Animals (1977) - Pink Floyd

Animals by Pink Floyd, released on January 23, 1977, is one of the band's most politically charged and conceptually cohesive albums. Inspired by George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the album offers a scathing critique of societal hierarchy and corruption, using animal metaphors to represent different classes of people. Sonically, Animals leans into heavier, guitar-driven compositions, with David Gilmour's searing solos and Roger Waters’ biting lyrics taking center stage. The album marked a shift in the band's dynamic, with Waters emerging as the dominant creative force, a trend that would continue into The Wall and The Final Cut.

Tracklist:

1. Pigs on the Wing (Part 1)

2. Dogs

3. Pigs (Three Different Ones)

4. Sheep

5. Pigs on the Wing (Part 2)

The album opens with Pigs on the Wing (Part 1), a short, acoustic piece that bookends the record. Unlike the album’s more aggressive themes, this track feels personal and introspective, almost like a moment of fragile humanity before the descent into dystopia.

Dogs is the longest track on the album, stretching over 17 minutes. It represents the ruthless businessmen and corporate elites who manipulate and betray others to maintain power. The song features some of Gilmour’s most intricate guitar work, with extended solos that shift between melodic beauty and ominous tension. The lyrics portray a man who spends his life climbing the social ladder, only to be left broken and alone in the end. The chilling midsection, with its eerie synth passages and distant barking dogs, adds to the song’s paranoia-inducing atmosphere.

Pigs (Three Different Ones) turns its attention to corrupt political leaders, mocking their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. The track has a funky, almost sarcastic groove, with Gilmour using a talkbox effect on his guitar to create a "pig-like" snarl. Waters’ lyrics are especially biting here, culminating in the famous line "Ha-ha, charade you are!"—a direct jab at figures like Mary Whitehouse, a British moral crusader at the time. The track’s sarcastic tone and heavy, distorted riffs make it one of Pink Floyd’s most aggressive statements.

Sheep shifts focus to the working class, depicted as mindless followers who are manipulated and controlled by the powerful. The song begins with a soft, jazzy introduction before exploding into a frantic, pulsating rhythm. Midway through, the track features a distorted, rewritten version of Psalm 23, where the "sheep" rise up against their oppressors. The climax is chaotic and exhilarating, with Nick Mason’s drumming pushing the track toward a dramatic finish. However, the victory is short-lived, as the song ends on an ominous note—implying that the cycle of oppression will simply restart.

The album closes with Pigs on the Wing (Part 2), mirroring the opening track. It offers a moment of personal reflection, suggesting that love and companionship are the only things that truly matter in an otherwise cruel world. While short, this track provides a necessary contrast to the album’s overarching bleakness.

Animals is often considered one of Pink Floyd’s most underrated masterpieces. While it didn’t achieve the same commercial success as Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall, its raw energy, political depth, and intricate musicianship make it one of their most powerful statements. The album’s themes of societal division and corruption remain just as relevant today, cementing its place as a timeless and thought-provoking work.