I have to admit, I only “discovered” Pink Floyd in late 2005. Considering that the band formed in 1965, I’m a couple of years late. 
Why only now? Well, I have to admit that, without really knowing their music (just “Another Brick in the Wall part 2″, which everyone knows whether they want to or not), I always dismissed them as “just another old rock band”. The fact that I don’t have any friends who are Pink Floyd fans (at least, as far as I know) also contributes to that.
I began to get curious about it when Jeff Minter, a games designer and programmer, mentioned them so much in interviews and blog posts. I admire that guy a lot - if you like video games, you owe it to yourself to play Gridrunner++, at least. So, I thought, if that guy loves that band so much, there just might be something to it.
So I bought several albums, and I’ve been slowly “digesting” them, and so far it’s been a pleasure. Oddly enough, so far, my favorite isn’t “Dark Side of the Moon” or “The Wall”, but, instead, “Animals”, made in 1977.
It’s a relatively short album, with just 5 songs, and the first and last ones are 1:25 short pieces. The middle three are way longer, with fantastic instrumental sections. Relaxing, in a way, but far from being “ballads” or something like that. Intriguing lyrics, too - according to Roger Waters, people are divided between “dogs” (cutthroats), “pigs” (moralists, politicians) and “sheep” (everyone else, who just follow, without thinking). Yet, the lyrics can be quite funny, too:
He makes me down to lie through pastures green.
He leadeth me the silent waters by.
With bright knives He releaseth my soul.
He maketh me to hang on hooks in high places.
He converteth me to lamb cutlets,
For lo, He hath great power, and great hunger.
But my favorite thing about the album is the music itself - even though the 3 main songs range from 10 to 17 minutes in length each, and are quite complex and varied, I find myself whistling as I listen to them.
Related posts:
Subscribe to this blog
Animals is a good choice (The Wall is good too).
If you like this, you’ll probably like the Wish You Were Here album… IMO one of the best albums.
oh, and i just noticed… the pigs, dogs, etc ALL go perfectly with the book Animal Farm (George Orwell).
I visited your blog and I found it funny. My favourite band is Pink Floyd, I discovered it when a was young by my father. And now I know all albums and you must notice that pink floyd did nothing for nothing. Animals changed my life, dogs is ma favourite (read the lyrics). But what I found very funny is that I know much of the stock you’re talking about and that mean u have an open mind.
You NEED to look for something more strange if u love guitar solos.
BUCKETHEAD!!