Music: Us and Them - Symphonic Pink Floyd

Over the years, I've come to be quite fond of Pink Floyd. Like most people, I enjoy their three blockbuster albums: "Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "The Wall." Unlike most people, "Us and Them - Symphonic Pink Floyd" was my first introduction to the band.

I heard this tribute album as a kid, and was instantly hooked. "Us and Them" looks at Pink Floyd's songs through the lens of classical music. It contains classical versions of tracks from "Dark Side of the Moon" and "The Wall," many of which are given the fullblown orchestra treatment. All songs are arranged by Jaz Coleman and performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

In retrospect, this is probably the best way for a child to listen to Pink Floyd - the instrumentals are clean and bereft of references to drugs, rock stars, or the price of fame. And even when stripped down to the bare music, Pink Floyd's work conveys surprising emotion, whether it's the patheticness of "Nobody Home" or the thunderous, relentless melody in "Time." Some tracks do edge close to being elevator music ("Comfortably Numb" is interpreted a little too literally for my taste). On the whole, though, "Us and Them" is a worthwhile listen you're a Pink Floyd fan...or if you're trying to raise one.