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Versione 1
Rating: Well, a full review doesn't seem appropriate...some considerations, yes.
Benefit and the Jethro Tull...
Who were Jethro Tull to me in the early '90s? Aqualung and Thick as a Brick, certainly! À Ministrel in the Gallery, indeed!
The Too Old to Rock sticker on the battered Fiat 500 of a friend's dad...oh yes, Ian Anderson inviting us to hold on...
Then one evening I tune into the American armed forces radio stationed in the Northeast and there is (live and in Italy!!!) an extensive interview with the Scotsman.
Our Ian is in great form and, between a bow and a mock, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the release of Benefit.
The album is played in its entirety, and each song is delightfully commented on by the Bard, who revels in it like a pig in mud.
Naturally, the next day I rush out to buy the CD...
Now, if we could step out of the comfort zone that tells us Aqualung is the Masterpiece and that Benefit is just a good Jethro Tull album...
...I'd be inclined to say the opposite...Certain interludes in Aqualung could have the feel of acoustic filler...My God is a drag come on...
In Benefit, Anderson seems less self-referential and more focused on crafting complete tracks.
Sometimes I wonder if our judgment is overly influenced by what we've read or by the "guided" reviews of certain home-grown critics.
The Scaruffi who demolishes the Beatles doesn't let me sleep at night...what if he's right?!?!?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 With You There to Help Me (06:26)
In days of peace
sweet smelling summer nights
of wine and song;
dusty pavements burning feet.
Why am I crying, I want to know.
How can I smile and make it right?
For sixty days and eighty nights
and not give in and lose the fight.
I'm going back to the ones that I know,
with whom I can be what I want to be.
Just one week for the feeling to go
and with you there to help me
then it probably will.
I won't go down
acting the same old play.
Give sixty days for just one night.
Don't think I'd make it: but then I might.
I'm going back to the ones that I know,
with whom I can be what I want to be.
Just one week for the feeling to go
and with you there to help me
then it probably will.
04 Son (02:57)
Oh, I feel sympathy. Be grateful my son for what you get.
Expression and passion. Ten days for watching the sunset;
when I was your age amusement we made for ourselves.
"Permission to breathe sir". Don't talk like that, I'm your old man.
They'll soon be demobbed son, so join up as soon as you can.
You can't borrow that 'cause that's for the races and doesn't grow on trees.
I only feel what touches me
and feel in touching I can see
a better state to be in.
Who has the right
to question what I might do,
in feeling I should touch the real
and only things I feel.
It's advice and it's nice to know when you're best advised.
You're only turned thirty, so son, you'd better apologize.
And when you grow up, if you're good we will buy you a bike.
08 Inside (03:52)
All the places I've been make it hard to begin
To enjoy life again on the inside, but I mean to.
Take a walk around the block
And be glad that I've got
Me some time to be in from the outside,
And inside with you.
I'm sitting on the corner feeling glad.
Got no money coming in but I can't be sad.
That was the best cup of coffee I ever had.
And I won't worry about a thing because we've got it made,
Here on the inside, outside so far away.
And we'll laugh and we'll sing
Get someone to bring
Our friends here for tea in the evening
Old Jeffrey makes three...
Take a walk in the park,
Does the wind in the dark
Sound like music to you?
Well I'm thinking it does to me.
Can you cook, can you sew?
Well, I don't want to know.
That is not what you need on the inside,
To make the time go.
Counting lambs, counting sheep
We will fall into sleep
And awake to a new day of living,
And loving you so.
09 Play in Time (03:53)
Got to take in what I can.
There is no time to do what must be done,
While I do some thinking.
Sleeping is hard to come by,
So we'll all sit down and try to play in time,
and we feel like singing.
Talking to people in my way.
Blues were my favorite colour,
til I looked around and found another song
that I felt like singing.
Trying so hard to reach you;
playing what must be played, what must be sung
and it's what I'm singing.
Talking to people in my way.
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Other reviews
By the green manalishi
"Benefit was the continuation of Stand Up: it contained heavy rock riffs along with a few more acoustic and delicate episodes."
"Ian Anderson is one of the greatest lyricists in rock history."
By Battlegods
Benefit is considered by many as a transitional album of the band or as the predecessor of the grand masterpiece Aqualung.
With 'To Cry You A Song,' great hard rock riffs and solos evoke influences from Led Zeppelin and Gentle Giant.
