Music should mirror our emotions in a way that we might not be able to convey otherwise. An important part of us since the beginning of recorded time, in 1973, British Rock band Pink Floyd put to tape what is considered one of the most exhilarating experiences in modern music… The Dark Side of the Moon.
Having released seven studio albums prior to 1973, each with a level of success, The Dark Side of the Moon redefined Pink Floyd and Progressive Rock in general. A concept record of the highest order, the ideas behind it all revolve around conflict, life, death, and our inner most troubling thoughts. Exemplified through sound, the sonic aspects of the album remain some of the most dazzling ever to be recorded.
Widely considered Pink Floyd’s best record by many, and broadly considered one of the best albums of all-time, now in 2023 The Dark Side of the Moon celebrates its 50th anniversary. An anniversary that comes with much to reflect on, perhaps the biggest aspect of it all is how significantly important the music still remains after all this time. Influential, pioneering, and incomparable, the 50th anniversary celebration has included the release epic box set back on March 24th, a new documentary called Eclipse (put out on the band’s YouTube channel on October 10th), plus The Dark Side of the Moon Redux release on October 6th; which is Roger Waters’ re-imagining of the original music.
An abundant amount of material to digest in honor of 50 years of The Dark Side of the Moon, on October 13th the newly remastered edition of the album was made available as standout physical formats for the first time outside the box set. What does this mean? It means you can pick up the 2023 remastered edition either on CD, LP or Blu-ray. A good option for those who want to hear the remastered edition without breaking the bank, each edition offers something different. That in mind, if you are looking for something compact, the CD edition may be the way to go.
The CD edition comes in a cut and dry digipak with a single disc and booklet featuring lyrics and linear notes. Rather simplistic, the real reason to purchase this or any of the new releases is to experience the 2023 remastering. Remastered by longtime Pink Floyd Producer James Guthrie, in truth, one would need to have a really keen ear to hear any differences from prior masters of the music. However, if you are paying really close attention, this new mastering actually appears to be a little quieter than prior sessions. So, depending on your ears, you may actually appreciate this more; because sometimes when something is mastered too loudly it can cause ear fatigue.
Nonetheless, with an album of this caliber, it is difficult to improve on it all too much. However, it is very easy to tarnish it with fancy new technologies, and fortunately that is not the case with this release. All this said, picking up a copy is probably a must for long-time fans, but for some, the subtle differences may not make all too much of a difference. Either way, it is exciting to reflect on The Dark Side of the Moon 50 years later, and that is why Cryptic Rock gives the new remastered CD 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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