ANIMALS

I think I understand why I like "Animals" better than "Selling England by the Pound". The latter is rather brainy than anything else. The former is just filled with bloody viscera and loud calls for humanity. The three epic tracks on here are beyond entertaining; they are rather bizarre and frightening. I must also note that this album really benefits from being guitar-driven in a melodic and somewhat economical fashion, courtesy of Dave Gilmour. Thank you so much, Dave. I also have to mention that the band had gone even further in their development of chord vocabulary, or maybe it's just Richard Wright. Anyway, these are the things that make much of the music on this record two-sided. First, you have Dave Gilmour's electrifying guitar licks and solos, and second, you have Richard Wright's rich in timbre and grim keyboard textures. And on top of all that you have Roger Waters' venomous social commentaries. Dirty. If you like this kind of stuff all over the place on a record, get "Animals" if you are still alive. I really don't want to start this whole discussion of whether rock-n'-roll is alive today, but back in '76-'77 it was certainly blossoming.

Ratings/comments (if you have to ask):

1. 'Pigs on the Wing, pt. 1' - ** (I guess I'm too cold to evaluate this kind of songwriting.)

2. 'Dogs' - *****

3. 'Pigs' - *****

4. 'Sheep' - *****

5. 'Pigs on the Wing, pt. 2' - **

Stamp: "I like it."