jethro tull (under wraps)

i really feel this is truly one of worst record by tull but not because of the experimentation, with drum machines and keyboards it because most of the songs lack form or were just mixed without any common threads like solos, or i barely hear the flutes which in general makes me listen to tull hey this just not everyone's cup of tea, because being a huge fan ,i mean almost every album the bar is high and this really misses it by a mile for me, but for others could be different, i suggest give it a listen because i am a formula kinda guy .i know works and what does not for me . I still do find at least 3 songs that remind me why i first choose the record in the first place LAP OF LUXURY UNDER WRAPS #2 and the one i enjoyed the most PAPARAZZI the rest i just don,t get it . any other opinions please ! thank you for reading

The previous album "A" was no masterpiece. This was Martin Barre's favourite JT album up to that point or so he said in an interview once.. It certainly was an experiment but hey it was the eighties. I like the cold war themes and spy sh*t I listen to it every now and then. Didn't get good reviews when it came out but I saw them on that tour and the whole tour was sold out  fast. So I wouldn't call it their worst album by any stretch. I only have a vinyl copy but I think it might have been fixed up a bit on CD.or at least I remember Anderson saying that he wanted to overdub a real drummer on some tracks. Doane Perry was the drummer on the tour. 

walk into light is the best thing Ian made in the 80's imho. It's a shockingly acceptable record. right before his voice crumbled. he clearly saved up all of his best song ideas for this one, and Vettese's production has a glossy electronic futurism that Tull just failed to capture on their own records of this era (because Ian was unwilling to go full tilt and ditch the rawk completely on those records).

My takeaway track from under wraps is the 2nd title track. also jack frost and the hooded crow which was recorded around the same time is an Xmas fav.

edit: turns out jack frost was recorded even earlier than I realised. oh well. I still enjoy it.

Edited by hegelec - September 07 2017 at 20:45

It should have been kept under wraps. I mean, talk about a career killer, among others.

I agree. Interesting albums with crappie drums. Could have been a great album with more original drums even if programmed

I personally like Under Wraps.  I think it has several strong tracks.  That being said, I'm an amateur synthesizer player/electronic music composer, so I enjoy the synth work, even though it's a bit quirky.  Is it a great Tull album?  No.