AQUALUNG

This is the first Tull album I got the chance to listen and is definately in the JT's top five. In 1971 JT line-up was about to start a row of the best albums ever recorded. I believe Aqualung's songs start to have a social and religious content and like that will continue the songs of the albums recorded afterwards. It is considered by many people as a concept album, but by Anderson himself as "just a bunch of songs put together". Somehow it really came out being the first step and introduction of the absolutely astonishing and mind blowers Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play. The music written for Aqualung is more aggressive and maybe with less folk melodies than the previous records. Here the guitar solos and flute solos play a more important role and give the songs new structures. In this record Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond start his career as a Tull musician and will turn into a vital member of the best JT line-up up to 1978. The orchestral arrangements are flawless and the piano pieces played by John Evans undoubtedly turn Aqualung into a five star album. The title track, My God, Hymn 43, Locomotive Breath and Cross Eyed Mary are the greatest tracks. Nevertheless, the rest of the songs have their charm. It's unfair to TAAB and APP to give five stars to Aqualung, the former simply can't be compared with any other JT record, because of their complex structures...Anyway, I believe TAAB and APP would deserve six stars! If you have the chance to listen to the album don't allow yourself to miss the flute solos in My God and Locomotive Breath. Absolutely amazing! With Aqualung we are welcome into the wonderful Tull world.