{"id":6897,"date":"2015-12-04T14:44:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-04T19:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/millheiser.com\/hokeyblog\/2015\/12\/04\/buttkickin-holiday-songs-jack-frost-and-the-hooded-crow-jethro-tull-2003\/"},"modified":"2015-12-04T14:50:09","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T19:50:09","slug":"buttkickin-holiday-songs-jack-frost-and-the-hooded-crow-jethro-tull-2003","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/millheiser.com\/hokeyblog\/2015\/12\/04\/buttkickin-holiday-songs-jack-frost-and-the-hooded-crow-jethro-tull-2003\/","title":{"rendered":"Buttkickin’ Holiday Songs: “Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow” — Jethro Tull (2003)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It’s not the holiday season for me without some Jethro Tull. Something about Ian Anderson’s arrangements, soaring flute passages, and witching-hour vocals just evokes powerful imagery of, as C. S. Lewis might put it, the Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time; music with one foot in the Ancient Pagan world, but also one in the Modern Christian one. Plus all those cool prog-rock flourishes. Good stuff.<\/p>\n

When it comes to holiday music from Tull, I usually delve into either 1977’s Songs From The Wood<\/em> or, in the case of today’s selection, 2003’s Christmas Album<\/em>. Yes, I know, the latter seems more obvious, but Songs From The Wood<\/em> has an incredible selection of tunes that lend themselves to the holiday season. That said, when you have a wonderful song like Jack Frost And The Hooded Crow<\/strong>, this little write-up practically writes itself.<\/p>\n

Originally recorded for their 1982 LP The Broadsword and the Beast<\/em>, this re-recording, with its flute, mandolin, and percussion opening, medieval-styled melodies, and atypical time-signatures, already seems to radiate with arcane overtones, especially given the two mythical folk figures at the center of the story. But it’s a simple fable, advising (or admonishing) us, while we enjoy our good fortune and holiday cheer, to take time to remember those who are less fortunate. After all, fate is a notoriously fickle beast; you could wind up with nothing to celebrate, and no one to celebrate it with… save for Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow.<\/p>\n

A simple message, beautifully delivered, from Ian Anderson and company.<\/p>\n

Through long December nights we talk in words of rain or snow<\/em>
\nWhile you, through chattering teeth, reply and curse us as you go<\/span>
\nWhy not spare a thought this day for those who have no flame
\nTo warm their bones at Christmas time?
\n<\/em>Say Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow.<\/em><\/p>\n