Customer Reviews

Live at Montreux 2003

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There aren't too many bands around that can say they've been performing together for 40 years, but in just a few months Jethro Tull will be able to. Of those bands, even fewer can claim to be actively pushing their music in new directions, experimenting with new styles and arrangements, and even occasionally tampering with revered classic rock anthems. Tull, however, have always been able to make that claim.

This new release, recorded in 2003, is a true delight. Don't be fooled by the similarities between Live at Montreux and Living With the Past. Any true music lover could immediately tell the difference. I've never cared for Living With the Past, as it always sounded much too safe and professional to be an accurate representative of my all-time favorite band. Live at Montreux, on the other hand, is positively RAGING. Ian Anderson, at 60, is singing better than he has in 25 years, and continues to assert his ingenius mastery of the flute all throughout. Indeed, it seems that much of the warmth and range has returned to his voice in recent years (fans will remember the disastrous throat infection that left him sounding like Mark Knopfler in the later 80's and 90's). While virtually every song is a showcase for him, he truly shines in numbers like "Life Is A Long Song," "Bouree," and the much newer "Dot Com." As always, Ian is accompanied by the incomparable Martin Barre on lead guitar, whose fiery riffs and exquisite acoustic work provide the most important non-flute element of the music. His "Empty Cafe" is a great addition to the set since it's always been a little tough to appreciate him on his own (ie: without Ian). I consider Doane Perry to be a veteran member too at this point (he joined in '86 for cryin out loud) and he is particularly awesome on Live at Montreux, and is responsible for much of the youthful intensity found on the album.

It's worth noting that the rest of the band members really come into their own here. It seems that messrs Giddings, and Noyce have finally started playing more like real band members, not just professional replacements for guys who left in the 70's (although it's clear that John Evan and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond will never be truly replaced). Regardless, there's an energy present here that Tull fans will be thrilled to experience. Check out "Living in the Past," in what is easily its best incarnation to date, sporting several intense new variations on the familiar melody.

Live at Montreux is a landmark release for Jethro Tull, being the definitive recording of the band's current lineup, as well as one of their most satisfying albums in the last 20 years. Though the choice of songs is a bit predictable, there are moments of real inspiration that make it essential for fans. Just listen to "Hunting Girl" and you'll surely agree that Tull are quite far from retirement indeed.

Jethro Tull have been around for nearly forty years and are hard to pigeonhole, which means almost by definition that they will be much loved by some and unfathomable to others. Who else but Ian Anderson would front a rock band by playing the flute?

This concert contains material from throughout the band's career. Almost perversely (considering Ian Anderson's reputation as flute player) he chooses to open the show with the bluesy "Someday The Sun Won't Shine For You," on which he plays the harmonica. He gets to do much excellent flauting through the remainder of the show, as well as turns on acoustic guitar and mandolin. The entire band sounds at the top of their form and the concert is very well recorded, although the keyboards are a little low in the mix on one or two tracks, but it is not enough to detract from the quality of the recording overall.

There's something for every kind of Tull fan here: gentle melodic numbers, hard driving rock anthems and several tracks that mix these approaches along with a number of additional musical styles together in a coherent package.

Also worthy of note are Ian Anderson's witty and informative liner notes. A very worthy addition to the range of live Tull CDs.

Even though many of this songs ca be found in previous CDs/DVDs by Tull, the performance is quite excellent, and the sound quality is superb. A great night at Montreux, with a band that always finds a way to surprise me.

Ian Anderson's flute playing is probably at an all-time peak right now. Why the two stars? I still feel he's lost a TON vocally. On "Nothing Is Easy" he sounds winded and wheezy, chopping off his phrases and clearly having trouble holding longer vocal tones. Maybe it's me, but GIVE me "Bursting Out" or "Isle Of Wight" instead. In the studio, Ian can still cut it vocally, but live? Maybe it was an off night or maybe I'm off.

I was hesitant to buy this one: Jethro Tull has released more than a couple of DVD concerts...which ended up being truncated shows interspersed with interview footage, grainy Black & White segments ( I have NEVER understood that appeal, MTV ), etc. Up to this point, never an unedited, unadorned concert. Live at Motreaux changes that. It's a wonderful show, apparently complete. All the members are energetic, performing a great balance of classic Tull as well as new gems ( Martin Barre's acoustic segment is almost worth the price of admission alone! ). Ian Anderson is in good form; his usual witty self ( can we say frustrated comedian? ). His flute solo is phenomenal...indeed, if any member of this group should feel slighted, it would be Doane Perry, whose presumed drum solo is conspicuously absent ( maybe the price he pays as the lone American ). It's wonderful to finally experience Jethro Tull without interruptions between songs. The only number that is painful for me in this set is Aqualung...no matter how much they drop the key, Ian is really struggling to hit those notes. Otherwise, he sounds better than he has in years. And the drums finally have some punch to them! This one is a keeper, folks. The only thing that will trump this set...are you reading, Ian?...will be the release of the 1977/78 BBC and Madison Square Garden shows. Sigh...Hope Springs Eternal!

One of the earlier reviews stated that there was nothing new here. I beg to differ.
This CD.DVD shows Tull at all stages of their career. This is probably the best live CD of Jethro Tull.
Yes you hear the tired version of Agualung, Locomotive Breath. Bouree.
But you also hear Hunting Girl, Budapest and others.
Empty Cafe appears here and so does New Jig which cannot be found anywhere else on a CD but here.........This is for hardcore Tull collectors like myself...............

The recording is great and sounds wonderful, the playing is great, the band is great, in fact, it is a great CD. So, why three starts? Because there is really nothing all that new on the CD.

I love Tull, and have been a huge fan since the early 80's when I was in grade school. So, I hate to give any Tull release, especially a live release, such a bad review. But, here goes...

Ian Anderson doesn't seem to trust his audience enough. He seems to release CD's for people for know Tull from the radio, not the long time fans. Yes, he has opened the vaults with the twenty and twenty-five year box sets, and with "Night Cap" and the "Live at the Isle of Wight" CD, but the recent "Living with the Past" has pretty much the same set list as this CD. Which makes sense, as they were recorded less than two years apart. So I don't understand the need to release two live CD's that were recorded so close together. Both sound pretty much identical; little difference in the arrangements, playing, sound, etc. How many live versions of "Living in the Past," "Aqualung," "Locomotive Breath," etc., do we need?

If you own "Living with the Past" and "A Little Night Music" this CD is pretty redundent as nearly every song on this CD appears on one of those two CD's. And, in some cases, appear on both. I would rather see a CD recorded on the current tour, as the set list has at least changed somewhat, though not that much. Or another CD from an older tour.

I always liked Tull but this live CD made me like them more. First watched the concert on the 101 Network. Was in my car changer for three months which is unheard of for me. On my IPOD and gets a lot of play time. A well recorded live CD.

Being just a "tad" old, Jethro Tull is probably the band that I have seen more live in Concert. When I was stationed in West Berlin, every concert, it was a no-brainer. The band always ended their Europe Tours in Berlin.

If you are ever close to him, never, ever, touch his flute when he places it down, he will very sternly and with good reason say, "DO NOT TOUCH MY FLUTE!" Yes Sir!

My IPod is overdosing with Tull. Ian, live long and enjoy.

I like this almost as much as "Nothing Is Easy:Isle of Wight". Ian Anderson's voice here is much more forceful than on "Light Music", and the sound is clearly better than on "Bursting Out". My personal favorite is a powerful rendition of "Hunting Girl", and I consider the Aqualung tracks to be much better than the performances on the 1978 live album. My only complaint is that the keyboards get a bit too twiddly at times for my taste.