Jethro Tull - 'J-Tull Dot Com' (Varese Sarabande) 3 1/2 star
Mike Reed | USA | 02/07/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Review no.169. Cannot believe how many customer reviews there are posted of this, later-day 1999 Jethro Tull effort. But, that was before I listened to this disc all the way through. I was amazed at how good this CD turned out to be. It's well-written, well produced and the music is extremely well played. To get right to the point, Ian Anderson and crew STILL has it, very much so. So many nicely penned tracks here, like the uptempo "Nothing At All", "Hunt By Numbers", the laid back "El Nino", "Black Mamba", the ethnic "Mango Surprise" and "Far Alaska" (superb flute work). Not a bad pick, not bad at all."
Know when to fold 'em
T. Pasio | Valencia, Ca | 01/13/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"It pains me to write this. I have been a rabid Tull fan since 1971. I've never missed a show, but now this. When I think of the genius of Passion Play, Songs From the Wood, I'll even give Crest of the Knave a nod, but the albums have gotten more and more tired.
I so would love to hear our Jethro Tull come back. I will miss all the shows, and joy Tull has brought into my life, but this album is what it is. The sounds of a truly tired band.
I grieve the loss of the greatist progressive/rock band of all time, and that band is and always will be Jethro Tull....just not this effort. This is truly awful."
Life in the Dot Com Universe
Mr. Richard D. Coreno | Berea, Ohio USA | 01/30/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Eastern music influences makes for a fascinating collection of songs - 14 total - that clock in at nearly 55 minutes.
Released in August 1999, the Dynamic Duo of Ian Anderson and Martin Barre (g) show an artistic growth that is uncommon during this long period of "classic" rock that makes many bands/musicians nothing more than time pieces that are permanently frozen in place. The other band members are Andrew Giddings (k), Jonathon Nocye (b), Diane Perry (d,per) and Najma Akhtar, who provides additional vocals on Dot Com.
The top songs are Spiral and Dot Com (which kick-off the album), along with Hot Mango Flush and The Dog-Ear Years. Anderson remains a magnificent storyteller and the world music landscape is an excellent venue for his lyrics; which remain solidly witty and sometimes wry, but without a wistful look to the past.
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