Meddle (1971): NME and Melody Maker reviews, plus its place in modern Pink Floyd rankings

The NME called Meddle “a fine album” and singled out “Echoes” as a masterpiece, praising the band’s willingness to stretch out without losing focus. Melody Maker was even warmer, declaring it “the most interesting Pink Floyd album since The Piper at the Gates of Dawn” and noting the group had finally shaken off Syd Barrett’s shadow.

In modern rankings, Meddle consistently lands in the top five Pink Floyd albums. Publications like Rolling Stone and Ultimate Classic Rock place it at No. 4 or No. 5, above The Wall and below Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and Animals. It’s seen as the bridge between the psych-rock experiments and the polished prog that followed—and “Echoes” is regularly called one of the greatest songs in their catalog.