As for Animals, I dont dislike it. Not at all. I think its a fine album. But I just much prefer Meddle. Echoes, One of These Days, Fearless… just magical stuff.
If we’re picking three albums in a row (Obscured By Clouds doesn’t count… not a studio album… it’s a soundtrack) for me it’s Meddle, DSOTM, Wish You Were Here.
Soundgarden’s (and to a worse and lesser extent Audioslave’s) heavy guitar sound and reliance on his wail, hid Chris Cornell’s incredible, subtle, emotive, bluesy voice, to all of our loss.