Best Pink Floyd albums

Here's a brief explanation of each album and its placement:

1. Animals - I think this is PF at their peak of collaboration. Very powerful lyrics by Waters, breathtaking guitar work by Gilmour, and even Richard Wright adds some memorable keyboard licks. Certainly an underdog, but I have no problem with naming it #1.

2. The Wall - The album which will make you think (if you listen to it sober, of course). An amazing philosophical insight into alienation by Roger Waters. BTW, the new live version is excellent.

3. THe Division Bell - Now, I know that some hardcore PF fans out there despise everything recorded after Waters' departure from the band, but I think that they're full of crap. This album delivers more than anyone could've ever expected from Gilmour and Wright. The album definitely holds ground as a concept album as well.

4. DSOTM - The critics always praise this album which has led many people to believe that it's "overrated". No way. DSOTM is simply excellent and there's no way around it. One recommendation though: keep the CD in your collection, but never actually listen to it - the radio stations overplay it as it is. :) Take it out once a year or so, pop it in your CD player and enjoy. :)

5. Atom Heart - Close call between AHM and Meddle. I like AHM more because it has better "short songs" than Meddle. I think of both "AHM Suite" and "Echoes" as masterpieces, but I think "If" and "Fat Old Sun" beats everything else on Meddle.

6. Meddle - Echoes. Nuff said.

7. Wish You Were Here - Even if you got rid of all the songs on this album and left only "Shine On You..." - it would still kick ass. I never cared much for the whole Syd Barret nostalgic trip, but the music alone just blows my mind.

8. The Final Cut - An incredibly sad album with very poignant lyrics from Waters. The political commentary is a bit outdated, but who can forget Maggie and the Falklands? :) If you like this, make sure you check out Waters' "Amused to Death".

9. Relics - The only PF compilation that I like. I love it for the singles such as "See Emily Play" and "Biding My Time" (which is, IMHO, the best strip song ever :)).

10. Obscured by Clouds - Very musical. Waters' lyrics start kicking in too at this point. Also, "Stay" is one of my favorite Wright songs ever.

I see sort of a border line between albums 1-10 and 11-20. The albums sort of go downhill from here.

11. A Momentary Lapse... - I think they were still struggling at this point without Waters in the band. Still, the album has some awesome tunes by Gilmour.

12. Saucerful of Secrets - Early Floyd, and although Syd was not in the band, you can still hear his influence. It would take another album or two to finally purge the psychodelic sound out of their systems. I love "Corporal Clegg" though!

13. Piper at the Gates... - What can I say? I never was a big fan of Syd Barrett. Just like #12, it has a few great songs ("Lucifer Sam"!), but it does sound to acid-dependent. :)

14. Delicate Sound... - Post-Waters Floyd performing Waters' songs without Waters. Hmmm. That just never sounded right. If there weren't albums which I considered worse, I'd place both Floyd live albums at the bottom of the list.

15. PULSE - See #14. Hey, how about another live rendition of "Comfortably Numb", huh???

16. Ummagumma Live - Okay, I had to split this album in two parts. I can tolerate the live part, but I can't stand the studio crap.

17. More - I never really saw anything special in this album. Yes, even that "Nile Song" that everyone loves. There's just too much screaming of mediocre lyrics going on here. Next, please.

18. Ummagumma Studio. Yuck. I simply can't get into this album, no matter how hard I try. Nick Mason should stick with car racing.

19. Works - Argh. Aside from containing "Embryo", this shitty compilation has nothing new to offer. Skip.

20. Great Dance Songs - This is whay you get for listening to studio execs. With no disrespect to the songs contained on this CD, I'd prefer using it as a coaster.

Finally, if you disagree with anything on this list, feel free to reply. An exchange of opinions is more than welcome.