Where To Buy A Passion Play by Jethro Tull At The Lowest Price?
Why Buy A A Passion Play by Jethro Tull?
Following quickly on the heels of their career-defining Aqualung and Thick as a Brick, Ian Andersons Jethro Tull demonstrated that their musical and thematic ambitions were as muscular as ever on 1973s Passion Play. But if Thick was a bit tongue in cheek about its conceptual conceits, Passion was a dizzying example of the prog-rock eras overweening musical aspirations at their zenith. Anderson now sums up it its obtuse, theater-as-metaphor libretto as the theme of post-death meanderings in another world, but the sheer propulsive tension of Tulls sprawling musical interplay insures its folk-rooted baroque and roll a tight orbit around this mortal coil for nearly the albums entirety. –Jerry McCulley
Over 68 Five Star Customer Reviews On Amazon!
Artistic and Experimental Tull
Many critics initially reviled this album when it first appeared in 1973, though Tull fans loved it so much that it went to number one on the charts. With the passing of time better explanations of the music exist and music has evolved to the point where the music of “A Passion Play” has achieved a better perspective.The music and the composition, confusing as it may initially appear, was an attempt to create an epic and eclectic work. In some ways the work is unfinished, because the original studio sessions stopped before the original concept was completed, and thus Jethro Tull had to cut three albums sides of material to two. Some of the music originally intended for this album appeared on later albums; one example is “Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day,” which eventually appeared in “Warchild.”
The album was intended to tell the story of a recently-deceased man seeing his own funeral, and his journey in the afterlife, including purgatory and hell, and eventual reincarnation. In addition to this primary story was the inclusion of “The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles,” a story likened to stories from Winnie the Pooh to Peter and the Wolf.
“A Passion Play” combines ten tracks into a single work (according to the official Jethro Tull web site – not according to the track listing for this album). As in “Thick as a Brick,” there is an occasional uneven spot in the transition from one track to the next. However, as in the earlier album, the transitions and concept works nearly as well. The music is certainly well refined, with hard-driving rock riffs, drums and synthesizers keeping Jethro Tull at the more experimental, progressive edge of rock. I warn you, though, that the music requires a good sound system to be able to listen to music that extends from very quiet to very loud, and the range of styles is similarly broad. I compare this music to classical music, which similarly has sounds that extend from soft to loud and also requires a good sound system. I also warn you to attempt to understand the lyrics at your own peril. The lyrics verge on the incomprehensible, even for those who have studied them at length. The lyrics are poetic and symbolic, and attempt to describe events and concepts barely attainable by the human mind, much less by a human language.
Music such as this does not attempt to pander to a “style” or to commercial success. This music is art. Thus, a listener should interpret the meaning, significance and relevance of the music individually. I will not pretend to tell you that I understand this work in its entirety. Perhaps Jethro Tull never intended for listeners to understand the music, in the manner of Yes’s “Tales from Topographic Oceans.”
Note that there are several versions of this CD, with varying price and availability. If you plan to purchase this CD, I recommend you survey the variations available and their price and choose the version that best fits your needs.
While I may not be able to define or understand progressive rock, I know it when I hear it, and this music is definitely progressive rock. Listen to this music only if you are prepared to be open-minded and to accept it for what Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson attempted to do, and not for the misguided interpretations of those who think they have the divine ability to judge the work of an artist as trash.
Enjoy!
…………..
Ian’s second album length composition. It’s not as fine as Thick as A Brick, but what is? MUCH MUCH more difficult to get into; there aren’t the catchy themes that pop up all the time. The music is also in minor keys constantly. The lyrics aren’t humorous; they’re serious, oh lord. And there’s lots of sax all over the place. Oh yeah and The Hare who lost his spectacles…
I won’t discuss the meaning of the album; it has one. there is a website devoted to figuring it out. Go there. This album is a must for Tull fans. Be prepared to work though; it’s a difficult listen. Their most experimental and difficult album ever. They retreated a bit after this into more normal song craft. Which was probably just as well.
Other Great Products From Amazon
Benefit
Songs from the Wood
Thick as a Brick
Thick as a Brick
Thick As a Brick
