as previously mentioned, one of the most classically known artists to get high to is pink floyd. at first, i was going to review their album The Wall...until i learned the back story of it and realized that it is one of their few albums with a pretty intense history (it was also 43 songs and no one wants to sit through that). after some research, deep soul searching, and long walks to listen to each album, i found that the album, Meddle, released in 1971 is a solid beginner album for the rookie toker.
initially listening to this album, i was pleasantly surprised by how short it was, that all came to a halt when i found out how long half of the songs are- the length of the six-song album was the same as an average thirteen song album. that shocker was then surpassed because of how fundamentally wicked all of these songs are. i had never heard of any of them but one- "San Tropez" - so to hear all of them together and then back to back was phenomenal. there is a deep af meaning to this album and it's so subjectively awesome that i listened to it six times in one day.
the first song on the album, "One of These Days", is an almost six-minute slur of craziness. the intense wind in the beginning of the song will tweak out even a sane mind, but when it switches into the catchy, foot-tapping bass line things really start to pick up. the guitarist kicks into an almost led-zeppliny rift for a few minutes until the classic, trippy pink floyd style kicks in. a creepy discord in all instruments present surrounded by what sounds like jabba-the-hutt talking in murmers takes over the middle of the song until full-fledged guitar and a classic rock vibe encompasses the rest of the piece. this solely instrumental song is not only trippy but extremely enjoyable no matter what your current state of mind is.
the second song of the album is "A Pillow of Winds." pink floyd continuously straddles the line between having audiences falling asleep and having a severe existential crisis. this song really dances along that line and personally pushes my mental capacity. the ethereally-smooth vocals hold in front of simple instrumentation. this combination initially seems to have no connection, but they somehow make it beautiful with a hint of "i need to rethink my life."
the third song on the album is "Fearless." while the previous song minimally defined itself as the "existential crisis" part of pink floyd's known noise, this one takes on the other side of that line and makes me fall asleep. other than the soccer-like chanting at the end of the song, this one can be put in the category of "tweaked out ballad"- the music itself is ethereal and subtly tranquil, but i didn't see the point of it on this album.
the fourth song on the album is "San Tropez." if you're going to get periodically high to a song on this album- this is it. it's one of the shortest songs, but it has a catchy enough beginning to keep you flowing and swaying your body. the ethereal and twilight-zoney synthesizer will have a toker rolling to this shit. the only thing i don't understand about this song is the piano. i don't know what compelled them to put it in there, but...i guess it works cause the song is bonkers.
the fifth song is "Seamus." if there is a song to come down from your high on, it's this one. psychedelic enough to maybe keep you in your high long enough to finish the next grueling song but creepy enough- cue dog barking?- to maybe knock you right out of it. as usual, there is a strong bass line and background lyrics that are practically incoherent, but this one really stands out with how soft they made those qualities, which is what makes this song strangely beautiful.
the final, and longest song on the album is "Echoes." this almost twenty-five minute song is easily a culmination of every song on their album (and arguably, every song on all of their albums). this song passes the line of creepy and dives directly into psychedelically freaky. however, i still listened to it five times last night. it is trippy as it is scary and that is what makes it absolutely the best stoner tune on this album. it will last for the better half of your high, and the real-life lyrics can keep you going into your come-down. the song is well-balanced with the guitarists, strong bass line (as usual), synthesizers, good lyrics, and whatever creepy triangle-sounding noise is playing in the background. the pick-up towards the end of the song is my favorite part because, for once, the instruments aren't in discord and actually play with respect to each other. this is when you hear just how good of a band pink floyd is- they just choose to appear the opposite. but, of course, that shit continuously works for them.
ya meddling kids
