In 2016, the pioneering psychedelic rock band, Pink Floyd, released a box set called The Early Years, featuring their music from 1965-72. Last December, they followed it up with another box set, The Later Years, featuring music from 1987 onward. The box set includes 16 discs, comprising five CDs, six Blu-rays, and five DVDs, including remixed songs and unreleased live performances. After Roger Waters’ departure from the group in 1985, the members continued to perform under the name Pink Floyd, this time led by David Gilmour. The divide between these two eras and the box set years isn’t exact — that is, there are some missing years — but the band is generally known for the “Gilmour-era” (later) and the “Waters-era” (earlier). This re-release of music may be an attempt by the band to stay relevant or an attempt to feature each musician.
Either way, Pink Floyd is still relevant; their music is highly political, and the box set includes tracks such as “The Dogs of War” and “Us and Them,” each track about the senselessness of war — and with the global rise in violent political tension, it couldn’t be more timely. This set is targeted toward hardcore fans, and will probably only be listened to by them, but like all great art, it transcends time.
Darien Johnsen is a UFV alumni who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with double extended minors in Global Development Studies and Sociology in 2020. She started writing for The Cascade in 2018, taking on the role of features editor shortly after. She’s passionate about justice, sustainable development, and education.
