Happy Tullidays!
Ring Out, Solstice Bells! Jethro Tull's "Songs from the Wood" and Naked Malt Scotch Whisky
RRWS Episode 10 | Originally published December 18, 2023
There are a lot of rock and roll Christmas albums and a lot of rock and roll Christmas songs. I haven't chosen any of those today. I've selected an album that is not strictly about Christmas. This band actually even has a Christmas album, but I've gone a different way. It's an album I find myself listening to mostly in the wintertime, and it's often celebrated for its exploration of British folklore, nature, and countryside themes. It's got a natural, traditional feel to it. I don't quite know how to explain it, but it has a wintertime feel and a Christmastime feel for me.
Songs from the Wood
The album I'm talking about is "Songs from the Wood" by Jethro Tull, from 1977. It's not explicitly about Christmas, but it captures themes of gathering, celebration, and reflecting on the year, all integral aspects of the holidays. The title track is full of imagery of the forest and nature, resonating with the Yule tradition of celebrating the winter solstice and the natural world.
More directly, there are tracks like "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" that tie right into winter holidays. The song is a celebration of the solstice, a key component of Yuletide festivities. The ringing of bells and joyful rhythms make it a perfect match for the holiday season.
This album was the beginning of a few folk albums from Jethro Tull in the late '70s. Their folk era stands out as a unique and creative phase in their career, marked by the fusion of progressive rock, British folk, and traditional music, in addition to the rock and roll you get throughout the record. The contributions of Ian Anderson and Martin Barre in particular were central to this distinctive sound, showing off their musical versatility and deepening the band's exploration of thematic and stylistic boundaries.
Anderson and Barre
Anderson, the frontman and primary songwriter, is most famous for (and you've probably seen him) standing on one leg playing his flute. His style is unique in the rock genre, a real mix of folk, classical, and rock techniques. His songwriting during this period often drew on folklore, myth, and pastoral themes, reflecting a deep fascination with British history and rural life.
Martin Barre, the band's longtime guitarist, was instrumental in shaping Tull's sound during this period. His guitar playing, notable for its technical ability and versatility, was adept in both electric and acoustic styles.
The music
The songs in "Songs from the Wood" are filled with tales of woodland spirits and rural life that remind listeners of a storied past, festivals full of mystique and legend. It's not all about Christmas. In fact, probably none of it is directly. Even "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" is a winter solstice song. But the reverence for nature in songs like "Jack in the Green" and "Velvet Green" reflects celebrations that might call to mind the winter solstice, where the shortest day of the year is honored and the return of the sun awaited.
But it's not just nature.
Pibroch (Cap in Hand)
One of the more epic songs on this record, spanning eight and a half minutes, is "Pibroch (Cap in Hand)." This song gets into longing, sacrifice, and unrequited love. It tells a poignant story that resonates on multiple levels, reflecting the band's ability to weave complex narratives into their music.
It centers around a man who carries his dreams and love for someone in the cap he holds in his hand, a symbol of vulnerability and openness. The imagery is powerful, depicting his devotion to the person he desires. Yet in the second verse, the man observes a candlelit table set for two and the presence of strange slippers and boots, suggesting his love interest is probably involved with someone else.
There's a lot of great music in between the lyrics. The song's composition complements its lyrical depth, adding layers of emotion and complexity. The track is a testament to Tull's ability to craft songs that are musically intricate but rich in storytelling. Even the title is fascinating because it references a specific style of Scottish bagpipe playing known as pibroch (and I'm probably pronouncing that very wrong). This style is characterized by extended, elaborate compositions that often convey a deep sense of tradition and history with a theme-and-variation structure. Pibroch is considered a classical music form within the Scottish bagpipe tradition, often associated with Highland culture and evoking images of the Scottish countryside, battles, and ancient lore.
Speaking of things that are Scottish and blended...
The pairing: Naked Malt Scotch Whisky
When I say the name Famous Grouse, what comes to mind for you? For me, it's the little old lady I watched hobble past me in the grocery store liquor aisle one day, maybe 15 years ago. She reached down to the bottom shelf and slung a 1.75-liter bottle of Famous Grouse into her shopping cart. I was amused and a little impressed. My grandmothers didn't buy or drink scotch, so it was a novelty for me. Whenever I say Famous Grouse, that's what I think of.
I never really paid much attention to the whisky otherwise. It was a cheap bottle that didn't live up to the "quality" of the single malts I was getting into at the time. But the thing I didn't understand about blended scotch, even the inexpensive stuff, is that it's often blended from pretty good whisky distilled throughout Scotland at some of the most famous, well-known distilleries. The Scots take great pride in their blends, and they really should.
It's now late 2023, and blends are seeing a resurgence. We're seeing a lot of high-end blends sold as quality products alongside their single malt counterparts.
Case in point: Naked Malt Scotch Whisky. Formerly known as Naked Grouse up until a couple years ago, it's a Famous Grouse expression that offers a distinct profile. This blended malt scotch is matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, which gives it a fruity flavor that differs from a scotch finished in a bourbon barrel. Many scotch blends bring together various malts and grain whiskies from around Scotland. That's pretty common. Naked Malt is unique because it's a blended malt whisky, meaning it only includes various single malts. Distilleries we know are in this blend include the Famous Grouse staples: Macallan, Highland Park, and others. Naked Malt has a 40% ABV (80 proof), pretty typical of a blended scotch.
The tasting
On the nose, it presents fresh cereal aromas combined with nuttiness and fruitiness from the sherry finishing. That sherry influence comes through more prominently with sharp citrus, berries, sugar, and spices. On the palate, you get orange, peach, plum, banana, blackberry, apple. Then your holiday spices: cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, vanilla. There's a lot there. The finish is notable with citrus, some leather from the barrel influence, and cloves.
For the price (I think I paid about $22, and you can get it for under $25 most of the time around here), it's pretty good. Definitely holds up against the other lower-end scotch blends you'll find in the U.S.
The connection
Pairing Naked Malt with "Songs from the Wood" creates an interesting comparison. The album's folk and nature themes resonate well with the whisky's rich, varied profile, a blend of modern and classic influences. The whisky's sherry-influenced, nutty, and fruity notes complement the album's earthy and rustic tones.
The comparison between the traditional music and nature in "Songs from the Wood" and the process of scotch whisky distilling is quite interesting. Both involve a complex blending of elements to create something harmonious. The process of making scotch is deeply connected to the natural environment. The quality of the water, the climate for aging, and the local ingredients all play a critical role.
And it requires creativity, which is another reason I think it pairs with this music. The craftsmanship in "Songs from the Wood" lies in how the different musical pieces, the instruments, and the folklore elements are woven together with rock and roll to create an engaging piece of art. Whisky blending has the same kind of craftsmanship. It's understanding the flavor profiles of various single malts and how they interact together. The master blender has to have a real grasp of each component and a creative vision for the final product, just like a producer and musician like Ian Anderson would have for that record. Balancing flavors to achieve something new, something unique. Each one is a testament to the skill and creativity required to combine different components into a cohesive and enjoyable experience.
Listen to "Songs from the Wood." Pour yourself a dram of Naked Malt. Go out to the store and get it. It's $20-25, and you can't beat it.
More Tull for the holidays
If you're looking for more Tull, they do have a Christmas album from the early 2000s. It's quite good. It's got a variation of "Ring Out, Solstice Bells" on it, a reworking of "Fires at Midnight," and a lot of other interesting music on there, particularly if you're a Tull fan. I'd recommend that one. And then I'd recommend Jethro Tull's latest album, "RökFlöte," which is inspired by Nordic mythology. You might find something on there that fits this time of year too.
Happy holidays, everybody. Have a Merry Christmas if you celebrate that. Have a happy holiday, whatever you celebrate. Ring out those solstice bells, and I'll see you soon.
Episode Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to the Show
00:13 Choosing a Unique Christmas Album
00:48 Exploring 'Songs from the Wood' by Jethro Tull
01:31 Understanding the Folk Era of Jethro Tull
02:11 The Role of Ian Anderson and Martin Barre in Shaping Tull's Sound
02:49 The Essence of 'Songs from the Wood'
03:21 The Story Behind 'Pibroch (Cap in Hand)'
05:03 Introduction to Whisky Tasting
06:00 The Resurgence of Blended Scotch
06:14 Review of Naked Malt Scotch Whisky
07:56 Pairing 'Songs from the Wood' with Naked Malt
09:03 The Art of Whisky Blending
09:49 Recommendations for More Jethro Tull Music
10:30 Closing Remarks and Holiday Wishes
10:44 Show Outro and Subscription Details
Listening Homework:
Listen to “Songs from the Wood” by Jethro Tull (Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube Music)