RING OUT, SOLSTICE BELLS

Frankly, the sole preceding review with one star cannot be taken seriously. What bad is in releasing a single for Christmas season if it avoids the commercialism of typical Christmas pop songs or the awful kitchiness of Paul McCartney's horrible orrible Wonderful Christmas Time? Ian Anderson with his band has much more original and TIMELESS to offer. In fact this is an excellent four-track release in any standard.

'Ring Out Solstice Bells' was included in the superb album Songs From The Wood. This personal, lively song with odd time signatures and merry playing gives me a happy feeling at any time of year. Elegant non-album track 'March, the Mad Scientist' is a brief, acoustic song, comparable to e.g. 'Cheap Day Return' on Aqualung, and I like it even more than that. A pity that it ends so soon, so suddenly.

'Christmas Song' is an earlier, well known Tull song with a Christmas theme. "The Christmas spirit is not what you drink." :) It was included in Living in the Past double album. 'Pan Dance' is another non-album track (later included in the expanded edition of Minstrel in the Gallery). A great, classically oriented instrumental with the flute in a lead role. Definitely four stars!

PS. I have lots of Finnish albums to write about, but now I'll have a week's break in reviewing. It's summmeeeer!!!! (and it's raining...)