AQUALUNG

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 -- would be utilized throughout the album but ultimately the music that makes it worthy of praise as a whole 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 one of Tull's finest efforts. 4.0

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Lobster77
• Report this review (#3163795)
• Buy JETHRO TULL music online with PA partners
• Show all JETHRO TULL MP3/Stream
• Go to JETHRO TULL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Aqualung page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for JETHRO TULL related discussions