What Rolling Stone’s 1973 Dark Side Review Actually Said — and How the Album’s Reputation Changed

Rolling Stone’s original review of The Dark Side of the Moon ran in March 1973, written by Loyd Grossman. He called it “a fine album” with “a strong, warm sound” and praised the band’s ambition, but he also flagged the lyrics as “sometimes banal” and said the music could feel “a bit too slick.” The final rating was three stars — solid, not ecstatic. Grossman even wondered if the album’s “pretensions” might wear thin over time