This is for Darren, and i guess anyone else who is interested. I'm about as big of a Pink Floyd fan as one can be, I've got all their albums and some bootleg stuff of middling quality. I'll go down the list of their albums and tell you what I think:
Piper at the Gates of Dawn(PatGoD): Piper is a silly, fun album, good for when you're high as a kite, or just feeling goofy and need a light album to make you laugh, sing, and feel happy. If I had to label it, I'd call it stoner pop, and its definitely indicative of a band who did a LOT of drugs. Standout songs are "Astronomy Domine"(instrumental featuring excellent drums) and "See Emily Play". Heavily influenced by Syd Barrett.
Saucerful of Secrets(SoS): Saucer is the transition album between Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and Roger Waters' Pink Floyd. Still has some silliness from Syd in it, with songs like Corporal Clegg, but has some more heavy songs on it from Roger. Good album, but not great. I only listen to it once in a while.
Songs from the movie More(More): Not one of my favorites. Never saw the movie, and really only has one good song on it, "Cymbaline". I listen to this maybe once a year, say Oh yeah, thats why i don't listen to that", and move on.
Umma Gumma(UG): Another one that is, in my mind, more of an acid trip put on vinyl than an album. Its 2 discs, one studio, one live. the live puts up a version of Astronomy Domine that is good, as is "Careful with that Axe Eugene". The studio album is good, but not great. And they spend 20 minutes acoustically rambling with "SEVERAL SPECIES OF SMALL FURRY ANIMALS GATHERED TOGETHER IN A CAVE AND GROOVING WITH A PICT". Thats an odd song, with an odd title. Just aural chaos, meant to be listened to while stoned/tripping/both.
Atom Heart Mother(AHM): Solid album, albeit a short one. Its bookended by two tracks that are mostly instrumental, and slightly orchestral, "Atom Heart Mother", and "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast". Both are enjoyable, with only small sections that are dischordant and hard to listen to. And it has one of my favorite songs, "If". Darren, I think you'd really like this album, especially for background music.
Relics(Relics): Basically a collection of previous songs. Good, but no better than previous albums, the songs are no better arranged. I have this one for the collection, but almost never listen to it.
Meddle(Meddle): This is a good album, and features a pig's ear on the front! An easygoing album for the most part, with excellent standout songs "Fearless" and "San Tropez". The title track is mostly instrumental, and gets a little noodly and semi-pointless, but all in all, worth a listen to.
Obscured by Clouds(OBC): This is hands down my favorite Pink Floyd album. Absolutely great stuff from start to finish. Well layed out, with great instrumentals, great imagery, and stunning lyrics. My favorite lyric on the album comes from the triumphant "Free Four": "You are the angel of death, and I am the dead man's son". Darren, I think you'd love this album, and I suggest that anyone who is even a passing PF fan do themselves the service of having a listen.
Dark Side of the Moon(DSotM): What else can I say about this album that hasn't been said before? Its my second favorite album, and is just superb. The only reason I wouldn't rate this ahead of OBC is that Waters' depressing outlook is starting to creep in here.
Wish You Were Here(WYWH): Excellent album, even if it does feature a song that is most played by college douchebags with guitars trying to get laid, the title track. Solid from start to finish, but I would put it on a lower tier than OBC and DSotM. Definitely a Roger Waters album.
Animals(Animals): Good album, with very listenable songs. It tries to be a throw back to Atom Heart Mother and Meddle, I think, but still has Roger Waters writing those depressing lyrics. Still, they work, and the music itself is very good. Stand out songs: Pigs on the Wing, and Dogs.
The Wall(Wall): In my opinion, the most overrated Floyd album out there. I loved this album when I was an angsty teenager, and I suppose it still works on that level, but still, there are some songs on there, like One of My Turns and Waiting for the Worms that would be home in any emo band today. That said, there are still excellent songs on this album, like Comfortably Numb and Run Like Hell.
A Collection of Dance Songs(ACODS): Possibly the worst album of all, this takes from various earlier albums, and puts together songs disjointedly, though many say that this album is a tribute to Syd Barrett.
Final Cut(FC): What a bitter album, full of vitriol, depression, anger, and general hate. This is the album that broke up the band. Waters was going off the heavy end, and the rest of the band just couldn't take his lyrics and heavy-handed direction any more. Rick Wright even refused to play on the album. I very rarely listen to this album. Darren, unless you want to end up in a funk, stay away from this one.
A Momentary Lapse of Reason(AMLoR): The new Floyd was lighter, and the songs were good, but there was definitely something missing without Waters, some of the depth and breadth of their songs was gone. Still, has some standout songs, such as Learning to Fly, Dogs of War, and On the Turning Away.
Delicate Sound of Thunder(DSOT): Another "Best of" album, this time live, and all done without Waters. Some of the old songs lose their oomph, like Another Brick In the Wall and Comfortably Numb. Not a bad album, but just a rehash.
The Division Bell(TDB): I would consider this a good album that is more than the sum of its parts. Most of the songs are mediocre, but come together in a pattern that is pleasing to the ears. Most of the songs have to do with communication, and many say that the songs were directed towards Waters, but Gilmour denies this, saying it was more with him and his wife. Some of the songs were written by his wife, and it shows, they tend to be the more shallow songs on the album. Lots of piano work on this one. Standout songs include: Keep Talking, Lost for Words, and Marooned.
Pulse: Another complilation/live album. Okay stuff, though Gilmour shows he's getting old when he can't hit those notes he was once able, nor does he have the singing range or talent that Waters had.
Overall ranking of albums:(in order of my tastes)
Obscured by Clouds
Dark Side of the Moon
Atom Heart Mother
Wish You Were Here
Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Meddle
Animals
The Wall
Saucerfull of Secrets
Momentary Lapse of Reason
Division Bell
Pulse
Delicate Sound of Thunder
Umma Gumma
More
The Final Cut
Relics
A Collection of Dance Songs
