A PASSION PLAY

Jethro Tull

Prog Folk

4.05 | 1662 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

A Passion Play is a divisive album. Even hardcore Prog fans find it dense and impenetrable, or else simply boring and pointless. On the other hand, it has its supporters. I am one of the latter.

In my view, A Passion Play is simply brilliant. Following on the heels of Thick as a Brick, Jethro Tull attempt the impossible: to top a masterpiece of long, shamelessly excessive rock with another album even longer and more excessive. One is reminded of the day Yes went too far and made Tales For Topographic Oceans. However, in this case I believe Jethro Tull succeeded, if not in topping Thick as a Brick, then certainly in equaling it.

The subject matter and general vibe of A Passion Play is far darker and more serious than Thick as Brick, dealing with religion and death. The music takes a little while to get going, and it takes a few listens to get your head around the not instantly accessible melodies, but I've found that this depth is one of the most appealing things about the album. Every time I listen to A Passion Play, I get more out of it than the time before. For me this is truly the hallmark of a great record. Many albums that sound amazing the first time around start feeling empty and trite with repeated listens. Not so with A Passion Play.

All this seriousness and gloom is interrupted halfway through, with the delightful and humorous story of the hare who lost his spectacles. Many other reviewers find this interlude stupid and pointless, but I love it. It is filled with puns and clever wordplay and is reminiscent of the writings of A. A. Milne. Most importantly, it injects some much needed levity into the dark and brooding music that surrounds it.

The quality doesn't suffer on Side 2, probably because there are lots of musical ideas and the piece doesn't rely on repetition as much as its predecessor. A Passion Play is a masterpiece from start to finish and as good as anything else in the Tull catalog. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in long form and classical music, as well as Jethro Tull fans who haven't yet taken the time to hear it.

thellama73 | 5/5 | 2007-8-10

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Share this JETHRO TULL review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to thellama73
Report this review (#132534)
Buy JETHRO TULL music online with PA partners
Show all JETHRO TULL MP3/Stream
Go to JETHRO TULL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to A Passion Play page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for JETHRO TULL related discussions