Jethro Tull’s "Thick As a Brick" #1 Prog?

I'm as fair-minded and reasonable as the next prog rock affciando, and I try to live and let live, and I believe all you need is love, and that love is the answer, and take all Jon Anderson's lyrics to heart, but...

I am tired of seeing Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick" as the #1 prog album week after week. First of all, I don't even think there is any one person who would say that it is worthy of that position, even a Tull fan. I think some logical glitch in the Prog Archives rating system is at fault here.

Granted, we all like Ian Anderson's humororous, outlandish concept and Martin Barres commanding guitar licks, etc., but, I'm sorry, the band is not even in the same league with many other more quintessential prog bands, for example, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, and dare I say it, even ELP (at the height of their powers).

Why is "Brick" #1? By what rating system is this injustice allowed to prevail?

What do others think? Has this come up before and been fully discussed?

Hi BTF,

While I think many of us would agree that Tull are perhaps not the number one prog band overall, the album TAAB has to be right up there with the greats of prog.

Granted there are several contenders, and in all probability if other methods of calculation were used, it might not be number one, but I'm sure TAAB would still be pretty damn close. Check out some of the reviews to see why so many people here rate it so highly!

Tull at an impromptu outdoor gig recently..

bluetailfly wrote: First of all, I don't even think there is any one person who would say that it is worthy of that position, even a Tull fan.

I beg to differ.

frenchie wrote: i wish they would get rid of that list! its gonna cause so many disagreements, i dont see why we need to have a list of the best albums when we have a key albums list and a soon to arrive history of prog.

Disagreements are good. Without them the forum would be dull dull dull. (First one to rhyme dull with Jethro Tull gets a Cliff Richard CD!)

Reed Lover wrote: Tull at an impromptu outdoor gig recently..

what the hell is going on there? seriously it looks awesome

Aaron

Aaron wrote: Reed Lover wrote: Tull at an impromptu outdoor gig recently..   what the hell is going on there? seriously it looks awesome Aaron

Tull were in the final of the "Let's Look Like Total t**sers" challenge,
but had to give in when ELP turned up!

Reed far be it from me to convert you but Thick as a Brick, Not Tull in General, is what we are discussing.  I think the album moves in a very distinct progressive line with great use of the hammond, flute and guitar and no synths. It is originial in its concept and the use of the said instruments. I love the solo spots in the middle of the first section and the end of the fisrt section when the hammond comes screaming in.  

The first 22 minute section to me is the best thing JT ever did. If it comes across to you as too much English folk (which is what I think you mean by Hey-Nonnie-Nonnie) it was kind of something unique to others not from England. There is a particular dynamic in this work that I think really set some standards for others of it's day.

Not only one of the best prog rock albums but one of the best rock albums period.