Pink Floyd

The Best Of Pink Floyd

Too much from the post Waters era

Review Score:

(8/10)
I don't want to be disrespectful to the current line-up because however I feel about their post Waters work these guys were involved in the making of some of my favorite music of all time. That having been said I have to ask how can they seriously justify putting five post Waters tracks on this compilation. Other reviewers have questioned the lack of 'Welcome to the Machine' and 'Have a Cigar'. That's a valid point but the inclusion of these two would mean that the entire 'Wish You Were Here' lp would be represented. I can't imagine that any real Floyd fan would question the decision to put parts one through seven of 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' on here and the title track really can't be denied so what can they do? This isn't a box set. I can understand that bands want their best of compilations to span their entire careers and I don't think it's a coincidnce that there are five Barrett songs represented here as well. The difference is that the Barrett stuff is brilliant but the post Waters just doesn't hold up. Waters' solo stuff is much better (even 'Radio Kaos'). 'High Hopes' is especially painful listening. Its inferiority only highlighted by its sandwiching between two stellar Barrett tracks. I think it's reasonable of them to include only one post Waters tune and in exchange for that they should have included a Waters' solo tune. Whether or not it contains the name Pink Floyd it IS the real Pink Floyd that has been etched into my brain. 'Pros and Cons' is in the same league as 'The Wall'. I would have included 'Waiting for the Worms', 'Not Now John', 'Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict' (from Ummagumma) and 'If' (from Atom Heart Mother). Including, 'When the Tigers Broke Free' previously only in the movie version of 'The Wall' is a good choice and not just an attempt to get die hard fans to buy the whole set for one track. In truth, this track really gets into the heart of late Waters' era Floyd. If you know anything about their music and listen to the lyrics and to the sound you'll realize that this is truely a great Pink Floyd song that belongs on a best of compilation. The blending of the songs together works well and makes the album more interesting and more coherent. Some fans point out that Floyd records should be listened to in their entirety and I agree that it's important to listen to their music that way if you really want to understand it. However, that doesn't mean that their individual tracks can't hold up alone. It's also cool to just take the songs one at a time. By the way, Pink Floyd's best record is 'Animals'.

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