CATFISH RISING

As the opening track title indicates "This is Not Love" and that says it all about this release from Jethro Tull a band I have followed since Aqualung was released some twenty years prior. Love it "no", like it "yeah" but it could have been a lot better. For starters the production seems to be a little barren lacking any depth or warmth with the instruments being toned down just a notch to Ian's vocals, which at times are particularly difficult to listen to. If you are going to do a blues album at least give it an organic muddy feel and that is lacking here. Still the album has it's moments and while "Rocks on the Road" is the highlight there are several other good tracks being "Tall Thin Girl", "Still Loving You Tonight", "White Innocense", "Thinking Around Corners" and "When Jesus Came to Play". Tull reverts back to the blues roots on this one and while it is certainly not another "This Was" or "Stand Up" it is a decent enough release to get three stars.