IS "THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON" ONE OF THE BEST ROCK ALBUMS OF ALL TIME? PINK FLOYD-Reaction/Review 

Short answer: Yes.

This album needs to be listened to with the lights turn down low, turn on the lava lamps and spark up a doob. Then sit back, close you eyes and drift off into another world. I was 17 when this came out in '73. Back then we didn't internet or hundreds of TV stations or all the other distractions we have now. Music was our escape and no one could take you another place better than Pink Floyd.

Great gig in the sky was her singing battling with the end of life. All life’s emotions expressed and then the final acceptance.

Us and them for me is a top 10 song of all time. It’s so beautiful

This album was produced by Alan Parsons and his engineering expertise was a large contributor to the sound of this album. The blending of the tracks, the recording of the voice overs. A lot of that was due to Parsons. Not to take away anything that the band did, their genius is on full display, but sound engineers and producers don't often get the credit they are due. They often have a huge impact on the final results.

this "ALBUM" was on the Billboard 200 albums chart,,,it remained in the Billboard 200 albums chart for 736 nonconsecutive weeks (from 17 March 1973 to 16 July 1988). no other album has even come close to that, that is how good this album was and still is today the songs are timeless....

How did most of us react when this album came out back then? Well, about half of us started saving our pennies to buy new stereo systems because we knew what we had wasn't going to cut it anymore. The ahead of its time quadraphonic stereo recording demanded proper stereo equipment to play it on. People were going over to friends houses and friends of friends to listen to it properly. Remember, stereo was still in its early stages back then and until Dark Side came out, no one was in that big a hurry to upgrade. This album changed everything in that dept. There was literally a run on electronic/hi-fi stores. They say this album sold more stereo equipment (home and auto), than anything that came before it. Not only did it push the market forward but it most likely help push the technology itself faster into the future than it might otherwise have gone without it. And yes I can still remember setting up my old Lloyds four speaker quadraphonic surround sound system in my bedroom and putting the album on for the first time and thinking to myself... I have finally arrived. 😏 Btw, when Pink Floyd performs this music live, it is done in full surround sound with speakers set up all around the stadium. I've seen them twice, in 88 and "Pulse" in 94. I can attest that you hear every note, every whisper, every sound effect, just as you do on the albums no matter how big the stadium. Literally as if some of those background whispered speaking voices that you hear at the end of some tracks were right over shoulder. To the point I found myself having to turn around more than once to check to see where the sounds were coming from. Downright eerie! These guys were perfectionists in rvery sense.

It's not one of the best rock albums of all time,it's the greatest album in human history.

'Time' - One of the most profound songs from one of the best albums ever recorded by one of the greatest bands ever.

Loved that he didn't pause the album right at the end of Us and Them. That transition it's otherworldly.

I was about 21 when it came out and already a Pink Floyd fan and I was astounded as I still am. Masterpiece. Everyone knew it immediately.

As a total album and concept, one of the greatest 42 mins and 50 seconds of music ever.

I think the album touches upon many aspects of life. Time and Money being the center, but also explores insanity (Brain Damage), death (Great Gig), and war/poverty (Us and them)

You should listen to Animals. the concept of the album is very interesting, and all songs feel very distinct and large, while all making sense with the theme and, in a way, story of the album.

First time I heard this album, we went to lunch in high school (in 1986 Seniors got off campus lunch). We smoked a joint on the ride back to school and the driver put this on. As the high came on, “Breathe” kicked in and enhanced the buzz so utterly perfect. It was life altering.

Man, I love watching your understanding of music, you're a joy.

Their best album by a mile in my opinion. It tends to suffer from success but when it's just you and the music you feel it hard.

While Pink Floyd is often labeled a “progressive rock band” it conceals how much Pink Floyd incorporated soul and jazz into their songwriting.

I've heard a breakdown of the album that states that it is about the aspects of life that can drive people to madness. Work can drive people to madness, not stopping to breathe. On the run, fear of leaving the house, airlines, etc. can drive people to madness. Trying to grasp your loss of time can drive you to madness. Fear of death can drive you crazy. Greed can drive you to madness. The illusion of choice can drive you crazy, and finally mental illness, or brain damage can (obviously) drive you crazy.

Damn, your reactions are sooo amazing, I feel like I'm listening to these albums for the first time again, it sends shivers down my spine.

I was a teenager when this came out, however, somewhere around 1990 there was a show "The Pink Floyd Laser Light Experience" which toured, some roadies, I think, had purchased PF laser light equipment, and did shows all over. My wife and I went to this show in a small Performing Arts Center, and they had a MASSIVE sound system with 10's of thousand of watts, and to this day I have never heard any music so loud, and clear, and powerful. They played all of DSOM, with a mind blowing laser show, and between side one, and two they had an intermission where they played Echoes. A Most Memorable Experience. To be honest, we smoked some weed, but the show was so powerful it completely overwhelmed any buzz we had.

I was 20 in 1973 and first listened to it at my friend's house, his older brother had bought it and made us listen to it, start to finish, we all had to lay on the floor lights out, curtains drawn and just absorbed the music, almost like osmosis. It's a phrase that is over used, but it blew my mind!! I went to town the very next day and bought a copy, which I still have, 50 years later. I still listen to it quite regularly, headphones on, a darkened room, a glass of something interesting and I'm 20 years old again!!🥃🥃😂🇬🇧

I was 14 years old when the album was released. All my buddies and I played it to death. The lyrics, the melodies, the arrangements...all instantly connected with us without hesitation. I got to hear them perform the whole album live at the Autostade in Montreal the following summer. Just a brilliant performance.

This brought back a very special memory for me -- -- My dad who was didnt listen to rock of any kind unless it was Elvis asked me if I wanted to go to our local Planetarium to watch a special presentation they were doing showing the beauty of the universe all choreographed to the music of Dark Side on the Moon --- It was spectacular and I was so surprised he asked me to go knowing how I was a space geek before it was cool to be one LOL -- I will never forget that bond we shared

Ah man, excellent holiday surprise, to see you post a reaction to this album! Like a little gift. First reaction this record is unique and as always your love for the experience and discovery is infectious, so thank you from an old Pink Floyd mega fan. I found your page via Radiohead, and I'll leave it there per comparisons and such, I doubt I'm the only person who shares those 2 bands as my two favorites, though I'm unsure how many of us there are (nor how many who would also specifically add Stevie Ray Vaughan - I'm gonna work on you for a reaction there - and A Tribe Called Quest to round out their top 4) as this ought to be firmly about Pink Floyd. It does sound pretentious but it seems eminently correct to call this a work of art, as a whole, truly, its so much more than individual pop or rock music songs. It has a life, a pulse in this Universe. From the synchronicity of playing it in U with the 'Wizard of Oz' (it works, hah, it really does - if only the visual being a beautiful backdrop for those who may be skeptics on the whole thing - watching 'Great Gig' while the movie part in the synched up timing is playing - its brilliantly powerful visual is really spectacular. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-uNbv0L1x0iA.html ) But the point of that is this album is like a lifelong companion, the layers within and without when analyzing it. I only would listen to it in entirety for years. Still feel like that's the way to go. This album has the Guinness World Record for being in the Top 200 Albums for like 17 years straight I believe....750ish weeks in a row??? I love bands, and the inner workings of members, and the parts they play...Pink Floyd offers that in so many ways, but one such on display in this album, while bassist Roger Waters wrote the music and lyrics for almost all of the band's major output, they divide the lead vocals, with lead guitarist David Gilmour (one of the titans of Guitarists not for his fast playing or insane technical skills but his ludicrous tone, and melody and inventive solos and slide work and just being such a singular and unbelievable sound in pushing this band's songs) is the main singer, but then you get Roger with the more twangy vocals, and even keyboardist Richard Wright who often harmonizes got lead vocals on "Us and Them" in this album...its just cool. When I was 15 I though it was cool and I still do now. These different voices, the band seems larger than life. The message of these key elements of life explored as the album goes, its a life journey conveyed in music, sound, lyrics, dreamscapes...it is the best album on earth to listen to with a certain wonderous botanical substances, it has the coolest album cover ever...but hey, just so glad to share another album experience on your channel, you make it hard not to want to explore music with you. Happy Holiday times, thanks as always. Peace//

Happy New Year, Jack! I woke up && finally checked YT && of course your reaction. I haven’t heard this album in a while. You’re correct, it’s such a warm album. It’s so captivating. Once again, I’m crying && feeling each note && marveling at your facial expressions when a note touches your soul. I feel it, too :)

Just discovered you from the kid an album reaction. And subscribed now! Love it!

I have a top 3 of artists but this always gets a place above because to me it's more then music. It's such an experience and I always listen through the whole album.

keep going brother! love your reactions

Great reaction, man! I loved this and would love to see you do every Floyd album as each deserve this treatment. The way I see it, the first five tracks take you through one cycle of life, while the last 5 touch on specific aspects of life in general. Speak To Me is a cacophony of sounds heard throughout the album, and thus, throughout one's life. Like a prep for the new life about to begin. Breathe is a tutorial for how to live that mew life, almost like words of wisdom passed on just you're born. On the Run is both about the rat race of working for a living and a fear of flying (which is partially how the band was working fir s living at the time), Time is self-explanatory and a message that people need to be aware of how little time we have, Breathe (Reprise) is winding down a taking time for yourself, yet connected to "the tolling bell" and "softly spoken magic spells", which I believe is a funeral mass for someone who's recently passed. The Great Gig In the Sky is the soul of that person who's just passed going through the stages of grief and acceptance which is why it starts off so chaotic and gradually gets more calm. The second half includes Money being about greed, Us And Them is about war, poverty and classism, Any Colour You Like is about fate vs free will, Brain Damage is about mental illness, and Eclipse is the grand finale which encompasses everything. It's a fantastic album. Looking forward to more!

Another great reaction, Jack! Happy holidays to you and your fam over there on the other side of the globe!

Love the content , keep up man

The pleasure and Joy u got from Us and Them made my 🤍Smile so big cause that is how I feel every time I listen . Thank You for The 🤍

Hey Caveman Jack! First off, thank you for taking time to react to music and to create a welcoming community here (and for reading my comment, hopefully). I have watched quite a few music reaction channels, but I can tell you are truly passionate about music. It is nice to find people who are patient enough to listen to entire albums rather than only individual songs that are popular. (Although I have nothing against people who do that either.) My favorite form of music listening is probably in album form so I can see what the artist is really wanting to convey to the listener. I don't know how it was when this album came out since I only listened to about 3 years ago, haha! I pretty much always listened to music while doing homework, and one time I was just curious what Pink Floyd sounded like. For some reason I thought they would be more hard rock, but nope! The Dark Side of the Moon sounded so different to anything else I had heard at the time (2021). Now they are one of my all time favorites when it comes to musicians. If I were to choose only 3 songs from this album they would be... Us and Them The Great Gig in the Sky, and Any Colour You Like Thanks again, and happy happy new year!!

Really good reaction! You did give it a lot of respect and let it play. Your reaction was honest and interesting.

On the run was about their fear of flying which increased because they were flying around so much. You can hear all the references there, the airport announcements, the sounds of planes and the crash at the end. I love how easily Money switches from 7/8 to 4/4 and back to 7/8 again. Not many 7/8 songs out there. That riff though... it's iconic. Eclipse has to be one of the greatest endings to an album with incredible lyrics by Roger. I can paraphrase him when he says that if you feel like life is making you crazy, if you feel like your sun is being eclipsed by the moon then I feel that too. There is such a huge amount of humanity in this album and it speaks to a lot of universal truths that transcend time and space. It will still be relevant in 100 years. Thank you for your honest reaction!. It was a pleasure listening to this with you.

My favourite rock album of all time. I loved the instrumentation on DSOTM when I first heard it aged 10 in the early 1980's and a few years later I was old enough to appreciate the brilliant lyrics.

To me, Us and Them is a masterpiece within a masterpiece.

A detail about the song "Time" when the TIMING of the song slows for the last verse, it turns back in to the previous song "breathe"

Dark Side of the Moon regularly tops lists of the greatest albums of all time (all genres)! It always makes the top 10 of such lists. It's the 3rd biggest selling album in history! It holds the record, by a mile, for most weeks on the Billboard Album Chart, at almost 1,000 weeks! That's almost 20 years! It holds a similar position in the album chart of their home country and in many other charts around the World. It regularly makes reappearances in the top 10 of charts worldwide. It's also one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all-time! Pink Floyd still outsell 99%+ of modern artists Only the Beatles and Led Zeppelin can match them for continuous sales for 50+ years. Floyd aren't just one of the giants of modern music. They're one of the giants of music, full stop! Their music will still be listened to for centuries to come! Their importance is on a par with Mozart and Beethoven, in their era! :)

I remember first experiencing this album at thirteen listening in my best friend’s bedroom. To that point, I’d only heard Floyd’s radio “singles” but his older brothers had all the Floyd albums and we played them endlessly. They’ve been in the fabric of my life ever since.

First time watching someone react to Dark Side of the Moon. You da man!

Really enjoyed your reaction! I hope you do Animals or Meddle soon. :) I consider Dark Side to be a true masterpiece, and my pick for overall best album ever made. It's truly ONE cohesive sound, a near-perfect execution on an epic, timeless concept. See you could look at it as a collection of several large concepts of human life... or you could zoom out and see it as the telling of LIFE ITSELF from birth to death in a split way. "ALL that you touch and ALL that you see... everything under the sun is in tune but the sun is eclipsed by the moon." This album will grow on you and grow with you. You will find something new that you love about it on the 50th listen. That's why it's the goat.

I fell in love with Pink Floyd in 1973 when i heard this album for the first time and i been a rabid Floydian ever since. I never tire of this group. I agree, Us and Them and Time are slight favorites. This album is so huge and influencial it should pass the 1000 week mark on Billboard 200 sometime in 2024. No album is even close and i doubt ever will.

Your take on Time was spot on. The warmth of the music allows you to confront the harsh reality of the lyrics.

That spacey sound in breathe is David Gilmour on pedal steel guitar. pedal steel guitar

life changing album

Great reaction. You Should try The Wall, although it's kinda long lol

Well it's back in the charts again 50 years after release so hell yes.

You need to feel it and you did. Thank you

The great gig in the sky represents in raw emotion, the transition into leaving life, the stages of dying starting with denial, anger, fear, resistance and finally acceptance

Ordered the 50 anniversary LP dark side of the moon ….cant wait to see it.

We had instruments BITD. ...and Clare Torry ! You are a doll!

I am 63 and first heard this album in 1978 and it makes me so happy that generations later this amazing music is understood and appreciated. Will music of this type and standard ever be made again ??

"ONE" of the best??? Easily one of the top 5 at a minimum if not THE best EVER. Done completely in analog recording, with Alan Parsons engineering, it's a masterpiece.

Unbelievably beautiful

The answer to Your question: NO, it is not one of the best....It IS THE BEST OF ALL!

Hey man! Awesome reaction. Are those the atth-r70x's? Been meaning to get new cans and those seem right up my alley but I'm afraid they won't be comfortable. How do you feel about them? Been here since the first Radiohead reactions, keep going!

I got this when it came out. Being a kid Time was just another really cool song. I am now 69 and fully understand it. I will be listening to Pink Floyd until it’s my time to go and hopefully after.

Absolutely

Growing up, my dad didn't play much music, but if he was in a certain mood, he'd put on 'Time'. What a great song to get you up and hyped. That intro! Iconic. Great memories.

Thank you for your appreciation! It was amazing at the time - and many years later, still the same. 😀

To answer your question, Yes!

17:55 you know it's good when you abort the swig of the bottle mid way to your lips to give an ewwwffff face at the saxophone entry

The timing was perfect. This incredible album arrived when progressive rock was at its most virulent, and it soared above everything else and stood proud like a beacon of perfection that has stood the test of time. Pink Floyd set the bar so high that it probably brought progressive rock to an end. It eclipsed everything that went before it, and so much since.

yes!

Perfect album about the meaning of life.

Yes!

You can totally make On The Run with either of those Moog synths behind you 😀

Quite a journey you're on recently man! Can I strongly recommend the album Takk by Sigur Ros? Trust me, you'll have a fantastic time. Hope you're well.

I enjoyed your reaction, may I suggest that you check out their 1994 Pulse concert, get the visual as well as the music, Please continue to see how far the Pink Floyd rabbit hole goes, I'm sure it will be a journey you will enjoy taking. God Bless.

THE best peice of music in history ❤😊

I was 14 years old and Blown Away by this Album!! The complete Album as a whole is how it should be played. I’m 65 this year and it’s still my favorite album . It’s in my car on the Cd player. The three top songs would have to be ( for me) are Time… Great Gig in the Sky and Us and Them. It’s been standing the test of time for 50 years! May I make a request for you to listen to Comfortably Numb live from the Pulse tour(1994). You won’t be sorry!! David Gilmore talks to your soul with his extended solo. Their music takes you on a journey. Enjoy the ride!!!✌🏻❤️

No doubt about it.

I can't talk about personal experience of what this album's release was like back in 1973 since I wouldn't've been born for another 20 years or so... but what I can say is that it's been with me all my life (thanks to dad who introduced me and my brother to music of 'his era') and that it never lost its sheen of quality to me :) When I was younger, it helped to shape my standards for music (and music production), and as I grew older I started to appreciate it only more. It's meditative, space-y, abstract, melancholy but also warm like a hug from an old friend. In my case, it really felt like my only friend in school sometimes, or like my only friend when I moved to a new city after college and didn't have anybody I'd know there, or like my only friend during lonely long-distance travel in my adulthood... I could ramble about DSotM for ages, tbh 🥲 buuut I doubt all the sentimental stuff would be of much interest, haha Loved the video, Jack!!! ❤ It's cool that you only stopped to talk whenever you felt like saying something, and didn't force yourself to pause at every track 😅 considering how uh, seamless the album is designed to be at times

When this album came out I was in my 20s I first saw them in the UFO club when they first started. You need to listen to this in a dark room headphones and a joint I’m 76 now and still do

It would be fantastic to see you're unedited reacting to both DSOTM and WYWH

Time always scares me, even when I know it's coming. And the song too lol

Genius. Masterpiece. Art. Timeless. In 1973 it was massive, and went on to be so for years...even now. It will never be repeated and nothing will ever come close.

For me the album feels like a journey from the womb to death and the afterlife, with a journey into madness along the way. The deep tones on the opening track remind me of some subterranean cave, with the heartbeat hinting at someone getting stronger, awaiting birth. Time reflects life's journey, Great Gig in the sky the journey into an afterlife, perhaps protesting and not wanting to leave at first, then becoming reconciled to the idea and becoming serene, until the final moment. Probably others have a completely different impression, but that's how it feels to me.

Yes it is

I was 18 when this album came out. Headphones, a bong of hash, a dark room, lay back on the couch, and drift away! That is actually what I did the first time I listened to this album. I have never been without a copy of The Dark Side of the Moon in various formats; vinyl, 8 track, cassette, CD, and now, digital. I’m 68 now. The meaning of “Time,” is a literal concept for me now.

There's a reason it sold 45 million copies, and spent 987 weeks on the charts, and you just heard the reason

Well: Yes I still remember where I was, and who I was with. Half a century ago, when I first heard this masterpiece. Guess I was ten at the time.

I'll be honest. Darkside has never clicked for me. Its not bad, but i just don't feel the emotional connection that other people do. Wish You Were Here hits me way harder

Having now watched the entire video the wavy sound you hear throughout is Gilmour on pedal steel guitar.

Definitely check out Pink Floyd "Echoes (Part 1)" live at Pompeii 1972 For reaction purposes def do the Part 1 version as Part 2 has a long sound scape section, probably not the best as a reaction piece.

Yup

Check out Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here and Yes - Close To The Edge as well. All our amazing albums to listen to with headphones, especially in the dark!

Please react to The Beatles! You can do one of their defining records like Abbey Road, or I'd recommend the self titled White Album. It has an incredible range of genres. It's only of those albums where I don't consider every song a 10, but the sum of its parts comes out to a 10/10. Along with Sgt. Pepper's, it also pioneered recording/engineering techniques used in rock for the next 50 years.

Not just one of the greatest rock albums but one of the THE greatest albums

which version are you listening? The mix and master is a little different from streamings and vynil

It's a Bible for modern life. It only charted for a little over 17 years.... 😂😂😂 (yes YEARS)

It's one of the greatest albums of all-time, full stop! It regularly tops lists of the greatest albums of all-time! It holds the record, by a mile, of most weeks on the Billboard Album Chart, at almost 1000 weeks! That's almost 20 years in total. It sold equally well all over the World and still makes regular appearances in charts worldwide, to this day. It's the 3rd biggest selling album in history! :) Their other albums are incredible too and 'The Wall' is the biggest selling double album in history! :)

THEEEE best

Would of first heard this in the womb then once a weekend/Month (at least) for next decade or so of my life ✌️

This album was on the US billboard charts list for 988 weeks. That works to 18+ years.

I was 13 when the album was released. It's hard to think back to the first time I heard it but I don't think the sounds on it were all that surprising, it was of its time in that sense. We were used to weird experimental stuff, we had listened to plenty of psychodelic music, we'd listened to Sgt Pepper, Pet Sounds, The Beatles Double Album (Revolution No 9?). Prog was already a few years old (I wouldn't, personally, classify Pink Floyd as prog), we'd listened to the first couple of albums from Yes and ELP, for example. Go listen to Pink Floyd's Atom Heart Mother, think about the fact that was released three years before and got to no 1 in the album charts in the UK. I suspect these sounds are more surprising to someone that is used to post New Wave music, which is much more straightforward. Short songs, less focus on musical virtuosity, over saturated production, everything mostly just playing at one volume.

Back in the heyday of the vinyl album, audiophiles would often buy multiple copies of albums: one to play, one to play after the first copy wears out, and one to save forever and never take out of the shrink wrap. They're out there; early unopened pressings of DSOTM from the 70s. Like Gutenberg Bibles.

Jack, just found your channel. How do we nominate albums? Chris (UK)