J-TULL DOT COM

It's hard to listen to a latter day Tull album after listening to an earlier one (Aqualung), because you do tend to compare. What really sticks out is Ian's voice so far up in the mix. I have to concentrate to hear the bass and/or keys. Don't get me wrong, Ian Anderson's lyrics are what usually drags me in on current Tull albums, but when you look back, the music usually supercedes. Ah, well....musically, the only song that sticks in my head, believe-it-or-not is the semi-rap "Hot Mango Flesh". Other than that, "AWOL" is the most progressive, and "A Gift Of Roses" is the prettiest. Other songs, "Hunt By Numbers', "Spiral", "El Nino" could have been on any Tull album since 1980. There's nothing new here other than the rappish song and maybe "Dot Com" with what I think is the first female backing vocals I've heard on a Tull song. Could be wrong, but....anywho, if you're looking for new ground, forget it. But it's not a bad album by any means, just your basic middle-of-the-road Tull album. Not earth-shattering, but not bad. A solid three-stars.