REVIEW: Pink Floyd "Animals" - The 2018 Mix
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- čas přidán 15. 09. 2022
- After years of delays, the Pink Floyd Animals 2018 Remix is finally here! Watch this video for a by review of the controversial new remix!
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My Philosophy: I love music. I love all kinds of music. And I go into every album wanting to love it, so that’s my starting point for every review. Keep in mind, though, that music is a very personal thing. An album may hit me personally in a very different way than it hits you. That’s complexly natural and unavoidable, which is why I try to include some personal context in my reviews. It’s so you’ll have a better idea where I’m coming from. In the end, it’s still just my personal opinion, which is inherently biased, and which you may or may not agree with. Hopefully, once in a while, we’ll find common ground.
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Gilmour's bass playing in Pigs is astonishing. He plays bass in Sheep too, but his bass parts in Pigs are just phenomenal. And the new mix highlights this quite a lot more than before.
He should have played bass on everything post-Piper.
Gilmour really played bass on that songs?
@@MichaelLenz1 There is an interview with David joking about Roger getting 'another' mention for best bass player and David makes a joke about it (something along the way that he should have it!)
@@MichaelLenz1 The only song Roger plays bass on is Sheep, though he does play rhythm guitar on most songs. The rest of the album is Gilmour on bass.
@@strat57wg Roger plays bass on Dogs.. David on Pigs and Sheep
This is very true. Without Gilmour's and Wright's musical genius, Water's narrative would never have been given such majesty.
Add to that genius - the creative tension Rick and Dave leveraged to rein in Roger’s esoteric excesses. This was in effect for Animals. That tension was somewhat surrendered in producing The Wall, which let Waters’ self-indulgent filler inflate a good LP to twice as long as it should have been.
And then, gawd, The Final Cut.
It was the last "band" album for them, for sure.
@@davefink2326 I consider The Final Cut a Roger Waters solo album with Pink Floyd being the band who made it happen.
~~ Waters may very well be a wanker to work with - but give credit where its due - he was not only a thematic lyricist . Gilmour & Wright did expand greatly on his musical compositions - but he did come up with many of the basic song structures. This band was a collaboration - Waters needed them - but you could also argue that without him - the rest of PF would have been maybe an obscure, mostly instrumental 60s/70's band - that like so many others just faded away by the mid 70's.
@@aliensporebomb It's kinda credited that way right? I think the Wall was too
David Gilmour was on his absolute peak at this period in time - he also made his sonically och songwise incredible first soloalbum round this time. He could never repeat his first solo-effort.
true about the solo album
True but that is almost always how it goes, first album is great, next are merely good.
They were all at there peak. So much too take in with the first 200 listens ,
Bite me, or, more formally, PLEASE bite me.
One of the best reviews of this re-issue. Balanced, fair, intelligent, and clearly based on a wealth of knowledge of the band and their catalogue. Thank you Kyle.
I bought the CD today and I have to concur with you: It really is so much better. Many subtle details are revealed. It's not bright and sharp like some digital remasters can be, which can make them sound "tinny".
Agreed. It is polished up in all the right ways!
Truly appreciate your review of this epic album. I’m anticipating a full immersion into this album- especially Gilmour’s amazing guitar work as soon as I return home from work. Thanks for adding to the excitement of this long- awaited release.
Hope you love it!
What's really interesting and new to appreciate on this recording is David Gilmours BASS playing on Pigs and Sheep!
Quite right and the bass playing is more fluid. There was a joke that Waters won a bass award that year but Gilmour was the player.
Absolutely, and this mix brings that out. The detail of his playing, muting and funky edge really comes out.
The reason for the delay of this remix was apparently due to Roger's desire to introduce liner notes massaging his ego. David was not prepared to undermine the integrity of the release. David won, but what is interesting is that, having parted ways with my original Harvest copy from the 70s, I purchased the 2011 remaster. This attributes all the bass guitar to Waters, yet as has been revealed subsequently in interviews, and now on the credits on this issue, Waters is shown only to play bass on Dogs, whilst Gilmour plays bass on both Pigs, and Sheep. If I were Roger I might keep my own counsel a little more often.
5:55 It is Rick’s studio-created intro for Sheep - these are the most sinister-sounding keyboard measures in rock - that makes that song stand out from the version they toured with for, like, over two years. Ordering my remix today.
Sheep sounds mind-blowing
in 5.1
This is one of those moments that is inexplicably absent from every list of "best rock keyboard performances" list. Even those that are specifically for Pink Floyd.
I really enjoyed listening to this remix. It can be debated that the soul of the album is the original foggy mix, but in the moment the first Rick's keyboard strikes in Dog's intro, I just made myself comfortable, cracked the volume up and had a wonderful sonic and musical experience.
It's great stuff!
Great and informative review, Kyle!
Glad it was helpful!
It's like viewing the Mona Lisa with centuries of grime, dust, age, UV light damage and viewing after it's been restored ti it's pristine almost original luster. Some people prefer what they have known for years, and some prefer hearing albums restored.
Very true. I personally usually appreciate the restored versions more than the older mixes, but I understand how some would not feel as positively.
Dude, the remix is so good it sounds good through my phone.
It's great!
@@TrackXTrack I was pleasantly surprised by this when I heard the dogs teaser. I knew the full album would sound amazing.
Absolutely Awesome Review Kyle
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've been waiting for Animals to get the "special treatment" it deserved since the special box sets for DSotM, WYWH, and the Wall. To me that 4 album stretch by Pink Floyd makes a very strong case for being the best string of consecutive album work in all of music, each album different sonically and artistically from the other in a way so little of music in this age ever is.
As for me, Animals will always be one of the top 2 or 3 best guitar efforts on an album ever. Just incredible stuff that guitarists like myself have fawned over for decades and deservedly so.
Few moments in audio art are as satisfying for me as Gilmour's lead work on Dogs or the raw aggression he channels throughout the album brought to an epic finale with the outro to Sheep. Moments like the Talk box that comes in during Pigs (Three Different Ones) are so perfectly placed and presented it's almost as if it was made JUST for that moment. The whole thing feels so RIGHT to me. Can't really explain it any better.
I agree about that four-album stretch! And Animals should be regarded just as highly as the other three!
What about Bowie? From 1971 to 1980, he released 10 masterpiece albums (Pin-ups excluded) that are all vastly different yet all of them pushed the boundaries.
@@SpaceCattttt bowie, the most over-rated bloke. Period!
People always talk about the Stones releasing 5 true masterpieces, with four of them being consecutive (Beggars Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main Street and Some Girls), always felt Floyd were the same with The Piper at the Gates if Dawn being the 5th album.
@@gordonlang2866 Bowie certainly isn’t overrated, he’s quality and I say that as someone who’s been listening to PF since 1967
Thanks for the info Kyle. Great job!
Thanks for watching!
Just got my copy of the 5.1. I've been taking 10 minute breaks between tracks (just finished Pigs) as a palette cleanser. I'm really loving the remix, putting Rick in the forefront really makes this something wonderfully different. It makes it closer to Wish You Were Here where before it was closer to The Wall. Cracking open another beer and starting Sheep...
Cheers to that approach!
The 2018 mix is simply an alternative fun listen. It was always obvious how good the playing was.
Great performances all around!
what a lovely and well presented review. I ḿ buying the new vinyl, I hope my copy will be okay. Thanks !
Enjoy! Thanks for watching!
My starting point was the cassette which I borrowed in 1977. I then bought a 2 x disc test pressing from EMI Hayes QC lab dated 6th Dec 1976. It is the best version I have heard.
Nice!
Absolutely, fabulous, thank you
Thanks for watching !
Like the Beatles White Album, this remix is revolutionary. On Dogs Dave Gilmour’s voice is much more up front and you can actually understand what he sings now.
I think it is a stronger mix than the White Album, but then again, the White Album was never created to be as sonically dynamic as a Pink Floyd album.
beatles remixes are more true to the originals. they give a better experience without betraying the original.
Rick Wright was the glue that held the band together musically, imo.
A fair assessment
Great review, thank you! I will keep it in mind when my deluxe pack arrives, the wait is almost unbearable now...
Hope you enjoy it!
My all time favorite Floyd album ! This remix is outstanding! I have been listening to it non stop since it came out last week!!
I've been playing it a lot too. Great stuff!
I got this on a tape recording from Lo in 88 and never thought it sounded anything other than grand. I know others say this album isn’t sonically as good as other 70s Floyd albums. I don’t understand why. I think animals sounds amazing. This new mix lacks a lot of the fury and anger I love so much on the original mix. I will be playing the new mix in the near future and see if it sticks, but certain parts I wholeheartedly dislike compared to the original. Anyway. It is finally here. I think the wall sounds much worse and that album would truly benefit a remix. It could and should be remixed. Would definitely be upgraded. Animals 77 is perfect. I do though really like the first remaster back in the 90s.
That's fair. It is a great album no matter the mix.
Great insights, I have another version of Animals to buy!!
It is a worthy upgrade!
Excellent review
Glad you liked it!
To be honest I prefer the original. It’s darker and not sterile sounding to me.
I don't find this to be sterile sounding, but I respect your preference.
I loved my animals tape, i used to turn down the treble on my 92 cd to get it to sound more muffled like the tape.
Interesting approach
i got uk 1st press ,sounds still amazing, i was 15 when animals arrived in 77
I want the SACD, I’m going to wait for that version…5.1 for the win!
Pink Floyd is one of my favorite bands and yes I bought the cd and the Blu-ray version. It sounds fantastic!!❤❤. Sonically it's an improvement from the 2011 remaster(although that one sounds pretty good). I just wish there would have been additional tracks, like demos, outtakes, or live material.
Yeah, it is a bummer there were no bonus tracks at all.
I listened to the new mix many times; I love it but man…that snare is LOUD and the guitar solos seem way lower. Still a fantastic improvement
Thanks Kyle, you have talked me into it 😉I have the complete box set of the Floyd CD's that came out years ago & I do have the remastered vinyl from the 2,000's but I have now seen to many reviews praising this release & you are not a salesperson. 😉
The improvement is incremental, to be sure. It is WAAAAAY better than my Harvest CD from the late 80s. I also think it is significantly better than the previous remasters, but how much so will depend on someone's audio system. It should be obvious on a decent sound system or headphones.
@@TrackXTrack Thanks I appreciate your review
Thanks as always for watching!
Correction: Richard Wright wasn't fired during The Wall. He is prominently featured on that album. He was the one that actually left after The Wall tour and wasn't featured on The Final Cut.
Wright was fired from the band during the Wall sessions. He still appeared on the album and the tour, but only as a hired musician, not as an official member of the band.
Columbia offered the band a large bonus if they could deliver a product for the Christmas market of '79. Waters accepted; (and being the philanthropist that he so obviously is, presumably denoted the additional bunce to charity) booked a studio in LA and organized a recall for his fellow band members, who were holidaying in various locations around the World. Steve O'Rourke contacted Rick (the album required a large number of additional keyboard parts) vacationing in Greece, and reported to Waters that he was not prepared to return till their previously agreed date - O'Rourke paraphrased by telling Waters that Rick had said "Tell Roger to fuck off"! Waters being the bully that he is, precipitously sought the removal of Rick, who suffering from depression at the time and disillusioned by Waters increasing megalomania, and the musical direction of the band, agreed to depart the band in return for participation in the live tour of the Wall.
I would recommend to anyone who is a devotee of Pink Floyd to obtain a copy of Mark Blake's 2007 book entitled, Pigs Might Fly - The Inside Story of Pink Floyd.
I have the 2016 mix on vinyl and it sounds good. I ordered the new mix on CD and will compare.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks!
In the remix I think that Pigs (Three Different Ones) is the big winner. It sounds amazing.
It does!
Nice discussion. It would have been nice to include some side-by-side comparisons.
Yeah, but I can't use audio clips without risking copyright flags.
I was used to the OG Harvest record and had to get used to the mix. I have a pretty good setup. But I agree it's very good!
I've been listening to the new mix a lot over the past week. Now that I'm used to it, I need to go back to the original mix to see how it sounds to me. I compared both mixes the day the new mix came out, but now that I'm more familiar with it, I should compare again.
Got both the cd and the Blu-ray! Yeah, man the lp sounds great. The guitars, the drums, and keyboards!!. I would like them to remix "Meddle". Hey, who knows?
Meddle would be great!
My start for Animals still be the pink vinyl I bought in 1977. This remix 2018 is a huge edition.
Nice!
Animals - Pink Floyd , Dinner at the Ritz - City Boy , New England - Wishbone Ash , Pieces of Eight - Styx..........ahhh what a time that was.
Those were the days!
I haven`t got a copy of this yet but I will get it on the weekend. I still have an original vinyl copy of this album. Its thick like an old 78! I`m disappointed that the 8 track version of Pigs On The Wing 1 and 2 together with Snowy White playing a solo in the middle is excluded. This let me down to be honest. That said this is probably the best album ever for me. Thanks for the review.
I had hoped we'd get the extended version with SW as well, but it would have needed to be a bonus track, and they decided to just stick with the core album instead.
Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here were both recorded at Abbey Road. Animals was not. That may have had an effect on the sound of the original Animals.
Very true. The band has talked about this in interviews over the years, how they were still learning how to use the new studio gear while recording Animals. I'm sure the new 2018 mix is much closer to what they wanted at the time but didn't yet know how to achieve.
Yes, I did like it, big improvement. I kept joking that it is the Animals Music with Dark Side sonics. Impressive.
Interesting way of looking at it!
@@TrackXTrack That was the feeling I got, because I never heard that record so clear.
If I were marooned on the ol’ desert island & could choose just the one, I’d still go with ‘Animals’. I can’t help it.
It’s a great album !
I bought the CD. It’s awesome. And the instruments sound crisp. And that Bass. But headphones are the way to go.
Quality headphones or quality speakers. Either way is a win.
That 2018 remix is fantastic!!! The drums on Dogs...look likes a new track..."re-recorded" drums performance.
It all sounds great!
that's why i don't like this 2018 version, the drums do not sound 70s anymore, it even sometimes sounds like a drum machine... they killed original sound for it to sound more pleasing for youg listener, but it now sounds lie a 80S album....
this remix is interesting, it has some good ideas of mixing that brings burried things more present, but the drums sound makes it sound not as true or organic as original mix.
I agree with all of your comments. I've been a huge PF fan for decades and Animals was always my favorite album. I, like you, kept trying to get better sounding versions of this album and I was never satisfied. Until now. All of the albums, especially DSotM and The Wall, have always sounded fantastic but for some reason Animals has always had a very comb-filtering, mid boosted, flat sound to it. This new remaster/remix is now my new favorite version. The only gripe I have is the Psalm in Sheep being new and different. It's jarring.
I agree the change on the Psalm was jarring. I'm still not used to that. Otherwise, I love the whole thing.
Good review.
This new 2018 remix will not play on my system, it just says disc not finalised, so I have to stream it. Have you heard of anyone else having this trouble?
I have not heard of any specific issues. I have had problems in the past with some SACD discs not playing on one of my DVD players, but my current 4K Bluray player plays them without any issues.
All reviews are leaving out the major detail that this was recorded in a new recording studio at the time. It can only be theorized as to how that affected the quality of their recording sessions for better or worse. Did they regret not recording at Abbey Road? Is this remix the finishing touch that wasn't necessary on Dark Side, WYWH and the Wall because of where and how those albums were recorded?
Actually, they did use the same mixing desk: the Neve analogue mixing console.
E-Music, Videos & Guitar Gear that’s cool. How did you know that? Thx
@@ummagumma7826 also interesting, Pink Floyd did record Animals in Britannia Row Studios, but, they didn't like the mixing desk in that studio. So they used a Neve desk, like Abbey Road Studio.
Gilmour, is still using an old analog Neve mixing desk. In his house boat The Astoria.
I record and mix myself, so I read a lot of interesting topics about recording & mixing & mastering.
Basically, a mix is a compromise between cutting more frequencies by using EQ (and some compression, ect.), getting, better instrument seperation or less EQ cutting, less instrument seperation on each track. So, instruments will sound "cleaner" or less "cleaner" in the mix. It's a matter of taste, how crispy and clean a mix should sound.
Classical Orchestra recordings are far more simple, almost no mix processing is done.
@@jdiuurdfsds ah that is really interesting. To think they went and mixed it properly like they had on previous albums. But then why is this the only album of the classics that gets remixed? I wonder who is the driving force. Is it Guthrie? Did get go to remaster all the other albums in like 2015(?) and say to David the Animals one can't be remastered properly the way its mixed?
@@ummagumma7826 maybe this remix of Animals benefits, like, a bit more instrument seperation. But I also like the original mix. The 5.1 surround mix, on the other hand, is very interesting! Pink Floyd / Animals in perfect surround sound.
That one worths a lot to acquire ! The 2018 mix is astonishing. I wonder why they didnt make a similar effort for the dark side of the moon 50th celebration
Not sure DSOTM needed it as bad as Animals.
I have now played the 2018 vinyl version all the way through twice and streamed it once. I think I may be one of the outliers that prefer the 2018 remix. I still love (and always will) the original but this remix is fantastic. My only concerns are with the pressing which others have commented on. Side 2 is very crackly for a brand new record. But otherwise I love it.
I can't speak to the vinyl, but the SACD sounds great. I love the new mix!
..very good album and great sound. It's a shame that Dave and Roger don't agree with their styles in keeping Pink Floyd. What will be the next revival album? I would like to hear an album with rare songs in the future projects remixes. Thanks "Tack X Track" for your time and videos. 👌
I would not be surprised to see The Wall re-released, with a surround mix and maybe we'd be lucky enough to see the live show finally on DVD.
Quick question T×T, do you know if there is Pink Floyd Album called " Secret Rarities"? It is on sale? Thank you for your consideration. 💿🎵😐
@@TrackXTrack Quick question. Do you know if there is a Pink Floyd album called "Secret Rarities"? It is on sale? Again , thank you for your consideration. 💿🎼🎵
I’m not aware of a Secret Rarities album. Might be a bootleg.
Don't forget that Snowy White's solo on "Pigs On The Wing", which was astonishing.
Yes, Snowy White contributed a guitar solo to the track Pigs on the Wing, as it existed in the studio. Subsequently, as the album was mixed the composition was divided into two parts, and his solo was dispensed with. It is only the eight track cassette version that includes his musical contribution.
Not a lot of mention of James Guthrie. I've always appreciated his work/contribution to the Floyd stuff.
An oversight. He deserves MUCH credit.
I love the 5.1 remix. I would have loved a full immersion treatment much better. Demos, the missing "pigs on the wing version", a full 1977 concert, if necessary scarf and marbles.
I was long hoping for an Immersion set as well.
Although the current remasters of the other "classic" period albums sound quite good, I'd love to have them remixed like this.
Maybe. But none needed it as bad as Animals!
@@TrackXTrack I agree. I've played Animals once or twice each day since the remix was released.
My top 5 PF album
Same
This is one of the few remixes/remasters of any kind that I actually felt was worth the money. The new sound is fresh, modern, clean, etc. When the album first came out I was ambivalent and thought they were proving that their height was Dark Side and that it would never be achieved again. Strangely, over the years Animals has emerged as my most favorite album from that era. I now consider Animals, Wish You Were Here, Dark Side, and Meddle (if not the whole album, at least "Echoes") to all constitute the high point of Pink Floyd.
I agree with your highpoints, including Echoes. I'd probably add The Wall as well.
Great remix... although the original (European version) sounded much darker and more introverted. Gilmours funky bassplaying on Pigs (Three Different Ones) is out of this world (as is his guitarplaying offcourse). I also like the remixes of Meddle and Obscured by Clouds. So.....carry on!
pure gem of a remix loving every minute of it,beats the original mix by miles
Agreed!
I would like to see a remix of the meddle album.
Same!
Oh yes!
Give it time. Theres always a market for this stuff. I assume there will be a 50th for Dark Side.
5.1 remix converted to stereo is basically the 3rd mix available in this release
Thanks Kyle, appreciate your input :/
Thanks for watching!
Based on what I heard when “Dogs” was made available, I had a similar reaction to when I heard AMLOR 2019: sonically clear but seems too neutral in its character to where it can be perceived as revisionist. That “murky sound” I think is a benefit to the overall character of the album. For starters, it was the beginning of the band doing things even more on their own (first to be recorded at Brittannia Row). This also happened to come out at around the same time punk before. While PF was often the target of their ire (see Johnny Rotten’s T-shirt), the band kinda had a punk-adjacent vibe. This comes through both in the DIY attitude and the scathing proclamation (mostly due to Waters).
So hearing the 2018 remix of “Dogs”: yeah I can hear more “clearly” and probably more in balance. But that characteristic that made the whole album what it was is not there as strongly than when it was first issued in 1977.
But to their eternal credit, it’s absolutely clear that it’s an alternate version and doesn’t try to pull a replacement or supercede move. So while I have my preference, I’m glad this has seen the light of day at last.
I would not necessarily draw comparisons to AMLOR 2019 since that release had new instrumentation. Animals retains all the same original materials, just mixed differently.
@@TrackXTrack True. But I did say that it was my reaction that was similar, not that both were doing the same thing =].
That said, I think both of them share an end goal of revisiting the sound and bringing it closer to the band's sensibilities or addressing some "mild sonic irritation" =]. Thus, it would make sense that the reactions to both efforts could potentially be similar.
@@DerekPower Remix souds better, all that shit about murky sound is a benefit is just in the heads of people. What is a benefit is a better mix, now that's concrete.
@@stephanea5364 To be clear, I am talking about the merits of both and my preference for one over the other. Yes, the 2018 mix has a certain technical clarity, which can be perceived as “better”. But at the same time, that clarity may come at the expense of what makes that album unique.
And to make it even more clear, this is just my preference. I’m glad there is a choice of listening and I see it as complementary.
@@DerekPower It's like some people saying they don't want Kiss' Hotter than Hell to be remixed because that muddy sound give a unique character to the record. Oh well, it sounds like shit, period. (Not to say Animals 77 sounded like shit but that murkyness was a lack of competence to mix the album properly, not a choice.)
How was the 5.1 surround sound mix on the SACD or Blu-Ray ?
I have the SACD instead of the bluray. I think you maybe asked about the mix on my unboxing video also, so forgive me for pasting my thoughts again here: It's very enveloping, though not often dramatic. I think it does a nice job of creating an immersive listening experience but it isn't showy about it. Guthrie tends to be fairly conservative with his surround mixes, though, so this is in keeping with what he's done in the past. I wish the mix was a little more active, but it is still very nice!
Pros: Vocals and drums. In the new mix the vocals sit in more open space and slightly more forward. The space allows for a more transparent narrative. The snare drum has tactile snap and the toms now have a pleasing timbre. Before they seemed dry and lifeless. Cons: It's a bit bright in parts, particularly some guitar parts. In passages where I think the attack of the guitar riff is meant as a counterpoint to the lush underpinnings of the background, it's slightly overbearing and alarming. There's some sub-bass especially in "Sheep' that feels overdone and not very cohesive with the mood. Overall I prefer the 2018 mix to any other iteration of the record. I don't see it as a reworking of the original but as spruced up and given a nice polish. Cheers!
Good way of looking at it!
I agree with how much more Dynamic this version is and how much more credit that Richard Wright deserves in his contribution on this this album, as is now obvious, but I completely disagree with what you're saying of how this new version takes away from Waters contribution towards the album. Without the pillars of his idea of making the album, without his determination to bring out the anger of his portrayal of Animal Farm, the intensity and artistry from the rest of the band would not have followed and we wouldn't have this magnificent piece of work. Also, any Pink Floyd fan knows from watching the video live in Pompeii, Roger Waters is the one coming up with the sound effects that were used through Dark Side of the Moon. Not to take away from Richard Wright's contribution in that album, but I think Waters deserves more credit with the sound effects and the synthesizers in that album. So you can't also assume that Richard Wright is responsible for all the sonic wizardry that is now even more evident in this album also. This album is a Monumental achievement of the whole of Pink Floyd, so the artists at play should not be dissected from each other, but should be celebrated as an achievement of the whole of Pink Floyd. It sucks that they broke up, but let's not take sides when celebrating their music.
I think you misinterpreted what I was saying. I said the new mix doesn’t do Roger as many favors as it does for the rest of the band, not that it takes anything away from him. His songwriting on the album is excellent, as I stated. But the new mix shines a stronger spotlight on the excellent contributions of Dave, Nick and Rick than ever before, sort of forcing Roger to share the spotlight. No disrespect intended toward his ideas or songwriting.
Bought it at the age of 13. Loved the music, hated the sound. I think the 2016 was already a step up, my 2018 arrives today. Can’t wait
Hope you love it!
"True music fans always want releases the day they come out." Be that as it may, my hometown no longer has a proper music store. There's a place that's vinyl-only and since I have no interest in vinyl, I'm stuck ordering on-line and being at the mercy of shippers.
I miss the days of midnight sales at the record stores! I bought both Division Bell and Pulse at midnight sales back in the day! THAT'S what the true fans did!
The new mix serves Wright and Mason incredibly well. Especially Wright who it's clear did so much more on this album than we could originally hear. However, In the case of Gilmour and Waters the new mix actually takes away from them. Given the concept of the album I like the "murkiness" of the original mix and think it suits better
That's fair. I prefer the new mix, but I see what you mean.
Ya sold me
Nice!
There is no comparison sonically between this remix and all other previous mixes I have heard. Every instrument is crystal clear. Every voice stands apart from the instrumentation.I am in full agreement with you here. But I'm not sure the end effect is as good a thing as you suggest. This is my subjective impression, naturally.
Taking as given that Animals is a brilliant collection of songs and focussing on the execution in studio, the most important ingredient to the overall effect of the original production of the album is the seething barely contained cynical rage of the (Waters in particular) vocals and the crackling, cutting, hissing bite of Gilmour's guitars. All of them, because there is an orchestra of Gilmours playing on the album. To me, the 2018 mix buffs much of that feeling of danger and passion from the mix. Each component sounds like individually restored, hermetically sealed pieces placed in a museum side by side made to be examined individually and not so much as a collective. Maybe I'm just used to 45 years of listening to the album as it was originally released, but I don't think so. I love the WYWH and Dark Side Immersion mixes. To me the sonic improvements have come at the cost of much of the energy of the originals. Maybe has the effect of prozac where the euphoric highs and depressive lows have been buffered leaving a lovely sounding but maybe a little sanitized album.
I'm also not sure I agree with what you said about David's playing on Animals. I do agree that it may be his finest work with the band, but not because his playing is more simplistic. The sound of his guitars, and the solos he plays are stylistically much different than any he had played before or since. His phrasing, his punctuation and particularly his sound are unique to his repertoire. He sounds at times (Dogs) like he's playing a rusty, sputtering chain saw, sparks flying, cutting dangerous. Other times like on the outro of Sheep, his ominous chorus of soloing guitars mirror Roger's spitting, threatening "singing". I love being able to hear his playing more intimately, but I do think Guthrie has slightly changed the sound of his guitars, especially on the solos to highlight his playing over the effect the sound has on the song.
I'm grateful to have this mix (I'm listening to the bluray version). I have been a life long devotee of Pink Floyd. I think this mix is well worth having for anyone that loves the album and wants to explore it in a new light. This very much sounds like a new version of the piece. Side by side, I still prefer the original though.
Everyone's preference may vary, of course. You make good points, and I respect your opinion. To my personal taste, as I've said in the video, I like the new mix much more. But that's certainly not to say that the old mix was bad. Still, I suspect I won't often return to that old mix. And perhaps you won't find yourself returning to the NEW mix very often. Time will tell...
Is it a Camera lens Optical Illusion, or are you CD shelves bending and ready to Collapse???
The question on my mind is: if Pink Floyd had had access to today's technology in 1977, would they have mixed the album in this way?
I like both the old and the new mixes, but I feel that the new mix sort of misses the point. Or I suspect that it does.
Assuming that the old mix was the way the album was "supposed" to sound, the real Animals sound is meant to be murky, gloomy and somewhat uninviting.
The music has always sounded as cold as the lyrics, while the production created a bit of mystique in the way that the whole thing sounds like being
lost in a dreamscape. Other albums have done this, too. Exile on Main St., R.E.M.'s Murmur, Kate Bush's Lionheart and, in parts, David Bowie's Aladdin Sane
all have that foggy feel thanks to a muddy sound with drenched vocals on top.
Is that what Floyd wanted? Or did they always want a sharper sound? The new mix, in my mind, makes the mistake of changing Animals' sound into a much
warmer and inviting one, and I'm not sure if that's consistent with the bitter message of the music? But I still like it.
If anything, we now have the option to choose which version we listen to, depending on our mood for the day.
I think it works for most of the album, Pigs, in particular, was the glaring exception. I was very disappointed with the way that turned out.
I think Animals would have sounded very different if the band had had access to today's technology at the time. It would have impacted much more than the mix. But I think this mix is tastefully done and in my opinion does not sacrifice any of what made the album great in the first place.
Strange that you don't rate the original UK Harvest CD's. I must admit, I have not heard the Animals original CD, but I have the harvest versions of Meddle and Wish You Were Here and they are now my preferred versions. The 1994 remasters were terrible in comparison. The 1994 has taken away much of the top end leaving Meddle, WYWH and Animals sounding dull and muddy. I do like the 2011 remaster of Animals. A lot clearer. This new remix is fantastic. Just been listening to it on Bluray audio. The original is also on the bluray and sounds wonderful.
I don't have any of the other Floyd albums on Harvest, just Animals (and Roger's Pros & Cons album) so I can't say how the other albums sounded. But I have generally thought the remasters sounded better each time.
here's my own impression....as I still have the Vinyl since the early 90s...I got used to it for a while, the CD version I bought was the European copy of the remaster of 1997... bought it the same year....and I found it polished but still sounding as the vinyl...sounding old and very tape kinda sound...great and pleasing. maybe less depth I felt compared to the vinyl..
now the new one (2018) sounds quite different and disturbing somehow...why? cause it's sounds very clean, and everything seems jumping out as if all the mix was reviewed and improved...it's cristal clear..and a bit modern, it loses somehow the magic of the original release...
now in terms of sound (as I'm a sound engineer myself) it sounds way better, if its the first we listen to, we would not appreciate the old version, but this is human nature everything is related to what we're used to...so as the old vinyl is the reference the new one is quite disturbing....as we gain in clarity but we lose the magic...of those old good days...
conclusion...it would be an alternative listening experience which is great, specially for us (fans of PF in general and this album particularly !!! but I still prefer the original mix because it sounds (((authentic))) or sounds like it should be....
The original mix was very much of its time, and i do appreciate that about it. Still, I prefer the new mix for my personal listening.
@@TrackXTrack absolutely agrees in a general way...after having watched your video I came back to it and gave a listen to it side to side and compared different parts of the songs....I think I join you completely, your impressions are right....
here's what I got so far, the album is sounding definitely modern and huge, crisp, with more intensity, clarity depth, and space....it hasn't been improved just as remaster, all the mix have been reviewed and improved in many aspects (technical and artistic choices) that the old versions suddenly seem sounding like a demos compared to it, the only regrettable thing is about some instruments which are obvious in the previous versions, sound covered in this one, the piano and electric piano on some Dogs parts sound more overwhelmed even if the choice was to make them sounding as a background support to the guitares and voice...but I felt like we lost something essential...also the guitars sound more polished and less aggressive which for me was the ultimate signature of the aggressivity of this masterpiece !!! but the rest compensates all those little things that I'm talking about in way that the sound is modern the album freshly reserected from its ashes !! i
t makes me smile, because years ago I wondered how would a PF album sound today with all the possibilities and the technology that allows even a home studio production sounds great....! the answer is ...phenomenal...! and I have to mention, the voices were done in the best possible way and better than any other PF's album...even better than the Division Bell....wish they'll do Meddle.. Darkside and wish you were here...the same way...
so Thanks for your review..and long life to the biggest Genius of modern Music (R Waters).
Animals is Pink Floyd's most aggressive, epic and truly soulful rock and roll album. Undoubtedly the best album by the old English band.
It is one of my favorites!
Where's the Snowy White version of Pigs on the Wing?
I think that would need to be a bonus track, and for whatever reasons they decided there would be no bonus material.
A vast improvement… I actually enjoy this album now ….
You didn't enjoy it before? :) Kidding. It is great stuff.
@@TrackXTrack yes I enjoyed it … but it was never a favourite… but this new mix is superb….it cleans up the sound but loses none of its oppressive nature..and the new art work matches very well to the new sound …
You were online in the 80s, interesting.
Yep. Pre-web. I was on the early online message boards.
The mix on Animals 2018 sounds so modern. The drums are louder, the guitar is punchy and it sounds like it could've been made by a contemporary indie experimental rock band.
The mix is good but the overall volume level on the cd is awfully low
The blu ray version is fantastic, plus you get floating pig.
Nice! I wondered what the screen visual would be. The SACD sounds fantastic in surround sound, but of course there’s no visual.
Just to add when the music is playing you get the new album cover changing different shades and different lighting effects, looks like dawn is breaking.
I tried listening to the 2018 remix and couldn’t get through the entire album as that’s not Animals to me. It’s someone’s take on an absolute classic. If someone likes that, then to each their own. It just doesn’t do it for me. I have too much emotional investment tied in to the original mix. I have a rare French early vinyl pressing and it sounds great IMO and that’s what I’ll stick to.
I had the original vinyl and actually saw the 1977 tour at Montreal Olympic stadium, a massive concert. Why 2018? This has no extras or a live recording, no need to buy this.
A far cry from the Immersion box sets of the classic albums of the 70's.
I'd love to have seen one of those shows in 77! Lucky you!
Of course theres a need. If you're a massive fan you'll treat this as a celebration and a different interpretation of the album. Sounds great.
Were you the recipient of Roger's saliva at that now infamous concert? I have been both an admirer and familiar with this album for 44 years, and whilst respecting your views, I believe you are missing out on a noteworthy musical experience. My ticket price to an aural feast was only £10.56.
Most of the album is good except Dogs - yes it’s clearer. Dogs is a mess up as the acoustic guitars are almost totally lost after the beginning being replaced by Mason’s pedestrian ride cymbal and we end up with a half time feel at the beginning with the drums playing quarter notes on the hats - that to me is really messing with the arrangement - not good. Pigs is good, Sheep is patchy but generally good.
A fair assessment.
So aged 17 had a shitty copy on a shitty tape, played through shitty speakers. Twice a day for 2 years. That’s how much i loved Animals,, Wasn’t about quality clear recording. It was about enjoying Pink Floyd at there peak 🐖🐑🐕
I hope you have upgraded since then. :)
@@TrackXTrack yes sir. Ha ha
Hi may be ..maybe ..the first solo effort by gilmour should need the same kind of treatment his first effort is his very best and some tracks on it were rejected for ..animals and by the way this Lp suffers the same problematics with animals low dynamics especialy the drums a bit far in the mix too flat sloppy ...;-) but so brilliant
I have a feeling restored versions of any Floyd solo albums is going to be unlikely. They won't sell enough copies to be worth it to the record companies.
This is a cd review? Get a clean uk 1st pressing
That is significantly better than any release
I think Gilmore's guitar sounds better on the original. It's one of the best albums I know and I love both versions but I do prefer the original a bit more.
Gilmour
@@gerardoerak6142 shame. Sorry. Gilmour. I'm listening to him right now. Echoes remastered.
@@danu6718 👍
@@gerardoerak6142 I have to say, I'm listening to the new remix more and more, it's growing on me. I was a bit overly critical.
But is IT his bass really on the album I’m not sure or is it Gilmour’s in sheeps clothing
DG plays bass in Pigs & Sheep. RW plays bass in Dogs.
How can you even have doubts or misjudgement about Richard Wright’s performance? Sounds like blasphemy to me.
It just shines so much brighter in the new mix, as it deserves to.
I was a little disappointed. I found the guitars are boxy and muddy...Interesting that Wright;s keybaord playing is well pronounced, I was hoping the sound would be a lot brighter. I find the discovery version of Animals is better imho.
Fair enough
Its a cleaner mix, but... no the best mix for Animals, the darkest floyd album, it ruins the mood
Without Waters they would have nothing to play
The original was better, hands down. I don't know why we even bother time and time again with this remix nonsense