A PASSION PLAY

I love Passion Play for all those clever musical themes, transitions, and rhythmic & harmonic modulations. To my ears, it all sounds utterly honest. I don't find it the least bit contrived or indulgent. The music is more "exceptionally literate" than "extreme progressive". I hear "rock with classical influences from the Romantic period" and it's magic to my ears.

'The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles' tells a story, but the rest is lyrical impressionism - literate, asymmetrical, poetic and surprising. Anderson alternates the archaic with "the ice cream lady wet her drawers..."

Whatever one may say about Passion Play, I don't think anyone can say "they played it safe." Most critics say they went too far. Well, JT certainly did not go beyond their capabilities to execute musically or technically.

I love every heady minute of it.