Customer Reviews

The Jethro Tull Christmas Album

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4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In spite of the fact that this is a Christmas album (i typically loath christmas music), this is still hands down the best Tull since Heavy Horses. I've heard the phrase "return to form" applied to some of their efforts since the mid eighties, but here, it actually can be said without any "buts" or "excepts." The whole disc has that same shimmering, woodsy, seventies feel that Songs from the Wood and Horses had, those two albums being my favorite Tull discs and I get the impression I'm not the only one. Besides the great arrangments, one other thing is shockingly apparent - Ian has regained almost all of the timbre and range of his younger days. His unique qualities as you may know were robbed by throat problems around '84. Well, it's basically back to full steam. There's even some of the great layered vocal arrangments with Ian harmonizing with himself, as he did on the late seventies albums, from bass to tenor. This produces a very original effect, one I personally find mesmorizing. I think I speak for legions of Jethro Tull fans when I say, thank god, and hopefully this is a signpost of things to come. I would love to see a couple more albums in this vein (not Christmas, but this style), it has the sound that made me love Tull to begin with. A whimsical, hypnotic disc. If you like Jethro Tull, pick it up - I can't understand how you could be dissapointed.

The holidays have gotten even brighter with Jethro Tull's marvelous offering for this time of year, "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album." Ian Anderson & company serve up a hearty yuletide blend of new Tull Christmas originals, including the terrific "Birthday Card At Christmas," "Last Man At The Party," and "First Snow On Brooklyn," as well as new re-recordings of old holiday-themed Tull favorites like "A Christmas Song," "Another Christmas Song," "Ring Out Solstice Bells," and the signature Tull tune, "Bouree." Along with that classic instrumental, the band give us some more wonderful instrumental tracks, like the brilliant jazz take on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Pavane," "Greensleeved," and the beautiful closer, "A Winter Snowscape." The band play brilliantly, and Anderson's voice and flute are still in pristine form. "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album" is a magnificent gift from one of rock's most enduring acts. Happy holidays from Jethro Tull!

Ever since Songs From The Wood there has been something about the music of Jethro Tull that has more often than not felt akin to the moods and sentimentality of the winter holidays. In fact I have always wondered why a Jethro Tull Christmas Album hadn't happened before now, although in retrospect I am thankful it didn't. While I have always enjoyed Ian Anderson's singing, even through some of the rougher moments of recent years, it has been reemerging again of late into the voice of old over the past couple years and with this release it can be safely stated that he has regained that voice back in full throttle and then some. And while the singing has never been better it's equally matched by the skill of the musicians and the quality of the music, all of which is classic Tull dressed up in a Kris Kringle costume. Listening to this disc you can almost smell the pine and feel the warmth of a fire crackling while outside the snow gently covers the ground in a white blanket on the eve of that one particular December eve.
Do I rave because I'm a Jethro Tull fan and therefore apt to like whatever is released under that moniker?
To some degree perhaps I do. Although I can say that there are a couple--not many--but a couple of releases by Jethro Tull that I'm not exceptionally fond of, so I don't tend to praise simply because it wears the name "Jethro Tull" on the cover. And then again pretty much anyone reading these reviews are probably already Jethro Tull fans anyway so my slant here isn't to say that you should buy it because the music is great, because if you already enjoy the Tull you probably already know that this is going to be of that same high quality style of musicality that we've grown to love and expect over the years. If it was something radically different you would get comments like, " It's another Under Wraps" or something.
Nowadays I think what most people want to know about a Jethro Tull record is, how is the singing voice and does the music rock?
Well, the answer to the first question I have already given. Ian sounds like he has given his voice a shot of Viagra. It's fantastic.
Does it rock? Well, not in the vein of say Aqualung or Locomotive Breath, but then it is a Christmas record and it tends to keep to a mood best suited to that genre, although the lead track does rock the sled pretty good. Musically it is similar to what you would expect from Ian on the heels of Rupi's Dance.
If you're already a fan of Jethro Tull and their style of music to begin with then you will almost certainly love this record. The only other question I can think of right now that some fan reading this might want to ask about this Tull recording before committing to buying it is does it play well beyond the confines of a Christmas record?
All I can say is that is not only is this one of the best Christmas albums out there, it is also one of the best recordings by Jethro Tull, period.

I was pleasantly surprised upon listening to the Jethro Tull Christmas Album. For one thing there are at least 5 vocals that have been re-recorded again and actually sound better this time around. There are also 7 instrumentals on this CD which include violins, cello, viola, guitars, drums and of course Ian on flute.

I've been very happy with this CD since it has 16 songs and there's not a weak one in the bunch. I'd have to say "Another Christmas Song"* and "First Snow On Brooklyn" stand out for me since they are new songs and Ian's voice sounds very clear.

Then every single instrumental is a standout especially "Greensleeved." If you're a Tull fan, you won't be disappointed here. In fact, you'll be singing right along with "I believe in fires at midnight, when the dogs have all been fed....." Etc. This is probably one of the best Tull albums made in years. Enjoy it!

Note: I recently found out that "Another Christmas Song" was on the Rock Island CD. They re-recorded it for the Christmas Album and Ian's voice sounds a lot clearer than it did previously. The instrumentation is also different ..... for the better. Sorry for my mistake. DRM

Like a good wine, some aged cheese and fine company, Jethro Tull just keep giving you a reason to believe that it may be worthwhile just hanging around in this world a little longer. Their music, so beautifully and precisely rendered, is breathtakingly invigorating and Ian's solo's are irresistibly captivating and uplifting. This album brings together much of what could be regarded as the best of their "Acoustic" repertoire. It has a real English feel, reminiscent of the folksy Songs from the wood, and Heavy Horses, and although the voice is not as strong, the flautist is forever true to his craft. This is, quite simply, the best Tull album in years. But even if it were not, it's still a Tull album, and is that not something like a little Christmas gift anyway. Just buy it.

Two of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs are "I Believe in Father Christmas" by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and "Christmas Song" by Jethro Tull, which are not exactly the sort of songs you would remember to pull out of your music library at Yule time. Jethro Tull takes steps to remedy that with "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album." What you will find here are some old songs that the group has re-recorded ("Ring Out Solstice Bells" and "Bouree"), along with some songs from the vault ("Last Man at the Party") and new songs by Ian Anderson ("Birthday Card at Christmas"), as well as some standard Christmas songs ("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen") and not so stardard ("Holly Herald"), all of which are done as instrumentals. The music approach is much more acoustic and folksy, with mandolin, accordion, and strings to go along with the expected flute playing from Anderson and Martin Barre's acoustic guitar playing, for which special mention of Gabriel Fauré's "Pavane" must be made.

If you were trying to put your finger on where the sound of this 2003 album goes in the Jethro Tull timeline then I would say it is more "Songs From the Woods" than anything else. I keep thinking that I want to say that I wish they had gone back a bit farther, to at least "Thick as a Brick," but I think that is more just more my inclinations towards what I consider classic Tull rather than what best fits the music. Actually if you told me that Jethro Tull was putting out a Christmas album and that the best tracks were going to be the instrumental pieces, I would have been surprised, and you probably will too. I am always on the look out for some eclectic Christmas albums to put into the traditional holiday mix, and "The Jethro Tull Christmas Album" certainly fits the bill, reflecting as it does Anderson's peculiar and somewhat provocative notion of the holiday. It is also a pretty good Jethro Tull album on its own terms.

There's not much Ian and the boys can do wrong, IMHO. Still, while Ian states in his liner notes that he's "not exactly a practising paid-up Christian", he has certainly captured the spirit of the season in this effort. Ian thinks that if you liked Bouree and Songs from the Wood that you will like this album (sorry--"CD"--they're not called albums any more, are they?). Well, I've been following Tull since Living in the Past (which I find myself doing 24/7, but that's a different story), and this CD takes me back to the golden era of Benefit/LITP/Aqualung. The accordian (kudos to Andrew Giddings) takes me back to Warchild. The flute, as always, is hypnotic. Martin Barre is his usual incomparable self. The strings, keyboards and bass are as competent as always. One thing you never have to worry about with Tull is the quality of their sound. If it isn't just so, Ian won't have it.

Along with some new stuff, JT has redone, to great effect, such long-time Tull favorites as A Christmas Song, Another Christmas Song, Jack Frost..., Ring Out Solstice Bells, and Bouree. Their renditions of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and Greensleeves are superb.

I gave a strong hint to my kids that I wanted this CD for Christmas (OK, like a "If you get me anything, get this" strong hint), and sure enough, I got it on Christmas morning! I have been playing it on my computer as I surf the net, etc., ever since.

Recommended accompaniments for this CD are: 1. A raging fire (in a fireplace or wood stove, obviously--if it's in your carpet or drapes, please proceed to the nearest exit and call 911); 2. A snifter of B&B, Drambuie or Irish Mist; 3. If you smoke, a fine cigar (Partagas or Macanudo) or bowl of fine tobacco in a fine briar pipe (Peterson or Savinelli). Take the phone off the hook, turn off your cell phone, put the wee ones to bed, and chill out for an hour.

Enjoy!

Reading the track list before this album's release, I got the impression it'd be primarily an oldies collection with a few instrumentals thrown in. All right, all right, I'll buy as much recycled material as the next Tull fanatic, but grumble grumble grumble...

What a pleasant surprise!

All new recordings of the old songs, and in some cases vastly different arrangements. The old standard "Ring Out Solstice Bells" is improved by the changes, in my opinion, and "Last Man at the Party" is hilarious. And the final verse of "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" has some of the most breathtaking harmonies I've heard in a long while. Clearly, real effort went into giving value for money on this one. Thanks, guys, and Merry Christmas to you, too.

I've been a Tull fan for a long time, through thick (as a brick) and thin (the "techno" years). This is a wonderful collection of intelligent new songs and re-arrangments of some old favorites.

Ian and the boys (old and new) have always had a flair for mixing the medieval sound with jazz and great rock. As Ian Anderson's liner notes suggest, "If you liked Bouree and Songs from the Wood, you will love this..."; I wholeheartedly agree.

The re-recordings of classic songs like "A Christmas Song", "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow", "Fire at Midnight", "Ring Out Solstice Bells", and the others are excellent and refreshing arrangements. The new songs, especially the jazz versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Greensleeved", and the complex and delightful "Pavane" hearken back to the peak (meaning concerts in 10000+ venues, not the quality of the music) of JT's career with us boomers. "We Five Kings" is the clever result of the traditional carol mated with "Living in the Past" (meaning it's in 5/4). What a treat!

This is an excellent holiday-themed album for those with more sophisticated and refined tastes in rock music. If you wonder whatever happened to Steeleye Span, Renaissance, and Fairport Convention (Dave Pegg is still around!), take heart, the spirit is still alive in Jethro Tull, even after all these years. But if you're one of the few Americans who wonder whatever happened to Mike Oldfield, you'll have to ask his record company.

When I read that Jethro Tull was going to release a Christmas album, I immediately thought "uh-oh! this might be the beginning of the end folks." I mean, lets face it, this kind of project is just ripe with opportunities for the band to take that slippery slide down into the inescapable pool of mediocrity. There would be our beloved band on the "seasonal budget shelf" with the likes of Dolly Parton, Donny & Marie, and The Partridge Family hocking their trite and uninspired covers of "holiday classics."

But, fear not! This is Ian and the lads, and they've produced yet another masterpiece! The song selection is a mixture of appropriate tunes from their vast catalog, all masterfully rearranged and rerecorded with the mature and polished skill of a band at the top of it's game. There are arrangements of some quintessentially British holiday songs done in Bristol fashion; and a few new songs that are destined to become classics, including A WINTER'S SNOWSCAPE, my favorite song from Martin Barre's new solo album - Stage Left.

It's also great to hear our old friend Dave Pegg lending his talent on a few songs, notably his wonderful mandolin playing on the classic "A CHRISTMAS SONG." Sometime stand-in drummer James Duncan also lends his talent to this album.

This is a great, great album and a welcome addition to the Tull body of work. It's appeal will guarantee repeated playing for years to come during the holiday seasons, but it'll get it's fair share of playing time in the dog days of summer as well.
Enjoy