Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #49 , A Passion Play, by Jethro Tull.
Originally posted to Facebook on March 11, 2024.
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Prog Magazine Top 100 Prog Albums of All Time Challenge. Album #49 , A Passion Play, by Jethro Tull.
For info about the Challenge see this post: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=6684569734933012&id=100001401549636&mibextid=Nif5oz
When sharing your thoughts about this album, use the following scale to indicate how familiar you are with the album: ( the scale is designed to preface your comments, not to be posted by itself with no further explanation.)
0- Never heard anything from this album, totally new to my ears.
1- I might have heard a song on occasion, or I know a big hit from the album but not the full album.
2- I've listened to the full album a few times, but it's been a while. Slightly familiar with it.
3- I listen to this album periodically, fairly familiar with it.
4- I have listened to this album many times. I know it inside out. Very familiar with it/expert level
I will post links for anyone who needs them to be able to stream it in the comments below. Remember, no matter what your experience level with the album going in, please listen to the album before commenting. I will post album #48 on Thursday.You can participate, even if you haven't done any of the previous rounds.)
Enjoy! (And be nice!)
From the comments:
Track 1 - A Passion Play, Pt. 1
A Heartbeat fades in.Then various sound effects. We eventually start a shuffle beat. The next theme reminds me of some of the 6-8 in TAAB. The band has some nice accents, then we’re whistling, before Anderson begins a cappella, joined by acoustic guitar, then piano. We come to an odd-meter instrumental break following the opening verses. I believe these verses describe our protagonist’s death & funeral. Next is a renaissance (the era, not the prog band) style acoustic section followed by wonderfly proggy verses. A great instrumental break follows, leading to a fantastic Anderson flute solo. Excellent tempo shift at 13 minutes. So far the music reminds me of a cross between Aqualung & TAAB, stylistically. The segmet around 16 minuted sounds familiar to me. Might have heard a live excerpt. Nice ritardando at around 19 min. Then we pick up again. Then a slow piano and vocal segment as part 1 winds down. The heartbeat theme returns, but with full instrumentation.
Track 2. A Passion Play, Pt. 2
We are told that “This is the story of a hare that lost its spectacles!” to kick off part 2. Whimsical music accompanies a narrative in an equally whimsical voice. It sounds like a children's story, a fable more specifically.Love the rolled “r” in “trembling”. Not sure what the purpose of this part is, but it's fun. It becomes a children's song, with some accents from the band. This brings us back to the prog. I love the in bit at around 5:30, before Anderson starts singing. The next instrumental bit has a sax solo. After a quick check, I see that Anderson added soprano sax to his arsenal of instruments that he can play at some point before this album. There is a nice acoustic and vocal section at around 10 minutes. Things start to pick up and rock more around 11 minutes in. There is a pause for synth sounds around 14:30.We go back to acoustic at 18 minutes.Classic Tull rockin’ flute at about 19 minutes, There is a timing change at around 21 minutes. Piano takes over as we reach the conclusion, sand some closing bits from the band as the song fades out.
OVERALL IMPRESSION:
A fantastic album indeed! Ian and co. put in a great effort here. My only deduction (and I’m sure some of you love it to bits) is the fable/children’s song at the beginning of Pt. 2, while wonderfully wierd, is just a bit out of place for me (although I’m sure I;m missing the point of it). It’ll probably make more sense in future listenings. Great album. 4.5/5 stars.
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