WAR CHILD

A change from the previous two albums - a much more light hearted album. I enjoy the first track with its "air raid" sequence to start leading into a straight forward if enjoyable rock number with an anti war sentiment. Many fans were disappointed with this release but Tull couldn't have followed up the previous two albums with another massive concept work. "Queen and Country" - a track that I find ok but not brilliant with its lyrics concerning colonialism and conquer on behalf of the empire. "Ladies" - further light fare that doesn't do much for me - it's kind of too airy and simplistic. "Back-Door Angels" is a track that is not stand out but I do enjoy the music structure combining folk with some hard electric rock. The lyrics are a puzzle however I believe that I know what the track is about (wink wink nudge nudge). "Sealion" a reference in the lyrics to the previous album tells me that this was probably written during the writing a "A Passion Play" and it could easily have fit on that album. "Skating away on the thin ice of a New Day" - One of the highlights on this album - a thoroughly enjoyable folksy rock track that also has reference to the previous album in its lyrical content. "Bungle in the Jungle" - is really a track which is about humanity in correlation and compared with the animals of the jungle. There was a rumour at one time that this was in fact about the Foreman/Ali boxing clash in Zaire known as the "Rumble in the Jungle". "Only Solitaire" is a short track that I kind of wish was a little longer. "The Third Hoorah" is a continuation of the "War Child" first track theme. "Two Fingers" is really about death and mortality and it is an enjoyable closer to the album.

This album is pleasant for me however it is too airy and too fluffy for my taste as to what constitutes a serious musical work.

The additional content on the remastered album make the album far more enjoyable for me than what the original effort was - "Warchild Waltz" - an orchestrated piece that I enjoy. "Quartet" - a smoky jazzy kind of a track that I like a lot. "Paradise Steakhouse" - another nudge nudge track lyrically. Pleasant but not great. "Sealion 2" - I really enjoy this track - it's hard and quirky and has a short section similar to the hare portion of the previous album. "Rainbow Blues" - starts off as a blues rock track that morphs into a good bit of Folk Prog Rock. Interesting track. "Glory Row" - another interesting track featuring some good musicianship. "Saturation" - a good rocking close to the extended portion of the album.

I almost prefer the additional extended portion of this album from the remastered album to the original release. I can't in all honesty award this work more than three stars although the additional content does push into three and a half territory to me. Anyone wanting to get his or her hands on this album, as far as I'm concerned, should go for the remastered album with the additional tracks.

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