HEAVY HORSES

1978's Heavy Horses continues in a similar vein. "?And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps" is a weird song full of stuttering flute, skittering acoustic guitar, and rich organ tones. Barriemore Barlow's drumming is spot-on, propelling the song forward with impressive skill.

Overall, the song structures on Heavy Horses are more streamlined than on preceding albums. Ian Anderson has described this album as something of a contemporary (c. 1978) version of Songs from the Wood, which leaned on older folkloric traditions, both lyrically and musically. Much of the lyrical material on Heavy Horses address the differences between country and city life, and those themes are evident in the music itself, with its sharp acoustic-electric contrasts.

Despite such a provincial focus, Tull still managed to include some impressive hard rock here. "No Lullaby" has a slow, bluesy main riff coupled with creepy lyrics about a child's fear of the dark. This song also features a high-energy riff and provides bassist John Glascock a chance to show off. His tenure in the band was quite brief, but I consider him to be Jethro Tull's most distinctive bass player.

"One Brown Mouse" is a clever, playful song. It's powered along by a simple yet propulsive rhythm and John Evan's piano. Some of the synth tones haven't aged well, but the songwriting is strong enough to negate that weakness. The verses have a sunny feel which contrasts brilliantly against the minor-key choruses.

The title track provides the fullest integration of folk rock and hard rock on this album. The main theme is powerful and emotive, using both Ian Anderson's flute and Martin Barre's electric guitar to drive it home. I may find the concept of the song nostalgic in the stupidest way possible (it mourns the decline of big work horses on farms), but this is another piece that deserves a special spot in Jethro Tull's catalog. The inclusion of guest violinist Darryl Way of Curved Air adds extra impact.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/07/25/deep-dive-jethro-tull/