HATED TAAB and especially A Passion Play at first
Apr 20, 2021 22:57:04 GMT
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bunkerfan, rainbowblue, and 1 more like this
Post by mikey on Apr 20, 2021 22:57:04 GMT
When I was a teenager on a three hour car ride in Boy Scouts, the scout master started playing some music. Normally at worst I am ambivalent about music I dislike, but this time I *hated* it instantly! I thought it was so bad that I rudely asked the leader “what is this horrible music?” He started laughing hard, and told me, “you better get used to it, this is ‘Thick as a Brick’. This song will not end for another 42 minutes!” (Continuing to laugh, he made absolutely no move to turn it off.)
“Noooo!” I thought to myself, this sucks, I am in hell!
But even back then, I had played piano and guitar for several years. And I was a big fan of complex and interesting music. By the end I had to begrudgingly agree that they were quite talented.
Fast forward a couple months. I was at the CD store, drawing a complete blank on what I should buy (remember that happening?) TAAB was right on top on the discount bin, so I bought it and decided to give it another chance.
I don’t remember how many listens it took, but in a relatively short time I *completely* fell in love with it! The countless twists and turns, the impeccable musicianship, the brilliant melody after melody after melody...I never heard anything like it! In general I prefer longer songs, it allows more time to get lost in the music, and it creates a bigger canvas for the artist to create a journey. But most of the time long songs are mostly wasted time, members taking turns playing long disjointed solos, the rest of the band just playing backup. TAAB could not be more different. It is *crammed* with idea after idea after idea, each of them played by multiple members in a cohesive unit. In fact I think many of the parts are too *short*! But they had to keep moving in order to cram all of their ideas in. Finally, a long song may be technically impressive, but often it does not move me. It is missing that *spark* that makes a mark on my soul (think Yes’s “Tales from Topographic oceans.”) Several parts of TAAB now forever live in my heart and soul along with the very best music I have ever heard. These rare connections are the reason music itself is so important in my life.
Whew! ...and all that from an album that at first I could not stand! I am so glad I kept an open mind and gave it another chance.
This actually taught me a life lesson that I believe to this day: “Hate” is not the opposite of “love.” (“Indifference” is the actual opposite.) Even though it was negative, it immediately caused a strong reaction. It only took a slight nudge to change abject hate into true love. Since then, I have had this experience several times in my life.
In fact, I initially hated “A Passion Play” even more! I was hoping for more TAAB goodness, and was incredulous at what I heard. Heck it took several minutes before the band fully kicked in to start playing actual music. And said music was nothing like what I was expecting and hoping. But the lesion I learned from TAAB was still fresh in my mind. So I kept listening to it. This time I *still* didn’t get it for at least another 5-10 complete listens. I only gave it that many chances because of TAAB. But you know what? Sure enough, it clicked too! In fact, there are some sections of “A Passion Play” that I like *more* than TAAB! (The acoustic guitar part immediately following “The Hare who Lost his Spectacles” is pure genius. “Show me a good man and I’ll show you the door!”...gives me goosebumps every time. I *definitely* understand why APP was critically panned. Look at me, I *only* gave it that many listens for the aforementioned reasons. I bet almost no one took the necessary time to accustom themselves to it in order to hear its own genius.
I think there is something about Jethro Tull music that takes time to fully appreciate. So much is going on that most of it will go over the listener’s head. In addition, unlike, say the Beatles, most of their songs and melodies take a few listens before making an imprint on the brain.
I will even go as far as to say I think that is part of the reason they have been overlooked for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: It takes considerable time and effort to appreciate their genius, something most people do not have. (Especially people on the selection committee that have to listen to so much music that they physically do not have the requisite time!)
Do you guys agree? Have you experienced anything similar?
Thanks for reading my long rant. These albums have been profound influences on my life and I felt the impulse to share it with [hopefully] like minded people.
So tell me, did it take perseverance and multiple listens for you to “get” and fall in love with anything by Jethro Tull?
“Noooo!” I thought to myself, this sucks, I am in hell!
But even back then, I had played piano and guitar for several years. And I was a big fan of complex and interesting music. By the end I had to begrudgingly agree that they were quite talented.
Fast forward a couple months. I was at the CD store, drawing a complete blank on what I should buy (remember that happening?) TAAB was right on top on the discount bin, so I bought it and decided to give it another chance.
I don’t remember how many listens it took, but in a relatively short time I *completely* fell in love with it! The countless twists and turns, the impeccable musicianship, the brilliant melody after melody after melody...I never heard anything like it! In general I prefer longer songs, it allows more time to get lost in the music, and it creates a bigger canvas for the artist to create a journey. But most of the time long songs are mostly wasted time, members taking turns playing long disjointed solos, the rest of the band just playing backup. TAAB could not be more different. It is *crammed* with idea after idea after idea, each of them played by multiple members in a cohesive unit. In fact I think many of the parts are too *short*! But they had to keep moving in order to cram all of their ideas in. Finally, a long song may be technically impressive, but often it does not move me. It is missing that *spark* that makes a mark on my soul (think Yes’s “Tales from Topographic oceans.”) Several parts of TAAB now forever live in my heart and soul along with the very best music I have ever heard. These rare connections are the reason music itself is so important in my life.
Whew! ...and all that from an album that at first I could not stand! I am so glad I kept an open mind and gave it another chance.
This actually taught me a life lesson that I believe to this day: “Hate” is not the opposite of “love.” (“Indifference” is the actual opposite.) Even though it was negative, it immediately caused a strong reaction. It only took a slight nudge to change abject hate into true love. Since then, I have had this experience several times in my life.
In fact, I initially hated “A Passion Play” even more! I was hoping for more TAAB goodness, and was incredulous at what I heard. Heck it took several minutes before the band fully kicked in to start playing actual music. And said music was nothing like what I was expecting and hoping. But the lesion I learned from TAAB was still fresh in my mind. So I kept listening to it. This time I *still* didn’t get it for at least another 5-10 complete listens. I only gave it that many chances because of TAAB. But you know what? Sure enough, it clicked too! In fact, there are some sections of “A Passion Play” that I like *more* than TAAB! (The acoustic guitar part immediately following “The Hare who Lost his Spectacles” is pure genius. “Show me a good man and I’ll show you the door!”...gives me goosebumps every time. I *definitely* understand why APP was critically panned. Look at me, I *only* gave it that many listens for the aforementioned reasons. I bet almost no one took the necessary time to accustom themselves to it in order to hear its own genius.
I think there is something about Jethro Tull music that takes time to fully appreciate. So much is going on that most of it will go over the listener’s head. In addition, unlike, say the Beatles, most of their songs and melodies take a few listens before making an imprint on the brain.
I will even go as far as to say I think that is part of the reason they have been overlooked for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: It takes considerable time and effort to appreciate their genius, something most people do not have. (Especially people on the selection committee that have to listen to so much music that they physically do not have the requisite time!)
Do you guys agree? Have you experienced anything similar?
Thanks for reading my long rant. These albums have been profound influences on my life and I felt the impulse to share it with [hopefully] like minded people.
So tell me, did it take perseverance and multiple listens for you to “get” and fall in love with anything by Jethro Tull?