"You mean you disagree with
W. S. Gumby?"
The Comments and
Dissenting Opinion Page
Disagree with my reviews? E-mail me and tell me why you think I'm completely wrong (or, if you'd like to write and say "Gumby! You are a genius! I agree with you completely!" that's OK too). If you write to say "Gumby, you suck!" you probably won't find your message here, but intelligent, thoughtful comment will appear on this page.
I would just like to add a few
comments to your comment bin. I don't
want to sound negative and I
want you to know that I really appreciate
your page and the work you have
done.
The live tracks on Living in
the Past are from Carnegie Hall, not Madison
Square Garden {Thanks for
pointing this out, I've corrected this-W. S. Gumby}.
And I think that they are two
of the best live Tull tracks recorded. This
particular version of 'Dharma
for One' is considered a classic by many of our
fellow Tull fans.
When insulting A, dont forget
Uniform, and Batteries Not
Included.
Four stars for Catfish Rising?
This is only my opinion, but
this is the second worst(or
third) next to Under Wraps. I could only
salvage a couple of songs off
of this one.
That wasn't that bad, was it?
Other than that, I almost totally agree
with you. Please respond
if you feel you need to. I look forward to
communicating with other fans.
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This is my signature.
Hey, fellow Tullian! I was just
reading your album reviews. I just want to
say that in my humble opinion,
THIS WAS deserves much more devotion and
enthusiasm, and that Tull really
can't be critiqued by us mere mortals
(j/k), but that's besides the
point. I want to comment on the comment you
made about Ian's fluting style.
Some throat and voice experts believe that
his deep, breathy-humming technique
probably was the main factor in the
deterioration of his exquisite
voice. Really very sad. But I think It was
worth it, all those amazing
flute solos!
Hello, and thanks for your entertaining reviews.There's something very gratifying and of course edifying about reading reviews of familiar and beloved materials!
My only
dissent would be your comparatively poor rating for Warchild, which gives
me almost as much pleasure as any other Tull album. "Back-Door Angels",
"Sealion", and "The Third Hurrah" are, in my opinion, among Tull's finest.
Thanks
again for the effort!
First, let me say that Jethro
Tull has produced some outstanding albums
over the years like Thick as
a Brick, Passion Play, Stand Up, Songs from
the Wood, and more. But Roots
to Branches doesn't get more than two and a half stars from me. All
of the songs on Side 1 and Side 2 totally turned
me off every time I listened
to them. On the other hand, I found all of the
songs on Side 3 and Side 4 quite
satisfying and appealing after I listened
to them a couple of times.
Gumby, you really miss the mark
when you call this a "brilliant" album.
Mediocre is the more accurate
term that describes this sometimes most
disappointing album. Better
luck next time, Ian, if you are listening.
Actually, I agree in almost every
review you made. BUT, I disagree with
your Broadsword and the Beast
opinion. I find this to be one of the
worst Tull albums ever made.
OK, Pussy Willow, Slow Marching Band even
Cheerio are good songs but the
rest of it is just a failed try to combine
synths with acoustic. At least
Under Wraps went all the way into synths.
By the way I think European
Legacy is another good song from this album,
but I can't say that for any
other song. Well, that's it. I agree with you almost in everything else
and I support your 4-Ian rating for Catfish Rising. I don't know why people
don't like it. Do you? {Nope. - W. S.Gumby.}
Long Live Jethro Tull
Ignacio Ferreyra
Biggest Mexican Tull fan
One way to measure an album's
greatness is to look at the level of lp
damage created by your turntable
cartridge stylus. It is my opionion, to which
I am entitled, that I rate the
Jethro Tull (seventies only) records as follows:
This Was - **
The record is in very good condition
Stand UP - ***1/2
Played many times - First Side is in pretty good
condition - I just could not listen to the beginnig of 'A New Day
Yesterday'
Benefit
**** Played over and over again for a period
of time,
then I stopped.
Aqualung *****
I went through several copies - also had the cops
come once and tell me to lower the music.
Thick as a Brick ***** I mangeled
two records just tryng to figure out what
was going on.
Living in the Past ***** I destroyed
both records - a supreme collection in
every respect.
A Passion Play ****
I did a number on this album-I used to play it every
night before going to bed.
Warchild ***
I gave up early trying to ruin this one.
M.U. Best of JT *****
One of the best, greatest hits records of all time.I
played this puppy when either I was in a kick a-s mood
or down in the dumps. Surface noise now resembles
the sound of waterfalls.
Minstrel in The Gal ***1/2
Started to destroy this record but getting my
driver license cut down on the damage.
Too Old, Too Young***
Quizz Kid, Pied Piper, Taxi Grab and Big Dipper are
ruined - some of the other tracks are in good shape.
Repeat Best of JT - n/a
- Never bought this record - One record withh 'A
New Day Yesterday' and 'Warchild' is enough
Songs from the Wood*****
I must clean this record with solution every time
I wish to play a single track in the hopes of hearing
anything at all. Oh well , I shall have to listen to the CD.
Heavy Horses ***
Good condition - If I need a buck , I could
sell it (only kidding).
Bursting Out
**1/2 Live version of Aqualung is in pristeen
condition--only listened to once.
Stormwatch
n/a Never purchased this one - I was thinking
that I might end up in Afghanistan.
Your reviews were great.
Yeah, I could sit here and say that I liked
this song and you didn't so
you are wrong. But, that's just
nit-picking.
I think, in general, you have
captured the feel of each album.
Keep it up!
I like your site, I'm tired of
sites with just pictures and lyrics.
Lyrics are nice, but the band
is all ugly anyway (I'm not gay so it
shouldn't matter, besides they
were musical geniuses). I think you have a
good taste in music (not since
you are a tull fan, but what you like
about Tull) However, I really
have to disagree with you on Rock Island.
You shouldn't be too afraid
to give an album just an Ian and a half for
the only one and a half good
songs, Rock Island and Another Chr______
____. I like your review
for "A" I'm glad I only spent $3.60 on used
record at Cheapo for that one
it's the kind of techno crap that those
junior high Prodigy fans should
get into. However, give it only half of
an Ian.
I for the most part agree with
your album reviews. I was glad to find people who
realize the brilliance of A
Passion Play and Minstrel in the Gallery.
These albums for me, showcase
everything wonderful about Ian Anderson,
his songwriting, multi instrumental
ability and sharp wit. Also I'd like
to concour with you on Roots
to Branches. The album is stunning.
Musically its as tight as they
have ever sounded before. As for
Divinities....I can't say enough.
These later releases quiet anyone who says Tull is washed up.
I am yet another of those Tull
fans who also has a pleasure for the flute
and the odd bit of Hey Hey!!
I love the Quality of his moods and melodies
which obviously I think is more
a personal diary of Ian's feelings which I
share myself. I love his Medieval
stlye and Folky overtones that I still think is
evident even in his later music.
Ithink he has refined that more (like the
maturing of a good wine). Anyway
it is a pleasure to hear other Tull fans
without being accused of being
sad and by the way I had a facination with
Ians beard shape and manic eyes.
(no I'm not gay) I also think that had an
integral part in his character.
Any way I hope you made some sense out of that.
Cheeeeerrrriiiiiooooo!!
I wont comment on your reviews
much. Just wanted to live in the past for a moment with some Tull
fans. I saw Tull in the Benefit concert just before aqualung came
out.
It was fabulous!! I sat behind
a poll in the Rhode Island Auditorium way up in the balcony, and had to
stretch my neck around the pole to catch a glimpse.. but It was one of
the best concerts I have ever seen regardless. Of course we all know how
great Aqualung is , so I need not go into it.
A local music paper was sold
on the mall where all us teenagers hung around in the early to mid 70s
in Providence and there was an interview with Ian Anderson , basically
commenting on the _new_ direction he was headed in with _Thick as a Brick_
we were all very excited about this and could not wait to see what this
genius would do next. Well I was disappointed ,Anderson left the
hard edge out of the music, in my opinion and If I remember correctly ,
thats when Jethro Tull started to loose airplay and album sales. I pretty
much forgot about Tull after that. I did buy the WarChild album for
skating away.. I agree that bungle in the jungle was pretty sad.
I have heard a number of songs
here and there over the years that I thought were very good and now I think
for sure I will make up for lost time. At one time Tull was my absolute
favorite band..Congratulations on your good taste!!
Richard McElveen
Gumby...I enjoyed your reviews..very
interesting..and I agree with much
of what you say. I have
been a Tull fan since 1968 and own all the music.
I accept A and Under Wraps as
flights of fancy. For me..it goes back to Heavy Horses,
Songs from the Wood, Passion
Play and TAAB. However..there is so much
that is good. I believe Crest
of a Knave is a triumph. I saw Tull several times when
the band consisted of
Barlow, Glasscock, Palmer and Evans...they were the best
of a great lot. Barrie's
militaristic style of drumming still draws me
back to those tunes 20 years
later.
Nice work, Gumby.
Matt P
There is one JT album that you
forgot to mention that is very good. That one
is A Classic Case: The London
Symphony Orchestra Plays the Music of Jethro
Tull. It is very good
and beautiful. Very nice, loud, thundering trumpets on
Locomotive Breath. Elegy
is very beautiful. Bouree is very catchy, a nice
symphonic rendition of an Ian
Anderson flute classic. Fly By Night is
beautiful, and at the beginning,
the sound you hear kind of makes you think of
sparkling lights. The
Teacher/Bungle in the Jungle/Rainbow Blues/Locomotive
Breath medley is very beautiful.
Warchild, however, is nothing like the
original song. In all,
this is a must have, if you'd like to hear some
classic Tull tunes put to symphony.
Jeremy Root
Hi W.S., I fully agree with your review of Under Wraps. I have been listening to it over and over again for three days to reevaluate my opinion, and I have come to the following conclusion: I HATE the album, apart from three good songs. The album has no atmosphere, it is too artificial, and Ian lacks 'the holy fire of inspiration' that is so present at all the other albums. The synth-sound makes it sounds sterile, unreal (thank God PJVetese was laid off), the drums are dead as a door and even the lyrics - which I studied thoroughly - are beneath Ian's level. It has become clear to me that Ian's musical crisis - which started on Walk Into Light - came to a climax on this album. He must at that time have lost contact with his roots or with himself maybe. I think the rating should be one. Apart from that I am a true blood Tull-fan since 1968 and will remain so till the day that The Slow Marching Band will play my final hour.
Jan
Ssoooo, when I won "A" from a
radio contest a few years later, I kept waiting for that same awe to strike.
Instead, I found myself, after years of having to listen to Tull albums
from start to finish, actually skipping songs (Batteries Not Incl., 4wd
and yes, Working John et al).
So, I spent some quality time
w/ Black Sunday, FL Flr and Pine Marten's Jig and quietly appreciated the
change of pace.
I had similar reactions to Tull albums once or thrice throughout the years since then, but was more than pleased w/ RTB which is a phenomenal work IMHO.
One more thing: I inadvertently got some young newbies (adult ESL students of mine) hooked on Tull by way of IA's Divinities which was playing in my car one day. And though I'm thrilled to see them discovering my fav band in their tied-dyed Aqualung tees, I resist the urge to try to orchestrate their experiences. Tull's musical diversity certainly provides something (once bitten) for every taste. I'll wait and watch the new roots take hold.
P.S. Could you make me any more envious of your Tull singles collection? ;)
Ron in CT
If a guy gives APP five Ians; he's alright by me. I gave it five Ians, a double stand-up Jeffrey, a wobbly-but-fun John Evan, a bombastic heavy Marty B-squared, and a quadruple espresso bomb of a Barry B with a twist of lemon served over a bed of mushrooms.
Kram
In general, I'm thrilled to have
come upon so lively and active a
community of Tullites, and am
excited to learn that I'm not alone. I'll
probably be posting a tull page
myself... if I can find something that
has not already been said or
done by all you lovely folks!
Chaosred
Aka;
The Schizophrenic Ghost
YOUR GONNA DIE BUDDY!!!!!!!!
What the hell is wrong with you?
You only gave Crest of A Knave 4
Tulls???????? Are you
insane??? That is one of Tull's best albums.
From some jamming rock
of Steel Monkey to the mellow tunes of
Farm on The Freeway, and it
all ends with the energized raising steam.
I seriously suggest that you
raise that rating or you are no Tull fan at
all and I hope you burn in hell.
Travis
W. S. Gumby
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