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Syzygy 
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 Topic: Is "A Passion Play" as bad as everyone says?
Posted: September 07 2011 at 15:28 |
QUOTE=Warthur]I think the "Chateau D'isaster" tapes (as presented on Nightcap) are actually better, but A Passion Play is still a decent JT album. Certainly if you love Thick as a Brick it's worth giving it a listen.
That said, I still don't like the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. But I worked out a way to skip it whilst listening to the album so that clumsy hare doesn't bother me any more. :) [/QUOTE]
I agree that Chateau D'Isaster is well worth a listen, and gives a tantalising glimpse of the album that A Passion Play could have been. Personally I think it's every bit as bad as it's generally said to be. I dig it out and once a year or so and give it another chance, but after all this time it still hasn't grown on me.
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'Like so many of you
I've got my doubts about how much to contribute
to the already rich among us...'
Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom
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Flimbau
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Posted: September 07 2011 at 13:19 |
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Im a huge fan of Tull and I really feel its one of their best efforts. Its one of those albums you play at a party for your friends and they all look at you like your daft, but all you can really do is shake your head call em nitwits and wonder how the hell dont they GET IT. Perhaps on the a side towards the conclusion the music can tend to drone on in certain phrases, ideas stretched just a bit further than realistically necessary, but the humor of the whole piece is really striking. Interesting lyrically, conceptually its some of Ian Andersons finest work. And the b side shortly after the line "God of Ages, Lord of Time....etc.etc." and the instrumental section kicks in features some of the damn finest ensemble playing from any group of the era. Anderson soars on saxophone, the rhythmn section is tight as a drum (get it?), Barre scorches on guitar, Hammond is plowing away on bass, Barlowe dazzles on percussion, Evans fingers are ballerinas on the keys...you get the point. I mean goddamn those guys could play!!!!! Still gives me goosebumps every time!
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Kirillov
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Posted: September 05 2011 at 15:59 |
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I think it's a fine album, although it does take a few listens to appreciate. I loved TAAB the first time I heard it, but then found that it palled rather quickly. The opposite seemed to be true for A Passion Play.
Call me morbid, but I think that the 'deceased ballerina' makes for a great cover!
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imaginedmind
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Posted: September 03 2011 at 02:19 |
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A Passion Play isn't "bad" by any standards in my opinion. (War Child, on the other hand...maybe that just me.) My friend actually likes it a lot more than Thick as a Brick and it's one of his favorite albums. I think T-a-a-B is a little more well constructed and kept together where as it seems like they ran out of steam towards the end of Passion Play (keep in mind this album was completely rewritten after the infamous Chataeu D'isaster). But the "Forest Dance" 1 and 2 & Overseer Overture are still among my favorites of the band. I'd rate it probably their third best album after T-a-a-B and Minstrel in the Gallery. This is all relative of course. All of Jethro Tull's albums up until 1979 are exceptional (not bad 1979 either).
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topographicbroadways
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 09:23 |
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Yay another necro-posted thread
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Guldbamsen
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 09:22 |
 A Person wrote:
stonebeard wrote:
It's sad when the best part is a monologue about a rabbit. |
I like the whole album, but that is really the best part.
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It´s funny I feel exactly the same as a person.
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“The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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A Person
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 09:19 |
stonebeard wrote:
It's sad when the best part is a monologue about a rabbit. |
I like the whole album, but that is really the best part.
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stonebeard
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 08:30 |
It's pretty useless.
It's sad when the best part is a monologue about a rabbit.
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 08:06 |
Many years ago it was harder for me to find a copy to buy than to get into it once I heard it. Note to self, do not ask stonebeard for music recommendations. 
Edited by Slartibartfast - September 02 2011 at 08:35
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awaken77
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Posted: September 02 2011 at 02:36 |
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I think APP is great, but quite hard to get into it at first attempt.
Compare it to Yes "Relayer"
If TAAB is a Close To The Edge, so APP is JT's Relayer.
First is melodic, and catch your ear immediately. Second is more challenging at first sight, but if you hear it many times, you'll love it
Edited by awaken77 - September 02 2011 at 02:37
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Catcher10
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 21:59 |
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I don't believe it is bad at all. It took me awhile to really enjoy it, ya gotta dig deep. I only have it on vinyl and I remember having to force myself to flip to Side B (uuugh). Today I can listen to both sides and like it a lot. The gatefold sleeve, playbill booklet and stuff really helps a lot too.
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FunkyM
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 20:58 |
It may well be my favourite album of all time. So, probably not, no. 
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 17:47 |
Warthur wrote:
I think the "Chateau D'isaster" tapes (as presented on Nightcap) are actually better |
Not better, yet I like it, too. It's a really interesting mix of music that made it to other albums and stuff that didn't.
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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lucas
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 16:22 |
Hober Mallow wrote:
Honestly I don't understand why it gets a bad wrap. |
yes, it's not under wraps 
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"Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood)
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Warthur
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 16:07 |
I think the "Chateau D'isaster" tapes (as presented on Nightcap) are actually better, but A Passion Play is still a decent JT album. Certainly if you love Thick as a Brick it's worth giving it a listen.
That said, I still don't like the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles. But I worked out a way to skip it whilst listening to the album so that clumsy hare doesn't bother me any more. :)
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Slartibartfast
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 15:27 |
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No
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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tamijo
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 14:45 |
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hmm, at page 4, i guess you allready know its worth a listen
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Prog is whatevey you want it to be. So dont diss other peoples prog, and they wont diss yours
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thellama73
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 14:42 |
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It is definitely my favorite JT album as well, with Minstrel in the Gallery second. I agree with othersthat Thick as a Brick just doesn't hold up the way it used to, but these albums are still great.
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yanch
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 14:01 |
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Was just listening to it again yesterday and it is just tremendous. Even The Hare..is not so bad, actually rather funny. Easily as good, and maybe even better than TAAB in some ways. Definitely my favorite Tull album.
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frippism
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Posted: August 25 2011 at 13:58 |
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To this day it's my favorite JT album
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There be dragons
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Is "A Passion Play" as bad as everyone says?
