Customer Reviews

Minstrel In The Gallery

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Jethro Tull was definitely on a winning streak in the 1970's beginning with 1971's "Aqualung" through 1979's "Stormwatch". Their 1975 classic "Minstrel In The Gallery" continues on with the progressive elements and adds a heavy dose of medieval folk music into the picture. While there are more acoustic moments here than on previous Tull albums, there is still plenty of heavy electrifying rock and roll here as well.
The album's 8-minute title track effortlessly fuses the folk and rock elements with Ian Anderson's tender acoustic opening followed by a stellar hard-rock workout with great guitar work from Martin Barre and tight ensemble playing. "Cold Wind To Valhalla" and "Black Satin Dancer" feature similar musicality. Ian's flute work on the latter track is particularly striking. "Requiem" takes things down a notch with Ian's gentle acoustic guitar and vocal accompanied by a string and wind ensemble led by future Tull member David Palmer. Simply beautiful.

"One White Duck/010=Nothing At All" is also an all acoustic piece with a slight Irish Celtic vibe to it. Then, it's off into progressive rock territory once again with the nearly 17-minute "Baker Street Muse". This long piece is similar to "Thick As A Brick" in parts but is not a rewrite or retread of that famous epic. The entire band as a whole shines its brightest on this track especially Anderson, Barre and drummer Barriemore Barlow. David Palmer's orchestral arrangements further enhance the excitement of this piece.
The entire album closes with a brief 40-second epilogue entitle "Grace" which features Anderson singing in a echoing vibrato.
In addition to the original album tracks, the remastered CD of "Minstrel In The Gallery" includes five additional tracks, the all-acoustic "Summerday Sands" and "March Of the Mad Scientist", the instrumental flute tour-de-force "Pan Dance" (which once again features great orchestral arrangements) and brief live extracts from "Cold Wind To Valhalla" and the title track.
Without a doubt, this is a great album and is quite enjoyable. The album displays Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull expanding their musical pallette in a positive manner. With its fusing of hard rock with acoustic folk stylings, "Minstrel In The Gallery" is one of Jethro Tull's finest albums. Maybe, their best, perhaps.

Minstrel in the Gallery is Jethro Tull's finest work, although it is unfortunately also one of the most underrated and underappreciated of their albums. In my opinion, there is not one weak song on this album- every work here is a masterpiece, and a uniquely beautiful blend of English folk/acoustic styles with progressive and hard rock. On no other album is this musical essence of Tull more apparent, although I definitely would recommend the following other great Tull albums as well: Songs From the Wood, Heavy Horses, Bursting Out (Live), Aqualung, Too Old To Rock and Roll, and This Was. But you MUST check out Minstrel in the Gallery, and please ignore all the critics who somehow miss all the incredible musical brilliance that exists on this record.

..... how great this Album really is.

I know ALL Tull Albums and i think, this is the best and most delicius one. Delicate string work, very heavy guitar playing, fleetest fingering on the acoustic guitar and fa'ntastic songs.

I don't know why so many fools just don't like this example for the best music a human brain can create.

Probably the most unplugged sounding Album, but still belonging to the Heavy Rock / Prog Rock genre, well balanced between epic Heavyness (Black Satin Dancer, Cold Wind to Vallhalla), acoustic ballads (One white duck, Requiem) and both (Title Track, Baker St Muse), the album is a fantastic showcase for Andersons talents, his voice never sounded better, his acoustic guitar playing is amazing, as well as his flute playing. Don't pay any attention to those who don't like the album. They are not able to understand the genius behind the songs.

Sit back, relax, put your feet up to enjoy the best and most virtous Tull Album!

Behold this Cup of Wonder from possibly the most talented rock band that has ever been assembled. Jethro Tull has provided the listener with a symphony of sound that transcends all that rock music has to offer. Ian Anderson has made this newly mastered CD a signature piece that will stand the test of time, earning its place in history as a popular classic.
The CD's title track, Minstrel in the Gallery, is a mixture of Elizabethan folk that feels like warm water caressing the soul under a beautiful waterfall, then masterfully changes into a tour de force of Heavy Metal. This is only the beginning of Minstrel's Passion Play of Sound. Minstrel in the Gallery combines Rock, Folk, Hard Rock and Classical with such a high degree of mastery and taste achieved by no other before or since.
I dare to defy anyone not to feel the power and stunning emotion that is parlayed into the song Requiem. To my ear anyway, it is one of the most gorgeous melodies ever recorded. The rest of the CD plays with an equal host of excellence. With an added 5 bonus tracks, this CD is bound to enlighten all that come within hearing range.
When I was 14 this record had a profound effect on my personal and artistic growth. Over 25 years later it is still and honoured and welcome guest to my stereo system. May it entertain you the way it always has me!!

I give it a 100 star rating!

Thank you Ian,
-Docchalk

I have to say at the outset that I am a HUGE Tull fan. I've probably seen them live more often than any other act, and they never fail to entertain, provoke, and frequently, amaze. Having said that, I have to say that Minstrel is not exactly my fave. While there are moments of undeniable brilliance (Cold Wind To Valhalla is a standout), overall it lacks the breathtaking cohesion and pacing of such Tull classics as TAAB and Aqualung. Don't expect grooves here. Expect a lot of odd time signatures, weird rhythmic structures and... well, let's be honest, some rather stretched lyrical devices. Overall, it seems to have the vibe of an album that, given time, could have come together nicely, but in its present form just didn't quite "jell" somehow. Still, despite its shortcomings, and despite the fact that there are plenty of other JT albums in my collection that I like better, I have to say that I still listen to Minstrel In The Gallery... quite often in fact, thus perhaps demonstrating that a Tull album can be a lot like sex: when it's good it's awesome, and when it's bad... it's still pretty good!

I think this album has to be one of Ians' greatest accomplishments as a songwriter. This is a perfect Tull album because it combines all of musical styles and influences and they mesh together beautifully. The title track is a tull classic. "Cold Wind To Valhalla" is a pure rocker that'll have you hooked after the first listen. "Black Satin Dancer" is a moving piece and you can even feel Ians' pain! "Requiem" is another great acoustic pieces that Ian became so famous for. "One White Duck" is a little different at first but it becomes a joy to listen to after a couple of times. "Baker St. Muse" is another classic Tull 16 minute epic for all the fans of TAAB or APP. "Grace" is just plain beautiful. Buy this CD, you'll grow to love it, I promise.

This is the first time I write a review although I have been an amazon customer for over 4 years. I felt I was compelled to write commenting on what a music fan called Ouch.

This is the first Jethro Tull album I ever listened to and that was back in 1975. I agree that at first listening to it is quite difficult and it is not easy to grasp the whole essence of Jethro Tull and their genius. However after several listenings I broke the barrier witht he album and it opened for me a door into a magnificent new listening expeience.

I have since enjoyed Jethro Tull albums one after the other and the way their music progressed.

Free your mind, decide for yourself and open a world of music enjoyment and listening excellence.

When I am in the mood for Tull, I will usually pull out "Crest of a Knave", "Songs from the Wood" or "Living in the Past" first. I enjoy all of Tull's albums to one degree or another, but it seems like I will often forget about "Minstrel" and when I do stumble across it I always wonder why I forget about it after my last listen? What's nice about this is that "Minstrel" has not worn out it's welcome by being overplayed like "Aqualung" or "Benefit". "Minstrel" is a great Tull album for Tull fans. If you are just getting into the band, I would recommend other disks before "Minstrel". But once you have heard all that Tull offers as a band, you will really appreciate just what a great album this is! "Minstrel in the Gallery", the song, may be one of Jethro Tull's greatest songs. From the opening acoustic intro to Martin Barre's blistering guitar work on the song are amazing. And Ian Anderson's vocals are very strong here, and the chorus is so catchy and memorable it will continue running through head. "Cold Winds of Vallhalla" is another hard rocker, that took me a couple listens to get used to, but once I got it into my head, I couldn't get it out! Hammond's drumming is fantastic on this album!! The rest of the disk has a more acoustic feel, and "White Duck" is phenominal. "Baker Street Muse" has been reveiwed here to death, but it too is a very strong Tull song and worth a listen to. You just can't go wrong with 70's Tull!

Although I give this one star, I have to agree with one of the five star reviews that "In my opinion, there is not one weak song on this album". Yes, there is not one weak on the album: EVERY SONG on the album is weak! (With the exception of the "bonus track" "March the Mad Scientist".) Very, very weak. If Jethro Tull had released this as its first record, there never would have been a second Jethro Tull record.

"The minstrel in the gallery looked down upon the rabbit run
Then he threw away his looking glass--
And saw his face in everyone"

If you get this, you'll LOVE this CD.

It's hard to describe music, but this is rock music for the sophisticated ear. You won't get bored with it--30 years later it will still sound GREAT! More than great, it is pure genius.

"Come join with us please
The Valkyrie maidens cry
Above the cold wind to Valhalla"

Just listen...