Album Review: Animals

(Wow I've reviews alot of Pink Floyd shit. My my.)

Pink Floyd's Animals is a album of turning points. It's either a album that turns the way you like, or don't simple as that. This starts what I call the 'Roger Waters Trilogy', with both The Wall and The Final Cut fitting in as well. If you preferred the loose, 60's vibe of Floyd, then these albums may be a mixed bag for you(fear not, there was a 'David Reclaims Duo' released afterwards in the late 80's). In any case, this was a new beginning for Floyd, and for many of the members, a happy album to make.

The album itself is another concept album for Floyd, using this time the metaphor of animals to people(not a new idea, mind you). The lyrics are more thoughtful then they were on the predecessor, despite both being the same length. On this album, neither Waters nor Gilmour have full vocal responsibility, with both sharing the duties this album. One song, 'Dogs', just seems to repeat it self twice to get more...whatever it could get. The intro to 'Sheep' may be one of the poppiest, prettiest that Pink Floyd ever created. Though, on the last song, what was with the weird MCP vocal?

The album itself it a bit awkward, due to at the time of the release it was in the middle of the Punk revolution and bands like Pink Floyd were being called dinosaurs and old. In contrast to these remarks, Roger Waters lyrics are closer to the punk ethos then the capitalist way that many though Floyd was. So Animals may be the closest punk record recorded by Pink Floyd, tough I don't think this was the intention of the band, so no points for the band.

There are a surprising amount of Beatles references on the album. The power plant on the album cover appeared in the Beatles movie Help!('A Well Known Power Plant'). As well, the usage of barking dogs and sheep was also used by the Beatles on 'Good Morning Good Morning'. Also...actually that's it I guess. So maybe there aren't as many as I thought. Oh well, I'm sure any comparison Pink Floyd gets to the Beatles warms their hearts(like they really need it of course).

Overall, this album is somewhat of a sister to the previous album and a distant cousin to the follow up. It's hardly a bad Floyd album, and if you like Roger Waters, then you probably will enjoy this. However, it may be a mixed bag to others. Though the key Pink Floyd elements are on this album, it is far different from their previous work.

Rating: 3.5/5