Few bands divide critical opinion like Pink Floyd, simultaneously one of the most revered and reviled groups of all time. While their ambitious, concept-driven music is all but worshipped by their followers, it's often been undercut by sneers from the punk movement and others suspicious of anything approaching pretentiousness in pop music. For anyone who wants to know what all the fuss is about, Echoes is the perfect primer - a two CD, 26-track compilation which traces Floyd's history from Syd Barrett's acid-inspired vaudeville pop to the head-spinning progressive rock of The Wall. While most fans will have grumbles about the track selection, Echoes does exactly what any Best Of should do - equip the casual listener with enough information to know whether they want to investigate any further.
