Jethro Tull War Child CD

Ultradiscs are mastered from the original master tapes using Mobile Fidelity's proprietary mastering technique, then plated with 24 karat gold and housed in a stress-resistant lift-lock jewel box.

Two years on from the conceptual innovations of THICK AS A BRICK, Tull had learned how to crystallize the creativity of that prog-rock masterpiece and incorporate it into more traditional song structures. Thus, the songs here are full of daunting time signatures and dazzling feats of instrumental derring-do, but all in the context of shorter, more concise composition. There's also a darker edge to things here, as introduced by the tumultuous title cut.

The band's fascination with medieval-sounding themes was also beginning to blossom here, blending with their folk and prog influences. In this sense, WARCHILD can be seen as the template for much of what followed in the Tull catalog. The two best-known songs here represent extremes of the band's sound. "Bungle in the Jungle" is a bit of humorous riffery heavy on the hooks. "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day" is a poignant, folk-tinged ballad that harks back to THICK AS A BRICK's acoustic passages and ranks among Anderson's finest tunes.

As a return to standard-length songs following two epic-length pieces (Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play), it was inevitable that the material on War Child would lack power. The music was no longer quite able to cover for the obscurity of Jethro Tull's lyrics: the title track is reasonably successful, but "Queen and Country" seems repetitive and pointless. "Ladies," by contrast, is one of Tull's folk-based pieces, and one of the prettiest songs on the

24-bit digitally remastered reissue of 1974 album with 7 added bonus tracks 'Warchild Waltz', 'Quartet', 'Paradise Steakhouse', 'Sealion 2', 'Rainbow Blues', 'Glory Row' & 'Saturation'. Capitol. 2002.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Recorded at Morgan Studios, London, England.

Personnel: Ian Anderson (vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Martin Barre (electric guitar, Spanish guitar); John Evan (accordion, piano, organ, synthesizer); Barriemore Barlow (marimba, glockenspiel, drums, percussion); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (bass guitar).

Liner Note Author: Ian Anderson .

Recording information: Morgan Studios, North London, England.

Arranger: Jethro Tull.

Jethro Tull: Ian Anderson (vocals, acoustic guitar, flute, sopranino, soprano & alto saxophones); Martin Barre (electric & Spanish guitars); John Evan (piano, organ, piano accordion, synthesizers); Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (acoustic & electric basses); Barriemore Barlow (marimba, drums, glockenspiel, percussion).

Additional personnel: David Palmer (conductor); Philamusica Of London.

Q (12/00, p.144) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...A remarkably coherent collection...demonstrating the full recovery of frontman Ian Anderson's acerbic wit and musical devilment..."