Fictional Correspondence: An Email Regarding Pink Floyd
From: Universal Music Group
Subject: Animals 44th Anniversary
Forty-four years ago, Pink Floyd unleashed Animals, a five-track epic lauded as one of modern music’s boldest challenges to the Establishment. In this ode to George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Roger Waters’ incisive anti-authoritarian lyrics take on systemic injustice in the 20th century while the band’s perilous soundscapes hold up a mirror to the world. Together, they paint a harrowing portrait of the exploitative power structures of capitalism, both as a scathing critique and as a warning about the dystopian future it promises. The pigs, dogs, and sheep of society all make their own appearance, their roles laid out through a metaphorical framework in five parts.
In the decades since its release, the album’s predictions ring truer with each passing year. Today, the unrelenting march towards globalization multiplies the atrocities of a viciously exploitative political-economic system, the glorification of celebrity and material excess sets unattainable standards of exclusivity, and Big Tech traps the masses under their thumbs. Across the globe, pocketable computers are hypnotizing their users via carefully engineered stimuli while simultaneously serving as vehicles for advertisements of more unnecessary products. Thus, the vicious cycle of mindless, wasteful consumption carries on.
That’s why on this notable 44th anniversary, we’re releasing an extremely limited edition 180 gram 4 X LP ‘Animals: 44’ box set packed full of never-before-seen liner notes that didn’t make the cut the first time or in the four or five reissues since.
What’s different in this reissue?
Well, of course, it’s remastered! Subsequent remasterings of the original 1977 recording really “polished up” some of the rough spots which we think detracted from the rebellious message of the work. Using the latest in audio engineering technology, we actually accentuated these idiosyncrasies as if it were never mastered in the first place. But mainly, we just made the whole thing WAY LOUDER.
Why 4 LP’s?
Not only did we want the best pressing quality possible when transferring from our high-bitrate MP3 masters, but we needed extra room for some Easter eggs! Here are just a few:
An extended cut of ‘Dogs’ featuring the band arguing over whose whistling sounded more ironic
An alternate take of ‘Sheep’ where the left channel is completely overtaken by a crash symbol after a mic stand drooped a little
The entire album played in reverse on discs 3 and 4. People seemed to like doing that with Dark Side of the Moon, so we figured why not?
Radical. What else?
We had our interns go out and take some iPhone photos of Battersea Power Station, the subject of the album's iconic cover art, and plastered the gatefold sleeve with them. Unfortunately, we tried to float a huge pig above it again, but it flew away when Harold’s grip slipped. (Nice one, Harold!) Despite that, we partnered up with Apple while they built their new campus inside the facility to gather up some of the construction debris and seal it in the front panel* of each edition!
The pre-order for this remarkable piece of nostalgia starts next month. And don’t forget: if you’re an American Express Gold Member, you get a 3-day head start! This exclusive $89.99 offer is only happening once, so don’t be a sheep!
Sincerely,
The dogs at Universal Music Group
*Do not attempt to open the front panel as the debris may be hazardous.