There is nothing like laying back, closing your eyes, and just listening to a Pink Floyd album beginning to end. This band blew up in the world of rock for good reason and, like any good rock band, originated in the UK. They have joined the reign of the greats as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1996.

The iconic prism comes to mind when most think of Pink Floyd, but in my opinion, that album, Dark Side of the Moon, wasn’t even their best album: the Wall was. My favorite song actually did originate under that prism of color though; Comfortably Numb showcases talent in a subtle way and really pulls a person in. Another Brick in the Wall was my eighth grade rebellion anthem and probably their most famous song (of course we would sing it “just another prick in the hall because we thought we were baddies). If you are feeling a little more sentimental, they have you covered on that one too; Wish you Were Here is a slow paced, sappy, lovely song that I would recommend to absolutely anybody. The lyrics of all of their songs are super interesting and intricate probably driven by LSD.

The band had its humble beginnings when three Cambridge graduates, Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, and David Gilmour, met Richard Wright and Nick Mason in London 1965. The group named itself after two Delta bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. Pink Floyd was a garage band and an essential part of the late night scene; their lives, songs, and visions were driven by LSD, and the psychedelic tones of their music reflects that. Their career lasted 20 years until their tragic, frayed break up in 1985; Barrett, the original creative force, left years before, but the when Waters separated himself from the band after the recording of The Final Cut, it was official. Waters even took it so far as to sue Gilmour and Mason ensuring that they would no longer use the name Pink Floyd.

The band did a reunion show in 2005, but nothing could truly make up for the band’s rough break up and years without the music of Pink Floyd. This chart topping band is anything and everything you could ever ask for; when you listen close, you feel like you are inside of the music. It’s truly magical.