... Drummer Bunker left the group after “Aqualung” was released. However their first foray “Sunshine Day” into the international scene was massive fiasco. But in 1971 Jethro Tull’s best ever work “Aqualung” was released but Ian Andersson’s lyrics became quite controversial because of his unadulterated ... Read review
day return, Mother Goose, Wond´ring aloud, Up to me, My God, Hymn 43, Slipstream, Locomotive breath, Wind up, Lick your fingers clean, Songs for Jeffrey, Fat man and Bouree
A review by roktimdutta on Aqualung - Jethro Tull April 19th, 2009
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks
Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Excellent
Advantages:
Agressive lyrics, food for thought
Disadvantages:
The audio quality
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Initially I got hold of a vinyl of this album and during the upgrade period it was the third album to be added to my CD collections and I’m very proud to own it.
Named after 18th century agriculturist, Jethro Tull came into existence in 1967 led by Ian Anderson. Basically from Blackpool & Luton, Great Britain. With typical flute work of Ian Anderson, they made the cross lead of guitar and flute their forte. Guitarist Martin Barre became a part of Jethro Tull in 1969. Other members are David Goodier, John Ohara and Doane Parry. Drummer Bunker left the group after “Aqualung” was released. However their first foray “Sunshine Day” into the international scene was massive fiasco. But in 1971 Jethro Tull’s best ever work “Aqualung” was released but Ian Andersson’s lyrics became quite controversial because of his unadulterated statement on religion and society. But they undoubtedly cut out their niché with the magical flute of Ian Anderson and nervous but free flowing guitar of Martin Barre. The album is packed with eleven of their most memorable and immortal tracks including the title track “Aqualung” and “Locomotive Breath”.
If you give me the choice my vote is for “Locomotive Breath” for the best song in this album. In fact I strongly believe that it’s of their best ever, although “Aqualung” is most talked about of their ventures.
Aqualung: (4:06) It’s about “eyeing little girl with bad intent” ….. “Drying in the cold sun/Watching as the frilly panties run./Feeling like a dead duck/spilling out pieces of his broken luck.
My God: (7:08) A head-on collusion with ecclesiastic excesses. “People what you have done/locked Him in His golden cage/Made him bend to your religion/Him resurrected from the grave…”……and then “He is the god of nothing /if that's all that you can see./You are the god of everything
Crossed Eyed Mary (4:06) This song is about a young prostitute doing ugly thing from around the school …… “She signs no contract/but she always plays the game./Dines in Hampstead village /on expense accounted gruel/and the jack-knife barber drops her off at school./Laughing in the playground/gets no kicks from little boys/would rather make it with a letching grey./Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung/who watches through the railings as they play/Cross-eyed Mary finds it hard to get along.”….. This is really daring.
Cheap day Return: (1:21) …“Brush away the cigarette ash that’s/falling down your pants/and you sadly wonder/does the nurse treat your old man/the way she should.”..
Wond’ring Aloud: (1:53) A beautiful love song with great accoutic guitar “Wond’ring aloud/will the years treat us well/As she floats in the kitchen/I’m tasting the smell/of toast as the butter runs.
Mother Goose: (3:51) “Walked down by the bathing pond/to try and catch some sun/Saw at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing/into hankerchiefs as one/I don’t believe they knew/I was a schoolboy.
Upto me: (3:15) “Make the scene at Cousin Jack’s/leave him put the bottles back/mends his glasses that I cracked /well that one's up to me./Buy a silver cloud to ride/pack the tennis club inside/trouser cuffs hung far too wide/well it was up to me.”
Hymn 43: (3:14) “Oh father high in heaven/smile down upon your son/whose busy with his money games/his women and his gun/Oh Jesus save me!”
Slipstream: (1:13) “And you press on God's waiter your last dime/as he hands you the bill/And you spin in the slipstream/timeless unreasoning/paddle right out of the mess.
Locomotive Breath: (4:23) “In the shuffling madness/Of the locomotive breath/Runs the all-time loser/Headlong to his death/He feels the piston scraping/Steam breaking on his brow/Old Charlie stole the handle and/The train won't stop going/No way to slow down.”..
Wind up: (6:01) “When I was young and they packed me off to school/and taught me how not to play the game/I didn't mind if they groomed me for success/or if they said that I was a fool.
Jethro Tull has experimented a lot with Blues, jazz and rock and eventually “Aqualung” was a fusion of them and along with its bold lyrics used with tremendous impact has made it a memorable album.
And mind you the bonuses coming along with this album are equally good!!!!
Advantages: New arrangements for several tracks, and a 'live' feel, plus it's for a good cause Disadvantages: Ian's really struggling with his voice
...a re-recording of the original Aqualung album, there is enough originality about this work to justify the outlay, even for those who do not consider themselves to be die-hard fans.
Recording in front of a small but enthusiastic (not to mention damned lucky !) bunch of fans gives it a 'live' feeling but with more intimacy than a full blown concert performance (a bit like an 'unplugged' set maybe ?).
Most of the tracks have a newish feel, especially ... ...downside is that you will wince as Ian strains sometimes to reach some of the notes with the same power as before, which has also become more noticable in some recent concert performances.
There are several 'bonus' tracks at the end where Ian and Martin muse about riffs and life and so on, and when his tombstone is prepared, it will surely have "Look, it really really wasn't a concept album you know !" chiselled on it in huge letters :-)
The decision ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: thius is the type of album that you can relax to after a hard days work Disadvantages: to be honest I can't think of any disadvantages about this album
...there in your living room. Aqualung was the album that was to start the run of hit albums for Tull and was to launch the band onto the international music scene and earn them the mantle of rock superstars. All the tracks on the album are great but the ones that stand out from the rest are Cross Eyed Mary, Locomotive Breath and the title track Aqualung: note, a lot of the tracks on here also appear on the best of albums which says a lot for the tracks. ... ...that never seem to get a mention but are every bit as good, namely Mother Goose to name but one. You either like Tull or you hate them and if you are sitting on the fence about the issue buy this album and you will definitely come down on the side of those who like the band. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Fantastic Album Disadvantages: Is It a Concept Album ?
This was Tulls first multi platinum album and saw the introduction of Ian Andersons friend Jeffrey Hammond on Bass. This is a very though provoking album with the surreal “Mother Goose” and acoustic whimsies like “Cheap Day Return” and “Nursie” to the religious commentaries of “My God” the album combined Ian Andersons most adventurous lyrics with some of his most enduring tunes. The title track and ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: An uplifting album full of relaxing songs and strong lyrics Disadvantages: Some songs seem similar to others
...Everyone must have heard of the fantastic "Strange and beautiful," that is featured on this album. It is by far Matt Hales' most popular and well known song. It has been featured on many a drama and advert. Including, Scrubs, the OC and the Volkswagen advert in 2002. I bought this album after hearing a couple of songs on his myspace - www.myspace.com/aqualung. From the first note, the music gripped me and relaxed me like no other album has. The name aqualung was taken from a JethroTull album, but it is particularly suitable, it describes the album, as the album certainly contains an underwater quality. By listening to the brilliant lyrics of songs, such as, "Brighter than Sunshine," you can see how the song had so much airplay in the top 40 in the USA.
Matt does most of the music by himself, producing the piano, beats and hauting...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
12.: Riffs (Another Monkey) (narrative), Lick Your Fingers Clean
13.: Recording The Original (narrative), Wind Up (quad version)
14.: Choosing My Words With Care (narrative), Excerpts From The Ian Anderson Interview, Ian Anderson (interview)
15.: Hummmmmm 43 (narrative), Song For Jeffrey, Song For Jeffrey (live)
16.: Different Kettle Of Very Different Fish (narrative), Fat Man, Fat Man (live)
17.: But Is It Any Good (narrative), Bouree, Bouree (live)
Additional notes
Album Notes: This 2005 release features a live show by popular progressive rock group, Jethro Tull.
Album Reviews: Rolling Stone (10/11/01, p.94) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...They were the most frazzled British art rockers of their day..." Q (7/96, p.140) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...occupies a special place in the idiosyncratic Tull pantheon. Many of its key songs have been lionised in live sets....The smaller stuff stands up well too..." Mojo (3/01, p.57) - "...Demonstrates a new maturity in Ian Anderson's songwriting as he draws together disparate folk, jazz and heavy metal influences. The tramp on the cover quickly became the Tull persona in the public mind..."
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