Ode to Jethro Tull
Lately I have been feeling the urge to write another ode.
I have been listening to my collection of music... over and over. I have found many new interests to keep my collection updated, but there are some of the old standards that continue to surprise me. Of all the many genres of music, I would have to say that 'classic rock' is one of my least favorite. I just want to shoot myself when I'm forced to listen to a 'classic rock' station. Of the VERY FEW exceptions to this rule, there is one band that is not only a tolerable 'classic rock' group, but has become one of my top 3 favorite groups of all time. Of course I'm speaking of the group of wacky Brits known as Jethro Tull.
I'm sure that many of the readers of this blog are completely (helpless without their spectacles) unfamiliar with the sound of Jethro Tull. It's not easy to describe Tull because their music is so varied. They have been making music since the 60's, so that means a lot of variation. The greatest creation they've ever had is a 45 minute odyssey called 'A Passion Play'. It always seems like I notice something new every time I listen to it. It seems like they really took time to develop every little detail in their music and chose many different instruments to transmit feelings and moods.
I'd like to make that track available for download, but it's huge so it presents problems. If anybody wants it they can email me to get it.
I have been listening to my collection of music... over and over. I have found many new interests to keep my collection updated, but there are some of the old standards that continue to surprise me. Of all the many genres of music, I would have to say that 'classic rock' is one of my least favorite. I just want to shoot myself when I'm forced to listen to a 'classic rock' station. Of the VERY FEW exceptions to this rule, there is one band that is not only a tolerable 'classic rock' group, but has become one of my top 3 favorite groups of all time. Of course I'm speaking of the group of wacky Brits known as Jethro Tull.
I'm sure that many of the readers of this blog are completely (helpless without their spectacles) unfamiliar with the sound of Jethro Tull. It's not easy to describe Tull because their music is so varied. They have been making music since the 60's, so that means a lot of variation. The greatest creation they've ever had is a 45 minute odyssey called 'A Passion Play'. It always seems like I notice something new every time I listen to it. It seems like they really took time to develop every little detail in their music and chose many different instruments to transmit feelings and moods.
I'd like to make that track available for download, but it's huge so it presents problems. If anybody wants it they can email me to get it.
Labels: jethro tull, music review, ode
13 Comments:
I have a feeling Jason will agree with you!
BTW, I would have him post pictures from last weekend, but Heather made away with my camera. We have the exact same one and she took mine. Meanwhile, I'll get the ones from my old camera developed soon.
Jade
Hurrah!
You should have known better than to open the pandora's box that is Jethro Tull. I could comment on this post until the cows come home. I'll try to limit myself. I'm with you as to Jethro Tull being a top 3 band. They are my number 1. Number 2 is Primus and number 3 is Tool. What are you're top 3? Tull's sound is as varied as it gets, although a lot of people wouldn't notice that. Look at the early albums (bluesy) compared to the middle albums (folky) compared to the later albums (synth pop). Quite a progression, although most of the stuff after 1980 is pretty bad. I absolutely love A Passion Play. Not only is the music great, the lyrics tell a story from start to finish with the intermission being an allegory. I like that several of Tull's songs tell a story, particularly "She said she was a dancer"....great story of drunken unrequited love...very tongue in cheek.
Okay, that's enough...I could dissect every damn song of theirs between 1968 and 1987. Instead, I will list my top 5 favorite Tull songs...which is hard to limit to just 5.
1. Passion Play (no question)
2. Thick as a Brick (Bursting Out version only, and a very,very,very close second)
3. Baker Street Muse (Also a very, very, very close call)
4. Bouree
5. Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a new Day (about 1/4 to 1/2 of all Tull songs were considered for this spot...it was hard to choose. This one just gets me everytime I hear it)
Not only is the music complex, but the lyrics are sheer poetry. I'll leave you with a snippet of my absolute favorite Tull lyrics. This is from Thick as a Brick.
Spin me back down the years and the days of my youth.
Draw the lace and black curtains and shut out the whole truth.
Spin me down the long ages: let them sing the song.
See there! A son is born and we pronounce him fit to fight.
There are black-heads on his shoulders, and he pees himself in the night.
We'll make a man of him, put him to trade
teach him to play Monopoly and how to sing in the rain.
The Poet and the Painter casting shadows on the water
as the sun plays on the infantry returning from the sea.
The do-er and the thinker: no allowance for the other
as the failing light illuminates the mercenary's creed.
The home fire burning: the kettle almost boiling
but the master of the house is far away.
The horses stamping, their warm breath clouding
in the sharp and frosty morning of the day.
And the poet lifts his pen while the soldier sheaths his sword.
And the youngest of the family is moving with authority.
Building castles by the sea, he dares the tardy tide to wash them all aside.
Okay, one more. This is the complete song "She said she was a dancer"
She said she was a dancer. If I believed it, it was my busines
She surely knew a thing or two about control.
Next to the bar we hit the samovar. She almost slipped right through my fingers.
It was snowing outside and in her soul.
Well, maybe you're a dancer, and maybe I'm the King of Old Siam.
I thought it through... best to let the illusion roll.
I wouldn't say I've never heard that tale before,
my frozen little senorita,
but if your dream is good, why not share it when the nights are cold?
Hey Moscow, what's your story? Lady, take your time, don't hurry.
Maybe a student of the agricultural plan.
Hey Moscow, what's your name? If you don't want to say, don't worry.
It would probably be hard for me to make it scan.
With her phrase book in her silk soft hand
she spoke in riddles while the vodka listened.
I said, ``Let me look up love, if I might be so bold.''
She was the nearest thing to Rock and Roll
that side of the velvet curtain
that separates eastern steel from western gold.
Hey Miss Moscow, what's your story?
You needn't speak aloud, just whisper.
Am I just the closest thing to an Englishman?
You've seen me in your magazines, or maybe on state television.
I'm your Pepsi-Cola, but you won't take me out the can.
She said she was a dancer --- so she did.
She said she was a dancer. If I believed it, it was my business.
It felt like a merry dance that I was being led.
So I stole one kiss. It was a near miss.
She looked at me like I was Jack the Ripper.
She leaned in close. ``Goodnight,'' was all she said.
So I took myself off to bed.
I love two lines the best in this song. "She spoke in riddles while the Vodka listened" and "I stole one kiss, it was a near miss. She looked at me like I was Jack the Ripper. She leaned in close, goodnight was all she said....so I took myself off to bed.
Poor, poor ol' guy
Lastly, I'm going to disagree with you on classic rock. That time period produced some of the best songs ever. I think the problem is that they've all been played to death on the radio. You can't deny The Who, The Rolling Stones, CSNY, Queen, Creedence, etc.
P.S. I think that there will be damn few people commenting on this post...and they're all dead. Get Sean to write something up, I'd like to see his opinion.
Jethro Tull has always been a huge part of my catalog. I love all of the stand bys however I still love to put on the first album and listen to it from start to finish. Definately more "Bluesy". This song always comes into my head when Im on my weary way home from wherever it is that I shouldnt have been in the first place
My Sunday feeling is coming on over me.
My Sunday feeling is coming on over me,
Now that the night is over.
Got to clear my head so I can see.
Till I get to put together,
that old feeling won't let me be.
Won't somebody tell me where I laid my head last night?
Won't somebody tell me where I laid my head last night?
I really don't remember,
But with one more cigarette and I think I might.
Till I get to put together,
well that old feeling can't get me right.
Need some assistance, have you listened to what I said?
Need some assistance, have you listened to what I said?
Oh, I don't feel so good.
Need someone to help me to my bed.
Till I get to put together,
that old feeling is in my head.
Yeah, great song....you should see it live from the Isle of White DVD....amazing stuff...makes me wish I could have seen it live.
p.s. I really like Serenade to/from a cuckoo on This Was.....a precursor to Bouree.
All good Tull songs.
My top 3:
3: Jethro Tull
2: Beck
1: Bad Religion
Top 5 Jethro Tull songs
5: Living in the Past
4: Mother Goose
3: We Used to Know
2: Baker St. Muse
1: A Passion Play
Honorable mentions go to: A New Day Yesterday; A Time for Everything; Back to the Family; Bouree; Fire at Midnight; Look Into the Sun; Minstrel in the Gallery; Summerday Sands; To Cry you a Song; Up the Pool; Velvet Green; and With you There to Help Me.
1. Beck
2. Bjork
3. The Beatles
I think how you feel about Jethro is how I feel about Beck. Genius.
I never really like Jethro. I guess I'm just not a flute person.
I mean, has anyone else ever said "too much flute" at a rock concert?
I guess I'll never know...
How was Mancamp?
Mancamp went well. We went with contingency plan B which involved staying at Sean's cabin and shooting/hiking at Busiek SP.
After you and Donny pussed out we did not have enough built-in redundancy to do the float. So, we decided to just spend the weekend at the cabin.
alright Aaron your starting to post about as often as I do. The new job must have you busy. Hope it's going well.
I'd call camping at a cabin "pussing out" too, by your definition. Sean could have made a glorious fire with his new flint on a keychain.
~Jade
I never called it camping. I don't recall ever defining 'pussing out' either, Jason was the one who used that term. I'd be damned if I was going to let Jason and Donny spoil the weekend for everybody.
Believe me Jade... Had we had 3 people and two boats we would've been camping in chillicothe.
I'm glad that you guys got out. Had I know that there was a contigency plan that didn't involve camping overnight in sub zero temperatures, I would have done that.
I'm in Reno, in the belly of the beast at the moment....surrounded by 900 of my peers engaging in drinking, gambling, and excessive schmoozing. I'm already sick of it. Really, how long can you talk shop before getting bored to tears? My classes are good so far, I'm actually learning about some new brace joint technology and am also relearning some concepts that are a little fuzzy. I lost a bunch of money last night, so I will probably hole up in my room tonight.
Feeling anti social
-J
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