Waiting for the Worms
Big Birthday wishes go out today to Watergate Operative G. Gordon Liddy, Benson star Robert Guillaume, 80s rocker Bill Idol and sports icon Vincent Edward Jackson (Bo knows everything). Let’s not forget to mention that this day marks the 40th Anniversary of Independence from Great Britain for Barbados. With the impending snow storms, I would much rather be there.
Today, way back in 1979, one of the greatest and most influential pieces of music was made available (in the UK at least) to the general public. British progressive rock band Pink Floyd released their landmark and anthemic rock opera, The Wall.
This album has influenced millions of musicians and fans spanning multiple generations. Worldwide over 30 million copies have been sold of this Roger Waters penned classic. It was not until I went off to college (MTSU represent!) and met my fraternity “Big Brother” did I really delve into the seriousness of the Pink Floyd sound and lyrics, a reverence that I still share to this day with my buddy G-Man.
Although this album is 27 years old it still holds up against any piece of music created during the rock and roll years. The raw emotion that emanates from the mouth (and mind) of Roger Waters as he sings as the anti-hero of the album still brings goose-bumps to my arms especially when coupled with the virtuosity of guitar legend, David Gilmour. Not since The Who’s original rock opera, Tommy has a double album’s worth of rock and storytelling been so adored by music fans around the world.
Nothing since has remotely attempted such an undertaking as to meld great lyrics that tell a profound story with amazing musical sounds. Many will try and all will fail to duplicate or replicate the seriousness of The Wall. Younger generations may point to The Smashing Pumpkins and their double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness or even more recently to Green Day’s American Idiot; however, the odds of these albums having the staying power of The Wall is low at best.
Today, way back in 1979, one of the greatest and most influential pieces of music was made available (in the UK at least) to the general public. British progressive rock band Pink Floyd released their landmark and anthemic rock opera, The Wall.
This album has influenced millions of musicians and fans spanning multiple generations. Worldwide over 30 million copies have been sold of this Roger Waters penned classic. It was not until I went off to college (MTSU represent!) and met my fraternity “Big Brother” did I really delve into the seriousness of the Pink Floyd sound and lyrics, a reverence that I still share to this day with my buddy G-Man.
Although this album is 27 years old it still holds up against any piece of music created during the rock and roll years. The raw emotion that emanates from the mouth (and mind) of Roger Waters as he sings as the anti-hero of the album still brings goose-bumps to my arms especially when coupled with the virtuosity of guitar legend, David Gilmour. Not since The Who’s original rock opera, Tommy has a double album’s worth of rock and storytelling been so adored by music fans around the world.
Nothing since has remotely attempted such an undertaking as to meld great lyrics that tell a profound story with amazing musical sounds. Many will try and all will fail to duplicate or replicate the seriousness of The Wall. Younger generations may point to The Smashing Pumpkins and their double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness or even more recently to Green Day’s American Idiot; however, the odds of these albums having the staying power of The Wall is low at best.
posted by LeBlanc at 10:03 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home