Pink Floyd - Animals
Animals is the tenth studio album by the English rock band Pink Floyd, released on January 23, 1977 through Harvest and Columbia Records. Animals was recorded at the band's Britannia Row Studios in London throughout 1976 and was produced by the members of Pink Floyd themselves.
This concept album begins with the short, acoustic Pigs On The Wing, Part 1, which begins the journey. This song features just lead vocalist and songwriter, Roger Waters singing along with a basic acoustic guitar strum. The G to C to D chords in this song give you a soft, warm feeling as you listen. It makes you wonder what Roger is singing about. It makes you interested to open that door further and look inside the mind of Roger himself.
The 2nd track, Dogs, (originally titled “You Gotta Be Crazy) was previously performed live on tour as early as 1974 but its title was changed to fit the new “Animals” concept.
This song takes you on a serious journey. It’s no secret that Pink Floyd’s music takes you on a mystical adventure every time. If you are a casual music fan or if you prefer catchy simply music, void of instrumental adventures, then this album (and probably this band) is not for you.
Dogs starts out with guitarist, David Gilmour’s fast strumming guitar. If you listen to this with headphones (quality pair) the guitar sound starts in your left ear and swings through your head over to your right. It feels like it’s literally going through your head.
As the lyrics enter the song, Gilmour sings about various classes in society as different kinds of animals (in this case, predatory dogs), with its critique and bow to capitalism.
Gilmour’s loud, screeching guitar solo comes at you like an airplane flying over your head when you’re not expecting it. You begin to realize his axe of choice is a Fender Stratocaster, mixing a style of blues and space sounding rock n’ roll.
This musical piece has several parts. It’s as if the Floyd pieced together several compositions: the dueling, double screeching guitars, almost anthem like, the acoustic guitar played over dogs barking, the lead into a 2nd Gilmour solo. If you’re a David Gilmour fan, then this album is for you. If you’re not, well….perhaps this album will change your mind.
As Dogs folds away and Roger Waters closes the song out with his ever-poignant singing, the only reaction one can express is sheer disbelief that a musical number can be sectioned off but yet fit so well together.
Pigs (Three Different Ones) is another deep number that was written by singer and bass player, Roger Waters. Pigs are the people that Waters considers to be at the top of the social ladder. Interestingly enough, the fretless bass lines at the beginning were played by Gilmour during recording, not Waters, the aforementioned bass player of the band. Pigs (Three Different Ones) is vocally led by Roger. Sung in collaboration with a spooky, Halloween-esque keyboard sound played by pianist/keyboard player, Rick Wright. Gilmour rules the song once again towards the end with his screeching guitar solo that takes PTDO to its climax. The band, who all co-produced the album made the decision to pan the guitar sound down slightly as the song gives way to several different sheep making their quintessential “Baa” sound. When listening, you feel as if you’ve woken up from a loud dream only to find yourself in a field with Sheep all around you. The sheep don’t surround you though. They are just minding their business, grazing in the pasture.
This sound offers the perfect seque into the album’s next song, Sheep. When listening to Wright’s keys slowly chime along with the sound of bird chirps and a strumming bass guitar, you know you are still on a journey. Again this album has its fair share of hidden doors and passageways that take you on a spine tingling rollercoaster ride. Waters’ voice BURSTS in and hits you out of nowhere,…something he is good at doing. If you want Halloween, this song has all everything up its sleeve, but will take you back to rock n’ roll each time you feel you’re slipping to the dark side. I cannot think of a song that combines space, fear, anger and rock n’ roll like Sheep. You’ll be exhausted after listening to this.
With pure perfection, the Floyd wrap up this masterpiece with a return to the song opener, Pigs on the Wing, except this is Part 2. The listener is reunited with their old friend, Roger Waters and the G chorded acoustic guitar. Essentially the same song as the Pigs (part 1) but with different lyrics, fit neatly like a carefully packed suitcase. At 1:25, this song is short, sweet, sad yet makes the listener think, “this is similar to falling down the rabbit hole, getting lost, seriously lost, then suddenly finding your way home…..
If you already own this album, check out another one of Floyd’s albums that are not as well known, such as Obscured By Clouds or Meddle.
Also, don’t forget to pick up some Pink Floyd merch while you’re at it. I’ve wear my Animals shirt regularly to, you know, represent.