What did we think of Thick As A Brick 2?
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Topic: What did we think of Thick As A Brick 2?
Posted By: frippism
Subject: What did we think of Thick As A Brick 2?
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 12:21
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Not sure if in the right thread section thingy. Oh well. Whaddaya think? Me? Honestly. Crap. Some OK moments but all hampered by cheesy lyrics, HORRIBLE, just horrible, mixing. The drums sound godawful, the guitars usually are pretty bad. Ian's vocals aren't as bad as I imagined though. With that, some good songwriting moments, but some really bad as well. I honestly expected more from Wilson, as the mixing is just plain bad, particularly on the drums. I hope you found more enjoyment than I did on this. P.S., for those who didn't know, for today only, the album can be streamed here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jethro-Tull/155624494454309?sk=app_399220396756996 "A Change Of Horses" was decent, though.
------------- There be dragons |
Replies:
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 12:24
It'll be moved  ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
frippism wrote:Posted By: frippism
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 12:28
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^ damn it one day I'll get it right :). ------------- There be dragons |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 13:50
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Not too bad. I set my expectations pretty low, admittedly - I stopped buying Tull albums long ago. I can't really get a good feel for the mixing job on my teeny computer speakers, but at least from where I'm sitting, it sounds okay.
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Failcore
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:01
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It's a good Tull album. It's a bad TAAB sequel.
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Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:02
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I like it a lot, actually. Its coherent, solid all the way through. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:22
| As a raging Tull fan I will buy before I hear but my expectations are very low. I will be happy if it's just decent. I am not even faintly expecting something that justifies the title TAAB2. |
Posted By: VanVanVan
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:43
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I didn't think it was terrible, but of course it's a let-down compared to the original Thick as a Brick. Music sounded generally quality, if occasionally a bit forced, and Ian's vocals weren't bad, but it definitely seemed like he was singing with less power than he used to be able to. ------------- "The meaning of life is to give life meaning."-Arjen Lucassen |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:48
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As I said, in the other thread, I didn't find it all that bad. Some interesting parts, and some not so interesting. It could've been worse, but it should've been better. It didn't live up to it's name IMO, at least not after just a few listens. Will buy it though, eventually. Highlights IMO: 'Banker Bets, Banker Wins', 'Adrift And Dumbfounded', 'Old School Song' and 'A Change Of Horses'.
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Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 15:39
| Like I said in the other thread, NEVER judge the mixing until the release of the CD. |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 15:41
| That being said, I think I love the drum sound more than anything. |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 17:08
Same here. The torch of prog royalty has long been passsed to the bands from the 90s onwards (or at least, some of them). All we can reasonably expect from to the older generations of prog bands (except for notable exceptions such as UZ, VdGG, Le Orme and a few more) is good albums with some particular gems in them. It looks like TAAB2 won't be an irregular effort such as Yes' "Fly From Here" or a mini-reprise of old days gone such as Locanda Delle Fate's comeback EP, so it might be OK. I'll buy it but I can't promise it will be in my Top 10: bands like Kotebel, Thinking Plague, Cartel Carnage and Forgas Bandf Phenomena are more likely to fit in, IMHO.
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 17:14
| I'm worried to hear about crappy lyrics though- Anderson's other talents may have deserted him with age but still having good lyrics is the one thing I would've counted on. |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:12
| My verdict: great album. Exceeded my expectations by a lot. Obviously didn't compare to the 1st, but complaining about that is just plain silly. |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:29
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An eight out of ten quails review. http://jonnyabrams.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/review-ian-anderson-thick-as-brick-2.html" rel="nofollow - http://jonnyabrams.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/review-ian-anderson-thick-as-brick-2.html Best rating system ever btw
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:33
Good news.  ------------- |
Posted By: Ludjak
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 04:39
For me, the album really works, musically consistent and lyrically fitting. Sure, the drumming sounds stiff in places, but so does all contemporary rock drumming, imho 
I was quite sceptical when I heard that it was coming out, but having heard it in its entirety, I must say that Ian Anderson has shut me up. Hats off to him for pulling off such an ambitious project with such confidence. I'm now seriously considering going to Austria or Italy to catch the tour.
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Posted By: frippism
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 06:38
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^ dear god what drumming were you listening too? There's so much fluid, insane drummers today. I'm sure Ian could've found someone better for this. ------------- There be dragons |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 06:52
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I think I haven't listened to it yet in fact I am quite sure of it. OK OK my ear is thirsty. Got through the first couple of tracks and it sounds decent.  You can't top a prog classic. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Ludjak
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:09
I certainly agree with the latter (he could have used Doane Perry for a start ), but there is something about rock drumming today that just leaves me with an impression that it's all played against a metronome track (not that I like sloppy drumming, but, in my opinion, perfect punctuality in tempo changes or speeding up and slowing down always in the same fashion isn't something a drummer should be aiming for), and also produced very badly, like all drums are recorded in a barrel and then heavily compressed, making the drummer sound as if he has no sense of dynamics and is just thrashing away in the background. Rarely do I listen to a contemporary rock album and think "Hey, this drummer is really clever", getting the feeling that the drummer is there just to either keep time or show off without real artistic value (not to use the vulgar term  ). I find this relatively (but not completely) absent in modern jazz (or jazz-influenced) drumming, so I do appreciate jazz-influenced rock drummers (although, to my knowledge at least, their number has decreased significantly since the 60s and 70s). I'm probably (as I've said before in another thread) just being snobbish and picky, though (I'm one of those people who complain about rock concerts being "too loud" ). ^^But I digress. Probably the main reason why the drums sound like they do on this record is because Ian Anderson himself wanted them to sound like that, and we've seen how that turned out on Under Wraps. I will refrain from making other production-related verdicts until I get my vinyl copy (which will hopefully be released by September/October). As far as music is concerned, I really like this one.
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Posted By: frippism
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:29
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I personally also like the jazzy drumming more somewhat... sometimes... I think. But yes! I'll give you examples for good modern, jazzy drummers: Keith Abrahms (check out the stuff with Pak, he's probably my favorite drummer), Ches Smith, Frank Grau is a rockier drummer, but he's insane. And also Guy Shechter with Kruzenshtern & Parohod... yeah and more. IMO, of course, drummer's are everything. A good drummer can lift an entire record. Also, a bad mixing can ruin one. I won't deny the moments of good songwriting here, as they were plenty, but from the quality of mixing from the stream, the mixing in my opinion lacks energy. But hey, maybe there's still hope, and maybe my initial reaction was too harsh. Maybe I'll even buy the album (maybe). ------------- There be dragons |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:32
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I thought the freaking fracking thing only came out next Tuesday.
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Posted By: Warthur
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:34
| Not heard it yet, but... are they seriously going with that album artwork? I get the concept, that it's meant to look like a website, but they could at least go with a website that doesn't look like a shoddily designed Geocities page from over 10 years ago... |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 12:58
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I hope Ian hasn't gone and done something dumb here. I've been a Tull fan since the mid 16th century and was kind of dissapointed to see that Aqualung box setfor $181Canadian in the French record store last weekend.. I have to eat too. TAAB 2 ust seems to be a cash cow to me. I dunno. Give me another beer.
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 13:45
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Well, speaking as someone who only owns one Tull album (Thick As A Brick) and who likes some of the early albums but was never a big fan; I think it sounds pretty darn good. I can't speak to the production, as I heard it on the Sirius XM "boom box" thing, so not the best sound reproduction (though honestly, I didn't hear any problems). Obviously, it's lacking that 70's experimental nature and enthusiasm, but I was surprised as just how good it all sounded. I didn't care for the spoken word parts, but I almost never do for that sort of thing in music anyway. The vocals were surprisingly good, though obviously not like the old days. I feel like his making it Thick 2 was a mixed blessing.........if it had just been an Ian solo album with some other title, I probably never would have become interested in hearing what it sounds like. So in that regard, it actually makes me wonder if I should be hearing some of his other solo stuff, not to mention the many Tull albums I've never heard. Still, there is no question that this is not in the same league as the original, but I'm not sure what is anyway. As stated previously, it's hard to top a classic, especially after 40 years. |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 14:10
Considering how well some bands have been aging (PRESENT, VDGG, LE ORME, PRESENT, THINKING PLAGUE, HTM through OBLIVION SUN), it is reasonable and not silly to complain about how badly (or not so well) other bands do.
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Posted By: Ludjak
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 14:17
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out!
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Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 16:01
| It's not bad. If you don't mind Ian living in the early '70s in his mind, you might like it. It's a good clone of the TAAB sound, and I haven't heard anything "wrong" with it. Nothing outstanding either, though. |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 16:27
None of those bands have anything as highly regarded as TaaB. And you think new VdGG is comparable to Pawn Hearts? If anyone expected TaaB2 to be as highly regarded and brilliant as the 1st, then that's just silly. Complaining because a band didn't match the quality of their top 5 album on progarchives many years later is just a silly thing to do. |
Posted By: Gazoinks
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 16:29
This, except for the part about not being a Tull fan and not liking the spoken word. ;) ------------- Play me my song... Newest discovery: Shadow Circus |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 16:33
True. But Pawn Hearts is better than TAAB. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 17:32
Of course, NOT, IMHO.
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Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 17:51
Being a huge VdGG fanboy, I have to agree. But I'm going more consensus here.
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Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 20:04
I love the spoken word part, but then I'm a sucker for wordplay. Hence why I love "The Hare" so much. ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: Gazoinks
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 22:39
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Yeah, same here. The hare is awesome, have you seen the animation? ------------- Play me my song... Newest discovery: Shadow Circus |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 22:44
| Yeah I love the hare too. |
Posted By: frippism
Date Posted: March 27 2012 at 23:08
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I love the Hare as well, but for me the wordplay was all pretty bad here... ------------- There be dragons |
Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 07:39
This. I love VDGG, and Pawn Hearts is one of my favorite albums of all time.........but the original Thick is better (IMO, of course). |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 08:26
No, but I've seen the video they filmed for the tour. Hilarious! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: Zombywoof
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 08:28
I guess that depends on what your definition of 'bad' is. A lot of people think puns are bad, but I happen to find them to be fun. Perhaps its the inner writer in me! ------------- Continue the prog discussion here: http://zombyprog.proboards.com/index.cgi ... |
Posted By: tupan
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 09:48
This. ------------- "Prog is Not Dead and never has been." (Will Sergeant, from Echo And The Bunnymen) |
Posted By: Cesar Inca
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 11:13
But again, Ian Anderson himself opened the Pandora's box of comparisons when he started the writing and recording of this TAAB sequel: comparisons are very natural, and in fact, an imporant elements of human reasoning. In terms of "being regarded", let us just say that regarding is a merely personal, subjective thing. Pendragon and Kayak are more jhighly regarded than HTM, Art Zoyd or Hands, and I totally disagree with that, but that's only my personal view. And definitely, I wouldn't disregard albums such as Pawn Hearts, Still Life, Felona e Sorona, Present, Heresie so gladly... but again...
Plus, the point of who made better albums back in the 70s is not as relevant here as the fact that one album was made in teh classic old age of the 70s (TAAB) and the sequel in the present times: so, the parallel with other bands that continued to move on and kept in better shape felt liek a natural reflection. I won't regard myself more smarter or more intelligent than others for following this line of thought, so I will appreciate it if no one said that this is a silly thing to say and think. "Thick As A Brick" happens to be my all-time fave prog album, but that is something very collateral to what I posted in this very thread.
That's all I'm saying, and I will say no more about thsi subject since some of my PA fellows use words such as "silly".
Kind regards.
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 11:29
Absolutely. There is no reason NOT to compare this album to it's predecessor and other bands of that time that are still making good music. If it wasn't called TAAB 2, we wouldn't be having this discussion at all. |
Posted By: Ludjak
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 13:08
I think that it's part of the joke - this is supposed to look like a Dreamweaver 4 template, this time making fun of rural community websites. Like newspaper, like website.
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Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 14:20
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Where can I download (legally, of course) the album? |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: March 28 2012 at 14:21
| Yeah, I already had this conversation, about whether the unsophisticated and lame nature of the website is deliberate. It could be, but it also might not be, it's hard to tell. |
Posted By: DisgruntledPorcupine
Date Posted: March 30 2012 at 12:31
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Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: March 30 2012 at 14:27
But there is comparing, and that was inevitable, since Anderson chose the name TAAB2 for this project, which was something he didn't have to do, and probably shouldn't have done. It gave the album a lot of PR it wouldn't have got with a name which doesn't automatically make you think about one of Tull's most endeared works, but it also made it impossible not to compare it with the original TAAB, which in turn makes it impossible to judge the new album totally on its own merits.
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 03:19
| I do suspect Ian of doing a cash grab here. He knew very well the album would sell better and generate more press with this name. He should have called it something else, anything else and then said in interviews that it was a revisitation of themese and concepts on Thick As A Brick. |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 03:27
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It's a bit sad to note how the media circus around this album release that I expected just doesn't seem to be eventuating though. It makes me wonder if it's a reflection of that fact that people just don't care about Jethro Tull anymore or whether prog is so far under the radar now that even a sequel album to one of the biggest selling albums by what was one of the world's biggest bands circa 71-73 doesn't even warrant a mention. Remember, TAAB isn't some nerdy beard-stroking obscurity, it was literally a number one album. But no, no one seems to give a sh*t. If David Gilmour or Roger Waters suddenly popped out Dark Side Of The Moon 2, that would probably fare a little better in this regard but I thought TAAB would be a bigger deal to the industry than it apparently is.
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 04:46
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I hope it comes out with TAAB 1 as i would love to see the packaging for both 1 and 2. well I have no opinion yet but it wont top TAAB1 surely. thats a treasure. ------------- 
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Posted By: Gentlegiantprog
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 06:11
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On my first listen I was really skeptical. After reading all the lyrics and watching the DVD, all subsequent listens have been more enjoyable and it grew on me a lot. Its like Dot Com era Tull, only with most of the bad parts taken out. It sure isn't a good sequel to TAAB, because it sounds more like Chateaux D'istaster and Heavy Horses at times than TAAB, but it grew on me a heck of a lot, and I think I'd rate it as the best Tull album (I'm pretending its a Tull album from now on, its Tull in my iTunes and on my CD shelf) since Broadswoard. I expected to hate it, it was just bland. Now its grown on me an awful lot and I actually think its very good. ------------- Let the maps of war be drawn ! 
http://kingcrimsonprog.wordpress.com/ |
Posted By: Gentlegiantprog
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 06:14
You'd imagine the album was just called 'Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock' and then the money-people made him change it to 'Thick As A Brick 2' so he added in a few more TAAB moments. ------------- Let the maps of war be drawn !
http://kingcrimsonprog.wordpress.com/ |
Posted By: Harold-The-Barrel
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 06:21
Just listening to the cd now, sounding good to me, sure its a cash cow for Anderson but i don't care, good luck to him and anyone who finds it enjoyable ------------- You must be joking.....Take a running jump...... |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 06:52
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I am into this - listening now! Nice flute trhroughout, good narrative from Ian and he sounds amazing vocally on singing. Nice to hear him sing "Thick as a Brick" at the beginning. Love Barre's guitar work here. A heavier guitar. Banker Bets and Banker wins is one of the best tracks for years from the mighty Tull. The instrumental are great. The narrative is very prominent on the album like on Passion Play. There is a storyteller style for sure. I am up to about the 10th track on first listen and it is terrific. Better than I thought it would be so thats a good thing. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 07:12
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Wow I love track 7 Adrift and Dumbfounded. Very progressive, heavy, great keys and awesome guitar. Anderson on fire - This is a classic track. Listening to it 5 times in a row... -------------
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Posted By: Adams Bolero
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 07:26
Martin Barre doesn't play on the album; he left to pursue some solo projects last year. 28 year old Florian Opahle from Germany is the guitarist. He has been playing in Ian Anderson's solo band for years. ------------- ''Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.'' - Albert Camus |
Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 07:29
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I have pre-ordered the CD+DVD special edition. I hope I get it soon. I'm getting very excited by all the positive comments.
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 07:50
Dang, I forgot that. Better check the details of this. Though I like just listening to it at this point a few times. -------------
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Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 07:54
yeah its pretty good for my tastes. The tracks are great 1.
"From A Pebble Thrown" 2.
"Pebbles Instrumental" 3.
"Might-have-beens" 4.
"Upper Sixth Loan Shark" 5.
"Banker Bets, Banker Wins" 6.
"Swing It Far" 7.
"Adrift And Dumfounded" 8.
"Old School Song" 9.
"Wootton Bassett Town" 10.
"Power And Spirit" 11.
"Give Till It Hurts" 12.
"Cosy Corner" 13.
"Shunt And Shuffle" 14.
"A Change Of Horses" 15.
"Confessional" 16.
"Kismet In Suburbia" 17.
"What-ifs, Maybes And Might-have-beens" The extra DVD is okay though could have been better.1.
5.1 Surround Sound of entire album - good if you have decent sound equipment 2.
The making of the album (25 minutes of kanoodling in the studio. Nice bright visuals and Anderson enjoying himself). 3.
Interview with Ian Anderson talking about the album - here we go again but he sounds enthusiastic 4.
Interview with Steven Wilson - the man himself 5.
Lyric reading (25 minutes of rambling 6.
Artwork of the album Thats about it! Get it -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 15:10
| Just having my first listen now. Its very clean sounding but disappointingly lacks any real power although on the positive side it also it lacks compression and isn't hurting my ears. This is much closer to rock opera territory than to folk prog. I think Ian has actually remade Tommy and fooled people into thinking its a sequel to something else! |
Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: April 03 2012 at 15:10
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Bought it today. I've listened to it once, so far. Yes, there are plenty of TAAB references, but musically, it seems more like a trip through Tull's, but also Ian Anderson's musical history. I hear songs that sound similar to Heavy Horses period, Crest Of A Knave, Roots To Branches, and more.
I like it a lot so far. But I have to give it a few more spins.
BTW, I can understand whylisteners might think martin Barre is on the album. Florian Opahle does a great Barre impersonation. ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 04 2012 at 03:45
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^^^ exactly If anyone is interested here is a track worth listening to.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=M4vtv5moJVI" rel="nofollow - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=M4vtv5moJVI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=M4vtv5moJVI
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Posted By: Warthur
Date Posted: April 04 2012 at 08:05
Waaaait... you mean there's also a sequel to The Hare Who Lost His Spectacles on here?
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Posted By: Warthur
Date Posted: April 04 2012 at 08:07
Yes, but the original cover made a really careful compromise between accurately reflecting what a community newspaper looks like whilst at the same time being aesthetically appealing. The new one is literally the worst cover art I have ever seen; there are a million ways it could have stayed authentic whilst not looking like total ass.
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Posted By: edentista
Date Posted: April 05 2012 at 06:34
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In spite of thinking is a brilliant and well-adapted album 40 years after...incredible productions and imagination, is very soon to review TAAB2.... This kind of albums must be reviewed some months after the publication: must be treated with the respect it deserves
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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: April 05 2012 at 07:53
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My very first impression: Not a masterpiece like its illustrious prequel, but an enjoyable album in its own right. I like the way the themes of "Thick as a Brick" are incorporated in the opening tracks. ------------- 
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Posted By: SouthSideoftheSky
Date Posted: April 05 2012 at 08:57
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I got the album in my mailbox today. Listening to it now with a big smile on my face, it sounds very good! |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 05 2012 at 18:46
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It's growing on me. Not the career ending triumph we all secretly desired but not a creaking embarassment either. It's certainly better than Dot Com and probably Anderson's best solo effort. The way he says "2" at the end is genuinely hilarious and I almost wet my pants the first time I heard that. He hasn't lost his sense of humour.
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Posted By: Wobbles
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 02:28
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I've been a dedicated Tull fan since "Stand Up" was new and have ritually bought everything since - although they have long since lost a certain "something" along the way. Ian's flute playing has never been technically better but maybe with less passion. I bought TAAB2 yesterday, listened to the first 2 tracks then watched the DVD. I'll listen to it properly tonight but am prepared for some degree of disappointment - which will probably be unjustified. Perhaps there should be less comparison with those long-past years and more evaluation of the music on it's own merits. If not, then any disappointment will probably be my own fault. |
Posted By: Gully Foyle
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 08:22
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i've been a huge tull fan since i was a kid, though the last thing i really listened to was crest of a knave. frankly, when i saw this happening, i cringed and revisited my internal wish that ian had decided to be a full-time salmon famer in 88. but, people seemed to not be trashing this effort, so i thought i'd go for a little suspension of disbelief and give the thing a spin. musically its a bit sterile sometimes, too clean, but overall musically its much better than i would have thought. actually wish ian was singing through the fuzz effect he is using for the whole thing, somehow that seems more like his old voice than his current one.
however, one giant ugly problem is making me rue the day i bought this. the ridiculous spoken word intros to so many of the songs. they make me feel embarrassed for ian and good old JT.
maybe i'll give a couple more listens, but those word bits are tough, tough, tough to swallow
or, maybe i'll just go throw minstrel or benefit on
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Posted By: BMSfan
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 09:01
| Just listening at it. First feeling of nostalgia after TAAB initial tune repreasal. Had no real expectations and the work can't be compared with the one of 40 years ago. Was curious about the concept album approach, which is something that I like ver much in principle, but I was a bit disappointed at the end. I do not know if there is anything wrong with my CD but I find the frequency and amplitude rather compressed. All in all a respectful project by Ian IMO, but something definitely uncomparable. |
Posted By: topographicbroadways
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 09:57
Nostalgia trips are for some reason extremely profitable these days.  The prog movement isn't something I particularly enjoy repetition of. So I have no intention of hearing this album. -------------  
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Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 11:19
This was is pretty much my feeling. I think it's saving grace is that it's NOT an attempt to capture the glory of the original. It's a new album, which he just happened to link to the original with a few melodies and the lyrical theme. Oh, and probably because he know more people would buy something named after one of his (and Tull's) most revered and classic albums. |
Posted By: infandous
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 11:22
It's not really that nostalgic. It's the best thing he's done in years, though certainly not up to the standards of 70's Tull. To my ears anyway. If it had been called something else only die hard Ian A fans would be talking about it, but it would still be a good album. |
Posted By: Slaughternalia
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 11:53
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I like that he didn't try to take it too seriously. And your wise men don't know how it feels... to be thick... as a brick... Two! I thought it was probably the best tull album since their prime in the 70s. But that really isn't saying much ------------- I'm so mad that you enjoy a certain combination of noises that I don't |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: April 06 2012 at 11:56
I disagree. It looks totally like a local village website. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Green Shield Stamp
Date Posted: April 07 2012 at 15:16
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Heard the album several times now. I really like it. It is difficult to compare it to TAAB1, because this album has only just been released and has therefore not had 40 years to build its reputation. The weight of expectation will always leave the album wanting, regardless of how good it is. Having said that, I think Anderson has made a good fist of it. There is some great playing on the album and plenty of clever musical references to the original album for Tull fans to get their teeth into. However, there is also a freshness to the album that make accusations of this being a nostalgia exercise a little unfair. Listening to the album with an open mind/ear (which is difficult when it is entitled Thick as a Brick 2), I think it is one of the best albums released this year that I have heard. It is certainly better than most of the Tull albums released since their 70s heyday. For me, it is on a par with Songs from the Wood and Stormwatch (but not Aqualung and TAAB) ------------- Haiku Writing a poem With seventeen syllables Is very diffic.... |
Posted By: catfood03
Date Posted: April 07 2012 at 18:42
| This news of TAAB makes me hope for sequels to CTTE, ITCOTKC, DSOTM, and SEBTP. |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: April 07 2012 at 18:50
| Sounds pretty good to me considering the age of Ian and the era we are in. The bass playing is a bit standard though, He doesn't show much creativety. I think Dotcom has the better tracks of the 2 albums though mainly due to Noyce being a more interesting bass player |
Posted By: IMPF
Date Posted: April 07 2012 at 19:46
| Started off horrible, but ended up being pretty decent. Still not even close to being at the level of the original though. |
Posted By: MattGuitat
Date Posted: April 07 2012 at 20:08
You forgot The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway 2: The Lamb Gets Up
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Posted By: catfood03
Date Posted: April 08 2012 at 11:05
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 12 2012 at 00:08
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Light Side Of The Moon Selling England By The Euro Over The Edge In The Bedchambers Of The Crimson King
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Posted By: Sagichim
Date Posted: April 12 2012 at 00:48
| And 2113. |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: April 12 2012 at 06:10
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NEWS FLASH New sequels on their way out soon Tarkus 2: Tarkthem Love Beach 2: The Grinning Bra Boys others? -------------
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Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: April 17 2012 at 18:50
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I have now listened to TAAB2 6 times but am not going to comment or write a review on it until I have heard it at least a dozen times. But obviously the hype from IA worked. The album has debuted this week on the Billboard album charts at #55. Fairly impressive stuff. See here: Now for: Another Passion Play Peace adult Way too old to techno; in fact I just died Songs from a barren desert Climate change watch Z etc........ |
Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 17 2012 at 18:59
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That's actually pretty good to get on Billboard like that. I thought it wouldn't even get the top 100. "Way Too Old To Dubstep, In Fact I Just Died" is absolutely hysterical by the way. (Yep, dupstep, showing your own age with the techno reference ;) )
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Posted By: CCVP
Date Posted: April 17 2012 at 23:10
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After listening to the album on YT, I gotta say that I'm very impressed in a positive way. Best Tull albums since A Passion Play, but I'm no Tull fan. -------------   
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 26 2012 at 07:58
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Oh come on. This isn't even half as good as Roots To Branches. (Man that album's under-rated.) Anyway, have given a few more serious listens and... it's really growing *off* me. I'm serious. I think my initial reaction of "phew it's not horrible" was mostly just relief at it not being a complete disaster. But now I know it better it's just.... redundant. Is it the worst sound I ever heard? No. But does it add something positive to my conception of Tull and Anderson's music? No. There's a few snippets of power and intrigue but mostly it's out of touch and lazy and here's the big thing, doesn't even feel like the continous prog rock suite it supposedly is. This is a bunch of songs strung together and the lyrical style is far far more literal than TAAB was. If you took out the bits where he musically quotes TAAB, you'd have no idea that they had anything to do with each other. It's far too conservative and it's a plain Jane really.
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Posted By: BarryGlibb
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 04:42
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Number 55 on debut last week in top 200 Billboard album charts. Nowhere to be found this week. Will the tour help it get back there? Don't think so.
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Posted By: Textbook
Date Posted: April 27 2012 at 04:48
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Not surprised. What it sold it sold purely on nostalgia. The sound of the album isn't arresting enough to make it sell. And I'm a massive Tull fan and even I don't want to see this performed live in its entirety.
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 13:25
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Got it on now for the first listen (one of four purchases tonight). I will have to listen to it a few more times before I consider reviewing, but first impressions are of a very good Ian Anderson album, and one that more than stands up to the latter couple of Tull albums. As to comparisons to the original, well, I for one rather wished he had called it something other than TAAB 2. Maybe, The Progress Of Gerald Bostock, and merely marketed it as thoughts of growing older and ruminations on modern life & society, which is what it really is, rather than a direct "sequel". Having said that, TAAB was never my favourite Tull album anyway, so I don't stand to be overly critical or despondent when comparing the two. The simple fact is that TTAB 2 was always going to sell better than an album called anything else, and the old rogue has proved to us that he hasn't lost his touch. ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 14:13
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I don't think I'll ever get this. I still sort of regret getting Yes' Fly from Here last year, even though I enjoy half of it. I'd still like to at least hear TAAB2.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: April 30 2012 at 14:33
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Way better than 'Fly from Here' imo, Darkshade. In fact it is excellent. The first listens were just okay for me but around the 7th or 8th it clicked in a big way. Great comeback Mr. Anderson. ------------- |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: May 02 2012 at 18:35
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Just got it today and I like it. Went for the deluxe with DVD version. I have no problem with it being Thick As Brick 2 although I think the font on the cover should have "JETHRO TULL's" in a smaller font. I'm filing mine under Anderson, Ian especially since I don't have any of his solo albums yet. I would stock it under Jethro Tull in the record store. I would definitely recommend the DVD with the surround sound mix by Steven Wilson. It's got some cool interview and making of shorts. Also a really spooky Ian Anderson reciting the lyrics to weird video backgrounds that is rather creepy and I have decided to save for later viewing. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: bb1319
Date Posted: May 03 2012 at 21:37
Agreed. The fact that it is named TAAB2 automatically set the bar wayyyy too high. ------------- "I'd say that what we hear is the quality of our listening." -Robert Fripp |
Posted By: The Truth
Date Posted: May 03 2012 at 21:55
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I thought it was really good honestly but I wasn't expecting much. Best Tull in years, to be perfectly truthful, closer to TAAB than I ever thought it'd come. ------------- http://blindpoetrecords.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: The-Winkler
Date Posted: May 04 2012 at 04:16
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I think its great, really growing on me
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Posted By: rdtprog
Date Posted: May 04 2012 at 04:34
| Really good! |