Jethro Tull- Batteries Not Included REACTION AND REVIEW

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[a.k.]

I've never had any problems getting used to this track! On the contrary, I loved the musicians' unbridled, upbeat playing right from the start. An excellent track in my book.

[robertjewell]

To me it's a brilliant track, very eerie in its fury about how kids are taught to become materialistically obsessive. In the last verse he doesn't go back to sleep, but is so obsessed he becomes just like the toy reverting to a comatose state. In fact the whole album reflects on modern materialism and this song is the creepy Twlight Zone version.

[davidheiser]

One difference between listening to an album all at once and picking out one song to hear at a time: one of the virtues of a song like this is that it provides variety, if nothing else, from what came before and what comes after.

[murdockreviews]

I love this song! It is often listed as the dud on the album, but I love how different and adventurous it is. the most art-rock/new wave thing Tull had done up to that point.

[benoitdesmarais]

Eddie Jobson's U.K. style playing is all over this one.

[keithwatkins]

Loved the song, I bought the album "A" on cassette when it came out and enjoyed the whole album then and still do now.

[slicko_di_poo]

Some songs need another spin or two.

Here's the problem, often, with a song that hits right first time: It does that because it's completely familiar. It takes you round in the same circle you're used to going round and round (the ones we all wear deep paths in - and apparently that's not a bad metaphor, neurologically).

It's not often a song that does something a bit different works straight out of the box. You have to wait for the batteries to appear as a gift from the sky one day. Or go barking down the hole you saw the porcupine vanish into if you're impatient.

I think you do have some reference to work from, here, though (or would have, if you've taken a bit of time every now and then to wear that new groove into the path network in your neuron array). To me this sounds a bit like a Jethro Tull song that might've inspired Tim Smith, and Cardiacs (it's a bit older than most of their work - although Tim was writing songs at 17 or something, like most people who'll one day become musicians do).

There's actually another reference you could try, that you seem to have taken to more enthusiastically than to Cardiacs: Vivaldi.

Forget it's rock. Imagine you're listening to the string section on The Four Seasons, in passages where those strings jag back and forth in a Cardiacickity kind of way. It's a quite small transposition to make if you look at it that way.

Actually because you're a bit of a weirdo, I can give directions to a string quartet version of a song called Insect Hoofs on Lassie, without risk of you wondering WTF that is.

[jpirard]

This album is different. All Tull albums are different. That is the beauty of TULL

[DropAnchor]

This is a quirky and clever song. Great use of dissonance. The vocoder is fun to hear. Yes, the bassline is great. It is more of a B-song or a C-song compared to A-list songs like "Black Sunday".

[thomashoffmann]

Right now I feel like my batteries aren't included. I'm not feeling well. But I have no problems with the song. It was a new sound at that time, but musically exciting. I remember thinking the first time I heard it: what was that? But 40 years later I got used to it 😅

[jamesadkisson]

Usually if I don’t have anything good to say I don’t comment. But when this album came out when I go to this song I think I stopped the album and never listened again except for hearing it live on the A tour. It tops my worst songs by bands I love list.

[alaska_uk]

I believe "A" started as an Ian Anderson solo album that he was working on with Eddie, then the record company decided it should be a Tull album so the rest of the band were brought in which is why Eddie is credited on the album as a special guest.

[jgdmlw]

I really like this song. Thanks for reviewing

[rafaa]

Although the general audience don't like, I love this electronic Jethro Tull songs. "Later that Same Evening", "Fylingdale Flyer", "Uniform", "Working Joe" and "Protect and Survive"

[nehemb]

Interesting take on this Justin. I suspect, that like many Tull tracks, it improves with repeat listening. I have to admit that 'A' is one of my least favourite Tull albums, however, listening to it on headphones as I watch you react reveals layers I've never heard before, (I usually listen on open speakers) and I'm getting to enjoy elements of the album I must have missed before. I look forward to seeing your reaction to 'Under Wraps' which is probably even more quirky and electronic that this!

[DavidImiri]

I love this song - I LOVE this album. I really think this disk is the best thing they did past the classic period. It's such a shame it didn't work out with Jobson for longer, he added so much fresh energy and pizazz, and the chemistry was great - musically at least. And I hear you, this track is kind of frenetic and jerky, I agree it's not the highlight of the album. But it has great energy and excitement, great performances, and a really innovative groove. Maybe I'm just accustomed to it, and hear it as a familiar part of the disk - not the one to stop in my tracks and marvel at, but always welcome and never skipped. I think it stands up, you should give it another try.

[dannylgriffin]

I like it that many people below love this album and don't cling to the classic albums. Me, I'm not one of them. But as the English say, horses for courses.

[samuelecallegari]

Fun fact: the child speaking is Ian's son

[IchsehmirFilmean]

A young James Anderson crying for his batteries....

[glennthompson]

It sounds a lot like Eddie Jobsons Zinc. The Green album.