The Broadsword and the Beast (ccd 1380)

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
This edition of the album is the remastered version. Though it's tempting, in hindsight, to view it as just another of Ian Anderson's legendary affectations--the runes adorning the cover, the overriding air of eldritch portent--for Tull fans, this 1982 album came as a welcome relief. After the spooked futurism of Stormwatch and A--a mode they would revisit, just two years later, with the Peter Vetesse-dominated Under Wraps--Broadsword marked a return to the band's pastoral, slightly archaic sound, the laconic strain of English gentility that had informed such classics as Songs from The Wood and Heavy Horses. What had changed, however, was the singer's outlook: the air of melancholy in "Slow Marching Band", while beguiling, sounded more resigned than romantic; while "Watching Me Watching You" anticipated the tech-driven paranoia of his solo debut, Into the Light. The sound was tougher--stalwart guitarist Martin Barre contributed some chunky riffs to "Beastie" and "Pussy Willow"--and the mood darker. But too old to rock and roll? Not quite. --Andrew McGuire

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Customer reviews

review by: Phil the Tullite date: 2007-03-29 rating:
Masterpiece!!
Can't agree with anyone who carps about this Tull album. It's a gem in what is a pretty impressive back cataolgue. The live show that accompanied the album was one of the finest Tull have ever put together and listening again to the amazing playing and arrangements brings it all back. Buy it, listen and agree!

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review by: date: 2007-02-08 rating:
A Tull Masterpiece
A fantastic album. This is a great record mixing some folky style songs with some more substantial rock tracks. Songs such as "Broadsword",a brooding track with some superb guitar work, stand alongside the very folky "Slow Marching Band", the whistful "Seal Driver" & the bitter sweet tale of relationship breakdown as portrayed in "Flying Colours".
A brilliant Tull record & a steal at the price. All the tracks are extremely strong, to my mind only "Clasp" (although a decent enough song) is not of the highest standard as found throughout the rest of this album.
My favourite Tull record, a classy offering which appeals on a number of different levels.

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review by: parkwood_music date: 2007-01-30 rating:
Rocky Folk Re-mastered
If you're a fan of Rock with a folk twinge, and like the sound of analogue synthesisers/vocoders, look no further.

This is one of the Tull's most rocky albums and features the current Fairport Convention rhythm section of Dave Pegg and Gerry Conway.

'Clasp' and 'Sealdriver' are the rocky highlights of this album, with rich textures from synth, vocoder and Dave Pegg's mandolin.

It's a bargain...

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review by: date: 2005-07-21 rating:
Jethro Tull Broadsword
I had this on vinyl and hadn't played it for years then was able to get it on CD and I had forgotten how brilliant this album is!!!


review by: date: 2005-06-10 rating:
Broadsword and the Beast - Hugeness of Jethro Tull
I remember when "Broadsword and the Beast" was first released it contained the direction and confidence of the bands' early years whilst being diverse musically as more recent Tull music.
The difference between this and the previous couple of years of music was that it gelled as a whole; the songs and music tell the story of good triumphing over evil - art and creativity vs the oppressive establishment with its constricting rigid social traditions - and the role that the rock band plays in the triumph. Martin Barre's guitar is particularly highlighted here - loud and colourful - and Anderson is well on form.
A bonus is Dave Pegg's performance on bass, which has to be one of the huge-est in pop history, continueing from his work on the "A" album, using a variety of styles with consistantly tough and melodic playing. Vietesse and Conway provide tremendously distinctive keyboards and drums, respectively.
Getting a listen to this remastered version has surprised in that that the album sounds just as good as when it was first released; Tull are a real lasting band and often the most underrated of the truly great rock groups. Anyone who claims that they don't like "Broadsword" is either lying or has simply never heard it. Quick, buy it.
The great new bonus tracks add to the story, and it must have been a toss of a coin as to which songs got onto the vinyl!
Connected albums? - instead of perusing through recommended prog., electric folk or World Music contemporaries, if you want more "Broadsword", try previous rock eras - Bob Dylan's 60s songs on his "Blonde on Blonde" album for example - also ELPs "Brain Salad Surgery" album and The Clash's "London Calling album.

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