Thumped album club (1 Viewer)

[ann post]

I should put in a request for less hours at work so I can TAC better.

 

[nooleen]

i'm listening to jethro tull's aqualung as my TAC album this week because this blog post told me to

My God: Jethro Tull’s ‘Aqualung’ really IS an album that you MUST hear before you die

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Is it any good? I've always steered away from Jethro Tull

 

[nooleen]

the first listen was unconvincing

suppose i have to persevere now though

 

[HMD]

I'm so far behind on my reviews. Stupid work. Hopefully i will be able to get back up to speed in the coming weeks when things calm down.

 

[HMD]

No to another prince. He's dead it's very sad but this is album club not Sky Arts

 

[Lili Marlene]

Agreed. If youz can't be bothered to listen to him when he was alive then ye don't deserve him when he's dead.

I say we go with Jethro Tull for this week

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

OK Aqualung, here goes...

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Nah, dont like it

 

[nooleen]

ha, you made it about the same amount of time as me

i gave up around 33 mins in

i'm going to give it the ol' 3 listens though

The leap from 1970's Benefit to the following year's Aqualung is one of the most astonishing progressions in rock history. In the space of one album, Tull went from relatively unassuming electrified folk-rock to larger-than-life conceptual rock full of sophisticated compositions and complex, intellectual, lyrical constructs. While the leap to full-blown prog rock wouldn't be taken until a year later on Thick as a Brick, the degree to which Tull upped the ante here is remarkable.

The lyrical concept -- the hypocrisy of Christianity in England -- is stronger than on most other '70s conceptual efforts, but it's ultimately the music that makes it worthy of praise. Tull's winning way with a riff was never so arresting as on the chugging "Locomotive Breath," or on the character studies "Cross Eyed Mary" and "Aqualung," which portray believably seedy participants in Ian Anderson's story. The fable imagery of "Mother Goose" and the vitriolic anti-authoritarian sentiments of "Wind Up" both serve notice of Anderson's willful iconoclasm and his disillusionment with the spiritual traditions to which he was born. Varied but cohesive, Aqualung is widely regarded as Tull's finest hour.

Aqualung - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

It started off alright - sorta Van der Graaf Generator lite with disgraceful hippy leanings - but went nowhere. I can speak authoritatively after 33.333 minutes.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

so is this the official choice for this week?

 

[nooleen]

technically it's the unofficial choice

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

I might give Thick as a Brick a go, it sounds more promising. As does Under Wraps which got a one star review from all music:

AllMusic Review by Patrick Little [-]
Ian Anderson's Walk into Light (1983) was an uncharacteristic venture into the world of drum machines and synthesizers, and was partly a collaboration with keyboardist Peter-John Vettese. The next year the two cut the similar-sounding Under Wraps using the Jethro Tull banner. Most of the work, including drum programming, was done by Anderson in his home studio before guitar and (scant) bass guitar were added. The group members were excited about their latest sounds, which brought a cold edginess to the usual intricate music (the acoustic "Under Wraps No. 2" being one exception). Lyrically,Anderson was letting go of his Olde English façade; here he showed his fascination with Cold War-era espionage. While the British audiences didn't mind the changes, U.S. buyers pretty much hated the album. Compared to the U.S. number 19 position of 1982's The Broadsword and the Beast, Under Wraps never got past number 76. (Crest of a Knave, three years later, shot up to number 33.) The original release had 11 tracks, with "Astronomy," "Tundra," "Automotive Engineering," and "General Crossing" appearing as B-sides and bonus tracks around the world. Now the standard release carries all 15 tracks.

 

[HMD]

@pete is it prince again this week?

 

[pete]

sure is

 

[HMD]

'sake

 

[HMD]

@pete is there a list you can share of possible albums that are coming up?

 

[pete]

wouldn't that ruin the surprise?

 

[nooleen]

not posting anything ruins it more