The Ultimate Tull Album
587011
In my opinion, this album sums up all the best of Jethro Tull -- great music, and those profoundly meaningful yet fantastically enigmatic lyrics. All the standard Anderson themes are included -- religious foolishness, individuality, the friction with his father. I love it!
4503174
Cleo Laine and James Galway have produced a wonderful album of songs in which there is not a single dud. The whole recording is brilliant, but there is a special place in our hearts for Skylark. Hoagy Carmichael's song has been sensitively arranged and performed by two of Britain's finest musicians.

John Dankworth and the rest of the band complement them superbly.

It is now approaching 30 years since it was recorded, and sounds as fresh as when it was made.

Highly recommended
4067462
If you want to hear Jethro Tull at their classic best, buy this album. I'm slowly building up my MP3 collection to match my extensive vinyl collection of Tull albums, and this was one of my first choices.
3458119
A classic Jethro Tull album gets the royal treatment. This was the first Jethro Tull album I ever heard and there are times when it wins out over Aqualung and Thick As A Brick for me. As usual, Steven Wilson does a fantastic job of producing this re release. I highly recommend this to all Tull fans.
296217
Bought this along with The Moody Blues' December cd when I realized just recently these were released last year. What a great surprise! Oh...and buy The Moodies' December if you liked this one. Tull's effort on this Christmas cd is just exceptional. From the music to the lyrics....this may be the best cd they have done since the early 80's...Ian never ceases to amaze me with his brilliant compositions and lyrics.
2426705
I'm a Tull fan from way back (if 1976 can be considered 'way back') and I have a soft spot for this album. Not as experimental or challenging as "Passion Play" or "Minstrel in the Gallery", but it still has some edge to it. I find myself listening to this much more than "Heavy Horses" (aka 'Songs from the Farm'), and it's far superior to 'A'. Great cover art too.
1592725
This is excellent in several ways.  It has an overall commentary of the performance by Ian himself.  Then his comments on what the festival signified--Its somewhat similar to "Woodstock" by Michael Wadleigh...showing the atmosphere as if you were there yourself.  I particularly like the fact that its not "re-mixed" or "re-" anything, the video and sound are basically as it was recorded.  Its not scratchy or choppy at all, its exceptionally well documented, and just a great peek into some early Tull when "My God" was considered a new piece.  There are parts of this floating around the net, but if you want the whole insight into the festival, the band, and the music, then this DVD is a must.  Any Tull fan will appreciate the set, new or old.  The insert included with the DVD, which basically states Ian's thoughts about the film and festival, is several paragraphs long, and the extra features of the disc include a photo gallery.  No behind the scenes or anything we are used to nowadays....But back then, they weren't filming with the creation of a DVD in mind.  Historically great (hippie ideals, free concerts, etc), One of the last great large concerts showcased, and early Tull packaged into a fantastic set of disks.
3165460
This album is a must own for all fans of folk-metal.  Period.  Some of the catchiest and hair swaying riffs I've had the pleasure of listening to are locked away in this audible treasure trove of northern songs.  Moonsorrow are a band that changes their sound almost every album and this, for me, is my favorite by far.  I own most of their other albums as well, but this one has sooo much atmosphere and harmony that it would be sheer blasphemy for any self-proclaimed folk-metal fan to not own this disc over their others.

The only down-side to this CD is that it's import only (from what I can tell) and only a few record stores carry it over here in the states.  It's still within a reasonable price range, however, for an album as good as this one is.

If you love original folk/viking metal, then you need to buy this!
4107864
Overall great renditions of some of Tull's best. My personal faves are a funky/beatnik version of "Fat Man"(great bongo solo by Doane and cool squeezing by Andy)and the reunion of the original lineup (IA, Mick Abrahams, Glenn Cornick and Clive Bunker) for an outstanding version of "Someday the Sun Won't Shine for You". I would have liked to hear more from this fab four.
Also, since there are two tunes included from IA's solo album, it would have been nice to hear something from Martin's solos as well (Misere, anyone?). I'm getting a tad bit bored with "Aqua/Breath"; Ian did some killer rearrangements of these on his "Divinities" tour--it would have been cool to hear these versions here.
Despite these minor complaints, this is an extremely strong album that both hardcore and casual Tull fans should love.
4690341
Ian Anderson is getting a little older. You millennial snowflakes will someday get older too. His Voice is fading but instruments still clean and creative. For all Tull fans this is a must-listen. The man has been a musical prodigy for 45 years. All the youngsters that don't get it. Fine. The stuff you like in 2017 will be gone in 2018.
2325565
Aqualung, Thick As A Brick, Living In The Past -- all great albums. But Benefit is the first of the remarkable Tull era. It truly shows the diversity of music and styles and the complexity of Tull's music. (The somewhat bizarre "backward flute" on "With You There To Help Me" to a classic riff on "To Cry You A Song" to a lyrical "Alive and Well and Living In" he band presented a variety of styles.) With John Evan playinig keyboards the group was beginning to develop into one of the top bands of the 70s. I still wish instead of the playing Elton John's "Rocket Man" whenever an anniversary of man first landing on the moon comes around, someone would be creative and play "For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me" , Collins being the astronaut left circling the moon while Armstrong and Aldrin got to walk on the moon. It is the album which made me a Tull fan for life.
1261
Jethro Tull is a wonderful musician, and Thick As A Brick is almost hypnotic to listen to. His flute is everywhere on this CD, enticing you to pay attention even when you're playing it on your computer while trying fruitlessly to get that spreadsheet to crunch all your data into something you can show your boss with a straight face. There's a rhythm and a beat to this album that grows on you until you just put it on repeat and listen to it over and over. It has a tempo like a fighter jet screaming off the runway. It is not "background music"; this is the real thing, from one of the great musicians of the golden age of acid rock. I recommend this, and his fantastic album, Benefit.

I'm indebted to my friend Silhouette, who recommended it to me.
4815623
There are so many great tunes on this instant Ian Anderson classic.  This is one of the few albums in my collection which I can start at track one and not skip any.  Ian does a great job, much like he did on his 1995 solo album "Divinities," which I also suggest.  That one was all instrumental, while this one has a few instumental tracks but many vocal ones.  This is from 2003, the same year that the Jethro Tull Christmas Album came out, so you know what "Ian voice" you are getting.
It moves from song to song at a confident yet subtle pace.  Harder rockers join the more mellow ones in a carefully crafted way.

What is it about so many Tull albums (as well as the two mentioned Ian solo ones) that seem to capure different seasons?  One reviewer once said that listening to the Christmas Album could make the listener practically "feel the warmth of a fire crackling while outside the snow gently covers the ground in a white blanket on the eve of that one particular December eve."  Well put.  Taking that a step further in the case of Rupi's Dance (and even Divinites), the fall is represented perfectly with the way the music is heard.  See what you think!!

(You must get the JT Christmas Album if you don't have it already)

Jethro Tull's 'Stormwatch' is the perfect January/deep winter album along with 'Broadsword and the Beast.'  By the spring, it's time for 'Crest of a Knave', 'A', 'Songs from the Wood,' and perhaps a turn of 'Warchild' or 'Minstrel.'  Certain songs on Stand Up and Benefit seem to capture the moods of Fall or Spring as well.  See how you do if you strive to make your own Tull/Ian A. seasonal playlists!!

Rupi's Dance is a great album that will easily become part of your fall listening catalog or playlist as will provide a perfect lead in to the Jethro Tull Christmas Album by Thanksgiving for the official start of the holiday season!
2194415
I revisit this album periodically and when I do I like it more than before.  It's one of those funny albums where when I first listened to it I didn't like it at all, but when I revisited it later, I ended up loving it - much like my take on Jethro Tull... Although this is way more creative (and interesting) than anything Tull could produce...

It's a shame this spirit is all gone now - progression of time...damaging changes...

Haven't heard this in a long time....maybe I'll give it whirl this weekend :)
1137018
LOVELESS is about as perfect as music can become. This album has no mediocre moments, it's simply eleven (does "Touched" count as a song?) tracks of hazy, sensual music combined with beautiful lyrics. And, fortunately, Bilinda Butcher takes the spotlight on this album (unlike her few moments of brilliance on ISN'T ANYTHING). She sings on almost every song, and occasionally, Kevin Shields joins in on the sonic chaos. Their voices seem to made for each other, and it's a very rare thing to find two alternating singers who compliment each other so incredibly well.

As far as complaints go, there's really none to speak of. Some may bicker at the inclusion of long, drawn-out ending pieces  on some of the tracks (particularly "What You Want"), but people who complain about petty issues like those are simply trying to avoid admitting that LOVELESS is the best album ever, and any tiny annoyances with this album these idiot's can find will be blown-up and complained about for years to come.

I believe that the one thing this album does so well that makes it a masterpiece is incorporating modern-pop elements (like a catchy-chorus, for example) with their own unique blend of distortion, guitars, and the occasional keyboard. The tracks that do this the best are "When You Sleep," "I Only Said," and "Soon". It's a crying shame that more radio-stations didn't play these incredibly-accessible tracks regularly, because then people may have actually bought this album (I don't know any teenagers my age who have even heard of this band, much less heard a single song by them).

It is apparent that Shield's obsession with being a perfectionist paid off on this album (the record company almost went bankrupt from the three-years-worth of studio fees the Valentines were raking up). Everything IS perfect, but never monotonous. The funny thing about perfect albums is that one is often hard-pressed to simply choose one song from it as their favorite. All of the tracks on this album blend into one, but each one is still distinctive and unforgettable. However, if I had to choose a favorite song, I could only narrow it down to three: "Only Shallow," "Blown A Wish," and "What You Want." These three would definitely find there way onto my obsessively-regulated "Lonely Island Mix" that would include a few wonderful tracks from all my favorite bands. "Soon" and "When You Sleep" are close runner-up's, though, and remember: no tracks on this album approach any where near mediocrity.

When you purchase this album, be prepared to welcome  a whole new  world of music. LOVELESS will take you somewhere new every  time you listen to it. The guitars swirl around and create a haze through which you can barely make out Bilinda Butcher's sensual voice, but between her voice and the guitars, you can always hear some sort of beautiful melody that elevates you to somewhere no album has ever  taken you. Don't just take my word for  it. Look at any list by an early-90's, alternative-music fan, and you can bet that LOVELESS is at the top. Hell, simply read the reviews around mine, and you'll see that my opinion isn't the only one that praises this album as one of the greatest moments in  modern music. I would rate it six or seven stars,  but that's impossible, so I'll give it a 5-star rating. Purchase this CD immediately. It's amazing, uplifting, outstanding, original, a pure work of genius, and, most importantly, beautiful. A truly ground-breaking moment in rock history
395158
Veedon Fleece contains absolutely no tunes that ever made standard classic rock radio or oldies hits rotations. So, unless you are a huge Van Morrison fan, this fine album/CD probably contains 100% songs you have never heard, written and recorded by Van his youthful prime, when he could still hit the soaring high notes of the much more famous Astral Weeks album. In other words, it is a treasure chest of great stuff.

It is not much like Astral Weeks, like some people claim here, except for one tune out of 10 (you Don't Pull No Punches) that does sounds like it could come from Astral Weeks, and it is a beauty. Overall, Van's vocals and songwriting here closely  resembles the best of Tupelo Honey album, which it followed by a year or two, except there are no up-tempo tunes like Tupelo's "Wild Night." It's mostly ballads and poetic wanderings, in a bluesy and jazz-influenced style. The band is locked in, and the performances are inspired. I think easily 7 of the original 10 tunes (there are 11 in this revised edition)are truly great tunes, all are sung by one of the greats in his absolute vocal prime.

If you are a classic rock fan, it is like discovering another Tupelo Honey or Moondance album, but perhaps with even more great ballads, and one extended tune that matches anything on Astral Weeks. If you are younger, or new to classic rock: Van Morrison is an elite of the later 20th century classic rock singer-songwriter era, right there with the Beatles, Dylan, Neil Young and Paul Simon. And if you got this far, then you've likely already heard some of his radio hits,or something else that is played regularly on classic rock stations, or maybe you saw him steal the show on the famous "Last Waltz" movie, or heard him from your parents album/CD collection..... Well, something got you here, to this little known album/CD by a great artist. Lucky you.

Buy it or borrow it. Veedon Fleece, though not much acclaimed, is memorably good.
630920
A classic Tull album! Great remastered with Chateau Disaster!