The one Pink Floyd album Roger Waters called perfect……

Roger Waters, the creative force behind much of Pink Floyd’s music, has called The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) “perfect.” This remark highlights his deep admiration for the album, which he considers the band’s most cohesive and complete artistic statement. While Waters has had a complex relationship with many of Pink Floyd’s works, The Dark Side of the Moon stands as a pinnacle in his mind, both musically and conceptually.

Released at the height of Pink Floyd’s creative and commercial success, The Dark Side of the Moon is an ambitious concept album that explores themes of mental illness, the passage of time, mortality, and the pressures of modern life. It marked a shift toward a more refined and polished sound for the band, blending progressive rock with elements of jazz, blues, and experimental music. The album’s use of synthesizers, tape loops, and sound effects was groundbreaking, creating an immersive listening experience that was both sonically rich and thematically deep.

Waters has expressed particular admiration for how the album’s themes are unified throughout its tracks, creating a sense of flow and continuity that makes the whole feel like one seamless piece of music. The lyrics, which delve into existential questions and the nature of human experience, are matched by the band’s innovative soundscapes, driven by David Gilmour’s soulful guitar work and Nick Mason’s atmospheric drumming. The iconic opening track, “Speak to Me,” transitions smoothly into “Breathe,” and the album continues to weave through songs like “Time,” “The Great Gig in the Sky,” and “Money,” each contributing to the overall narrative arc.

The album’s commercial success—spending over 14 years on the Billboard 200 chart—has cemented its status as a cultural touchstone. Its profound influence on rock music and its ability to resonate with listeners across generations are testament to its enduring power.

For Waters, The Dark Side of the Moon is a near-perfect realization of his vision, a work of art where everything fell into place in terms of concept, execution, and emotional impact. This high regard for the album stands in stark contrast to his often critical view of some of Pink Floyd’s later works, making his praise of The Dark Side even more significant.