THICK AS A BRICK

I'm sure the ever-so-redundant "nothing more can be said that already has" reviews are wearing thin, but honestly, the best things that could be possibly said about this album in a review have already preceded mine. So, why do I waste my time writing a few words about one of my top ten favorite albums? Why NOT waste my time writing a few words about one of my top ten favorite albums? :D

I picked this one up -- blindly -- from an obscure, little record store in Bellingham, WA a few years back. I hadn't heard much by the TULL boys besides what I had heard on our local Classic Rock radio station, but based on the abundance of five-star reviews I had already seen on the Archives for this record, I figured my $15 would be well-spent -- and, boy, was it.

What surprised me the most, especially during the first spin, was the solidity and tightness of the instrumentation, from all members. Every musician is at top form here, even being virtuosic with multiple instruments (Violins, flutes, etc.)! I was in absolute awe. Even the dudes who game me Living In The Past and Aqualung could pull off an extremely energetic and freakishly complex piece of Progressive...art. The melodies, compositions, musicianship, and vocals are flawless on this one -- it's an absolute masterpiece.

Like I promised, I'll cut this review short -- there really isn't anything else I can say without being too redundant, so I'll leave you with this: if you're a Progressive Rock fan and haven't heard this, you're not a Progressive Rock fan. If you're a JETHRO TULL fan and haven't purchased this and spun it a hundred times, you fail.