Bagpipes (white stripes, Atmosphere, tune, volume, covers)

[Janszoon]

I just got back from the grocery store to discover that there's a man standing on the sidewalk directly across from my apartment playing the bagpipes. It's really loud in my apartment, like louder than the volume I would normally listen to music at home, and I have to admit I kind of feel like leaning out the window and heckling him.

Anyway, all this is making me think about my feelings toward bagpipes in general and I'm torn about whether I like them or not. On the one hand, let's face it, they sound like a dying animal and the fact that they are an extremely loud instrument means that the dying animal sound also has an in your face quality to it. On the other hand, sometimes I've heard them used in a way that is really great. An example that comes to mind is in the song "Sky Pilot" by the Animals, I don't think that tune would be nearly as good with the bagpipes.

So what are your feelings about bagpipes? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Somewhere in between?