STAND UP

Stand up is a good follow-up to This Was. Mick Abrahams left, and Martin Barre took his place, The sound didn't alter much with the new guitarist. Still Blues based folk rock in the style of Cream/Yardbirds, a bit smoother in sound than mentioned bands mostly because of Anderson's flute playing a mayor part in Tull's sound.

1. A New Day Yesterday (4:10) A classic Blues opener, very much a Cream-sound to it. great song, a bit to long though. 2. Jeffrey Goes To Leicester Square (2:12) smooth rhytmic song, a lot of changes squeezed in two minutes, great. 3. Bourée (3:47) One of Tull's best known songs I think, always reminds me of Focus (Thijs van Leer), with an amazing flute taking the lead, and a great bass play to top it off.

4. Back To The Family (3:48) Again some Cream influences in the guitar play and the rhythm section, more edgy than usual for Tull at that period, but one of the best songs on this album. 5. Look Into The Sun (4:21) folky song, some nice harmonies, but nothing spectaculair happening. 6. Nothing Is Easy (4:26) Great blues song, fast tight rhythmic playing. And a fabulous guitar solo from Barre.

7. Fat Man (2:52) Great fun, lots of tempo changes, fabulous rhythms. 8. We Used To Know (4:00) Slower piece, builds up, and get's better with each passing second. 9. Reasons For Waiting (4:06) Nice song, some great flutes, and some orchestral arrangements giving it a bit a Moody Blues sound, just more intense because of the edgy flute of Ian. 10. For A Thousand Mothers (4:13) Great rhythms, fab. bass play and a great ending to this album. Really rocking.

All in all, this is again a great Tull album, not a big leap forward for the band, but a small step closer to what will become the Tull that will reach progressive fame with Aqualung, TAAB and A Passion Play. If I had to rate it on a blues rock scale I might give it five stars, but this is a progressive rock site, and there is better to come, so four stars will do for this great album.