SONGS FROM THE WOOD

After reading a few reviews of this album I'm surprised by the amount of people calling it an acoustic Jethro Tull release. I guess that it's the combination of the album's title and the first two opening numbers that gets people confused since if you start digging deeper all new exciting shades add a completely new spectrum to the equation. If you're interested in hearing this band's more acoustic material then I'd actually suggest listening to Aqualung due to its acoustic guitar driven middle section. Instead, I shall only describe Songs From The Wood as the best Jethro Tull album since their glory days of Thick As A Brick, which is actually quite an achievement!

With the return to the shorter song format on War Child I honestly assumed that the band had reached their creative peak and were now setting down in a more familiar territory where they would treat their fans to an album, every other year or so, with a few surprises here and there but nothing to write home about in the long run. This was where I was completely off the mark and it was Jethro Tull's privilege to point out my miscalculation on the subject.

1977 was the year where progressive rock had already gone out of style, which might also be the case in the band's direction with this material. Still, there is an undeniable creativity on each of these 9 compositions that makes this album more than just another release from a prog dinosaur. The biggest change this time around are the strong folk rock influences that have taken over many of the hard rock moments. Surprisingly enough the album rocks just as hard, if not even harder, than classics like Aqualung with the new spin creating an exciting aura around this material.

The album-opening title-track and Jack-In-The-Green are two of those comfort zone acoustic numbers with a twist that we've come to expects from Jethro Tull over the years. Not really the spectacular moments that many fans make it out to be but still a nice kick-off that adds a moody vibe to the release. The remaining seven tracks are far from your average affair with some quite spectacular moments like the very folk-sounding Velvet Green and especially The Whistler, which I never get tired of, that adds an almost Celtic music sound into the mix.

To summarize, Songs From A Wood is an excellent album well worth your time if you're a fan of Jethro Tull's music. This album is not necessary the best introduction to the band's sound although it would, nonetheless, be a great addition to any prog rock music collection.

***** star songs: Velvet Green (6:05) The Whistler (3:31)

**** star songs: Songs From The Wood (4:56) Jack-In-The-Green (2:31) Cup Of Wonder (4:34) Hunting Girl (5:13) Pibroch (Cap In Hand) (8:36) Fire At Midnight (2:34)

*** star songs: Ring Out, Solstice Bells (3:47)

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