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 Track listing: 1. Pigs on the Wing (Part One)
2. Dogs
3. Pigs (Three different ones)
4. Sheep
5. Pigs on the Wing (Part Two) Pink Floyd is:
David Gilmour - Guitars/Vocals
Roger Waters - Bass guitar/Vocals
Richard Wright - Keyboards/Vocals
Nick Mason - Drums/Percussion Animals was released in the beginning of 1977 (January 23 in UK, February 2 in US). It is known to be loosely based upon (or perhaps "inspired by" is a more correct term) George Orwell's well-known novel Animal Farm, using animals to show the various roles and different types of people in society. Now to the review. Since there are only 5 tracks, 3 of them being over 10 minutes in length, I don't think a track-by-track will hurt too much. Pigs on the Wing (Part one) "If you didn't care what happened to me,
And I didn't care for you
We would zigzag our way through the boredom and pain
Occasionally glancing up through the rain
Wondering which of the buggers to blame
And watching for pigs on the wing." "Pigs on the Wing (Part One)" is a short, simple acoustic tune, clocking in at 1:24. This song is simply an introduction to the album, welcoming the listener to the strange, strange world of Pink Floyd. However, this little tune is often overlooked. True, it is an introduction, but it makes for a soft, enjoyable listen. Water's voice is sweet and friendly in this song, and, along with its second part, is one of the only sources of "sweet and friendly" to be found on this album. Dogs
Originally titled "You Gotta Be Crazy", "Dogs" is a long, emotional, raging journey, describing the average businessman, who in the end is "dragged down by the stone". A total of 17:06 in length, Dogs is the track that stands out the most, and is hard not to enjoy, simply because of what it is. The song begins with a faced-paced acoustic guitar part, soon followed by Waters shouting out the lyrics. "You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need. You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street, you gotta be able to pick out the easy meat", he sings. The song starts to pick up, with the rest of the band kicking in, Waters still singing the lyrics like he can truly feel them. Soon, Gilmour serves up the first solo of many. Gilmour's guitar skills are at their best by far throughout the entire record. The guitar onslaught continues as the song slows, beginning one of the most beautiful songs on the record after 3:41. At 4:50, the song gets quieter, and you begin to hear the dogs barking, an amazing effect used throughout this track. Once again, Gilmour cant hold it in anymore, and lets another guitar tirade go. This one is distorted and harsh, leading up to another equally harsh section with vocals. "And when you loase control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown. And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone", Waters says, letting "stone" echo in the background over the next few minutes, accompanied by the dogs returning and some neat effects on the keyboard. I admit a couple minutes could have been shaved off of this part, lasting over 4 minutes. The fast acoustic part we heard at the beginning returns, with different lyrics this time. After yet another guitar solo, courtesy of Gilmour, of course, the song's climax has finally arrived. The end of this song is nearly stunning. Emotions flying through your headphones, Waters begins to sing, with Gilmour picking a sad tune in the background. This is my favourite part of the entire record: "Who was broken by trained personnel
Who was fitted with collar and chain
Who was given a pat on the back
Who was breaking away from the pack
Who was only a stranger at home
Who was ground down in the end
Who was found dead on the phone
Who was dragged down by the stone..." The song reaches the most emotion in the last three lines. It is simply amazing, a perfect way to end an amazing song. Pigs (Three Different Ones)
"Pigs (Three different ones)" takes the cake as the most odd, strange, and dark song on Animals. It begins with the unsatisfying sound of pigs snorting and grunting, quickly leading up to some very creepy work on the keyboards by Wright. Rogers and Gilmour enter in as the song begins to pick up, with Waters singing in a sarcastic tone. The song just to get more and more eerie and odd, consisting of more strange lyrics and weird sounds. The first guitar solo (I think it's a guitar) is combined with freaky sounds and pigs grunting, fitting in perfectly with the feel of the song. The 2nd guitar solo, played as the song is ending, is an astounding piece of work that makes the song even more enjoyable. This is an odd and strangely enjoyable track. Sheep
"Sheep" starts off with the sounds of, well, sheep, and some sad little notes on the keyboard. This leads you to believe this track to be a slow, sad one... well, this does not last long. The song instantly starts to gain speed and spirit, taking all the attributes of the most upbeat, fast track on the album. "Sheep" is almost so fun at times, it is goofy. The ending makes you almost want to get up and dance around the room, but then, just as it began, it fades out to the sound of birds chirping and sheep grazing. Pigs on the Wing (Part Two) "You know that I care what happens to you,
And I know that you care for me too
So I don't feel alone,
Or the weight of the stone,
Now that I've found somewhere safe
To bury my bone
And any fool knows a dog needs a home,
A shelter from pigs on the wing." "Pigs on the Wing [Part Two]" is nearly identical to Part One, with the exception of having different lyrics. This is an outro to the album, leaving you with one final thought before it is all over. Again, even though it is just an outro, it, like the first part, is an enjoyable track, and a large part of the concept, as well. Overall, this is a magnificent album. One of my favourites from Floyd. Musically, it is possibly more superior to any other Pink Floyd release. If you are a fan, or if you are just starting to discover the band, this is an album you should give a listen. Pros:
- Wonderful concept
- Great lyrics
- Dogs
- Nearly perfect musically Cons:
- Some of it may be to lengthy and dragged out for some listeners
- Not really for people who dislike a somewhat dark album Recommended Tracks:
Actually, all of them. There really is not a bad moment on the entire CD. Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Matt - "The Composer"
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