Jethro Tull - Aqualung

After veering sharply from the blues inluences of their debut, This Was, Jethro Tull's sound quickly coalesced around jazz-tinged English folk influences and the antics of frontman/flautist Ian Anderson. But it was guitarist Martin Barre's swaggering riff off the title track of the band's fourth album that would become Tull's indelibly clichéd trademark--and the band's entrée into a long reign as arena-rock perennials. But there's a lot more to Aqualung than the riffage of that cut and its cousins, "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Locomotive Breath." In an era when pseudo-Christian spirituality was a de rigueur, if cheap, musical commodity (from the overblown operatics of Jesus Christ Superstar to one-hit pop wonders such as "Spirit in the Sky" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand"), Anderson and company openly challenged the value of organized religion with a thematic album savvy enough to layer its thought-provoking lyrics between heavy strata of FM-friendly guitar bedrock. A cliché, perhaps; a landmark, no doubt. And a record many maintain is still Tull's finest hour. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

"His cross was rather bloody/ He could hardly roll his stone..."

When people talk about progressive rock being dull and dated and pretentious, they surely can't be thinking of Aqualung. Jethro Tull's gospel-weary opus may be full of flute solos and lyrics about man's relationship to God, but it still rocks more righteously than anything Guns `N' Roses ever did. There's not a Moog synthesizer or an extended suite to be found (except for the title track, and it's not really all that extended), and pyrotechnical displays of instrumental prowess are kept to a tasteful minimum. Classical influences share space with strains of blues, folk, and a bit of gospel. The lyrics, even when they become abstract, make sense more often than not, and they're almost always poignant. The band even insists that it isn't a concept album, and sometimes it seems that they might actually be telling the truth! So, if it makes you feel uncomfortable, don't consider Aqualung a prog rock album. Just think of it as a blistering rock `n' roll record that happens to be, well, smart.

And then listen to it. Let that ludicrously good title track smash you in the gut. Listen to Ian Anderson's grizzled sneer, to that insistent guitar riff, to the sudden (and totally cool) tempo changes, to those fantastic lyrics. It's one of the greatest album openers ever, and it isn't even the best song here. That honor probably goes to "Hymn 43," a barnstorming surge of mutant gospel that burns with Biblical fury and melodic intensity. The lyrics are sheer bombastic brilliance, a scathing indictment of opportunistic religious leaders and human selfishness. My personal favorite line on the album has to be "and the unsung Western hero/ he killed an Indian or three/ then he made his name in Hollywood/ to set the white man free/ ah, Jesus save me!" Either that or "if Jesus saves/ well he'd better save himself." Other brilliant songs about organized religions and their failure to bring man closer to God (hey, maybe it really is a concept album!) include "My God" and "Wind Up," and both of them drip with dark genius. "Cross-Eyed Mary" ain't so bad either. I also love "Mother Goose," with its poetic childhood imagery and vaguely Medieval melody (okay, I guess it really is a prog rock album), and "Locomotive Breath," which rules on every level. Just like the rest of the album. June 29, 2008

vinyl replacement

Have always loved this recording. Now I enjoy what was once only on vinyl or tape. May 9, 2008

not very impressive

I've heard a lot of people say how good this album is, but I can't get into it. For the life of me I can't see why it's supposed to be so great. The interlinking song themes are good, as are some of the lyrics, but the music is quite unadventurous and Ian Anderson's voice is gruff and monotonous. I think one difficulty may be the sound quality of this CD reissue - maybe with better sound i would have a different opinion. April 21, 2008

Still Great After All These Years

I started looking for this alblum after seeing Jethro Tull in Mobile, Alabama. They were great! Itunes had a partial album availible but it was missing "My God" which for me was like missing a front tooth. The CD has extra cuts on it including an interview which was interesting. I could do a side be side comparison of the origanal to the CD but I wolud thik the CD has to be cleaner. April 12, 2008

If the sound quality were there...

Terrific album, lousy sound quality. I love this album, but don't understand why Capitol can't spend a few bucks remastering the thing. It sounds like it's from 3rd generation tapes--they could have done a better job recording the vinyl to CD. Very disappointing. April 5, 2008

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