alongside Interstellar Overdrive and A Saucerful Of Secrets. Listen to "Project Birmingham"... if you can hear past the awful quality, you'll notice something amazing.
Roger's part could've been so much cooler, but he squandered it. Grantchester Meadows is grossly oversized, with a huge "bird loop" intro that doesn't add anything. It would've been much better if it was done the way they'd been doing it live all year; skip the long ceremonious sound effects (as Man/Journey already had a track dedicated to it anyhow) and just play the song (which is GREAT, by the way) and maybe try a Farsifa solo. Unless he can't play the Farsifa.
Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict is hilarious. I wouldn't change it, except maybe cut off a few of the "ka-ka-ooom-ba, eeeHMEEEeeee"s.
With the time saved here, Roger could've added on Embryo, which would've gone miles in helping the new psychedelic feel of Ummagumma.
I'm not sure what Dave was thinking with The Narrow Way, but from my point of view it seems he was busy being drunk on the power of holding the reins of production and didn't think about the attention span of anyone who would ever listen to it. Maybe if this was the same David Gilmour as in 1975 and on, it'd have gotten better reception; but this was still a Dave trying to replace Syd, not the Dave who would finally become his own guitarist mere months later for Zabriskie Point.
The Narrow Way III was AWESOME earlier that year. A listen to the Concertgebouw or BBC versions show that. Sadly, Dave tore up the catchy song and forced it into a cumbersome, reverb-filled "A Day In The Life"-esque arrangement that nearly destroyed it.
Had he shortened The Narrow Way to just the way it was live and used the rest of his space for an actual coherent instrumental, it would've helped so much. Maybe something like one of the Zabriskie instrumentals made a month later, in the vein of "Country Song".
Nick... how do I put this... um.
This actually could've been awesome if Nick had access to more percussion instruments than just his usual live drumkit. Get the man some marching bass drums, a vibrophone, some bongos, pretty much everything in a percussion marching band... and you'd have something pretty great. You wouldn't even need to cheat with the flute.
The live album doesn't quite escape my scrutiny either, although it's better off. It seems to have been mixed with the vocals too low, and some overdubbing actually made it WORSE (why not keep Dave's "woo-ooo-oo-ooo", like on PATGOD?). Also, there's some unneeded editing... and it would've been GREAT if they had a CWTAE where Roger didn't scream late. Usually, you get a very good effect where Nick does a drumfill and on the last strike Roger opens up. On Ummagumma, he plays it, Roger seems to either be mid-inhale or lost, a measure goes by, and THEN he screams.
Ummagumma could've been great, but it wasn't.
Sysyphus is probably a good song to someone who likes classical music. However, I think even the classical ear would note that it was impossible for Rick to get that to sound right when he didn't have access to an orchestra, or at least a well-stocked mellotron.
Had it been done a bit more like how the band usually sounded, it would've been a hefty non-side-consuming instrumental masterpeice alongside Interstellar Overdrive and A Saucerful Of Secrets. Listen to "Project Birmingham"... if you can hear past the awful quality, you'll notice something amazing.
Roger's part could've been so much cooler, but he squandered it. Grantchester Meadows is grossly oversized, with a huge "bird loop" intro that doesn't add anything. It would've been much better if it was done the way they'd been doing it live all year; skip the long ceremonious sound effects (as Man/Journey already had a track dedicated to it anyhow) and just play the song (which is GREAT, by the way) and maybe try a Farsifa solo. Unless he can't play the Farsifa.
Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict is hilarious. I wouldn't change it, except maybe cut off a few of the "ka-ka-ooom-ba, eeeHMEEEeeee"s.
With the time saved here, Roger could've added on Embryo, which would've gone miles in helping the new psychedelic feel of Ummagumma.
I'm not sure what Dave was thinking with The Narrow Way, but from my point of view it seems he was busy being drunk on the power of holding the reins of production and didn't think about the attention span of anyone who would ever listen to it. Maybe if this was the same David Gilmour as in 1975 and on, it'd have gotten better reception; but this was still a Dave trying to replace Syd, not the Dave who would finally become his own guitarist mere months later for Zabriskie Point.
The Narrow Way III was AWESOME earlier that year. A listen to the Concertgebouw or BBC versions show that. Sadly, Dave tore up the catchy song and forced it into a cumbersome, reverb-filled "A Day In The Life"-esque arrangement that nearly destroyed it.
Had he shortened The Narrow Way to just the way it was live and used the rest of his space for an actual coherent instrumental, it would've helped so much. Maybe something like one of the Zabriskie instrumentals made a month later, in the vein of "Country Song".
Nick... how do I put this... um.
This actually could've been awesome if Nick had access to more percussion instruments than just his usual live drumkit. Get the man some marching bass drums, a vibrophone, some bongos, pretty much everything in a percussion marching band... and you'd have something pretty great. You wouldn't even need to cheat with the flute.
The live album doesn't quite escape my scrutiny either, although it's better off. It seems to have been mixed with the vocals too low, and some overdubbing actually made it WORSE (why not keep Dave's "woo-ooo-oo-ooo", like on PATGOD?). Also, there's some unneeded editing... and it would've been GREAT if they had a CWTAE where Roger didn't scream late. Usually, you get a very good effect where Nick does a drumfill and on the last strike Roger opens up. On Ummagumma, he plays it, Roger seems to either be mid-inhale or lost, a measure goes by, and THEN he screams.
Ummagumma could've been great, but it wasn't.
-
Narek
- Hammer
- Posts: 1003
- Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2005 4:54 am
- Location: Glendale, California
I dunno, the song is too boring. And I believe the best song on the album is Sysyphus Part 2, IMO Rick's greatest piano/keyboard performance. Almost pwns Rachmaninoff, lawlz.PublicImage wrote:omggz!Narek wrote:I just don't like Grantchester Meadows.
You weird person, that is officially the best song on the album!
-
PublicImage
- Supreme Lord!
- Posts: 11146
- Joined: Sat May 21, 2005 2:55 pm
- Gender: Male
It's not boring! Do you also think that Cirrus Minor is boring??Narek wrote:I dunno, the song is too boring. And I believe the best song on the album is Sysyphus Part 2, IMO Rick's greatest piano/keyboard performance. Almost pwns Rachmaninoff, lawlz.
It cannot possibly pwn The Rach! Just listen to his 3rd piano concerto..amazing!
Rick's track is quite good, though. Not one of my favourites from the album, but still better than The Narrow Way! I prefer Nick's stupid, stupid drum solo!
And SSOSFAGTIACAGWAP.
-
olzen
- Judge!
- Posts: 2209
- Joined: Sun Oct 05, 2003 6:34 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Denmark
I don't care much for Grantchester Meadows either. I think it's overrated. To me, it's just Roger trying to be Donovan, which he's not the best at.
As for the rest of the album, I really like it. Even if the bandmembers don't like it nowadays, it's a huge part of them maturing and trying to find themselves post-Syd. Would David ever have tried writing lyrics if Roger hadn't forced him to, for instance?
Well, I know he married Polly, but that's irrelevant!
As for the rest of the album, I really like it. Even if the bandmembers don't like it nowadays, it's a huge part of them maturing and trying to find themselves post-Syd. Would David ever have tried writing lyrics if Roger hadn't forced him to, for instance?
Well, I know he married Polly, but that's irrelevant!
-
cwta eugene
- Hammer
- Posts: 1009
- Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2004 4:57 pm
I'm not a huge fan, although it contains the best version of CWTAE I have ever heard! 
I don't know if it's just the copy I own, but Dave's singing on Narrow Way Part 3 gets drowned-out by the guitar. Did they remedy that in later pressings? I prefer the Man & The Journey version of that song because Dave's voice isn't drowned-out.
I don't know if it's just the copy I own, but Dave's singing on Narrow Way Part 3 gets drowned-out by the guitar. Did they remedy that in later pressings? I prefer the Man & The Journey version of that song because Dave's voice isn't drowned-out.-
Ton Up Alvis
- Blade
- Posts: 134
- Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 1:20 am
- Location: Location, location
I love Ummagumma. SO off the wall, almost unhinged at times!!!
You really need to crank up Nick's part on a good high end stereo to fully appreciate it. I really like the middle part that sounds like some really low flutes but is supect it is really cymbals mike down really low. Or a combo?
Rick's part is great but then again I am a sucker for classical music espeicially Bach and Toccata in D Minor.
Narrow way is a good sone too. Hell the whole thing is great. Just don't expect regular pop songs from it. It is more in the Zappa style.
You really need to crank up Nick's part on a good high end stereo to fully appreciate it. I really like the middle part that sounds like some really low flutes but is supect it is really cymbals mike down really low. Or a combo?
Rick's part is great but then again I am a sucker for classical music espeicially Bach and Toccata in D Minor.
Narrow way is a good sone too. Hell the whole thing is great. Just don't expect regular pop songs from it. It is more in the Zappa style.
-
The Gil
- Blade
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2005 7:46 am
- Location: On An island
-
Not_Now_Paul
- Axe
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Houston, TX
-
Edel
- Axe
- Posts: 62
- Joined: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:07 pm
- Location: Norway
-
Not_Now_Paul
- Axe
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Houston, TX
-
jambo
- Supreme Lord!
- Posts: 4967
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2004 9:33 am
- Gender: Male
- Location: Australia
-
fatoldbob
- Judge!
- Posts: 1669
- Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2006 6:30 am
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
-
Not_Now_Paul
- Axe
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:33 am
- Location: Houston, TX