A PASSION PLAY

After their d'Isaster-ous attempt to record an album in France, Jethro Tull returned to the UK for their next release. What resulted was another massive, 40+ minute epic: 1973's A Passion Play. Anderson insists this was yet another jab at progressive rock, but when does supposed mockery loop around into sincerity? When is your tongue so firmly in your cheek it bursts through?

I love A Passion Play. It has a somewhat darker overall tone than Thick as a Brick, and saxophone (played by Anderson) is a lead instrument on much of the album, alongside flute and Hammond organ. The darker atmosphere matches the story excellently, which details a journey through the afterlife. There are deft changes between somber and energetic moments, and Anderson's always-dramatic vocal delivery is especially well-suited here.

In the middle of this massive suite dealing with life, death, and reincarnation is a weird, silly interlude. "The Story of the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles" is a baffling piece reminiscent of "Peter and the Wolf" in the way orchestral instrumentation backs a narrator. On the tour supporting this album, there was a bizarre short film played, which depicted the events in the song. I wouldn't necessarily say this adds to the charm of the album, nor does it substantially detract from it, but it's always jarring when Jeffrey Hammond's narration begins.

Despite my personal love of the album, the music press on both sides of the Atlantic savaged A Passion Play upon release. (Nonetheless, it still hit #1 on the US charts.) Taken aback at just how brutal the backlash against A Passion Play was, Anderson and the rest of Jethro Tull reevaluated their songwriting process before commencing work on their next album.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/07/25/deep-dive-jethro-tull/