Aqualung

I have always loved the song Aqualung, but never listened to the whole album. Simply awesome, the whole thing just rocks. Brought my speakers to life!

Hobbit Rock made by actual hobbits.

I don't care. Four listens where I stayed awake, and once more when I was nodding off, and I can't think of anything engaging to write about this album. Once I was writing articles for an ESL textbook, and I received an assignment to bash out 500 words on the Canadian Tulip Festival. I struggled to stay alive writing it, I was that bored. There is no interesting fact about the Canadian Tulip Festival. The festival stemmed from when the Dutch royal family sent Canada a load of tulips after WW2. I don't care, and neither do you. The first festival was in 1953. I can't conceive of any person who would have interest in that detail. Over 300,000 tulips are displayed at the festival every year. That's over 300,000 cases of me not giving a toss. Alanis Morissette gave her first public performance aged 12 at the 1987 festival. A far more fascinating titbit about Alanis I once heard is that, apparently, she's not adverse to a bit of backdoor action.* Is the Canadian Tulip Festival a good tulip festival? I have no clue whatsoever; I don't know at all what constitutes a tulip festival of merit, except that it probably needs a lot of tulips (although could you have a tulip festival of just one tulip? What if it were a really, really big tulip, like the size of a Jeep or a Wetherspoons?). Is Aqualung a good concept album? I don't like the concept behind the concept album. One can make a thematically and atmospherically harmonious album without stapling on a narrative about a wheelchair-bound deafmute who starts a nuclear war via his ability to receive radio waves mentally, all to show everyone the folly of monetarism (that's the concept behind an actual album, Roger Waters' Radio K.A.O.S.). Oh wait, according to Jethro Tull it's not a concept album, it just shares many traits with those of concept albums. I would say that such inane pedantry would render the album mockworthy, but I can't because that would involve me caring one jot. What does anybody want me to say about this? The leader, Ian Anderson, made Jethro Tull stand out from the other prog groups by playing the flute. In terms of gimmicks, it's hardly Rick Wakeman wearing a full suit of armour or Stacia from Hawkwind dancing with her jubblies out, is it? Jethro Tull was named after the inventor of the seed drill. Can you think of a less interesting origin for a band name? I've sat here for 15 minutes trying, and one just isn't emerging. Oh, maybe this is interesting: the first two songs introduce two characters, Aqualung and Cross-Eyed Mary. Aqualung is a homeless man with a lung condition (hence the nickname Aqualung), who spends his days masturbating in playgrounds. Cross-Eyed Mary is a schoolgirl prostitute who Aqualung ogles through the schoolyard fence. And that's it from them. So, turns out it wasn't interesting after all. The theme of the second half of the album is a sardonic dismissal of organised religion. I'm an atheist, and to me that's akin to pointing out that water is useful when you're a bit thirsty, and if you're religious, you'd probably find it smug and uninsightful. This isn't a one-star album, and that's the problem: a disaster of Hindenbergian proportions would at least be a curiosity. This is a two-star album that is so dull it's not even intriguing in its tedium: it's just dull. *The author would like to make clear that they have no knowledge whatsoever pertaining to the proclivities of Ms. Morissette, and no inference or judgement on that matter should be made regarding the statement referring to Ms. Morissette in the preceding passage.

An absolutely marvellous album. Locomotive Breath is my favourite.

There's a reason why Jethro Tull beat Metallica at the Grammys. It's a brilliant Album with plenty of guitar and flute solos alike. Aqualung is one of my favourite songs of all time.

An amazing album that showcases all the best of Jethro Tull

Came away with the impression that any groovability was a happy accident, that these silly sods were more interested in playing silly buggers with studio gewgaws, prog "innovations" (I've yet you hear a prog album where the trickery amounts to more than blue balling the listener) and getting jiggy on the flute. But jigginess cannot be ignored. Musically, they score almost half the time. The problem is mostly the lyrics (Balzac via Pete Townsend's operatic tendencies?) and the vocals (some bloke who came third place in his Fagin audition?) I imagine Tull and their fans really want you to listen, insist their are layers to the music and words, but I only found it tolerable by not paying attention.

Someone's middle school band director lied to them. Flute is not rock and roll, buddy. This album has no idea what it wants to be and it's utterly frustrating. Every track starts off really great ... and then the flute shows up and wrecks the whole rock vibe. Without the flute, this would have been a 4-star album easily. As it stands, I'm being generous with a 2-star review. Extremely generous. That damn flute...

The third CD I ever owned - first heard this album in 1988 I think. But HOLY SHIT I spun the Steven Wilson 2011 remix and good lord it sounds really, really good. hadn't heard these songs in many years.

One of best rock albums of the decade

A true classic combining rock and folk.

Jethro Tull is the only band allowed to use the flute. Them and King Gizzard. That's it. This album still feels influential over modern music because these progressions are just so timeless. Aqualung really hit things out of the water and there are very few albums like it. All songs are highlights and should be required listening, but an abbreviation of the highlights are: 1, 4, 6, and 7.

Alright, so this is incredible. Folk-prog-blues-hard-rock... Enjoyed every minute

It’s a fucking banger.

One of the greatest albums I've ever listened. The flute solos are really magical.

Think I'm gonna put this whole project on pause and go binge Jethro Tull's entire discography because this was FUCKING AMAZING.

This is getting 5 stars rather than the 4 I had planned due to all the wankers that complained about flutes or gave it 1 star.. Piss off

I dont like it. Sounds like a fairytale theater run by deadheads.

First time listen beyond title track (which tuned down and through heavier amps would’ve been a doom metal classic) and “Locomotive Breath.” Dug “Hymn 43” and “Wind Up.” Still on the fence about the flute and all flute related breathing sounds here.

I like prog, also the early stuff. But I can't stand the flute. But besides that I like the sound and vibe.

A bit like Black Sabbath with added woodwind. Impressive musicianship, but the songs don't grab me. Some questionable themes, but it was the 1970s. 2/5.

Great riffs bogged down by by boring prog ideas. This is Black Sabbath if they thought they were smart.

Sikkert kjent for de fleste, men godt å bli minnet på godbiter som denne. Det er ikke lett å være hjemløs.

Not enough rock albums have flute

2 words, rock flute. Big Jethro Tull fan and this is obviously their biggest album. I'm always on the lookout it when shopping for second hand vinyl. Would love this guy in my collection.

Kinda nice

Approved by my dad!

Hmm

Another prog rock masterpiece, but with flute.

So I accidentally listened to this on shuffle, but really really liked it. Awesome musical bits, vocals sounded cool, what lyrics I could understand were p good. 10

I love rock. I love classic rock. I love British classic rock. And yet I somehow made it to 40 years of age without hearing a Jethro Tull album. This get 4 stars for the jazz flute doubling the bass line into on Up to Me. The extra star is for everything else. I’m not saying this is the best British classic rock album ever ...but if someone else were to say that, I’d hear them out.

Going in I didn't really know what to expect, but it really surprised me. I thought that the song progression was great and that all of the instruments + voice fit together perfectly. The first song starts the album off really strong and every song after that matches that level of quality. Favorite track: Aqualung

Вот, ща балдёж будет. Ради такого надел наушники и подключил звуковуху плеера. И не зря: заглавный трек сразу сильно по эмоциям отбиватся. К слову, изначально услышал его в Guitar Hero 6 и подумал, что какое-то очередное душилово для стариков. И не для тех стариков, к которым сам отчасти принадлежу, а более ветхих. С группой начал знакомиться тогда, когда купил первый hi-fi плеер и захотелось вкусить илитарной музыки, классического прог-рока. Тогда скачал дискографии Jethro Tull, Van Der Graaf Generator, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis. И вот всеми на момент прослушивания маленько проникся, но вот сейчас готов переслушать считанные альбомы. Но Jethro Tull принадлежат несколько. Раньше казалось, что лирика посвящена фантастическим сюжетам, про путешествия по дну морскому в акваланге. Вот тот мужик с обложки перед отбытием ухмыляется, мол надоели вы мне, ща шубу накину, дойду до причала, переоденусь в акваланг и прям в океян бахнусь. Ан нет, Акваланг - это всего лишь имя мужика. А жаль. При прослушивании сохраняется чувство, что слушаешь реально выдающееся классическое произведение, умную музыку. Это – тот прог-рок, который скорее арт-. В то же время нет ноток архаики, звучит вполне актуально (для прог-фолк-рока, конечно). Композиции грамотные, разнообразные, подбор инструментов оригинальный. Внятные, цепляющие мотивы в наличии. Вкрапления Хард-рока вносят приятное разнообразие и выполнены на высоком уровне. Вполне можно предположить, что при определённых условиях группа могла повторить путь Deep Purple, постепенно отойти от прогрессивных корней и добиться высоких успехов в Хард-рок мейнстриме. Хотя мы живём вроде как в лучшей вселенной, где этого не произошло. И всё же, несмотря на арт- составляющую, прог- составляющая весьма заметна. А это значит, что для неподготовленного уха звучать будет довольно душно, напряжно. Да даже для моего уха альбом настолько комплексный, что способен утомить. Особенно если слушать через динамики на фоне. Но такая музыка действительно заслушивает, чтобы сконцентрироваться на прослушивании. Сидеть, втыкать. Качество записи к семи тем боле располагает. 9/10

Il mio voto è influenzato dal fatto che conosco bene e sono molto legato a questo piccolo gioiello del prog. Ho cercato di avere un approccio critico, ovviamente non è un album perfetto, forse un po' prolisso (c'è di peggio nel panorama progressive rock), ma io quest'album non mi stancherò mai di ascoltarlo (e puntualmente a ogni ascolto penserò di dover comprare un flauto traverso).

I have only really heard the song 'Aqualung' from Jethro Tull. I should have listened to more. This album is superb. It is driving and lyrically interesting with its explorations of religion, god, and the human condition. Ian Anderson's vocals are superb and the flute playing is not a mere novelty; it is phenomenal. Jethro Tull's dedication to traditional British folk music shows through the prog rock in a way that feels natural. I will definitely look for this album in vinyl

As good as it was the first time I heard it!

okay, this is good

First time exploring this legendary group. Wow! Flute and electric guitar? These guys make everything work and combine all kinds of genres and break down any rules about what can and can’t be done. Amazing musicianship. While closer to world music and jazz, rather than rock from 2021 eyes, it is a remarkable musical experience.

Never gets old, always nice to revisit this classic album

Classic. I remember some of the samples from RJD2s breezeblock coming from this album.

First listen: "this album is so weird, eww" Second listen: "this album is so weird, I love it" One of the very few albums on this list where I got to the end and immediately listened to it a second time. It is truly a bizarre prog-rock folk album where every song seems to have a flute solo, and I love it for it.

Already know this one, great album

Creepy lyrics and nice music

Rock flute at it's best.

First time listening to Jethro Tull, Loved it, Great combination of Rock, Folks and Prog

Really liked this album, the flute surprised me. But it works well in my opinion.

cool

One of Jethro Tull's finest work. Many tracks are instant classics.

One of my favorite album of all time. I'm a huge Jethro Tull fan. Ian Anderson is such a talented artist. Nothing else to say : Masterpiece!

A true masterpiece, nothing less

a calda do bolo

This has long been one of my favorites.

Whoever said they don't like this bc it sounds like a fairytale theater run by deadheads......THAT'S WHY IT'S SO GOOD. Btw, any instrument can be rock - that's what's great about music.

I've heard this album a million times and love it, but I just discovered the remix from about a decade ago, and I'm hearing drums and things that I've never noticed in the original before. Sounds amazing.

Good jams, like the flute.

easily gets 6 stars out of 5 I’m a slut for prog rock like holy shit dude this album is so good, I’ve been listening to this on loop for the past 6 hours, every song gets better every time I hear it I wanna hear their other stuff but from what I’ve seen, this album is as good as it gets, still check this album out, iconic as fuck

Foda

I’m not sure how, but I’m familiar with every song on here. I must’ve had the cassette. Jethro Tull has such depth and combinations of genres. Really good stuff. Me likey

Jethro Tull at one of their peaks of creativity.

Fantastic

My grandad is always on and on about this band ( so I hope it’s good)… The album starts off with the title track, a fairly cool 6 minute multi parter, It starts with this fairly heavy bit where it kinda reminds me of black sabbath, then theres the slow section which is alright but not brilliant only to explode into this great pop track the kinda song I thought this band would make theres an instrumental that reverts into the slow second which while isn’t my favourite kinda glues all the songs sections. It ends full circle on the awesome black sabbath-y part. Amazing! Cross eyed Mary starts with a brilliant flute based intro really showing what this band can do, the main song itself is a great slow rocker with great lyrics. Cheap day return is a short and sweet interlude-y track providing a nice breather before… Mother goose is a very folk based track it’s not my favourite but it’s still good especially with the songs flute workings in it. Wond’ring Aloud is another short track not an interlude as such as it’s a bit too dynamic for that but it’s still good especially with the string work. Theres some laughing which brings on up to me it’s a decent track with a great groove to to it and good lyrics just slightly going under the quality of the first two songs. Side two starts off with the 7 minute long my god it’s intro is a great piece of acoustic picking which Segway’s into a great verse. The song fights with the original riff until it turns into quite a heavy track that eventually blends all of the sounds from this band the most interesting part is the flute solo backed with the ( na na na na na’s). Then the heaviness comes back for the last minute great! Then is the album’s first ( of two) singles hymn 43, despite its name it’s probably one of the heaviest songs on here acting as a true grand centrepiece to the whole album. Slipstream is another break-y interlude thing it’s good just not special. Then is the other single and penultimate track of the album, locomotive breath a piano led track at the start but then takes a complete left turn once the song hits and proves itself as a true rocker very entertaining! The album’s goodbye is in the form of wind up it starts off as a really beautiful acoustic track that slowly builds up what a closer. Wow really good… thanks grandad!

These were my childhood lullabies. My father and mommy would play this album during trips and holidays.

Great vocals, killer guitar, and even flute.... What's not to love?

Anybody who complains about the flute knows what they can do with said instrument. This is a classic from start to finish.

Classic

Sitting on a park bench Feeling like a dead duck Spitting out pieces of his broken luck 5*s

Some good songs

This is fire ! Somehow it reminds me of Toto

Fantastic album. A fun ride and a great concept. Loved discovering this one.

I was a little skeptical at first - I was familiar with the beginning of Aqualung (the track) but had never heard the whole song. But this album ended up being SO MUCH FUN to listen to!! When I realized it was a concept album and started to see it through the lens as an obvious big influence for some of my favorite artists like The Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens, I felt like I understood it better and was able to enjoy it thoroughly. I was a little skeptical at first - I was familiar with the beginning of Aqualung (the track) but had never heard the whole song. But this album ended up being SO MUCH FUN to listen to!! When I realized it was a concept album and started to see it through the lens as an obvious big influence for some of my favorite artists like The Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens, I felt like I understood it better and was able to enjoy it thoroughly. I loved all the different instruments and styles throughout the whole album. It kept me interested and engaged and excited to explore the rest of the Jethro Tull discography!

This album slaps. Instrumental portions sound somewhat similar to Rush.

I go nuts for a mad flute solo

A milestone, a historic piece.

I liked this a lot!

Love this one

Aqualung non ha bisogno di presentazioni. Adoro quest’album.

Super Album! 5/5 stars! It's a classic progressive rock album with a great sound ***** Mighty riffs and grooves; it's kicking most of the time ***** Rocking flute played in a well-balanced band; it's intelligent and unique ***** It is an essential reference point for its genre. I advise everyone to listen!

Wow. THIS is exactly what I was looking for when I first started going through this list. This album was pure awesome and undeniably a classic. It feels like it has a little something for every type of rock fan while still feeling very cohesive/unique. I had heard of Jethro Tull and have seen this album cover many times in record stores. I was aware of the title track, but I had never shown it much appreciation; after focusing in on it and realizing how intricate and detailed it was, I was locked in to the rest of the album. Thankfully, everything that proceeded lived up to that first song as each song was very tight and eccentric. 'Cross-Eyed Mary' had some amazing jazz flute that ended up being present through most of the album; while I wouldn't have assumed this would work, it added so much to every track it was in. It ended up adding fairy tale/medieval vibes to the record (almost LOTR like) which helped boost the overall power of the songs on here. Even the songs that didn't have it as prominently were great: 'Cheap Day Return' was short, but I added it to my Starred list immediately based on the guitar work alone. I also loved the piano work on 'Wond'ring Aloud', and the chanting in 'My God' backing the flute was such a cool moment, especially for 1971. It just overall felt like music that was different but familiar at the same time. It reminded me of the Moody Blues at points, but definitely more rock-focused with its loud guitar and vocalist. It also reminded me of Queen's 'A Night at the Opera' (one of my all time favorite albums) in terms of album structure/theming. Not sure if it had any influence on that record, but I wouldn't be surprised. In short, this one rocked from beginning to end, and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates music. 5/5; the first perfect score I've given to an album I've never heard before.

This is in my top ten rock albums of all time.

This is in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Can't wait to give this one a spin on the player when I get a chance to later ✌🏻

Almost every song is a banger, people that hate on the flute should check themselves

This album is so great. Greatest blend of hard rock and folk ever realized (besides their even more folky albums like TAAB and Songs from the Wood). These old rockers have such a clever, witty take on rock music. They are very down to earth, self-aware, silly, and unpretentious compared to other prog rock bands, while still having the talent and complexity that prog is known for. Anyone who thinks there is too much flute here should give this album another listen after they've pulled the flute out of their anal cavity

A Masterpiece

This album was surprisingly great. I loved it a lot and will be listening again.

-"Aqualung" is just an absolute jam with killer riff. The lyrics are so descriptive as well. Just an awesome tune -Hell yeah it is flute time in "Cross-Eyed Mary." Another track with a sweet riff. So many instruments absolutely shredding on this one. The bridge/end but is a great mini-shred of all the instruments -"Mother Goose" has the repeating Renaissance-ish theme thing -"Up To Me" has another great riff motif, this time with flute in it! -"My God" has some serious flute jamming going on -"Hymn 43" is another awesome track. Drums are going crazy through the whole thing basically. The scratchy guitar riff that repeats with different mini-solos over it is killer as well -"Locomotive Breath" is another totally legendary tune. Absolutely iconic riff -I had not really been appreciating the top quality riffs out of Jethro Tull before this -"Wind Up" has a great build up to intensity, and some very poignant lyrics -Just a killer album of solid rock tunes, with lots of flute thrown in as bonus!

Difficult to quantify exactly what makes this such a good album - There are plenty of other songs about homelessness and the disenfranchised. There are plenty of other intense guitar heavy rock songs from the 70s. Somehow this stands out among the crowd and is indeed an album that everyone should hear. 5/5

Can we please forget about the flute for a few minutes. Just listen to how good the guitar work is. Martin Barre just does not get the credit he deserves. OK, having said my piece, this is one of the all time greats. There will be people who find it twee or irritating. There will be those that try to argue (and fail miserably) the the flute is not a rock instrument. (Anything is a rock instrument if you play rock on it). These people are to be pitied, not pilloried. Ian Anderson's voice is not to everyone's taste, but his ability to express himself is almost without equal in contemporary music. The songwriting is as good as it gets, the technical skills are excellent - what more do you want (I know - less flute)

Un album super piacevole da ascoltare con suoni folk e celtici

Amazing

Amazing, really like this one

Goddamn classic.

One of my favorites from my teenage years.

Unreal.

<3 this album. Solid reminders of 16 - think this is one of the first "classic rock" albums I ever listened to all the way through. Hymn 43 and Cross-Eyed Mary are bangers.

An album deserving of 1989's best Heavy Metal band. It's got three certified bangers in Aqualung, My God, and Locomotive breath. The only problem with it is you can't half listen to it, needs active listening and reading the lyrics to get the most out of it.

First time hearing more than just the hidden and I'm upset I didn't listen sooner

Already love the album before this website. Creative and unique style. Flute solos go so hard I can't even fathom.

So Frickin good. Loved almost every song. The lyrics, JUST HOW IT SOUNDS OVERALL. Was so happy to have discovered this because it finally felt like something I’d wanna listen to rather than something that I can respect but probably never want to relisten to.

A 3 star album saved by the title track to 4 stars. Iconic guitar lick.

3/26 Great, interesting rock album, lot of flute instrumentation mixed in and really well done. Standout Tracks: Aqualung, Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose, My God, Slipstream