ANIMALS

And here we are. All with the same intention to honor the Giants. For this album there are 2257 ratings and 273 reviews. More than "The Wall" that surely has been more publicized and more talked-about. A fact is that the album was created when the band was still a Band, despite the absolute genius of Roger Waters, that has always dominated other members. Another fact is that this album marks the definitive break between the band members, with the departure of Richard Wright (for a series of misunderstandings and personal problems of Rich) by Roger Waters. Personally this is the first Pink Floyd CD I bought, so there is a blood bond between me and this album. After "Animals", my love for Pink Floyd never stopped. So I started to listen them by Syd-era.

"Animals" was released in 1977, in the midst of the Punk explosion in London. It is a Concept Albums, the third of the band, and is clearly inspired to the George Orwell satirical novel "Animal Farm". Following this line the album want to express, by a Roger Waters idea, critiques against capitalism and contemporary society, making analogies between animals and human, where dogs represents the law; pigs represents political class; sheep represents the blind herd. The story ends with the revolt of the sheep against the aggressive dogs.

A wonderful thing is the cover, where is depicted a distressing structure (a famous London electric station) in which smoke stacks there is a floating pig (Pigs On The Wing) called "Algie".

The opening track, on an unplugged background, is the first part of "Pigs On The Wing", a love song (a rare among their interests) which talks about what might happen if one does not take care of the other. Most likely this fact refers to Roger and his wife.

The second song "Dogs" (one of the most beautiful suites ever) starts with a memorable rhythm of classic guitar, precise and tensile load, which interprets well the dogs role as sponsor of the law. Here there is one of the best Gilmour's guitar solo. An interpretation of the album's topics worthy of the best moments of "Echoes", played masterfully by one of the most guitarist of all time. The oppressive hood of psychedelic/electric passages, "adorned" by barking dogs,howling and sharp guitar solos, carry the listeners to the scratchy voice of Roger, which express perfectly the feelings of the social climbers, willing to do anything for the success. They'll be a horrible end "Dragged Down By The Stone" of their faults. From this moment, each song will be sung exclusively by Roger.

A grunt introduces a bass solo accompanied by Wright's keyboard. It's the beginning of "Pigs (Three Different Ones)". This piece, which speaks about pigs as exploiters, want to refer to three political personalities of 70s (as title says three pigs). In general it describes them as people of power, politicians, whom fatten behind others. Here David plays a fantastic solo guitar with an effect that mimics perfectly a pig grunts, and after the third verse a final David's solo introduces the beginning of "Sheep".

On the blending of the previous guitar solo, Richard Wright takes the stage performing a unique keyboard, recreating restless atmospheres where bleating sheep continue to live unaware. Here the sheep, which represent the crowd, the herd are vulnerable, but they'll take consciousness of their position and will rebel against dogs. However their submissive nature can't change (as the feeble persons). In fact successful sheep will intimate to other sheep to stay in their home and do what they are told. After the first verse a suggestive atmosphere with a steady bass line, play as a rematch, where is preparing a "class battle" under a chorus performed against dogs. Roger's voice bring us to the heart of the battle, and after the death of the dogs, a glorious ending accompanies us, on a vibrant riff, towards "Pigs On The Wing - Part 2". It sounds like first part, but with a different text, where the author says that both (referred to 2 persons of pt. 1) knows of their mutual love, finding finally "A Shelter For Pigs On The Wing".

This album represent the monumental presence of Roger Waters, like in all other albums since Syd-era. His intelligence has created a masterpiece of Rock and psychedelic music of all times, a cultured example of contemporary music. The members of the band has performed brilliantly (as always) all songs, creating solos and atmospheres that will be remember forever. Unfortunately or fortunately Roger's Supremacy has won.

5 Stars - Absolutely Essential.