ANIMALS

"you have to be trusted by the people that you lie to, so that when they turn their backs on you, you'll get the chance to put the knife in.."

Musically this is perhaps their most satisfying moment for those who like harder rock. Everyone in the band is simply in top form. Roger's words are pure dark poetry, Dave's playing has never been better and the bleak photography and cover art fit the music perfectly.

It's funny how punk rock claimed to hate Pink Floyd. When you read the lyrics to Animals, the truth is that punk and Floyd were allies philosophically at this moment, separated only by age, wealth, and fashion. Punk should have celebrated Animals as it is one big hearty F-YOU to the Establishment.

"And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around...so have a good drown as you go down, alone, dragged down by the stone.."

"Dogs" is one of the most important epics in the Floyd arsenal and laments the selling out of the human soul for money and power. It pulls no punches as it describes in blissful bloody gore how aspiring-for-power man will work himself to death ("sleep on your toes"), wear the conformist garb ("work on points for style"), lie, backstab, sell out his friends, and convince himself that everyone's as morally bankrupt as he is so what difference does it make. He ends up sad and alone, sinking like a stone, dying. He was "fitted with collar and chain, breaking away from the pack, only a stranger at home, ground down in the end, found dead on the phone." "Dogs" is also one of the most complete and satisfying musical pieces delivered by the Floyd with great depth and imagination.

He then goes after the Pigs with equal ferocity. And then after us, the Sheep, who put up with being abused and exploited. We, who pass the time pretending the danger isn't real, who follow the leader into the valley of steel. Or will we rise in revolution instead?

"So I don't feel alone or the weight of the stone, now that I've found somewhere safe to bury my bone."

It's quite stunning to behold the series of achievements these guys created during this time, while at their musical peak. Animals is a grim spin to be sure but one that is a favorite to most Floyd fans. Soon the band would begin to fray and the many fans would divide into the two Floyd factions, those who love David's undeniable performance talents and those who relish Roger's dark songwriting and stinging humor. Animals was perhaps the last moment where the band seemed to be on the same page and it is a classic that should be in your collection if it isn't yet.

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