Of all the rock albums that have been released in the last 50 years, there are few that surpass the incredible status of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon. The cover itself is so famous that it has transcended the world of music and has become one of the most memorable icons from all music. But does the album warrant such a high place in the music world? Is the album just as good as the cover?

There are definitely great reasons to enjoy this project. David Gilmour’s guitar solos are superb, good examples are on tracks like “Money” and “Time.” I feel like they’re thematically paired with Roger Waters’s cynical lyricism throughout the album to great effect. However, there are some weak tracks. While there are good elements of “On the Run,” “Any Colour You Like,” and “Speak to Me,” they aren’t as excellent or blow my mind as much as the other songs that appear on the album. And that in my opinion hinders the album from reaching true greatness. And that makes up a decent chunk of the whole project.

So, what are the takeaways? Songs like “On the Run” and “Any Colour You Like” are not what I would consider to be on the same level as something like “Time,” “Money,” or “Brain Damage.” The album is also designed to be a cohesive experience, with many songs flowing into each other. Unfortunately, that also means that some of the keys that the songs are in are similar to each other, making the tracklist feel a bit redundant at times. I love the concept and execution of ideas, and admire the band’s attempt at arranging these songs under a common theme. If you want an album that makes a cohesive experience a different way, I would heavily recommend listening to David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust.

Overall, I understand why the album has the iconic status it does, but I think that it is overrated by a decent margin. It’s one of those projects that everyone should listen to at least once, but it isn’t without flaws in its ambitious path.