tommie
Master Craftsman
Posts: 392
|
Post by tommie on Aug 24, 2009 23:30:53 GMT
;D Listened to it today all the way thru . What an exquisite album. Gorgeous mosaics, and especially the subtle things added to it by the whole band. I truly always felt (in the minority here?) and i know I've mentioned it more than once, that this was Tull's/Ian's best album since "A", fifteen years ealier. (Now I KNOW I'm in the minority! ha ha). I played "Rare and..." , "Valley" and some others at least twice today. Gems.
I think the rason I mention both "A" and "Roots.." as so special might be the fact that, in both instances, ian had new blood in the band that brought out the best in him, imho. Obviously, Jobson, Pegg and the very underrated Craney(his drum work on "Protect And Survive" is killer, for instance, and on "Roots.." , the great Noyce and Giddings were, wee......u get the idea. Being from here in NYC and aware of what the Billboard charts used to list back in the day I was always impressed by the UK charts cuz they were always def in line with my own feelings.
For example: "Under Wraps" USA highest pos: 76 UK : 18!
"Catfish....." USA : 88 UK : 16!
"Roots...." USA : 150
UK: : 20!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by steelmonkey on Aug 24, 2009 23:46:07 GMT
I can, from a certain angle, agree that Roots was the best thing since 'A'......only by focussing on the flaws of the competition: Broadsword has a couple too many duds and tried too hard to make up for 'A''s unpopularity, 'Wraps', though brilliant, needed a couple more melodic pieces for balance, Crest and Rock Island lacked innovation and Catfish was riddled with mediocre moments
On the other hand....with the exception of catfish and broadsword...ANY of the albums between A and Roots could be described as equal to Roots in some ways: Wraps is in a league of it's own for innovation, Crest has 3 or 4 classics, Rock Island has 2 or 3 classics...New Blood has inspired Ian....so why so much kicking and screaming when he recycles guys not named Martin Barre?
|
|
tommie
Master Craftsman
Posts: 392
|
Post by tommie on Aug 25, 2009 1:58:29 GMT
I guess i feel that Ian gave up trying to make solid, new Tull albums b/c Roots was 150 in the charts and Dot Com didnt even make the top 200. But to me they were still atleast new rockin' Tull and I miss that.
|
|
tommie
Master Craftsman
Posts: 392
|
Post by tommie on Aug 25, 2009 2:30:09 GMT
Just went to the video sec to watch some 1996 Cardif vid of them doing Dangerous Veils....loved Ian's mouth/mike thingee
|
|
|
Post by tullabye on Aug 25, 2009 3:15:00 GMT
RTB is a great Tull work. There have been many better than A though. A was a very low point in the Tull legacy. It was the first LP that really signaled trouble and it sounded like it. It was the beginning of the downturn of Tull. They came back a bit but never fully recovered. Eddie Jobson was a non factor with Tull save the keyboards on Black Sunday. Craney couldn't compare to Barlowe and the songs were some of the most forgetable Ian has ever penned. They never were the same without Barlowe and Evans. IMO Broadaword, UW, RTB and Crest are superior to A in just about every way imaginable. RI and Dotcom comparable. The only one that is worse is CR.
|
|
mix
Journeyman
Posts: 136
|
Post by mix on Aug 25, 2009 16:04:10 GMT
Few digs at Catfish on this thread. Catfish was the last great Tull album. Way more musical than Dot com or Roots and the best 'sounding/recording' Tull album of the entire catalogue. So I stand here to defend Catfish amongst you deniers.
Having said that, I like Roots to branches. I think it is a better body of work than Dot com. Another Harry's bar is a personal favourite. My only issue with Roots is the mixing. It is swimming in too much reverb. It worked well on Crest and Rock Island in the late 80's but I think it made Roots far more dark than it needed to be.
|
|
piles
Prentice Jack
Posts: 5
|
Post by piles on Nov 28, 2009 11:29:19 GMT
I've always thought Roots to Branches was a fantastic album, and a nod to Tull of old. I'd say there best album since Broadsword and the Beast.
|
|
|
Post by maddogfagin on Nov 28, 2009 14:46:03 GMT
A wonderful album. It deserved to do a lot better in the album charts but then if you don't publicise its release then not many people know of its existance.
It's just a shame that IA, even with all his business acumen, can't find and employ a top rate publicist, a decent record label who'll distribute and get Tull records in the shops and . . . . release a new album asap.
|
|
|
Post by maxquad on Dec 12, 2009 18:36:13 GMT
To me RTB was a mark that Tull was still around. After the 25th aniv box set and tour, it seemed they might retire. The music itself was both a return to a heavier old-school Tull sound and a newer very eastern influenced sound with extensive use of the bamboo flute. That made for a very appealing "new" sound for me. Hard to pick a fave of the CD but "Valley" always grabs me with Martin's incredible (as always) fret work (probably a PRS...) Unfortunately for us in the USofA the band's popularity then was waning and I had to drive to another state to see the RTB tour with ELP backing them up! It was well worth the drive, let me tell you! Oh and mix, I dug catfish too. Remember it gave us "Rocks on the Road" and one of my faves "Doctor to my Disease." Too bad it didn't get a Grammy nomination and that little weasel Lars Ulrich of Metallica would have looked real stupid in thanking Tull for not releasing an album that year...
|
|
chea
Master Craftsman
Posts: 356
|
Post by chea on Dec 15, 2009 12:17:22 GMT
Roots for me a superb Album.A new era for J.T/I.A sound.Connected with I.A solo Albums
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2009 17:04:25 GMT
1995 album with a timeless sound. I like the title track, Out Of the Noise, This Free Will, Dangerous Veils, Beside Myself, Stuck In the August Rain, & At Last, Forever. My favourite track is Rare and Precious Chain.
|
|
chea
Master Craftsman
Posts: 356
|
Post by chea on Jan 11, 2010 12:52:47 GMT
1995 album with a timeless sound. I like the title track, Out Of the Noise, This Free Will, Dangerous Veils, Beside Myself, Stuck In the August Rain, & At Last, Forever. My favourite track is Rare and Precious Chain. Me too.In particular Beside Myself,for the contents.
|
|