Us and Them vs.
ScarecrowI find that I am comparing some of the songs with songs that aren't being matched. Scarecrow is good, but it feels like a lesser Bike, which is a fantastic mix of the childish, bouncy tune and masterful overlays. And how can we compare it to Us and Them, a song I thought was "too slow" when I first heard it in college, but now I appreciate every nanoscecond of?
A Pillow of Winds vs.
Crumbling LandI've never heard Crumbling Land, but it's a classic Floyd song, no mistake. I love the build up, the soft sounds, the 60's vibe, it's all there. But Pillow of Winds is one of my favorites of all time. The more I hear Meddle, the more I love it, better than Dark Side. I suppose I could listen to it another hundred times.
Young Lust vs.
San TropezHead to head, my two least favorites on their respective albums. The guitar and vocals on Young Lust are fantastic, but the lyric refrain is simply offensive and I've never gotten over that, even though I recognize that it's part of a larger story. I appreciate it's place in the whole, but not as a separate song. San Tropez is bouncy and breezy and fun and the piano is wonderful, but it takes me out of the album, which is dreamy and haunting. As an individual song, I guess San Tropez wins.
Any Colour You Like vs
Main ThemeInteresting match. Main Theme always sounded like one of their experiments, but without a core. Any Colour you Like feels like a bridge to get us from Us and Them to Brain Damage, but I never think of it as it's own song. However Any Colour is better produced and tighter, so I give it the lead here.
Echoes vs.
The Post War DreamThe Post War Dream is an excellent Roger Waters song with David Gilmour on guitar. It reminds me of the best of Amused Ourselves to Death, my favorite Waters solo album. Still, it's a very well-done song, great Waters-preach. But you can't put it against Echoes! One of the greatest epic songs of all all time?
When the Tigers Broke Free vs.
Crying SongWhen the Tigers Broke Free is the best of Waters-preach. A tight, orchestrated sermon with a great punch at the end. I struggle to know whether the album would be better with it. I'll never know now. Crying Song is pleasant with good guitar work, but it doesn't hold a candle to Tigers.
Sheep vs.
Scream Thy Last ScreamI don't remember hearing Scream, although I must have. The core song doesn't work for me, but the instrumental work is fantastic chaotic buildup. Sheep has always been too long for me. Mind you, this is from a guy who adores Shine on You Crazy Diamond, both parts. But Sheep is too repetitive, and I could never really hear it the way I wanted to, no matter how much I turned up the volume. On the other hand, Sheep develops the ideas of Animals best and has a great hook. So it goes to Sheep.
Pigs on the Wing (Part One) vs.
Let There Be More LightI've always enjoyed Pigs on the Wing, but each part seemed too slight to me, to make a whole song. I've usually listened to the two parts back to back on my playlists. Light seems to be an answer to Intersteller Overdrive, with lyrics. I like it, good stuff.