Album Name: The Dark Side Of The Moon
Producer: Pink Floyd
Artist: Pink Floyd
Year/Date: 1973
Genre: Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Hard Rock, Art Rock, Space Rock
The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, over two sessions, between May 1972 and January 1973. Several sound effect loops were created, and put into the recordings, for example; coins being thrown into a bowl, and this would later be used in the recording of the song "Money". The album is especially well known for its use of metronomic sound effects in the song "Speak To Me". For example, a piano chord is used, but played backwards, and this serves as an increase of the build-up effects.
The sound effects featured on "money" were created by mixing together the recording of the coins, tearing paper, the ringing of a cash register, and a clicking adding machine. These were used to create an effects loop (an effects loop is an input or output that enables a user to insert effects between the preamp and or eq section and the power section of an amplifier).
They added synthesisers to create a unique sound. For example, on "Brain Damage" and "Any Colour You Like", they experimented with EMS VCS 3. This is a portable analogue synthesiser. In "Time" and "On The Run", they used a Synthi A, which is another type of portable analogue synthesiser.
They had a specially treated bass drum, which was made to resemble the human heartbeat, which is used in both "Speak To Me", "On The Run", "Time" and "Eclipse".
In several tracks featured on the album, including "Time", there are examples of harmonising. To take advantage of this, Parsons utilised the double tracking method, meaning Gilmour could harmonise with himself.
Another main feature of the album, is snippets of voices between and over the music. To do this, a series of questions were printed on flashcards, and members of the recording studio were placed in front of the microphone, and told to answer them as they were recorded. They were simple questions like "What's your favourite colour?". The questions then became progressively more in depth, for example "when was the last time you were violent?". Some examples of the recordings used, were "live for today, gone tomorrow, that's me ...", "I never said I was frightened of dying" and "there is no dark side in the moon, really. As a matter of fact it's all dark".
This album was revolutionary, as they created a new genre within rock - Psychedelic and Space Rock. Its release is often seen as a integral point in the history of rock music. Pink Floyd and Radiohead are often compared to each other, because both albums share the same themes of relating to the loss of a creative individual's ability to function in the modern world. The songs were
References:
Dimery, RD, 2011. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 4th ed. London: Tristan de Lancey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon
Album Name: The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
Producer: Ken Scott, David Bowie
Artist: David Bowie
Year/Date: 1972
Genre: Glam Rock, Art Rock
By November 1971, 'Hang On To Yourself', 'Ziggy Stardust', 'Star' (formerly Rock n Roll Star), 'Moonage Daydream', 'Soul Love', 'Lady Stardust' and 'Five Years' had been produced.
'Starman', which was released as a single, had examples of sound effects within it, which were described as a "loud mix of morse code" section.
Bowie’s lyrics and vocals are emotional and deep, while guitarist Mick Ronson kept the tone of the music down to a respectable rock level with his guitar riffs.
An off-beat drum pattern by Mick Woodmansey opens the song “Five Years”. It gives a sense of uneasiness, which is represented throughout. “Soul Love” is also based on percussion, accompanied by steadily strummed acoustic and unique vocal choruses by Bowie. During the chorus, there is some strongly accented layered electric guitars performed by Ronson, paired with Bowie's saxophone solo, finishing off the album. "Moonage Daydream" continues with the acoustic theme, with Trevor Bolder's animated bass, and the use of the sharp, electric riff overtones. This song creates a sonic feel with its orchestration, backing vocals, piano, and guitar lead at the end.
"Starman" is a classic style David Bowie song. It thematically harkens back to the same style of his first major hit "Space Oddity". An acoustic ballad, highlighted by transitional space age effects, orchestration and powerful riffs, the song is one of Bowie's most successful.
“Ziggy Stardust”, unique with instrumentation which leans towards riff-based classic rock during the verses, while the choruses lean towards the newer Bowie sound. highlights the two parts of the song with distinct vocals and well delivered lyrics in each.
This album is revolutionary because it takes the musicianship demonstrated in Bowie’s previous album, to a new extent, in which Bowie really hit his stride and forged his distinctive sound. It was named the 35th best album ever made by Rolling Stone on their list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. It's the only glam rock album to have stoof the test of time. Over 40 years later, it is still considered one of the greatest albums ever made. Bowie's vocals change with every song, giving a new feel to every song. Bowie was the one to create glam rock, and it appears that this genre is only associated with him.
References:
Dimery, RD, 2011. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 4th ed. London: Tristan de Lancey.
http://www.classicrockreview.com/2012/11/1972-david-bowie-ziggy/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rise_and_Fall_of_Ziggy_Stardust_and_the_Spiders_from_Mars#Legacy
Producer: Butch Vig
Artist: Nirvana
Year/Date: 1991
Genre: Grunge, Rock
This is the second studio album Nirvana recorded, which was released on September 24, 1991 by DGC Records. Kurt Cobain desired to make music, thinking outside of the restrictive confines of the Seattle grunge scene, and was influenced by other groups such as the Pixies and how they used "loud/quiet" dynamics.
Before going straight into recording, the band had a few days where they worked with Butch Vig, in tightening up the song arrangements. Once all these were done, the band began recording and spent up to 10 hours a day in the studio. They adapted a methodical approach to the recording, as they tried recording each song two or three times, and if they were still not happy with the recording after three tries, they would move onto another song, and come back to this one later. Typically, only a few takes were needed, as the songs has been rehearsed previously, so the recording of it was successful over the two or three tries. Kurt Cobain used a variety of guitars, ranging from Fender Stratocasters to Fender Jaguars, whilst Novoselic used a black 1979 and natural 1976 Gibson Ripper. Cobain had to work longer on the overdubs, singing, and the lyrics which were sometimes finished a few minutes before recording. Cobain's phrasing was so consistent over several takes, that sometimes Vig would get all of the recordings for that song, and mix the takes together to form overdubs.
Once the band started to mix the tracks, they began to grow unhappy with how it sounded. So they decided to call in somebody else to mix them, and that was Andy Wallace, who co-produced the Slayer album, Seasons in the Abyss. He ran the songs through various special effects boxes, tweaked the sound of the drums, and completing just one mix a day.
This album was revolutionary because despite the low success and popularity expectations by both the band and record label, Nevermind surprised everybody, with its success in later 1991, mainly due to the popularity of its first single, "Smells Like Teen Spirit". By January the following year, it had replaced Michael Jackson's 'Dangerous' at number one. The RIAA certified the album diamond, meaning that there was over 10 million copies shipped worldwide. Nevermind was responsible for bringing both alternative rock and grunge to a wider, more mainstream audience, and has been ranked very highly on lists of the greatest albums of all time. The warped pop songs were mixed with punk sound, and the power chords of metal. The album established Cobain as one of rocks most iconic singers.
References:
Dimery, RD, 2011. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 4th ed. London: Tristan de Lancey.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevermind
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