A PASSION PLAY

Soon after Chateau D'isaster incident Ian Anderson decided to continue idea of concept albums and wrote A Passion Play concept to satisfy all those we loved previous release. Fans were satisfied but not the critics. I personally think I could simply tell all those critics to bugger off because this album is same good as Thick As A Brick and maybe even better from lyrical side. In opposite to previous story this time Ian wrote more serious poem. The whole idea is a view on life after death. Main character of this album is Ronnie Pilgrim and he dies and goes to hell. There's something majestic in this release and I think it's probably the most honest treating of religious aspect in whole Ian's career. The main story is totally serious but of course with a bit tongue in cheek bite. In the middle of that tale Ian decided to prove he still has big sense of humour. The Story Of The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles is totally cracked up. It's a kind of Jeffrey Hammond's speech with an English accent to symphonic melody in the background. It's of course done in Monty Python's style and it's funny and bizarre. That story is officially part of A Passion Play side B cos this album same as previous one includes two parts of the concept. Anyway Ronnie Pilgrim being in hell finds out how miserable person he was when he was living his earthly life. But the gates of hell open and he gets another chance. There's kind of resurrection and that fragment Living BE. Here Am I, roll the stone away, from the dark into ever-day is like glorification of life. It's amazing how the story fits with image of 1957's movie Seventh Seal. I have to say something about music as well. To me it isn't far from what band did on Thick As A Brick. But it was the first time Ian played soprano saxophone and there's awesome solo in 2nd part of Play. I think Eddie Jackson (great musician) would be satisfied if played that solo. It's such good. There are also other things I'd like to mention. First of all the beginning of the album reminds me of Balkan folk artists. It was something quite original at the time (later Van Der Graaf Generator did something like that on their World Record album). I can hear a bit of Gentle Giant here and there and it's also a bonus. The final section is definitely more vital hard rock and I think it was a good idea after the first dark and gloomy part. A Passion Play is a timeless classic. To me musically it's same good as Thick As A Brick and the lyrical concept is even better. So don't listen to all those who follow the unsatisfied critics. It's solid progressive rock release. One of the must have albums. Highly recommended.