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Post by pulphack on Oct 27, 2008 19:10:38 GMT
well steve, i have nothing to add to that... i agree completely about the problem with perception of the blues being based entirely upon the sixties blues boom taking chicago blues as its model. i love howling wolf, john lee, etc, but the rigidity of the instrumentation takes away a lot of the scope that was in that broad church you mentioned.
and the fact that many of the blues boom brit musos produced better stuff when they went 'progressive' (in the dictuionary sense, not as in prog necessarily) just shows that you break out of a formula then you start to get inventive. m'lord, i take as witness for the prosecution mr john mayall.
the only album of his i ever really liked was 'bare wires' where he has a whole load of jazzers in the bluesbreakers and produces an album that stretches instrumentally beyond his limnited songwriting. that same band (minus mayall and mick taylor) broke away to become Colosseum, and then recorded the stretching out 'For Those About To Die' album before really letting loose with 'Valentyne Suite', which had bugger all to do with blues as it had been in british bands up to that point (even the track 'Buttys Blues' starts conventionally then veers off).
colosseum (back to lower case) are a prime example of your theory in action.
if we cross the pond, i need only say Captain Beefheart...
meanwhile, Caroline - Ten Years After! love the decca albums - the cd issue of the first one has a great version of them doing woody herman's 'woodcutters ball', and stonedhenge is very palyful and tuneful. but can i posit the idea that woodstock made them commercially but killed them musically? after 'going home' all anyone wanted was fast boogie with lots of soloing. later albums are really tedious and to be honest it seems a relief when alvin threw in the towel. first thing he was a gospel album, for god's sake (...). ten years later sounded like a tax bill that needed paying as it was by numbers boogie, and after that? well, apart from the abortive '89 reunion, i think it's significant that he has nothing to do with the version of TYA that gigs now, and his last album went from django rheinhardt jazz to rockabilly picking and had bugger all to do with what made him famous.
they're one of those bands who were really great, but had that sad inverse ration of success to creativity. the early stuff, though... i think i'm just off to pick out the first album and stonedhenge and play them now, actually...
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Post by PeterC on Nov 20, 2008 11:39:06 GMT
Earlier in this tread, I mentioned Ian Anderson's 'tasteless' critique of religion (well, the poor old CofE) on the otherwise classic Aqualung album.
In view of this, the sleeve notes on the 2003 Christmas Album (JT's most recent I believe) make interesting reading.
I don't think they'll quite have 'all Heaven rejoicing' but I reckon St Peter could justify getting a round in...
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Post by carolinec on Nov 20, 2008 14:47:23 GMT
Now you've got me curious, Peter - what do those sleeve notes say? That's not one I have in my collection - don't have many of the newer ones TBH. Pulphack - I hadn't noticed your comments about Ten Years After above before. I've only heard the early albums - the first, TYA and Stonedhenge - so can't comment on any of their later stuff. But I love the early stuff ...  |
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Post by carolinec on Dec 17, 2008 16:40:30 GMT
I was standing in a long Post Office queue today trying to post a parcel, getting annoyed at the wait, getting a headache from the piped Christmas music, and thinking non-festive thoughts like: "Why do they always have just one counter open when it's busy?" "Why can't they switch that bloody music off?" .. and other such thoughts. When all of a sudden ... the familiar flute playing which I know so well. They were playing Tull's Solstice Bells! (hmm, have I spelt "solstice" right? Looks funny  ) So now I'm feeling all festive again. Thanks, Mr Anderson - I love you! |
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Post by pulphack on Dec 19, 2008 10:37:41 GMT
Solstice is one of those words that always looks wrong, makes you go to the dictionary, and find it looks wrong in there!
as you know, i'm not a big fan of Mr A (plesse, call the dogs off, Caroline!), but Ring Out Solstice Bells is how ALL Xmas music should sound. one of the few Tull things i have, and you made me dig it out again. mrs ph wants phil spector, though...
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Post by carolinec on Dec 19, 2008 17:34:39 GMT
as you know, i'm not a big fan of Mr A (plesse, call the dogs off, Caroline!).. Too late - the dogs are already on your trail, Pulps! ;D ;D .. but Ring Out Solstice Bells is how ALL Xmas music should sound. one of the few Tull things i have, and you made me dig it out again.. OK, I've called them off now - you're forgiven. Besides, I'm sure this is a far worse punishment ... .. mrs ph wants phil spector, though...  |
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Post by carolinec on Jan 23, 2009 12:45:53 GMT
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Post by PeterC on Jan 28, 2009 16:10:18 GMT
Caroline,
Which is best - Stormwatch or Rock Island? And how does either compare with The Broadsword and The Beast?
Your views are important to me.
Many thanks,
Peter
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Post by carolinec on Jan 28, 2009 17:59:40 GMT
Which is best - Stormwatch or Rock Island? And how does either compare with The Broadsword and The Beast? Now you've caught me out, Peter - I've never actually heard Rock Island (though I'm sure I've heard individual songs from it, but can't recall which ones). I stopped buying every Tull record which came out shortly after Stormwatch and Broadsword - I'd enjoyed both of those, but then I bought Under Wraps. With all due apologies to my hero, but that one really should be called Utter Crap!  (I've since discovered why I don't like it - he uses a drum machine of all things, not a proper drummer - I ask you!) Anyway, I can comment on Stormwatch and Broadsword, but I'm not sure if I can answer the question as to how they compare. They are both excellent in my opinion, but - though similar - quite different, if that makes any sense whatsoever! The thing about Tull for me is that each album seems to convey a different "mood" - the most obvious being Songs From The Wood and Heavy Horses, which are so clearly rooted in Anderson's love of the country after he moved back there. Stormwatch seems a much "angrier" album than Broadsword - "Dark Ages" is positively grim (but superb). It's quite a "cynical" album too with it's sly digs at politics/politicians and our capitalist, economy-driven society. Though it's got its lighter - even romantic - moments with tracks like "Dun Ringhill" and "Old Ghosts". I prefer Broadsword if I'm in a bit of a lighter mood - Stormwatch suits me if I'm feeling a bit angry. The track "Broadsword" seems like a nice fantasy adventure story and feels quite "uplifting" - a bit like singing a hymn! "Beastie" is quite hilarious! I adore "The Clasp", which actually sounds like it should be on Broadsword as there's a good deal of cynicism in that one. In fact, you might be as well to double check that I've got my tracks on the right albums. I'm doing this off the top of my head without checking, and I do tend to get those albums mixed up as they are of a similar ilk. I guess you realise they're both from Tull's "electronic" period, but both are far superior to Under Wraps or even A (though I love "Fylingdale Flyer" from A. My advice would be - buy them both!  Hope that helps! |
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Post by PeterC on Jan 29, 2009 14:25:22 GMT
Caroline,
Thanks for this helpful advice. I may well go for [color=Green]Rock Island . [/color]It's described in one Amazon review as 'undeservedly panned'.
I've never heard of Under Wraps and A, so I'm safe from those, I think.
I'm enjoying the Christmas Album - but it does sound as though IA's voice has weakened/softened in recent years.
Peter
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Post by carolinec on Jan 29, 2009 23:25:18 GMT
.. but it does sound as though IA's voice has weakened/softened in recent years. Well, he can still belt all the old 'uns out on stage - "Locomotive Breath", "Aqualung", etc. I'm not sure his voice has changed - he just does some quieter/softer ones sometimes. Think of early quieter ones like "Life Is A Long Song" for example. I must say, I'm quite tempted by Rock Island, or Catfish Rising. I did buy Roots to Branches recently but haven't been too impressed. There are a couple of really good ones, and the rest are a bit so-so. Personally, I reckon you can't beat old Tull!  |
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(I've since discovered why I don't like it - he uses a drum machine of all things, not a proper drummer - I ask you!)