Broadsword & Beast

Jethro Tull - Broadsword & Beast

Broadsword & Beast
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CD Details

Artist: Jethro Tull
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2005-04-26
Music Label: Capitol
Soundtracks:
  1. Beastie
  2. Clasp
  3. Fallen On Hard Times
  4. Flying Colours
  5. Slow Marching Band
  6. Broadsword
  7. Pussy Willow
  8. Watching Me
  9. Seal Driver
  10. Cheerio
  11. Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow
  12. Jack A Lynn
  13. Mayhem Maybe
  14. Too Many Too
  15. Overhang
  16. Rhythm In Gold
  17. I Am Your Gun
  18. Down At The End Of Your Road

Music reviews of Broadsword & Beast

Music Review: I think it's a bit overrated...
Rating: 3 Stars

I've seen all the very positive reviews for this album and I'm afraid I'm going to have to be in the minority when I say that I'm not terribly fond of this album and think that it's a bit overrated, especially by Ian Anderson himself. I really liked the previous album, " A ". Yes, it was somewhat of a departure from the traditional Jethro Tull sound, but I thought it was an exciting and dynamic departure and very welcome, in my opinion. Very heavy and progressive and electronic. I also thought it was cool that Eddie Jobson was in the group, especially since I was a big U.K. fan.

So what happened on " Broadsword and the Beast "? Looks like Anderson and company tried to both take a step back and take a step forward at the same time and other than four tracks that I really love, I would say it did not work.

Broadsword certainly SOUNDS more like a traditional Tull album than " A ", with the return of more rustic and acoustic instruments like mandolin and a bit more acoustic guitar and flute. This is probably due to the fact that the songs on Broadsword were written for a Jethro Tull album, while the tracks for " A " were written for a possible Ian Anderson solo album. Anderson had let his hair grow back ( and how!), so he was looking more like his younger self. Broadsword, with it's cartoon front and back cover, certainly LOOKS more like a traditional Tull album, too. And, alas, these are some of my problems with the album. I almost feel Tull became caricature's of themselves on this, CARTOON caricatures, in reference to the cover. I think they should have either stuck with the progressive, electronic rock of " A ", or gone back to a more traditional hard rock sound.

My other main gripe? The songs themselves. Of the ten songs found on the original album, I only liked ( or loved) four of them. Those songs include the opening track, " Beastie ", which has some very dangerous sounding synthesizers at the beginning and great lyrics and singing from Anderson. My favorite song is " Slow Marching Band ", which was the last in a trio of wonderful, heartfelt ballads from Anderson, which began with " Home " from Stormwatch and continued with " And Further On " from A. I particularly love the refrain for " Slow Marching Band ". It also showed that while Anderson's voice was getting a bit weaker and more stratchy, he could still sing them acoustic guitar songs and the ballads. My only gripe about this wonderful sad, melodic song is the cliched drum entrance on the bridge. " Broadsword ", which may be the heaviest tune on the album (or maybe not) is also quite enjoyable, with it's slight Indian style drum beat and them beautiful sounding synthesizers. I also really like " Seal Driver " for some reason. It rocks out a bit, gets a bit jazzy in the middle, probably one of the more tuneful and at the same time most progressive numbers on the album.

I really don't care for the other six songs on this, unfortunately. As a an anti-matter of fact (or fiction), this was the first Tull album since either Songs From The Wood or Too Old To Rock-n-Roll that contained a song or two that I outright HATE! The song on Broadsword that gets that vote is " Watching Me Watching You ". It's a stupid, little electronic piece with some ridiculous lyrics and even more ridiculous singing. IT'S RIDICULOUS, I TELL YOU! With it's heavy reliance on drum machines and synthesizers, it was also an indication of the musical path Tull would follow on their next album. And " Cheerio "....what a weak, closing track. At least it's the shortest song here.

I must say that I DO like the sound of the synthesizers and I like the fact that guitarist Martin Barre is heard from more on this. And I DO like the front and back cover, by the way.

The remastered version comes with two pages of liner notes from Ian Anderson and eight bonus tracks. Contrary to what it says on the CD wrap, these eight songs are not ' previously unreleased ' ; they stopped being previously unreleased when they first appeared on the 20 Years Of Jethro Tull Boxed Set back in 1988. Nevertheless, their inclusion here makes perfect sense, since they were recorded during the sessions for Broadsword. While none of these eight songs are not that bad ( I actually think they are better than some of the songs that originally MADE the album), they are nothing very special, either. Perhaps they catch on after a few listens.

So, as I said in the opening paragraph, I guess I'm in the minority here in my opinion of the album, which nonetheless I'm sure will appeal to some Tull fans.
More Broadsword & Beast free music reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6

Description of Broadsword & Beast

Another Tull Remaster Replete with Original and Restored Sonic Detail and featuring Eight Brilliant Bonus Tracks Recorded at the Same Time as the Original Album Release, but Left Out Due to the Limitations of Vinyl. The Broadsword Tour in 1982 Saw Tull Out on a Full Production Tour for the Final Time, Although Smaller Tours have Since Taken Place, They have Not Featured the Elaborate Stage Set that Went with this One! this Album Featured the Usual Tull Sounds of Drums, Bass, and Guitar and of Course Flute, Mandolin and Other Acoustic Instruments Complete with Vocoder and Sequencer on the Clasp, and Others. Broadsword Saw Former Cat Stevens Drummer Gerry Conway Join Tull for a Couple of Years and Dave Pegg (Ex-fairport Convention) Join them for a Second Time. Much of the Songs were Written Using the New-fangled Electronic Instruments which Gives an Interesting Twist to the Woodsy and Folksy Elements in the Songs.

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