SONGS FROM THE WOOD

Songs from the Wood is an immense improvement over the unfocused mess that is TORRTYD. Where Tull's 1976 release opened with an uneasy, half-assed riff, this album opens with a striking, folky vocal melody. (Get ready for me to abuse the hell out of the word "folk" in the ensuing paragraphs.) Dee Palmer officially joined the band as a fulltime member, providing additional keys, and she and John Evan give this album a lush texture. The title track--which is in the upper echelon of individual Tull songs on its own--grabs your attention with its synthesis of British folk, prog, and hard rock.

The title track isn't the only place where Jethro Tull leaned into folk influences. In fact, this entire album draws heavily from the folk traditions of the British Isles. The music here is varied, though it all drinks from the same font. "Jack-In-The-Green" is a simple flute-and-guitar piece, and "Ring Out Solstice Bells" is a joyous Christmas song. "Pibroch (Cap in Hand)" is slow and the darkest song on the album, though it retains a certain fanciful flavor owing to its folk roots.

Songs from the Wood marked a shift in Jethro Tull's overall sound. They'd never been shy about incorporating folk influences, but it was on this album where they wholeheartedly embraced it. The combination of folk and hard rock, coupled with complex song structures and virtuosic musicianship, makes this one of Tull's best records.

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