ANIMALS

The reigns of power amongst the members of Pink Floyd had begun to shift imperceptibly on "Wish You Were Here; on Animals it was becoming certain who was in control of the artistic direction. Roger Waters pulls all the shots on Animals, and I have only one word to describe the outcome: Perfect.

Animals is sleazy, primal, and vicious. And...hopeful? The meat of the album (excuse the pun) are the three long tracks, in between parts one and two of "Pigs on the Wing". "Dogs" is a seventeen minute epic about backstabbing businessmen. "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" slinks along on clever bass-lines and creepy synthesizers, lyrically shredding the people in society who control others. "Sheep" is a powerful rocker describing the collapse of a brainwashed "flock" into rampaging mob mentality.

Never has Pink Floyd been sweeter than with Roger Waters at the helm. Animals is, as already stated, pure perfection, and no album I've ever listened to comes close to its level of brilliance.