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Barrett

Syd Barrett - Barrett Audio CD

A fair review of the Syd Barrett "Barrett" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Syd Barrett reviews here, or go back to the Syd Barrett tabs.

Band: Syd Barrett
Title: Barrett
Rating:

Release Date: 1996-07-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks:

first purchase
this was my first purchase using "Amazon" and this seller made me want to come back and buy again "wonderful" that's what i have to say.

Life Signs Fading...
First is the fun pop/psychedelia that would be comfortable on any Saturday morning Kroft Superstar episode of the 70s or even the Flintstones/Jetsons vision of rock music; second is the long instrumental jams that characterized the "drugged-out" English underground music scene of the day; lastly, we have the dark depressing sounds of Syd's deepening decay. I find three main song writing styles in Syd. . . sort of like the Pee Wee Herman split personality thing. In his tenure with Pink Floyd the first two styles were explored in depth and the final reared its head exclusively in "Jugband Blues". In his first solo outing, "The Madcap Laughs" we see mainly the first catagory. "Madcap" seems a logical progression from his later Floyd offerings. The songs are offbeat, a bit ramshackle, and a bit disturbing; however, Syd seems rather lucid for the most part and actually seems to be having fun. This is not the case with the "Barrett" album. "Barrett" is probably the most depressing album ever recorded. Every song on this disc is in the dark final style as pointed out above. I will argue that this release is far less accessible than than "The Madcap Laughs" despite David Gilmour's efforts to produce structured rock songs. First off, "Madcap" had a pop sensibilty; Syd was writing songs he thought would be popular. Just listen to "Terrapin", "Love You", "Here I Go", "Octopus", etc. On that album he sang with emotion. . . even if he was out of tune at times. On this "Barrett" album Syd is beyond worrying about wrong notes; he is having trouble singing. . . period. His sense of concentration seems to have been a matter of struggle. The vocals on every song present are emotionless and dead; even the whimsical "Elephant" sounds like Syd imitating his old self. . . and faring poorly. The muddy bass heavy production also darkens this record giving it a cold basement sound. This is a good album for what it is; I enjoy all of the songs. It's just a very sad listen; especially when viewed from a chronological standpoint. It's also intersting to note that goth bands like Sisters of Mercy (and others) who try so hard to be depressing and morbid can't come close to Syd's deterioration. Can there be any song darker than "Dominoes" or "It is Obvious". Too bad there couldn't have been another album. .

Baby Lemonade - remake
Check out http://www. Dig this album!
Artist Dimthingshineon recently did a cover of Syd Barrett songs: "No Good Trying" and "Baby Lemonade" on his latest 4 CD project called "Nostalgia" released in 2009. myspace. com/dimthingshineon
or http://www. geocities. com/dimthingshineon
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Barrett Kicks Butt!
I was hearing much talk about Syd Barrett's music and thought there is so much talk about his music esp this cd here. I wasn't born in the sixties and I wasn't the biggest fan of Pink Floyd but I have heard them. so I purchased this cd and listened to it and wasn't able to turn it off. The songs are so awesome! I love everyone of these songs and normally I'm maybe I might like one or two songs from a cd but for the first time I discovered I loved the full cd. This cd has so much to offer and if your undecided just listen to the samples but they don't justify the complete songs in full. I have every Syd Barrett Cd made out there but this one is one of the greatest one's to me. what can I say. I Love It!.

The one with the bugs on the cover
Sadly, many people feel this way. Last week (at this writing), some of us were gathered at a friend's house for a cookout, and when the topic of conversation went to music, someone mentioned Syd Barrett, and a guy I have known for many years said, with a lot of venom in his voice, "Syd Barrett was a complete waste," I felt the need to defend him. But, on the good side, he still has a lot of fans and supporters, myself included.

In my review of "The Madcap Laughs," I rated it with four stars. This wasn't necessarily due to it having a piecemeal format; that is fine, I did so because of the disjointed way the second half goes. It sort of falls apart. And the version of "Dark Globe," was simply shrieked, as opposed to the superior version included on "Opel. " "If It's In You?" Imagine the Gong Show panelists "gang gonging" him; it isn't difficult to picture. Roger Waters and David Gilmour said it was a nightmare doing that record ("Madcap," that is).

"Barrett," the one with with the insects on the cover, was also an allegedly frustrating experience to record, but the results were a lot more even and professional sounding. First, there is a consistent line-up here. Humble Pie's drummer, Jerry Shirley, also on some of the "Madcap" sessions, plays most of the drum parts on this. Rick Wright plays all of the piano and organ this time, and one-man-band David Gilmour plays bass, as well as uncredited guitar, keyboards, and does some drumming as well. It must have been strange, doing sessions with several members of the band that fired you at the peak of your success. But, with the exception of Floyd drummer Nick Mason, they all have nothing but kind things to say about him. And if you ever have the opportunity to watch any Mason interviews, you'll notice he becomes strangely quiet when talking about Syd Barrett. I personally think he didn't like him very much, as a musician or as a friend. If I am wrong, I'll stand corrected, though I doubt I am.

"Baby Lemonade" starts it off, with an arpeggiated guitar solo provided by David Gilmour, and via overdubs, he doubles on bass. Barrett sings two-part harmony with himself with the overdubs, and as with almost all of Barrett's material, it has a certain innocence to it. Same with "Love Song," a pleasant no-frills song about a girl he knew and liked; he could tell the simplest stories, the kind you could tell to a little kid, but with an adult sophistication. It's hard to believe this is the same mind which came up with "Arnold Layne," the infamous cross-dresser song. Of course, this child-like delivery is offset with "Dominoes," somber and bleak-sounding, with a backward guitar solo and double-tracked drums. One track plays foreward, as the other plays backward. A better-known performance which uses this trick is Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" If you haven't heard "Dominoes" before, it has the same kind of production. Of course, it's a different piece altogether, but you get the idea.

"It Is Obvious" is just a basic two-chord song, similar in mood to "Love Song," in it's just him delivering a somewhat catchy melody with the back-up band accompanying him, which leads into "Rats. " It's everything one would picture. A one-chord, cacaphoneous jumble while the lead vocal provides a recitation of what sounds like coffee house beatnik poetry. As Frank Zappa would say, it has "No Commercial Potential. " This is geared to the more hard-core fans of Barrett's work, and myself, I think it's great.

"Maise" is a gloomy blues number, Barrett droning the lyrics in a lower-register voice about ". . . bad luck, the bride of a bull. . . " to a minor key jam which sounds like it could be used in a cheap, really bad B movie. But he brings us back up a little with "Gigolo Aunt," one of his "hits," per se. When he is good, he is very good, as this, and the next number, "Waving My Arms In The Air" show. In "Waving. . . " he gives a very wise, sage-like message: "You shouldn't try to be what you can't be. " This segues into "I Never Lied To You. " There is an honesty in his more accesible lyrics I feel a lot of people miss. He had a very simple approach to life, however much he complicated it himself.

"Wined And Dined" is another good example of his simple approach to things: ". . . Wined and dined, oh it seemed just like a dream. Girl was so kind; kind of love I'd never seen. . . " He really was a poet of the highest calibre.

"Wolfpack" gives us a look at the more frantic approach to his work. Interesting is his double-band approach to this. In one channel, you have the band playing it acoustically, with piano and acoustic guitar and Barrett singing melody, and in the other, the band is playing electric instruments, organ and some interesting Fender Telecaster abuse(I say this jokingly) with Barrett singing a histrionic, higher version of the same lyrics. This is overlooked creative genius.

"Barrett" winds down with "Effervescing Elephant," a return to the child-like approach he often used in his writing. Once again, it is a silly song that young child and seasoned adult can appreciate equally.

Syd Barrett may be gone, but his legacy WILL live on, even if some folks look at him as a "waste. " He was, and still is, a VERY important figure in contemporary music. I don't care what anyone says, I think he was great.
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You can see a complete list of all Syd Barrett discography, or go back to the Syd Barrett tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.