Jethro Tull - Songs From the Wood
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Free Music Notes for Songs From the Wood
Free Music Review: Album of the year.
Hit: 5 Stars
I consider "Songs from the Wood" my favorite Jethro Tull album and the best album to come out of 1977, commonly referred to as the "year of punk." Maybe it's partly because of that punk insurrection that JT's offering is so wonderful. Many great bands of the old order had gone away by the late seventies, as we all know. Others adjusted to "punk rock" ("rock" if you take away all the b.s.) and got back in touch with their roots, with variable results. But JT shunned the mainstream and ignored the teenagers. They were in their prime and nothing would get in their way. Thank God for that! They took their fans where they wanted to take them, and they wanted to take them to Heaven. I will not try to describe what any of the songs sound like, but I will say that they celebrate life, glorify the earth. It is some of the most uplifting and wonderful music you will ever hear, containing some of the most glorious melodies ever heard. (Of course, I am partial to this album since I've heard it countless times since infancy.)
If you are a fan of Tull's older stuff, which is also great, forget about it if you listen to "Songs." It is an entirely different experience than what you've heard before. Open your mind and enjoy!
Free Music Review: Simply a great album
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are a Tull fan, or just a music fan in general, it doesn't get much better than Songs from the Wood. Jethro Tull are in the prime here and present what is basically an acoustic album that is just beautifully written and performed. If you enjoy stripped down, acoustic music there is no other album needed. I won't even bother reviewing each song because each one is fantastic in it's own way. Even if all you have is just a passing interest in Tull, or only know the band because of Aqualung, pick this disk up. After one listen you will understand why there are still legions of Tull fans after 4 decades!! This is one of the best Tull albums, and interesting I always thought Songs from the Woods had a wintery or holiday feel, and it was nice to see a couple songs recently included on Tull's A Christmas Album. Finally, this has nothing to do with Songs from the Woods, but after listening to that album I decided to pull out a newer Tull album and give it a listen. I just finished listening to Roots to Branches, and was going to review it as well, but I cannot find it listed here??? Amazon has like 30 different versions of "A" and "Aqualung" individually listed, but no Roots to Branches? Does anyone know why this Tull record is MIA?Free Music Review: Seminal Tull
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of the greatest Jethro Tull albums. Along with Aqualung and the live Bursting Out, Songs from the Wood would serve as a perfect introduction to Jethro Tull for kids not already familiar with their work.
For me, the stand out tracks are the "Songs from the Wood," "Jack-in-the-Green," and "Velvet Green."
Songs from the Wood mixes exuberance and a deep respect for ancient music and traditions with a sense of humor. Absent on This album is the more cynical, bitter tone of humor and social satire found in Thick as a Brick and in songs like "Hymn 43." It is replaced here with a more jubilant tone, as if saying "Life is fun, singing about it is fun, rolling in the grass all night with a young lady is fun!" (see "Velvet Green").
I cannot comment on the quality of this remastered release, as I am still listening to the tapes I made from my now nearly-worn-smooth vinyl LP. I have been reading very high praise for the sound quality of the recent Tull re-releases. This leads me to wonder, what are the producers of these CDs doing right that others are failing to? Perhaps Jethro Tull could also teach the recording industry a lesson in remastering CDs.
Free Music Review: Green treasures
Hit: 5 Stars
Nature was always very present in Tull's music - with Ian Anderson's rich fluteplaying evoking images of wide open spaces, joyous rides across green fields, and perhaps slightly ironic but nonetheless real inclinations to go "living in the past".On "Songs from the Wood" Ian Anderson - inspired by recently moving into the countryside - seems to transform himself into the Green Man of British folklore, roaming through mythical forests, high on Nature's juices and testosterone.
The resulting album hardly needs any recommendation - it is an acknowledged and flawless masterpiece, as fresh, magical and intoxicatingly original today as when it was recorded some 25 years ago.
The original cd-version was awful - the new, remastered version brings back memories of being blown away for the first time by this timeless masterpiece. The two bonus tracks are fine, the sinister "Beltane" (a pity, though, that the track isn't faded away when enough is enough...) and a fine, airy live-version of "Velvet Green".
Free Music Review: Tull at their Prog-Folkiest
Hit: 5 Stars
Songs From the Wood - (1977) 11 Tracks (2 bonus) ****½ (53:03)
Now this is some real Prog-Folk music! Far from the blues based rock these guys started out with from the early days. The album starts off with Ian's a cappella voice and continues on just as one would expect from a bunch of medieval, codpiece wearing minstrels. But, at the same time, much of this album begins to rock out with plenty of electric guitar riffing, sprinkled with acoustic guitar and flute.
I think the best two songs are the title track and Hunting Girl. With Jack-in-the-Green, Cup of Wonder, and Velvet Green coming in a close second. Songs From the Wood is an over-all nice listen as there are really no bad songs that I would consider "filler" on here. This remastered version contains two bonus tracks, Beltrane and a live version of Velvet Green recorded by the BBC in Concert from 1977. Four and half stars rounded up to five. A recommended addition to your Jethro Tull collection.