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The Broadsword and the Beast

a Studio Release
Release Year:
1982
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Added To Proggnosis on: 01 Dec 2000

Track Listing 

  1. Beastie
  2. Broadsword
  3. Clasp
  4. Pussy Willow
  5. Fallen On Hard Times
  6. Watching Me Watching You
  7. Flying Colours
  8. Seal Driver
  9. Slow Marching Band
  10. Cheerio

    Bonus Tracks on remaster :

  11. Jack Frost and Hooded Crow
  12. Jack A Lynn
  13. Mayhem Maybe
  14. Too Many Too
  15. Overhang
  16. Rhythm In Gold
  17. I'm Your Gun
  18. Down At The End Of Your Road

Performer Credits  


Ian Anderson
lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre
electric guitar, acoustic guitar
David Pegg
bass guitar, mandolins, vocals
Peter-John Vettese
piano, synthesizer, vocals, additional musical material
Gerry Conway
drums, percussion

Reviews


review by: MJBradyFollowing the bands trend changing 'A' album, which featured an all together new line up (besides Anderson and Barre), Tull reinvents the band once again, this time around with a new drummer (Gerry Conway), keyboardist (Peter-John Vettese), David Pegg returns with his squonking rubberlike basslines, and of course Barre and Anderson insure that the traditional Tull sound remains in tact. This music emphasizes on the rockier side of the bands repertoire, while Vettese's clever keyboard artistry offers an entirely new soundscape behind the bands evolving progressive music. Gerry Conway's drumming is both technical sounding and musical, with very nicely tuned toms, his fills are almost synth sounding.

The recording quality of this album was remarkable clean when compared to many Tull albums prior to this release, whether that is a credit to technological recording advances or engineering skills I am not sure, but the evidence is obvious, and is an important reason that this album is so entertaining. I am not sure why, but the band seemed to be in flux, going through key personnel changes on each successive recording. Yet, there is no doubt that the definitive Tull sounds abounds on the whole sum of this album.

Some songs show an allusion of what was to come on later recordings, which many concur to be the bands least inspired, Flying Colors is an example of this, some techno keyboards, polysynth dabblings, and pop flavored vocal hooks seem a tad bit out of place with the legnedary band. The song does show great moments of progressivity, making it a decent tune for the most part. The predominance of songs on this remind more of the bands style on the Stormwatch album, which was a mixed bag, but had some of the bands harder rocking moments. While this doesn't rank as my favorite Tull album, it certainly merits a top ten rating, and is essential for enthusiasts of those who enjoy the many transitions of the bands metamorphosis.

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