The Broadsword and the Beast

Artist: Jethro Tull
Label: Capitol
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Original recording reissued
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 094632138026
EAN: 0094632138026
ASIN: B000008H1S

Release Date: 1990-10-25

The Broadsword and the Beast

Related Categories:

General

| International | Styles | Music

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock

| Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock

| Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General

| Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Beastie
Clasp
Fallen On Hard Times
Flying Colours
Slow Marching Band
Broadsword
Pussy Willow
Watching Me Watching You
Seal Driver
Cheerio

Similar Items:

Crest of a Knave
Stormwatch
Minstrel in the Gallery
Songs from the Wood
Heavy Horses

Customer Reviews:

...timely in 2007.......2007-01-14

Due to the superior musicianship of the band Jethro Tull, it is very difficult to label them. Some writers will say that TULL was the first alt-rock band. While others rely on the term, prog-rock. With BROADSWORD you just get music that is still timely after two decades. The track titled "The Clasp", comes to mind. Here the seeming lack of tolerance by political elites is examined. And the title track, "Broadsword", here, just turn up the volume and you are right there, in battle, fighting the British Redcoats on the bloody battlefields of the Scottish Highlands. So don't delay any longer, this CD belongs in the collection of any self-respecting JETHRO TULL fan.

An Extremity of Jethro Tull.......2006-11-01

Every time I review a Jethro Tull album I seem to repeat the same phrase, which must bore those two or three faithful readers of my reviews. However, I must repeat the phrase again. Jethro Tull's music is quite eclectic, and they, speaking significantly of Ian Anderson, have performed such a broad array of music that it is impossible to characterize the group. How fortunate for those of us who enjoy an eclectic array of music. This album falls short of Tull's best, but it has moments that rival Tull's best. I enjoy those moments and listen to this album often just for those moments.

One feature of this album is the electronic nature of much of the music. "Beastie" begins the electronic fun as synthesizers open this powerful song. I admire several things about this rocking song, but overall it is average. The repeat of "beastie" eventually becomes annoying. Better is "The Clasp." This song is strongly electronic, but sounds like an electronic version of traditional Jethro Tull. I wish this album would have opened with this excellent song. Remaining in a similar vein is "Fallen on Hard Times." This song relies somewhat less on electronics than the previous songs and is catchy and clever. Fans of Tull's renaissance-flavored music should like this song.

"Flying Colours" sounds too much like typical 80s rock. Imagine the rock group Survivor with Ian Anderson doing the vocals. I am unimpressed with this song.

"Slow Marching Band" is a remarkable piece for this album. This song could have been on "Heavy Horses" or "Minstrel from the Gallery." The tone is dirge-like and full, though somewhat understated in comparison to the electronic songs leading up to this one. An even better song is "Broadsword." The ponderous music matches the topic of the lyrics. I can almost imagining Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Conan movie with the incredible sword he carried. This song is one of the best, if not the best, from this CD. Another song that seems even more out of place is the renaissance sound ballad "Pussy Willow." This song falls a little short of the previous couple of songs, but has so much flavor of previous Tull albums that the music is comforting.

"Watching Me Watching You" is another low point on this CD. Enough said about that. "Seal Driver" follows. There are several places in this song where I like the music, but there are other places where I am less than impressed. This song is about average for this CD, which means it is less than average for a Tull song.

"Cheerio" closed the original album with a melancholy touch. Many artists have created closings that sadly tell their audience goodbye. This closing became a signature song for Tull.

There are eight bonus songs on this CD which are interesting because of their style. The eight additional songs tip the style of this album even further into the style of "Songs from the Wood" or "Heavy Horses," which makes me think that Ian Anderson wanted to downplay the electronic music of the original and wanted to enhance the medieval and renaissance flavored music. Whatever the reason, "Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow" is a lovely song that would have been great on either of the earlier CD's. "Jack A Lynn" is a tender and mellow ballad that remains in the same vein.

"Mayhem Maybe" has a strong Celtic flavor and is an absolutely marvelous song that has nothing to do with any of the electronic music on this CD. Fans of "Songs from the Wood" will love this song.

The next song is somewhat more electronic, and in my opinion, is weaker than the previous bonus songs. Indeed, "Too Many Too" ranks with the weakest songs on this CD. "Overhang" is a bit better than average for this CD. The best portions of this song are the flute and the refrain. The worst part of this song is trying to marry a traditional sound with electronics. "Rhythm in Gold" is filler. Fortunately, we can always program our CD players to skip over this song.

"I Am Your Gun" is another song I have mixed feelings about. I like parts of this song, but portions are obnoxious. This song is similar to "Overhang" in that two different styles are married, less than successfully, together.

The final bonus track is "Down at the End of Your Road." This song is above average and nearly succeeds where "Overhang" and "I Am Your Gun" did not. I enjoy this song much better than either of the two previous songs.

I enjoyed this song from the first time I heard it. There are several tracks that are memorable and worthy additions to the best music that Jethro Tull has ever recorded. There are several songs that are among the most forgettable songs that Jethro Tull has ever recorded. On the balance, there is more good music here than weak music, and this CD is one to have for fans of Jethro Tull.

This album is one of several electronic-based albums for Jethro Tull, with the others being "A" from 1980 and "Under Wraps" from 1984. Some of this music led to Jethro Tull being described as a hard rock group and winning the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance in 1988 for "Crest of a Knave." The joke was on the Academy because Tull is Tull and to classify them as anything but Tull is a mistake. How fortunate for us.

Enjoy!

Broadbeast, A Return to Tull form.......2006-03-06

This particular cd has horrible sound before the reissues, so I'm only gonna talk about the music. Tull had gone against the Tull sound with "A",well maybe because it was supposed to be a solo album of Ian's.
Ayway, this cd brings all of the wonderful things die-herd fans love about Tull. There is a loose concept floating around, all new players and certainly an 80's sound without getting sucked in like Genesis. The arrangements are good and the melodies are all Anderson.It's just good ,it reminds me of "Warchild" with "Stormwatch" ties together.Maybe because I was in high school when this came out and it brings back good memories. Remember, they could have sold out but they didn't.

the last half decent tull album before the new christmas cd.......2004-09-15

This release followed the album "A"-Ian solo/Tull and continues the synth sound from "A" but with a few more nods toward the old acoustic sound.Still a little too much synthesiser for my taste but would benefit(no pun intended)from a remaster and desperately needs the addition of Jack A Lynn and Overhang.Lets hope Ian puts those on the remaster.If so I would give it 4 stars.

Rock on Jethro Tull!.......2004-07-26

what a beautiful album! the cover could not look more like the front of a masterpiece novel, and a novel could not have possibly moved me more. getting into great jethro tull is like getting into great literature. the poetry is first rate, no matter who you are comparing it to, and the music has this strange eary melodic sound (love the use of the keyboards). the album is first rate wether it's the haunting wail of "clasp", the sad piano ballad turned rocker "flying colors", the gorgeous ballad "pussy willow", the strange yet incurably romantic woman-compared-to-ships song "seal driver", the singalong short concert closer "cherrio", the irish "slow marching band", or the viking battle song "broadsword", i love this album! though i must admit it took me a while to get to love it and not just like it.

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music CD

The Last Time I Committed Suicide (1997 Film) ~ Various Artists

In a Sentimental Mood ~ Hendrick Meurkens & New York Samba Jazz All Stars

Deliverance ~ Jonathan Butler

Twelve Blocks Down ~ Peter Poulsen Sextet

Tri-C Jazz Festival 2004 ~ Various Artists

Explosions ~ Bob James Trio

Libre ~ Narvalo

In Love Divine ~ Kathy Zavada

20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jackson 5 ~ Jackson 5

Ana Fi Intizarak [IMPORT]