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Topic Closed(The) Jethro Tull Christmas Album

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Poll Question: Best track?
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The Whistler View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: (The) Jethro Tull Christmas Album
    Posted: May 21 2008 at 04:18
Holy crap thatsalotta songs. And yet, I am well pleased with this whole affair. Slightly more than expected. I mean, it's not like out of the new material anything is going to make me shiver and shake like the Tull of olde, and none of the re-recordings trump the originals (WELL...except maybe "Another Christmas Song." If I hadn't heard this version first (on the Tull website), I probably wouldn't be able to stand the Rock Island version at all), and the carol sendups are all...you know, send ups of freakin' Christmas carols...
 
And yet, the whole atmosphere is so utterly charming that I can't help but like this damn thing. Even now. In the middle of July (or whatever month this is). Because, well damnit, none of the new songs are bad at all. In fact, they're all better than decent. "Birthday Card" is fun and slightly rockin', "Last Man" is definitely pleasing in a toe-tappin' folksy sorta way, and "First Snow" is beautifully constructed and even has some real emotion. "Winter Snowscape" could be a little more varied, but still, very nice atmosphere.
 
And the re-recordings are certainly more than just "re-recordings;" they're all handled in the usual "live" Tull style of changing things around so that you'll never think you're listening to the same ole song. But, strangest of all, the carols are great! They're not at all pale cocktail jazz shopping mall fair; no, these things can contain teeth and charm in equal parts, much like when ELP would rock out on "Hoedown" or something. In fact, my favorite piece on the whole album is probably the "God Rest Ye" jam; that thing's pretty gosh darned good. Love the "evil" dip in the middle where Martin starts channeling Brian May.
 
And the flow is...weird. Good weird, it's like hearing the band just playing in the background of a buffet, like a hotel house band. In a way, it IS the whole "shopping mall lounge jazz" thing, because this all flows so naturally that I could expect to hear it blasting out of seasonal speakers at the local Bloomingdales, or wherever you get your Christmas shopping out of the way in July.
 
And...and...crap, I just reviewed the whole album But, of course, I need your opinion. So I can strike you down.
"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
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Darklord55 View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2008 at 07:17
Jack Frost  Thumbs%20Up  My kids even like this tune and look forward to hearing it when I bring out the Xmas music.
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Walker View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2008 at 19:40
Jack Frost for me as well
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Slartibartfast View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2008 at 22:21
I didn't know Tull had done so many songs that fit the category.  Some of them appear to do so loosely though (wintry themes).  More than a few I haven't heard I haven't head and would rather hear than some of the drivly ones that are trotted out that time of year and even these days much in advance of the season like around July or so auugh auugh auugh!!!!

But if you must listen to Christmas music around Christmas, a little Tull will do you.


Edited by Slartibartfast - May 21 2008 at 22:22
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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The Whistler View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 22 2008 at 02:24
Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

I didn't know Tull had done so many songs that fit the category.  Some of them appear to do so loosely though (wintry themes).  More than a few I haven't heard I haven't head and would rather hear than some of the drivly ones that are trotted out that time of year and even these days much in advance of the season like around July or so auugh auugh auugh!!!!

But if you must listen to Christmas music around Christmas, a little Tull will do you.
 
Indeed; "Fires at Midnight" and "Weathercock" I think we can fudge, but one wonders exactly how "Bouree" is a Christmas tune...
"There seem to be quite a large percentage of young American boys out there tonight. A long way from home, eh? Well so are we... Gotta stick together." -I. Anderson
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Philip View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 22 2008 at 06:13
I don't hesitate in aswering Ggreensleeved" by now.
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mickstafa View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 22 2008 at 11:16
The First Snow on Brooklyn is an incredible song. Go and re-listen to it now; a wonderful piece of music up there with the greatest Tull songs.
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