This is a topic Ive been pondering on for over 30 years. What music genre or category if you prefer, to place Pink Floyd?

When my mates were listening to the likes of Cold Chisel and Australian Crawl, I was always listening to Pink Floyd or maybe Led Zeppelin and others. So I never had the group to work this one out.

They dont seem to fit any genre and I have always looked at them as totally different to anything else, maybe my mind hasnt been expanded enough.

There is still nothing since like them. There have been the isolated epic songs, ie: Led Zeppelin (Stairway to Heaven), Mike Oldfied (tubular bells) Stevie Wright (Evie - Pts 1-3). But nothing like for example: Shine on you crazy diamond Parts 1 - 7, ( 17 min 30sec of genius).

In todays concentration devoid generation perhaps their ilk will never been seen again.

Stoner music genre???????

log man said...

Mushroom art school.

NAAAA! I'M totally wrong,my local music expert says ACID...art school ....I"M a KNOB

rock

Retirement home muzak

I just kick back, close my eyes and chill out to this one.

BulldogPup said...

Well Roger Waters is in the Legend classification for my 3 cents

That would be rounded up to 5cents now.

Cold Chisel to me = the beginning of men wearing bright coloured tights on the stage.

Australian Crawl = OK pub band at the time, surprisingly louder live in a pub than on the video clips with the clean image. Saw them a couple of times in Sydney, real early 80s, seedy pub place in Pyrmont I think.

Scotty88 said...

Progressive rock

The very definition of. Question answered.

Progressive rock developed from late 1960s psychedelic rock, as part of a wide-ranging tendency in rock music of this era to draw inspiration from ever more diverse influences. The term was initially applied to the music of British bands such as Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, reaching its peak of popularity in the mid 1970s.

Stuk said...
In todays concentration devoid generation perhaps their ilk will never been seen again.

This attitude is a sure sign you stopped listening to new music 30 years ago. Sad for you. So many people turn 25 or 30 and shut their ears for the rest of their lives for some inexplicable reason.

The one new tune of the week heavily promoted on your local "greatest hits of the 70s, 80s & 90s" radio station doesn't count.

Genius is there if you are willing to listen for it. Put some good headphones on, turn this up, close your eyes, and listen. Listen to how each sound is created. How many little sounds you can hear when you try. How many commonplace objects are used to make music. How intricately the rhythms are built up of small unrelated parts.

soundcloud.com/fractal-phono/fractal-phono-2011-summer

I don't expect you to get it... that example probably doesn't have enough singing for your tastes. But my point is - it's out there, you just need to look.

Just to stir debate - Waters vs Gilmour. Who do you prefer ?

I hate writing this cause they were both brilliant together.

Waters was better writer,composer and Gilmour was better musician - vocals and guitar. And a big IMO of course.

Progressive Rock. Although I suspect what you're thinking about is the huge range of styles they have performed, from Psychedelic Rock to Rock Anthem and even a little Stadium Rock and Rock Theatre. For me, this is one reason the term Progressive Rock was coined.

As for the Waters vs Gilmore debate. I dont think it does justice to either or the band. Together they made some absolutely timeless classics, yet they also allowed individual artistic freedom and backed each other for a long time. Perhaps Waters is a better lyricist and storyteller, perhaps Gilmore is a better musician but hey, I cut my hair to avoid split hairs :)

pierrec45 said...

Progressive rock *at the time*.

Not quite as rock or hard hitting (IMO) as BS or King Crimson.

Always thought Gilmour was the quiet genius behind the band's success.

Totally agree, Went and saw Roger Waters last month in Perth and though it was a good concert David Gilmour/Pink Floyd's Delicate sounds of thunder tour at the tennis centre was so much better. Both bands played Run like hell at the end and it was a no contest, Gilmours had way better sound, lighting, lasers, fireworks and energy as with the rest of the concert, you just knew straight away you'll never see a show that good again, it sounds just like the CD.
What I also love about Floyd is their music isn't about crappy love songs (except maybe "Dirty woman" ), I just think Gilmour's music is technically brilliant on a level shared with Mark Knopfler.

Mark _australia said...

I always thought they were punk.

Certainly the Kiwi's call them Punk Floyd

Johnny Rotten says otherwise:

"I hate Pink Floyd"

How about: Atmospheric Rock.