Aqualung (studio album) by Jethro Tull

This is an album without a single flaw, there is not a single second boring. Here Jethro Tull's trademark mergeance of acoustic folk and hard rock and unique riffs guitar+flute are first defined, and are at their best too

A unique and special record that showed the group weren't afraid to take risks and they really pay off on this release. Musically, it sounds fantastic and is extremely infectious with the instrumentals replaying in my head long after the album has finished. The performances across the whole group are incredible as well from the drums to the guitar to the organ they are all outstanding. Then they add the flute on top which feels like it shouldn't work but it is just perfect on here. It gives the group an edge as well as there is no group that use a flute or at least utilise it as amazing as they do. Finally, there is the song writing which is thought provoking and intelligent with them challenging some difficult themes but also making them sound good in the context of the music. Overall, there is so much to enjoy and love on here as the album does such a good job of standing out due to its quality.

I remember when Aqualung was just released, and everybody had the album. It was extremely popular here in Denmark, along with "Who`s Next" and the Led Zeppelin and Ten Years After albums. It probably Tull`s most hard-rocking album, and at least at that time it was comsidered "heavy" rock. I saw them perform in Holstebro with new member John Evan - and it was really a great hard rocking performance; I was very impressed by guitarist Martin Barre.
Songs like "Locomotive Breath" and "Aqualung" are great live rockers - but also very melodic. I never cared much for "Cross-Eyed Mary", "Hymn 43" and "Up to Me", but acoustic songs like "Cheap Day Return", "Mother Goose" and "Wondering Aloud" and still favourites of mine. "My God" is too much an integrated part of the album-concept to be judged on its own. The highlight is the great finale "Wind Up"

There are six bonus tracks. "Lick Your Finger Clean" is okay for an outtake. The alternate version of "Wind Up" is interesting, but not nearly as good as the released version. The Ian Anderson interview is very interesting, as is the BBC takes of "Song for Jeffrey", "Fat Man" and "Bouree".

https://www.angelfire.com/nv/Badfinger/BANDjethrotull.html

Perfect musical balance to be one of the best folk rock albums ever. Many outstanding tracks.

Classic prog

From imacgill 08/14/2022 21:27

This was very much my brother's music but something I didn't listen to in my youth. Very much appreciate it now. I just remember as a kid listening to my brother play the song "Aqualung" and hearing the lyric "snot's running down his nose". Made me laugh every time.

Not much of a Tull fan-- which is odd in that the overlap with Fairport is so great-- but this is a great album about an important topic. High on the best ever list.

A great and important album, leading us to Thick as a Brick. It pales in comparison with that album though. This says more about TAAB than Aqualung.

Great album front to back.

Impresionante. Combina perfectamente lo eléctrico con lo acústico incluso en una misma canción.