HEAVY HORSES

Some claim it to be Thick As A Brick (I gave it 5 stars too), others to be A Passion Play. I say: HEAVY HORSES. It can give you in about 8 or 9 minutes what Thick or Passion do in 45: fast and slow tempos, intensity, multiparts and an additional classical touch enhanced with string arrangements. About the overall album, it's just your average JT prog-folk album. about 5 of the 9 songs here talk about animals in the country side (6 if you include Journeyman), and there's a couple of great bonus tracks that I thought could had fit in the LP in it's full length of about 51 or 52 minutes (Foxtrot is 52 minutes long).

The album starts with a faster pace than "Songs From The Wood": "... And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps" welcomes you to the country side, with even spanish folk influences (it reminds me of Carmen in some parts). A great opener with a catchy and somewhat freaky finale (ends with a cough, that'll give you an idea of how Ian strained his good ol' vocal cords).

Then we get to the danceable "Acres Wild", with a very disco beat. It introduces the first string arrangements of the album since the "Too Old To Rock 'N Roll..." record.

"No Lullaby" works as a more blues-rocker sequel to "Pibroch", with some guitar harmonies at the C segment (I think) that work nicely.

"Moths" is one of Ian's Balladeerings, and is certainly an emotional songs with beautiful string arrangements by Mr. Palmer.

"Journeyman" is very forgettable though, but not a bad song at all; just not up to the rest of the album. It's another western folk ditty which just happens to have an irresistable bass riff.

"Rover" is also very western, but with very effective marimbas and string arrangements.

"One Brown Mouse" reminds me of lots of the "Too Old To Rock 'N Roll.." songs, with more folkish arrangements. It's another pleasant ditty in the vein of Jack-in-the-Green.

Well, at this point the masterpiece of the album sets off: amazing from intro to outro, lush strings, emotional singing, the amazing bridge with horse pace and what a chorus!!!, this is an example of strange yet beautiful.

"Weathercock" is the sequel to "Fire at Midnight", but with more emotional arrangements and great rocking ending... there's no better way to end an album of this caliber.

Of course the bonus tracks are charming as well: "Living In These Hard Times" was included on the "20 Years Of Jethro Tull" CD kit, while "Broadford Bazaar" featured on "Nightcap". The former has a very christmasy feel in the same approach as "Ring Out, Solstice Bells".

4.5 stars rounded to 5. Tull's utter masterpiece.

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