Inappropriate reviews

Damn Rico...you are quick!!!!

I PM'd the author of the PF review inviting them to submit a revision, or to defend their review here.

Ricochet wrote: Why such a compromise, Guigo? Let the 500th review be one reasonable well, not some utterly rudimentary stranger going, in so few words, " I won't tell anything, cause it has already been told.Yep, this is the greatest. BYE!"

I'll be half away next days, fellows... coming here whenever possible. 

Edited by Atkingani - July 27 2006 at 17:24

This guy rabbits on about JT but doesn't seem to have grasped the point of reviews:

JETHRO TULL — Roots To Branches
Review by tullist (ray brettman)

This album heralds the longest period of uninterrupted quality in Tull's career. As much as their highest of high points were in the seventies, there were more low ones. I believe everything Ian's touched since this one in 95 is of high quality and would find its home in the upper quarter of Tull's releases. I'm including the IA solo or orchestrated recordings of very recent vintage in this wonderful string. This one would probably rate a bit higher even than top quarter, several gemstones in this recent period but pressed to it I would say this along with Living with the Past would get particularly high marks, and the Christmas Album would rank only behind Brick and SFTW in the massive Tull canon. Although Roots was recorded beautifully it is always interesting to see what Ian's upcoming remastering, I believe fall 06 will do for this outing, plus if I remember right this one had a bunch of unreleased stuff, which in Tull's case, often means you're in for a very good surprise. For instance the unreleased tracks from Broadsword, already an excellent record, were in many cases superior to the standard release. Basically lucky to have been on the planet at the same time as people like Ian, Garcia, Coltrane, Miles Davis, the Fabs, Ellington and Jimi. They are gifts that do not cease to give. Need a special Hall of Fame for those guys where their rightful neighbors would be JS Bach and Turloch O Carolan. I'd also include dear old Fairport in their many guises in this hallowed hall. Almost makes me want to celebrate being alive. Now i shall dance my little bejeezus off (in savage ceremony)

Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 22:51 EST

JETHRO TULL — Nightcap
Review by tullist (ray brettman)

Going to keep this review quite short, and its coming from someone relatively lukewarm to the standard release of A Passion Play. It's probably heresy of a sort on my part but I consider this original attempt at the Play to be considerably superior and a real find for Tull fiends. It has precisely the ingredient missing from the standard release and that is HUMOR, plus to my ears its more musical, less plodding. The other CD has a couple of gold standard Tull offerings in the form of Rosa and Broadford Bazaar. I know from being a three time creepy visitor to Ians lair as Laird of Strathaird on the Isle of Skye that Broadford is the closest town of any size to Ians post at Strathaird, although the little town of Elgol, a little closer had some of the most stunning views in all of the British Isles.

Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 22:31 EST |

JETHRO TULL — A Little Light Music
Review by tullist (ray brettman)

This one's perplexing and quite well surmised by the first reviewer. I say perplexing because in person it would rank among the best shows of Tull I've seen in 34 years of live Tull viewing, never missed a tour since 72, saw this one twice. LOVED having the Fairport rhythm section, although I'd never want to see Doane Perry replaced, Dave Mattacks was a perfect fit for this outing. Where I would primarily differ with the first reviewer is his opinion of Living in the Past which I believe apexed on this tour, profoundly beautiful, as have most versions of that track since they brought it in in around 84? This from someone who didn't care too much for the original recording of the song which I'd rate somewhere between ok and good. As IA once said it was too cute for concerts. Plus in all those years of seeing Tull shows had never seen them do anything from This Was with the exception of Song for Jeffrey, therefore the reading they did of Beggars Farm sent me over the proverbial moon.

Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 22:19 EST

JETHRO TULL — Live At Hammersmith '84
Review by tullist (ray brettman)

Only reviewing because no-one else has, actually don't own the CD but it was taken from something that had been broadcast on the radio in 84, and shows well the conundrum that is Jethro Tull. On the heels of arguably their worst record I am left to wonder what the remastering, coming shortly of Under Wraps, will do for it because these songs, a couple of which are on this, worked out very well live. Saw this show 4 times in the US and a couple would rank in the upper 10 of roughly 80 Tull shows I've been witness to since 1972. Going out on a limb that may be surprising to some, but along with Living With The Past I'd rank this as the top Tull live recording, whereas Bursting Out, ,most folks favorite and indeed improved by remastering I'd have near the bottom. But remember you proggies this is from someone who considers A Passion Play to at best be an average Tull record, and Minstrel, Crest, and Benefit to be at or near the bottom with Under Wraps. As well as placing Rock Island and the XMAS album right near the top. Maybe I need a new head.

Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 22:04 EST

JETHRO TULL — 20 Years Of Jehtro Tull (The Definitive Collection)
Review by tullist (ray brettman)

Only bothering to review this as I'm a wee bit alarmed with seeing so many reviews for their other records, and only one for this. Guess it really has been out of print for ages, and most of the prices I hear for it are quite absurd. Having said that, this came out fairly early in the box set, career retrospective game, and at the time would have to say it deserved high marks for the breath of its coverage. Now I'm at best a prog sympathiser, and do not now, or ever, 1971-3 included consider Tull a progressive act. Indeed it annoys me when IA talks of Yes, ELP, Frank Zappa or the Moody Blues and Genesis as some kind of musical next door neighbors to Jethro Tull. Indeed I consider most or all of those acts to have regularly been guilty of the excesses of which Tull was roundly accused. Having said that I do believe they have all been given too much "stick" thru the years and all had sparkling moments. However to my ears to the extent Tull had any musical relatives in their four decades it would be Fairport and Steeleye Span. Had this set on vinyl, can say the sides of acoustic Tull, and the live side, altholugh mostly featuring predictable choices, would rank in the upper quarter of Tull's output. At their best quite stunning. The condensed set, way more readily available, is overall of higher quality because the crap (see 17) is cut out. For the sheer amount of material on here, 5 vinyl albums, there is drag down in the overall grade, Jethro Tull fan or not, its not brilliant. However for acheiving the goal they had set out for, a comprehensive overview I really must say 5 stars. Incongruous? Perhaps.

Posted Wednesday, July 26, 2006, 21:50 EST |

Ghost Rider wrote: Just found that on the home page... Does it really sound like a 5-star review? MARS VOLTA, THE — Amputechture Review by ndiego (Diego Novoa) Amputechture is one of the best albums i've heard recently, although I expected a little more originality, something new or different; it is as great or even better than the previous albums. Cedric's vocals continue to improve in english and specially in spanish. The lyrics are a little more complex and profound. The guitar work is excellent, both Frusciante's and Omar's. I think they did a good combination. Jon Theodore is excellent as usual, and all other muscisians seem to create an excellent atmosphere for the listener. The ballads trap you while the rest of the songs are as always chaotic and strident that makes you find strong emotions though out the album. I think it is a masterpiece of TMVfor its musci and emotions, although for the next album I would like something more innovative, otherwise no matter how good it is I will find it either boring or repitive. It says that it's excellent, but at the same time that it's not original enough.. Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?

All noted!

Not a poor review as such, but it contains the following factual inaccuracies:

1 - recording began in August 1967 while Syd was definitely in the band but before Gilmour joined
2 - it is not the "first time Waters started writing" - eg one of his songs was on Piper
3 - Jugband Blues is not the only song with Syd on it, but it IS the only one written by him

It may seem petty, but I hate seeing untruths/inaccuracies perpetrated. Perhaps an edit ..... ?


PINK FLOYD — A Saucerful of Secrets
Review by theblastocyst (David G.)

Very interesting Floyd album. Barrett was already out of the band before they even started writing this album. But the band was still highly influenced by syd's writing and style. This was the first time that Waters and Wright (especially) started writing. For the most part the songs are ok. The highlight of the album for me is Corporal Clegg which is a favorite in my PF library. Saucerful of secrets is a pretty interesting song that is in four different parts. Jugband Blues is obviously the only song with Syd on it and it's what people call his "farewell song". Besides that the songs are relatively good considering the fact that they never written songs before. But to think that in less then two years of this release that they would think up and record the Atom Heart Mother Suite is pretty unbelievable in my opinion.

Posted Tuesday, July 25, 2006, 10:54 EST