Pink Floyd “Animals” 1977. Their 10th studio album, Animals went to no. 2 in the UK and to no. 3 in the US. It’s a continuation of the prog rock concept album format that the band started with their previous LP’s Meddle and Wish You Were Here. Apparently it’s now considered one of their best releases. I’m not a big prog-rock aficionado – I get way too bored and often irritated with navel-gazing noodling, so I’ll defer to the so-called experts on that best-of consideration. Except for “Pigs on the Wing (Part One)” and “Pigs on the Wing (Part Two),” the songs are long. Shocking, I know, “Pigs on the Wing” is/are my top track(s) mostly because they are strongly reminiscent of my favorite Floyd song “Wish You Were Here” (the only song I ever learned how to play on guitar). “Dogs” is far too long but I like the part towards the end of the song that strongly brings to mind the track “Have a Cigar” (also on Wish You Were Here), the same vibe continues on “Pigs (Three Different Ones).” I’ve only seen Roger Waters perform once (never saw Pink Floyd), in 2022 where he performed “Sheep” from Animals. Honestly I don’t really remember that one but the internet says it is so.

The concept of Animals, was – according to Wiki and album that was a commentary on the “sociopolitical conditions of mid-1970s Britain….loosely based on George Orwell’s political fable Animal Farm, the album’s lyrics describe various classes in society as different kinds of animals: the predatory dogs, the despotic ruthless pigs, and the mindless and unquestioning herd of sheep…The album is also in part a response to the punk rock movement, which grew in popularity as a nihilistic statement against the prevailing social and political conditions, and in response to the complacency and nostalgia that appeared to surround rock music.” We’re currently (always, actually) working to thin the vinyl herd – I’m ambivalent about this one, it could stay or go.

Maness Brothers “Hill House Sessions” 2026. Romanus Records, limited edition tricolor “Nebula” variant. Love love love these trad/garage blues rockers from Missouri. Maness Brothers are, indeed, brothers with David on guitar and vocals and Jake on drums and vocals. We first caught the duo back in 2017 when they opened for Brother O’Brother (along with SERVICE featuring former Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’s Russell Simins on drums — see here for that post and a great story David Maness told us about discovering JSBX when he was 11 years old) for BoB’s Neon Native album release show in Indianapolis. We caught them again in Indy in 2019 at Romanus Fest. Hill House Sessions is their first full length in over 5 years and it’s a scorcher (the liner notes state the album was recorded over the course of eight months back in 2021).  A mix of traditional Southern blues, grungy growls, electric guitar shreds and a family orientated DIY punk attitude. the opener “The Way That It Is,” “Tammy Jean” and “Let It Roll” are all rollicking blues ass-shakers with gravel country roads vocals; “Life” is a blues-country bender with an ear-worm infinity hook that excellently devolves into controlled garage chaos (one of my top picks for sure). “Workin’ Man” blends grunge and metal with bendy blues for a sound so big it rivals the 80s hair bands (but wins for better music). “Sometimes” too leans heavy and raucous while the album closer “Luna’s Lullaby” opens has an adorable spoken word from, I’m guessing, one of the bro’s young daughter and moves into a lovely, sparkling, dreamy instrumental that is, as advertised, a (blues) lullaby. It’s been several year since we’ve seen Maness Brothers perform and I’m hoping they will tour the upper Midwest soon.

Brandy Zdan “Secretear” 2018. Tallest Man Records, translucent pink vinyl variant. Zdan was one of our favorite new-to-us acts at this year’s Mile of Music festival in Appleton a couple of weeks ago. We often base our picks on the MoM app’s filters (rock!) and then the artist description, followed by a preview of a few tracks available via streaming. Zdan’s was “brandy ZDAN (zuh-dan) is a Canadian artist & Record producer based in Nashville TN. After two JUNO nominations (Canada’s Grammy) and years on the road as a session guitarist, ZDAN carves out a rock n roll/post punk sound reminiscent of the Runaways, Bikini Kill, with some 80’s Bryan Adams thrown in the mix. She is also quickly making her name as a sought out record producer with her dark and raw sensibility, approach of serving the song, and creating a sonic palette unique to the artists she works with.” Check, check and check. We caught her set at The Bar on Friday afternoon and it was excellent! She’s an engaging performer, lots of smiles + attitude; and we’re fairly certain her touring bassist (no clue if she’s in the band full-time) performed with Gloom Girl at Mile last year. Secretear is Zdan’s first label release; she has a couple of records from 2015 that appear to be self-released and she has another LP, Falcon, from 2021. Since I haven’t heard those other releases I don’t know what her sound trajectory has been or became, but Secretear is definitely more country/Americana inspired than her performance, which was for sure more straight up guitar-forward rock. She also has an amazing voice. My top picks from the record are the rocking opener “Get To You,” the dream-pop, girl-group inspired “Run Away,” the banger “Wild Fire” and  “Night Rider” – an 80’s inspired slow-burner upon which her voice is simply angelic, bringing to mind the great Pat Benatar.