Aqualung

Love the cover!

A nice introduction to Jethro Tull! Lovely flute and piano throughout, interesting religious themes along the way. Enjoyable listen.

I like this a lot more than I thought I would. I remember hearing a bit of Jethro Tull when I was younger and not being impressed with it. But it's really solid classic late 60s/early 70s rock but also flute. Like the flute solo in "My God" is mind blowing. In that it's really well done but also fits perfectly somehow in one of the heavier songs on the album. This is an album that the more and more I listen to it, the more and more I enjoy it. At first, I thought it was solid, but not spectacular, but with almost every song, I'm enjoying it more. Favorite Song(s): Mother Goose, Wond'ring Aloud, My God, *Hymn 43*

I did not listen to the whole thing and will in time. This rocked. I did need to hear this before I died.

Was the title track written by Epstein about Trump?

4/5 (The title track is a clear 5/5, if only I enjoyed the rest of Jethro Tull as much)

Tremendo

Shite. He can't sing

My God and Wind Up were favorites, was good

Not for me. Indistinct 70s rock with a flute thrown in for good measure.

EPIC

3 great tracks but the rest were meh

Thought I would like this because I used to be into prog when I was a teenager but I found this boring. I still respect Ian Anderson’s unique ability to stand on one leg.

I couldn't place where I'd heard the title track from until I realised it was on Rock Band and one that was very difficult to sing. As for the whole album, it's decent enough until you get to Wind-Up which I thought was fantastic. So good that there seemed to be two versions of it on the Special Edition I was listening to.

I wish my lungs filled with Aqua while I was listening to this album.

An interesting and exciting album filled with unique songs, the quality goes well beyond the excellent first track. Making use of jazz flute and other interesting styles throughout the album, this is a fun and relatively unique listen.

Simply the best Jethro Tull. Every song on this album is an excellent edition to the band's folksy prog rock repertoire, and the short tracks create space for contemplation and a reset before the next impressive song. The lyrical themes, inclusion of non-traditional instruments, and instrumental arrangements land this album squarely in the realm of prog rock, and hindsight makes clear that what the band was putting into this album were quintessential elements of early prog.

I liked it more than I thought I would like a rock band with a flute.

Love this

Know it, love it

Classic. Full of hits. If you like your rock and roll with flute, can’t recommend an album more

hell yea i love flute

Not a bad album but not really for me. Feels very of it's time and fairly dated. Still has some catchy songs and deserves a place here but not one I'll listen to again

are you kidding me

I never had this album, shockingly, since I played the heck out of Benefit and Thick as a Brick (somehow I ended up with 2 copies of it, sorry Tom, if you've been wondering where it is, I have yours and mine). Saw Jethro Tull live at Blossom some 20 years ago, awesome performance. 5 stars all day long.

Aqualung sounds like Dylan if he made an album with Rush.

Utter. UTTER. Bollocks.

Just not interested in this, bit of an identity crisis in the creative process I reckon, which I often find with prog. Not bad, just not good. And yes we say what we like, that flute needs to be murdered.

There is a reason only Aqualung is famous. Also I can't take it serious because it just sounds like Trey Parker

Quite enjoyable. I was familiar with Aqualung and Locomotive Breath but not the rest of the album. Not every track is a banger and it could probably use some trimming down, but overall I enjoyed my time with it. Good chance of revisiting this one.

While this is Jethro Tull's best-known and best-selling album, it's not their best work to my taste. The title track, "Cross-Eyed Mary", and "Locomotive Breath" are all fantastic singles, and the rest of the album is consistently solid, mixing hard rockers with pensive little acoustic ditties. The lyrics are consistently incisive, the instrumental performances are top-notch, and the riffs are brilliant. Not Tull's best album, but still a 5-star classic.

Started out a little slow but it eventually opened up to a delightful proggy series of songs. I always enjoy the idea of a concept album and how the album is intended to tell a singular story. The fact that I can’t pick out the songs from the group is not a negative for me. I will be returning to this. 4/5

More like Jethro Dull

Not bad. Quite 70s. Mostly liked the bits that were less pretentious.

Heavier than expected and enjoyed it more than expected.

Very nostalgic prog rockin. Great fun

The rock flute lives! This is a weird album. I only heard it though a couple of years ago. It's like a medieval festival pressed on wax. I always remember seeing the cover as a kid and being fairly afraid of it. An I just realized the poster on the cover says, "Spend Christmas Skiiing..." Weird. But yeah, classic for its weirdness.

Aqualung was Len Houmous’ nickname after he swam 4km under water without a breath. 2.4 8/11 Hymn 43

guitar tone is killer

1971 Prog rock con Hard rock Está chula la fusión.

absolutely all time album for me.

What a cult album! I love the way Ian Anderson introduces the transverse flute to rock music while standing on one leg. It was simply an innovative and creative boost for popular music. The cover art is unique; back then, there was still a real art to designing album covers. It depicts an old, shaggy-looking beggar—which is precisely the main subject of the socially critical lyrics. Some songs also critique the treatment of religion. The lyrics are incredibly intelligent, weaving together like a concept across both Side A and Side B. Concept albums were in vogue during the late 60s and early 70s, and many bands created at least one; this is one of the finest! Musically, the sound ranges from folk and hard rock to psychedelic elements. Yet, influences from classical music—and, of course, Baroque and early music—are clearly audible as well. I own the 40th Anniversary Adapted Edition, and it sounds leagues better than my old vinyl copy. Steven Wilson has polished this gem and given it the recognition it deserves.

#241/1001 🇬🇧 I worked for a guy in the 80s/90s who had painted band names like Jethro Tull and The Stranglers on the side of his tractor (???). I can't say that it made me want to go out and buy their albums. I can see that people might dislike the flute here. Its not the bad part for me. Its all the pomp and mystical bollocks that you find in prog records. This is by no means the worst album of this genre but its not one that i feel that i need to revisit. Best Tracks: Wond'ring Aloud, Up To Me.

Like the sound a lot.

Crap

Up To Me 🌟

4.5/5

4.5/5

Got a lyric about noncing kids 10 seconds into the album. Great

Well. Thought this was a 3 at most for sure. I mean it’s way too long. And it has Renaissance sensibilities. That’s two very strong marks against it. But damn. Rock the flute! It’s coherent. And I actually liked it more, honestly way more, than I didn’t. So. 4 4 Boolean: True

7/10

Turns out having an emotional connection to one song (Locomotive Breath), doesn't make a great album. Decent music indeed, and the last track with the radio spot is super fun, but it's not really something to come back to over and over again...

The only thing I really knew about Jethro Tull coming into this was the flute, so I was expecting something a bit pastoral, maybe a bit like Renaissance? There's a bit of that here, but unfortunately there's still too much of that ugly hard rock sound that prog bands often find themselves slipping into. Still can't stand that!

Great classic album

The eccentricity of this band and mixed with the odd beauty is quite a combination. Plus, Ian Anderson's wild nature. They are able to weave between prog rock, the occasional ballad, and the addition of some heavy metal spice. +1 for the nostalgia, but I was probably gonna give this a 5 regardles.

Very good. A lot of hits and the fillers fill me up

Love the flute

Hobbit rock

Awesome

I can tell you right at the outset that this album is too fucking long. An album better be pretty fucking good to justify being as long as a movie. "Mother Goose" is pretty good. This album doesn't really speak to me but it was pleasant to have on in the background while I worked. Love the woodwind instrument on "My God", flute or whatever it is. Vibing.

Was pleasantly surprised, a lot of it sounded the same by the end though

High 4 stars one of Jethro Tulls best albums all songs very strong. Only note would be add more flute.

It deserves to be in any rock and roll cannon but it does not hold up so well. Good but dated. Flute work continues to be amazing.

Kinda rock. British. I liked it tho.

As a “rock & roll guy” who learned the flute for highschool band in the early 00s, a lot of people thought I’d really love this band. I've always struggled to actually get into them, but I kinda understand the vision and the appeal. There's a world where I love this, but in this world, it's only music for very specific times/moods.

It was really cool

Fantastic. I love whenever a band has an instrument other than drums, bass, guiter.

What a legendary album. The flute!! No notes.

I’m not much of a Metallica fan but the fact that this won the first ever best metal Grammy throws the whole academy into question. Cripes.

Ok 2/5

How many good rock albums feature the flute? Really great to listen to - a real gem!

Le prog le moins prétentieux, aussi bon que pendant mon secondaire.

Un peu plus rock que prog. Par moments on est pas loin du glam de Ziggy; Martin Barre a quelque chose de semblable à Mick Ronson. Toujours un plaisir d'y revenir aux 5-10 ans. 4.5 étoiles

not bad not great

3.5 stars I’ve seen this album in a lot of bargain bins and was somewhat familiar with the melody of the title track, but otherwise it was an honest mystery to me. It has its moments of enjoyable bluesy rock n roll. Maybe it’ll grow on me more, and by no means did I dislike it. Glad I finally heard it.

Ah yes, the classic progressive rock band with the flute. And yeah, this is a pretty solid album. There are a lot of cool sounds going on here, mixing that classic prog-rock style with folk, piano, acoustic guitar, heavier rock, and, of course, plenty of Ian Anderson’s flute. The lyrics also give the album a little more weight, touching on things like religion, homelessness, and society in general. There really aren’t many tracks here that I would call bad. Most of them are well-written and interesting enough, and the stronger songs definitely stand out. Aqualung is great, Locomotive Breath is probably my favorite, and several of the other tracks kept me interested just because of what they were actually saying. My main problem is that, outside of those highlights, there just wasn’t much that really grabbed onto me. I kept waiting for another memorable melody, riff, or moment that would stick in my head after the album was over, and it never really came. There’s clearly a lot of talent and thought behind Aqualung, and I can understand why it’s considered a classic. I just admired it a little more than I actually loved listening to it. Not bad at all, just missing that extra hook for me.

Toto sa dalo

Great the first songs about a pedo. Confessions of a fiddler and not the instrument. Two songs in and Aqualung is looking for kids. Being the 70s they could be into this Mother goose is about some fair with some more bonkers characters although one might be a pedo with a raincoat. Remember not only playing the flute he's standing on one leg.

fajny vibe, naprawdę dobry album. uczciwie dałabym 4.5, ale nie mogę, wiec daję 4, bo jednak musiałabym troche dłużej nad nim posiedzieć

NA

I've never been able to nail down what JT sounds like — aside from "Aqualung," which is its own singular thing. Sometimes I think they're all folk-y with the flute, and sometimes pretty hard rock with crunchy guitar. I probably just haven't listened to enough of their music all at once. I like the album, but I still hear it as disjointed.

70's prog is my favourite genre, but I never got into Jethro Tull, I would enjoy them way more if it was a purely instrumental band. The flute is especially amazing. The first part of the album was quite hard to digest, both structurally and meaning-wise. To me the whole first part of the album is way too built around the natural speech pattern, while I prefer instrument-first approach. I usually don't listen to lyrics much, but for this project I'm reading along and looking up the meaning, as I want to be thorough. I definitely wasn't prepared for the Aqualung and Cross-Eyed Mary's meaning. I get what they were going for but I use art for escapism and I'd rather not listen about creepy men in song form, as there's enough of that irl. My God is a little on the heavier side, I like it best, it has a tighter structure and more energy. Great flute solo. Hymn 43 is also pretty cool, reminds me a little of Dio's earlier band Elf. I have a thing for juicy rock'n'roll piano, so this is right up my alley. Locomotive Breath is also really groovy. The lyrics in general, both the social criticism and specifically the anti-religious remarks, are not very subtle and frankly made me cringe more than once, but maybe for their time they were considered edgy as hell. A lot of the criticism is too obvious and at the same time separates the concept of god from the organised religion, as if protecting it, which is cartoonish to me. Come to think of it, in my playlist I have an example of these same topics being explored with way more grace by Fabrizio de André (e.g. Il testamento di Tito).

Has there ever been a less fashionable band? I collected all of their albums back in high school because I was and am a giant nerd. My favorites were Songs from the Wood and Minstrel in the Gallery, but yes, this one was more rocking. (And pretentious enough that Ian Anderson made a whole ironic concept album immediately afterward to try to blunt the criticism.) As of 2026, Martin Barre's guitar still rules, Ian's flute is still a lot of silly fun, and the lyrics are hmm. I still love it.

Probably their best.

Forgot how much I like Jethro Tull

Some of it I liked a lot but some of it really dragged

Beautiful

Stone cold classic. Easily in Tull's top 5 greatest records

Hobbit Rock (*non-derogatory)

Very mixed bag for me. I have the hereditary vinyl not so much because I love it all, but the flute player obligation. And I do like the more melodic pieces, and Locomotive Breath for the solo, but the heavier tracks (first two especially) make me feel slightly ill.

Creative, energetic, diverse, and maybe a little ahead of its time? (Maybe not, prog rock was already probably in full swing by this point.) The variety was one of the greatest strengths of this album; some tracks were very reminiscent of progressive rock, with many changing sections, and some were more straightforward. I mostly preferred the more heartfelt songs to the more aggressive ones, but I also found myself not bothered by those because of the variety. The length didn't bother me either for the same reason, although a few probably could have been left out (Why did the same track show up twice?) The one man's flute chops are seriously impressive. (Reminds me of Dungen, a Swedish band I like.) To me, it reads as someone who was classically trained, and then branched out to create music that's more suited to his tastes. Classical music and progressive rock are actually oddly similar in their composition structures. The interview was interesting, because I noticed some imperfections in production (namely the first song?) on this album. I think I'm wiling to give this a light 4. Glad to have learned about this band

This is gonna be a tough one to rate, I think, since this group (or, at any rate, this album) is kind of schizophrenic, flopping back and forth between something like traditional British folk music and something like hard rock. When they're all flutes n recorders n acoustic guitars and soft tambourines and soft vocal harmonies (e.g., the opening of "Cross-Eyed Mary," "Mother Goose," "Wondering Aloud"), I'm all in (even the singing is less annoying), but when they're trying to be a hard rock band, no thanks! Also, Ian Anderson should have done less singing, more flute-playing. But, anyway, I have the album that exists, not the one I would have helped them create. I think I'll go with a low 3, rather than a high 2, based in part upon a 2nd, more careful listen, where I picked up a bit more of the 'good' Tull. But, also: this is yet another example of a band pulled down (for me) by dislike (mostly) of the singer's singing. He somehow manages to be (more or less) in tune, but sound quite tuneless (and, at times, grating). On a different day, this might have been a high 2, but I think, today, feeling a little generous, I'll go with a low 3.

Strikes me as music made by dorks for dorks. An edgy atheist hymnal? Emphasis on edgy because they're squares. As a dork myself, I would know. But I prefer curvier music The rock stuff left a bad taste in my mouth so I couldn't enjoy the more acoustic, flutey stuff

I'm working with our friend Mark on an extract from a musical. He plays a pervy 1970s beachcomber and, after seeing his take, it suddenly made sense that he should find a flute on the beach and take a solo. Aqualung hadn't been generated yet, but Ian Anderson was still, somehow, on my mind. That's just the sort of person who plays a flute. There are, of course, plenty of complaints about the flute among these reviews. But it is hardly the case that Ian Anderson is the only prog flautist. Peter Gabriel plays flute in Genesis. There are flutes on the Van der Graaf Generator album I was listening to just the other night. Ian McDonald plays flute on In the Court of the Crimson King and subsequently became the go-to woodwind man for English prog. The flute is, in fact, a very proggy instrument. So why does Ian Anderson get all the stick? Partly because, unlike everyone else, he really whips it out. Peter Gabriel raises his flute gently to his lips. Ian Anderson brandishes his. Gabriel's flute adds a fanciful, elvish quality to Genesis: it belongs to the same world as pixies, moonlight and men who have been turned into trees. Anderson is more like Pan. His playing is aggressive, energetic, priapic. He doesn't merely play the flute; he performs the act of a creature that communicates through flute. The instrument becomes part of the joke, part of the threat, part of the body. The flute itself is an antiquated instrument. Even when Gabriel plays it, there is something archaic about the sound. But the two men use that antiquity differently. Gabriel makes it high art. He is middle-class, educated, boarding-school, theatrically strange in a way that can be absorbed into culture. Anderson isn't exactly working class, but his education was at grammar school and art college, and his musical imagination is closer to the demimonde: medieval, pagan, dirty, rock'n'roll. Gabriel's flute takes us to Faerie. Anderson's takes us into the bushes. The difference becomes clearer if we look at the two songs by these men that begin on park benches. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe), from Selling England by the Pound, gives us a groundskeeper who is content with his position in life: "When the sun beats down and I lie on the bench / I can always hear them talk / Me, I'm just a lawnmower / You can tell me by the way I walk." He is not particularly troubled by class struggle here. He's a lawnmower. He knows who he is. He knows where he belongs. The park is a pleasant place in which the social order can be observed from a comfortable bench. The bench in Aqualung is different. Here the park becomes a place where respectable English society encounters everything it would rather not see: tramps, old men, prostitutes, dirty clothes, bad smells, sexual suspicion. The pastoral has been contaminated. The park is no longer a refuge from society; it is where society's refuse turns up. And there is something wonderfully grubby about Anderson's pleasure in this. The little giggle after "bad intent". The relish with which he sings "frilly panties". Gross. There is an ambiguity in the song about who exactly is being observed and who is behaving badly, but Anderson himself seems to enjoy the possibility of impropriety. Perhaps Aqualung isn't quite as depraved as the narrator imagines. Perhaps the little girls aren't as innocent as they appear. The important thing is that Anderson likes making us look. This is where the flute becomes more than an instrument. Anderson plays the playground flasher, denuded but for his swinging prong. It is tempting to dismiss all this as tastelessness. Indeed, Aqualung practically invites the accusation. But tastelessness is part of the point. Jethro Tull are not simply another progressive rock band making everything bigger, more elaborate and more respectable. There is an odd smallness to the music. The keyboards sit low in the mix. There is no Tony Banks moment in which the synthesiser suddenly opens into a cathedral of sound; no Keith Emerson keyboard apocalypse; no Rick Wakeman demonstrating that he has discovered a new dimension to keyboard playing. The guitars are mostly jangly acoustics or straightforward blues rock. Even when the arrangements become elaborate, they remain comparatively restrained. Everything is pulled back to showcase Anderson. Anderson and his flute. The flasher and his prong - particularly impressive on My God. This is partly why he gets blamed for the flute. Gabriel makes the instrument disappear into the fantasy. Anderson makes the instrument impossible to ignore. He stands there on one leg, blows into it, thrusts it towards us and makes a sex joke out of an instrument that ought to be playing in an orchestra pit. And, across the album, he beats England over the head with it: the Church of England takes a beating, the NHS takes a beating, marriage takes a beating. He goes on about overpopulation. Respectability be damned. He prods it repeatedly with the flute. But this last attack isn't quite the Malthusian or reactionary disgust of Enoch Powell. There is no great political programme underneath his feelings about overpopulation on Locomotive Breath. There is simply a general distaste for mankind. And this is the question Aqualung keeps asking: what is the difference between Aqualung and the rest of us? We are all grubby. The outsider is supposed to be an irritant from outside society, but Anderson keeps suggesting that society creates its outsiders. Cross-Eyed Mary is perhaps more interesting in this respect than Aqualung. How much of her willingness to perform sexual favours for tramps is really depravity, and how much is a consequence of having already been marked as different? If she is unsightly, or merely perceived to be unsightly, how much room does respectable society leave her to be anything else? The same question applies to Anderson's performance. Why is the flute ridiculous? Because we have already decided what a rock musician is supposed to look like. Prog is full of strange instruments, classical references, fantasy worlds and extended compositions. But most prog's eccentricity is ultimately an attempt to make the eccentric respectable and to elevate rock'n'roll. The weirdness is absorbed into high culture. Anderson does something more perverse. He takes the flute and dirties it. He takes the pastoral and puts a pervert in it. He takes the medieval and makes it sexual. He takes the respectable English park and fills it with people who have been pushed out of respectable England. And he does it while grinning. That's why Ian Anderson gets the blame. Not because he's the only man in prog who plays the flute, nor even because he plays it badly. He gets the blame because he refuses to make it respectable. Peter Gabriel raises the flute to his lips. Ian Anderson whips it out. Then he asks us why we're sniggering - because we're prudes. 2.5 Marvellous flute playing, terrible lyrics - a combination at least that few other bands can boast of. When I first discovered OK Computer I excitedly played Paranoid Android on the cd player for my father - who was about the age I am now at the time. He was entirely unimpressed and declared that it ‘sounds like Jethro Tull’. I suppose this was a superficial observation about the similarities of the riffs of the middle section of PA and Aqualung (or possibly Up to Me). In retrospect his curt dismissal of my favourite band and favourite album was less disappointing than it was puzzling. How did he know what Jethro Tull sounded like? There wasn’t a JT album or anything like it in his record collection. But then apparently this album sold millions of copies - everyone of his age knew what Jethro Tull, or Aqualung at least, sounded like. What? Not to put JT down but Why? This isn’t great music (apart, possibly from that flute bit in God which is just plain awesome) but you would credit it with not being particularly easy to digest at least. Jethro Tull worked so hard for their obscurity and what was their reward? My father listened to them and remembered them. 2.5/5

The title song was one of the worst songs on the album. I did add Up To Me to my classic rock playlist cause that bass line was really speaking to me. Overall I liked this more than I thought I would.

I appreciate what rock did for music, but the genre never did grab me. Sorry Jethro Tull.

"Did you know "The Letter" by the Box Tops is a minute and 58 seconds long? Means nothing, nil, but it takes them less than two minutes to accomplish what it takes Jethro Tull hours to not accomplish" - Philip Seymour Hoffman as Lester Bangs in Almost Famous I do like the flutes though, 2.5/5

I've somehow never heard this! It's worth revisiting just for the lyric: "Take you to a cinema, leave you in a Wimpy bar" Overall, I think this may edge onto the 'to buy list' Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆(7/10) Total reviewed : 411 Already owned : 93 Purchased : 21 To buy : 5 Nope : 292

Aqualung is great. The rest isn't too bad but really pales in comparison. Still a nice listen though.

The album art is unpleasant but the music is not! I can't figure out why I know this band and none of these songs are immediately familiar BUT this is so fun. Put this back on the radio!!

It sounds at first like a hard rock album but it's sound pretty quickly as 60's folky hippie songs and it stays moving back and forth between those intentions. I had never listened to this band, the good moments were really good, the bad moments were really boring but I'd be willing to listen to another more consistent one.

was kinda dreading this one. it's not so bad i guess.

Jethro Tull I do really love the sound of flute in a hard rock band. Weird album - What are these songs about? I had this on vinyl as a kid used to like it -not sure how I feel about it now. The guys voice was too much after a while. I I enjoyed listening but don’t need to hear this again -at least for a while. Points for originality though. 3.5

Hard to rate. This record was very present in my early years of learning music so it is formative and nostalgic and its hard to separate that from the equation. I do think if i heard it for the first time today i would not be into it for the most part.

Too much flute. Also enough about the children and school girls

surprised by this one. fun listening. love the flute. i think i love a combo action.

I was suprised how much I enjoyed this

I thought jethro tull was just some dude. it's kind of prog-folk. I like it.

Probably worth a re-listen somewhere down the line.

I’ll huff this aqualung anytime.

Flute fucking rocks

Title track is a classic. The rest is enjoyable prog rock with some flute solos.

Another one my dad got me, found it a bit pervy even years ago. 4 for the memories and general sound

Eitthvað meh bara. Góðir sprettir inn á milli.

what 😭

This album is a masterwork. Since my teenage years, I have heard a few songs from it and liked them all when I heard them, butt never listened to it all in one sitting, let alone with intention. I listened twice back to back today,band can guarantee this will be in heavy rotation for a while

Flute is all I know about these guys. Bring on the flute. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would.

A classic.

Not my thing at all, listened to some trax, but tough going

It was interesting, but prog rock just doesn't excite me (maybe 15yo me would have been jets on, not sure).

Do you want Jazz Flute? Cause this is how you get Jazz Flute. Also someone else left a review saying Hobbit Rock made by actual Hobbits I agree with their assessment, but not the 2 stars they left. Jethro Tull is awesome.

I pretty sure this music summons some fairy goblins or other whimsical shit overall its funny to listen to not my fav but I will go with a 4 star

What a pleasant surprise of an album! The first two tracks grabbed me and the intrigue and enjoyment carried throughout. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this journey it’s that I enjoy concept albums (even if this one doesn’t claim to be one) and rock operas. Haha. Crossed-Eyed Mary and My God were probably the standouts, but the musical style and this album as a whole rocked!

Tilulilu

Keyifliydi blues rock esintili vokaller güzeldi

Have always loved the title track. Supremely honest and ambiguous portrayal of the homeless. A mixture of sympathy and guilty, recoiling disgust which is reflected in the contrasting musical shifts. Cover art is wonderful too. B side picks up again after a lull earlier in side A.

to jest bardziej 4, ale za sam locomotive breath należy się 5

This album has a lot of unique sounds and instruments on it. The flute is used a whole lot and I love that. The vocals in this album seem almost like old, or hobbit-like idek but the sound is really cool and I love what Jethro Tull created with this album. The only complaint I can have is some of the tracks definitely feel as they blend together or lack in some ways, like we want a sick flute solo we don't need slow guitar jams! leave king gizzard to do that because they do it right!! Okay the fact that there are two tracks called "Wind-Up" is absolutely sick. You really don't see that on other albums because it creates this confusion of which track is which, I feel like Tull wanted to create something that just expresses the art, rather than caring about what everyone else is doing and I love that. The interview at the end was kinda painful to sit through icl!

I've said elsewhere that saxophone automatically boosts the score pf an album for me. It's stupid, I know. Call it a brain hack, like the one in "Snow Crash." If there is a saxophone my critical centres are weakened. This isn't the same as saying every album featuring a sax will automatically get a 5 rating, just that it is impossible for an album with sax to get a 1. It will be bumped at least to 2.* Why am I talking about saxophone on my review for Jethro Tull's "Aqualung?" Well, as it turns out, flute usage provides a similar hack to my brain, and Aqualung has lots of it. If I would to speculate as to why these two instruments have such an effect, I would point to the mid 2000's when such instruments were played as a joke, a commentary on their former signals (saxophone as a signal for sexy sophistication and flue for elfen woodsiness)(see Electrix Six's 2006 mini-hit "Danger High Voltage for an example of the sax and Will Ferrell's usage of the flute in 2004's "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy") Having come of age around this time, (OK a few years before but who's counting?) seeing these instruments used in a non-ironic, earnest way is like looking out of this worldly nightmare dimension into another one. Don't get me wrong, I love both Electric Six and Will Ferrell. But my heart will always crave the un-smarmy as well. Your Rushes and your Fleet Foxeses and, yes, your Jethro Tulls. A four star album bumped up to a five. P.S. I still do not know what effect a flute/sax heavy project will have on me. Will there be two points? One? Maybe they will cancel each other out? Stay tuned? *offer not valid on albums which are essentially noise and sax is used only to add to the onslaught of said noise.

прикольно, понятно откуда флейта у бг — но переслушивать думаю не буду

Did not know much of them but I am pleased to know them more now. Proper guitar, nice late 60's vibe as I like

Great

Aqualung...the most famous song ever written about a homeless pervert. Mother Goose is pretty good. So much flute, I bet Lizzo loves this album. Locomotive Breath is their best song. Wind-Up is a strong closer.

Title track is great. Rest of the album is good. Loses points for introducing flute as a 70's rock staple.

Cool guitar and flute solos. Very 80s.

It was pretty mediocre

Really cool sound and definitely ambitious. I listened to the Steven Wilson mix on Tidal and I can't imagine that he would have done this any injustice. What a guitar riff on "Cross-Eyed Mary". I feel like prog rock is a spectrum. On one end we have space aliens fighting for interplanetary justice and on the other end a sixteen minute guitar solo representing feelings of (male) insecurity. This album sits perfectly in the middle of the spectrum. The middle includes lots and lots of flute, apparently. Pretty cool album 3.7

3/5

Enjoyed this! Lots of fun riffs and struck the right balance between playful and heavy. I’m still not sure what any of the lyrics mean, though.

Good, but not as great as it's title track Aqualung is a really well renowned album but perhaps the song is more famous. I know the song but didn't know the rest of the album. I really like how the flute comes through and the bass in the mix is really present and helps give the songs more depth. The album in general has its own sound that it definitely goes for, it doesn't go far out from there. You kind of intersperse the singing elements with more kind of spoken pieces which does seem to work with this music. There are definitely some better tracks. The title track is the standout. "My God" in the middle as well is pretty good and warranted a favourite. Other than that, the album is much of a muchness, it has its niche, it has its sound and it's a good album. But you'd think if you only knew the title track that the album would have been much better than it actually was. Three and a half stars which we will round up to 4. It's pretty good but it isn't very good. And the lack of continually great songs is the flaw there.

I enjoy the addition of non-traditional rock instruments in bands quite a lot and Jethro Tull is the epitome of that. Classic album I groove with. 4/5

Once you get really bored of how long and tedious the songs are he breaks out a 43 minute flute solo just to remind you that he hates you.

Meh

Love these guys what do you mean flute and prog rock Got a little bored in the middle but generally into the vibe

Nice. A bit too proggy for me, but nice.

Excellent set of tracks. Tull always sounded different from everyone else at the time, blending folk, prog and jazz into a compelling interesting mixture. 4

A discussion i had with my mother about the notes on the album cover totally blew me away when she agreed that man created God in his own image. The intellectual content and the music that Ian Anderson creates in all his work is astounding and is why he's the artist that I've seen the most over the years. An outstanding album.

A very familiar electrically charged six note guitar riff opens up the album with "Aqualung." The journey of this music masterpiece includes upbeat drum sets, slow soulful yet lively piano chords and guitar riffs; what a guitar solo! Consuming the music of Jethro Tull, one comes to expect melodic flute motifs, and "Cross-eyed Mary" certainly delivers. Short but sweet, the acoustic sounds of "Cheap Day Return" and "Mother Goose" are worth of a bard's tales of yesteryear. My foot is still tapping along, and the back and forth between a flighty flute, folk-rock acoustic guitar, and heavy electric guitar riffs are magical. "My God" is a wonderful illustration how the flute can make it in the rock world. The solo is full of driving notes packed with energy paired with a jamming electric guitar creates a wonderful dance between the two. Following up with "Hymn," powerful lyrics like, "If Jesus saves, well, He'd better save Himself. From the gory glory seekers who use His name in death" seems to be a call for us to open our eyes to how people have used church and God's name in vain. "Slipstream," another short and sweat piece, reminds us the bill for our salvation will come. "Locomotive Breath" sweeps up the listener from beginning to end. The heavy-laden piano opening gives way to bluesy then animated notes. The looping drone of the background bass, well timed beats from the drum, and naturally the district flute provide a wonderful foundation for Ian Anderson's story telling. The story telling warps up with "Wind-up" and its poignant message, "Then I asked this God a question. And by way of firm reply He said, "I'm not the kind you have to wind-up on Sundays" and "you had the whole damn thing all wrong." After listening to this divine album, I feel like I've attended the Church of Tull.

First I’ve ever listened to this legendary band. I liked it. I could see enjoying it more on repeat listens. I loved the flute in “My God.” I had to finally make this so I could clear up my own ratings in my head… ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Essential: One of the greatest albums ever made. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent: A great album I’d happily revisit and recommend. ⭐⭐⭐ Good: Worth hearing. Glad I listened, but not something I’ll return to often. ⭐⭐ Weak: More misses than hits. Probably won’t listen again. ⭐ Bad: A chore to finish. I regret spending the time.

This may be Jethro Tull's best record, but it is still turgid, pretentious, stupid, overblown and annoying. A few chugging riffs, some bad flute, and proggy pivots. I used to want to like this band back in high school, now I am glad to dislike them.

There’s just something risible about the combination of lead singer’s vocal style, heavy guitar riffs, and incessant flute. The lyrics don’t help either.

Alright. Not sure if I could find a reason to put it on again.

(6 estrellas)

Jimi Hendrix and Jethro Tull. Jethro Tull and Jimi Hendrix. Those were my dad's 2 favourite bands of his era, and for very different reasons. Jimi was for the guitar virtuosity, but Tull was for something else entirely. And that's really what Jethro Tull was: where else in rock - or in all of popular music - could one find a tree-posing, flute-playing, codpiece-wearing Shakespearean bard frontman but in the world of progressive folk rock? Ian Anderson truly is a one of a kind talent, not only for his eccentricity but also for the arrangements found on this, his defining band's breakout album. Though slightly edged out by Thick as a Brick in my mind, Aqualung is still my sentimental favourite in the Tull catalogue. From the wide cast of characters depicted in the main pieces, to the underlying sardonic dismissal of broader society, to the religious-but-anti-religious theme that runs throughout this album. Aqualung is a Dickensian retelling of northern England as it was in the late 60s and early 70s, and Ian Anderson's experience living in that era and coming form quite similar backgrounds as the downtrodden he sings of in these songs, more than likely informed the character pieces. Let's not forget about the incredible guitar theatrics of Martin Barre, who only needs to solo on the opening title track to prove his status as Anderson's right hand. I will forever consider him one of the unsung heroes of rock guitar. In all fairness, it's hard to stand out when your frontman is playing a 7-minute flute solo standing on one leg. The album itself is divided into halves, one about the miserable, poverty-stricken world of Aqualung - named for his heavy, rasped breathing - and the peers who surround him. There's the kindly schoolgirl Cross Eyed-Mary, the bold madam Mother Goose, and, in the second half, Locomotive Breath, named for his smoking habit. Locomotive Breath only appears in the later half (and features the best flute solo of Anderson's career, by the way,) but the B-side of Aqualung is more focused on the religious justification for inequality and oppression. The sprawling "My God," "Hymn 43" and "Wind-Up" are big on the damning religious imagery Anderson had rejected even in his youth, as he saw most of the justification as a cheap excuse to keep the poors in line while the haves could continue exploiting the have-nots. You know, typically prog, in a political sense as much as a rock one. Anderson remains fond of this album, but he certainly wasn't fond of what came after: the music press lumping him in with Yes and Genesis, whose brand of grandiose rock pranced around in Fairy Land. Anderson's biting, folksy style was always much more gritty, grounded and realistic than theirs, and that more than anything else was what separated Jethro Tull from the rest of their contemporaries (besides all the other things.) It was this resentment that created the brilliant followup to this, Thick as a Brick (which I sincerely hope appears on this list...) Overall, if there's one Jethro Tull album to listen to, one would do very well listening to this one only. It's got everything that makes Tull great, all in one place, with catchy, punchy songs to boot. Equal parts progressive, folk and all out rocking, Aqualung is a true standout even as more than half a century has passed since its release. Key Tracks: Aqualung, Mother Goose, My God, Locomotive Breath

Enjoyed listening to this. Not every track worked for me, but there was enough to keep me interested and I think a few more listenings would make a difference.

Sitting on a park bench.

I was certain I hated Jethro Tull. Like 100% certain I hated them. And then I listened to this album and it's good? Cats and dogs, living together...I imagine the 4 horseman of the apocalypse should be showing up any moment. I just can't quite understand this new reality. Seriously though, this album kicks ass and is bonkers and I adore that such a thing could be made.

Folksy enough that I found it quite enjoyable. The unusual instrumentation and combination with flutes etc. made it much more interesting than your average heavy rock album. Aqualung (the song) slaps.

Leans corny. I like the more orchestrated and folk moments more than the rock bits. It’s really 2.5/5, but I’ll give them them the 3 for the flute player

FEELING LIKE A DEAD DUCK.

The album cover scared me as a kid.

Not keen on this at all.

Flute can never be said to be one of the "rock" instruments, so it is unique and forward thinking for Jethro Tull to place it directly at the forefront of its sound. The flautist is exceptionally talented, exhibiting mastery not only of the classical sound of flute, but also the unique aspects of singing while playing. It adds a unique layer and definitely drives home that this is a rock album. The singing is certainly unexceptional, especially for the time period. It's good, but nothing to write home about.

Not my cup of tea. Not entirely objectionable (like the Beach Boys) but no memorable tunes, not one I'll be putting on in future.

pretty cool! haven’t heard this before. title track is awesome

I liked that, the flute added a nice sense of whimsy

Love me some Jethro Tull, sounds like medieval rock

This is the first time I've listened to the full album in years. The harder rock tracks sound as good as before, but the more orchestral tracks sound better than I remember. My favorite track was "Locomotive Breath". 3.5 stars.

Better than I thought it would be. Great blues rock.

I’ve always liked this album. It’s great progressive rock and a distinct sound. I’m curious how it all sounds in its entirety now that I haven’t listened to it in years. This album rocks at times. Aqualung owns it up and has a banger guitar solo near the end. And returns to an acoustic guitar sound at times. Really good songs here. It’s a hard rock album and a folk album mixed together at its core with a lot of added elements. It goes folky and it does every style right and it gives the album a lot of variety. Side One is great. Sometimes the flute is too much. Flute solo on My God seems excessive. Locomotive Breath is a great song and a much better use of the flute to add to the song. Second half doesn’t overall have the same effect as side one but all very solid. This is a weird one. I think it’s a 4. It does lose some momentum at times but there’s a lot of it I really like.

uno de mis favoritos

All-time classic to me. Jethro Tull does overblown prog rock, but with a gritty undertone *and* theatrics.

Better than I expected, but still find the flute too much a juxtaposition to all that is around it. It's good enough for me to listen again though and get used to it. The fault is mine, not with the songs.

Aqualung and locomotive breath are fantastic. A very good 3

I do like jethro tull but this album didn't do much for me....Just alright innit 2.5!

Liked it. Aqualung and Up To Me were my faves. But everything listenable. Personality for days. Meatier sounding. Flute was almost an afterthought which I didnt expect with Jethro 3.5

Prog rock at it's finest. It makes me want to listen to it again and again to hopefully one day grasp it's story. I love it, 4.5 from me, but I'm giving it a 5, cause screw the guy who said that the flutes were bad, they're amazing.

@1001albumsgen.bsky.social you have been kind to me for day 200! One of my favourite albums of my whole life! The first time I heard that opening riff I was hooked, beautifully crafted prog rock, intricate melodies and biting social commentary. It was the first Tull album I ever heard, although I had a couple of singles before that. I became a great fan and have a great Tull collection. The structure and flow of the album take the listener on a journey, although Anderson always said it wasn't supposed to be a concept album, but it comes across very much in that vein. Homelessness and societal problems are served up alongside a critical view of organised religion. Hard to pick a favourite track because the whole album is, to me , faultless. locomotive Breath, of course, has become a live favourite, alongside the title track. I've always loved Hymn 43. I've got an excuse now to play the big box version today, diving in now... Hard to believe that there is only one Jethro Tull album in this book, but it's subjective I guess.

Jazz flute!

This is the reason why I choose to partake in this journey of music. Gems like this keep me going. Who knew flutes can rock

the vocals rlly take away for me unfortunately :( and the repetition on wind up. #turn down. the production is amazing. i love the song “my god” even the vocals i think

1. "Aqualung" 2. "Cross-Eyed Mary" 3. "Locomotive Breath"

English anti-religious sentiment plus folk rock plus flute = MAGIC.

Man wat word ik panisch van die fluit, verder best een leuk album en misschien zelfs een hele lichte 4 als die fluit er niet in had gezeten

Yo ik wist helemaal niets over deze band maar dit gaat super hard. Super creatieve folk rock, vooral voor de standaarden van 1971.

It was ok. I can appreciate it for its artistic integrity. Just not my own personal cup of tea.

music is love

Jethro Tull might be in the top 10 most underrated bands. Yeah, it's a bit prog-y, but it's not obnoxiously pretentious. Ian Anderson somehow - and no one on Earth has ever been able to explain how - made the flute work in a rock band. Complex arrangements delivered in straight-forward rock fashion. I'm here for it. I haven't broken it down in awhile, but I'm going to here because this might be a sneaky-5*. Influence 4. Quality 5. Hits 5. Intangibles 5. Personally, I liked it much more than I expected to 4.

Not a huge Tull fan, even Aqualung gets repetitive really fast.

It was a solid album, Aqualung the song is a stone cold classic, the rest was was solidly enjoyable, well played proggy rock but nothing really jumping out the gym.

I had to cover part of my coworker's shift today at the public safety training center I used to be stationed at: listening to this album while driving to work and pacing around the lobby felt like a comfortable old habit. Aqualung sets a very strange first impression. While it initially opens on one of rock's most iconic riffs, what followed set a very strange tone: the lyrics talking about weird interactions between a gross old man and young girls unsettled me for a moment, and the next few songs' attempts at balancing rock with an almost medieval vibe didn't do nearly enough with that blend to be particularly interesting, winding up in a somewhat flat middle ground. Luckily, my first hangup was remedied on a second listen to the album. I realized I had misheard one of the early lyrics on Aqualung, and my corrected understanding reframed the first few songs explicitly as a character portrait of an intentionally gross figure, rather than some strange attempt to justify creepy behavior. And beyond this inconsistent opening stretch, Aqualung gets far more consistent and impressive the longer it goes on. Jethro Tull seem to find their step as far as this strange blend of musical stylers i concerned, and once the lyrics start digging into and reflecting on religion, the entire album kicks up a notch. Once the album finds a strong sense of meaning and purpose, everything sonically solidified around it, managing to stick the landing with a captivating series of religious analyses played out over incredible riffs, especially on the standout Hymn 43. While I still haven't come around some of the earlier songs, the rest of the album is more than capable of picking up the slack and delivering an insightful and worthwhile experience. Highlights: Aqualung, Cheap Day Return, My God, Hymn 43, Slipstream, Locomotive Breath, Wind Up

More flute than I previously thought possible on a rock record. A distracting amount of flute. Enough flute that I found myself barely paying any attention to any of the lyrics. Which I gather from some other reviews here is probably a good thing. Well the instrumentals earned four stars for sure and I find I don’t particularly want to go back and re-listen to the vocals trying to figure out how many stars’ worth of subtraction they merit so…

Hood classic

Jethro Tull's Aqualung is a gem. The iconic flute rock, dynamic drumming, and badass guitar let it pass the test of time with flying colours. The many details, when all instruments add their little accentuation, blend in masterfully and underline their undisputed skill. They also manage to mix tempo, dynamics, and composition changes so seamlessly.

Aqualung has the hits. "Aqualung," "Locomotive Breath," "Cross-Eyed Mary" — real songs, real weight. Ian Anderson with a flute in a prog rock band should not work as well as it does. As an album it doesn't fully cohere. It jumps between hard rock and acoustic folk without much connective tissue, and within each section it sounds like nothing but itself. Scattered and samey at the same time. 3/5 — classic status earned, full click never arrived.

Long live the rock flute! I dig the style employed here - much acoustic guitar, the occasional electric riff, the awesome flute solos. It's really good, but also I quickly get the feeling of listening to the same two or three tracks over and over again, because there's little variety here. Recommended, but in my eyes no classic. 3.5/5 - strong

Solid

What is this. Why am I being plagued with boomer rock.

singer kind of sounds like tobuscus on a few songs. alright but not really my thing

An album I’ve heard before. Great riffs feel like I’ve outgrown it though

One of the greatest prog rock records ever recorded. Flute and all. The story telling. The riffs. The music. Love this one. 5/5

Favorite track(s): Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Mother Goose, Up to Me, My God, Hymn 43, Locomotive Breath, Wind-Up Ian Anderson is the epitome of the crackhead wizard archetype. Unbelievable amount of different moods he can write into songs while playing that damn flute. Heard before Previous rating: 9/10

Flute rock.

No fun… Gotta love the jazz flute tho.

'Aqualung' is a truly remarkable album! I vaguely remember listening to it for the first time and thinking something like "I can hardly see what all the fuss is about". But then I listened to it again, and it soon became one of my favourite prog-rock records. Ian Anderson has an incredible voice and his flute playing is top-notch! Not to mention Barre's guitar work, which is amazing. The album features a lot of contrasts - quiet moments, such as on My God, or Wind Up but also thunderous passages such as n the title track. Or the soft flute sounds that sometimes contrast the electric guitar sound, sometimes blend with the full rock band. Besides "Thick as a Brick", this is one of Jethro Tull's greatest works. Even today, songs from this album are played on concerts. A true masterpiece!

Needs more flute

God this is so bad. I would give it zero stars if I could. It's like a parody of 1970s folk/prog/whatever - I checked several times to make sure it wasn't Spinal Tap. This is comfortably the worst album I've listened to in this list. How did we ever trust Boomers when they insisted this was a classic?

Did I just throw up devil horns to flute music? First time for everything, I suppose. Aqualung is not my thang, but I can appreciate it for how creative it is.

Banger absolu. Tres tres core. Mais ca devient long quand meme.

Quand même cool mais c’est moins mon style

Don't really get the folk rock of Tull.

Pretty awesome

Couple bangers. Forgot how good Locomotive Breath is.

Kinda shit you'd listen to wandering around as a time traveler stuck in the medieval period

First album where i knew the song that made it famous

I can see the vision but it just doesn’t feel fully fleshed out yet

Not sure I get the hype. All a bit too pleasant for prog rock?

Okay, this brings back some memories, all good. Growing up in the 70s, this is obviously something I've owned numerous times (albums get listened at stoner parties, things get messed up...). Because of this history, I can only say I love this album. 4 "I remember liking this more then" stars. (Yeah, in the past, this was a 5er.)

By men for men. By cult leaders for cult leaders. The soundtrack to Magic the Gathering.

Wasn’t expecting to give this a 4

Musically really impressive, but the lyrics are edgy in the most boring and pretentious way. What's that Jethro Tull? Songs about pedophile hobos, child prostitutes, and how skeezy the church is? How incredibly transgressive

Gross pedo lyrics, some uninteresting wannabe led zeppelin topics, but good flute solos

everyone knows this riff definitely experimental for the rock world. enjoyable album, worth another listen. did not take detailed listening notes, but i'd say that warrants a 4/5

perdón..todavia no puedo con este género

It needs more flute and I’m not kidding.

Music was cool when I ignored the vocals. 3.

Great album.

I've listened to this album since I was a sophomore in high school, which is when it came out. A staple in any music lovers library. Every song stands on its own. Ian Anderson is a force of nature. Watching him stand on one leg and play the flute was one of the highlights of my life. Lol.

Absolute Rock Progressivo. Flautas transversais e corais de canto gregoriano seguidos de guitarras elétricas e baterias! Uma viagem no tempo, no espaço, na maionese... De arranjos lindos de violão e cordas medievais até intros de piano de jazz em faixas de rock progressivo. Ponto mais alto do álbum é Locomotive Breath. Absolute Progressive Rock. Transverse flutes and Gregorian chants followed by electric guitars and drums! A trip through time, space, and mind... From beautiful arrangements of acoustic guitar and medieval strings to jazz piano intros on progressive rock tracks. The highest point of the album is Locomotive Breath.

Crunchy good fun!

Another pleasant surprise.

shits wayyyy too long

Is this metal? Bardic metal? Psychedelic bardic metal? Progressive psychedelic bardic metal? Prog-psych-bardcore? Fun listen, not my particular cup of tea.

Liked it, I’m not a huge prog rock fan though.

progslop

I mean, the flute is kinda extraordinary and it makes the record stand out. Kinda lovely, more of that please

Really enjoyed this, definitely my kind of genre

B+

I'd never listened to a whole album by Jethro tull. It's alright.

This guy has a crazy powerful voice. This record was great. Favourite Track(s): Up to Me, Locomotive Breath Least Favourite Track(s): Wond'ring Around

My first, and hopefully last, Jethro Tull record.

This is great. It seems like a Led Zeppelin that buys in a little more to the middle earth cult magic aesthetic. It's also a little softer than Zep and has a bit of a more delicate and mystical sound. Overall very good. Prog masterclass, super cool. Nearly a 5 and could get the bump on future listens.

This album was my introduction to prog rock, really. My aunt is a Jethro Tull superfan and she gave me this album when I was in junior high. I took to it right away; the weirdness of Ian Anderson's flute playing combined with the excellent instrumentalism of the rest of the band was my first foray in to non guitar/bass/drum combos and I really liked it. What Jethro Tull have always done is combine really crisp playing and singing in to songs that still feel like they have feeling in to them. A lot of the 70's big boys do this but for whatever reason Tull seems more exacting with the studio recording while still not sounding robotically timed. This is in contrast to bands like Genesis that are more in time and bands like Zep that are less metronomic but aren't nearly as meandering with their songs. The title track is a great example with the combination of the classic riff and the solo sections much later. I think every song on here is good though the singles are very much the right choices to play on their own. Locomotive Breath in particular is one of my favorite Tull songs. I don't necessarily think this is their best album, but it's probably the most iconic one of theirs. It's wild to read complaints about the flute playing. It sounds weird at first but that's the point. It takes real talent to integrate that in to rock music and Anderson has it in spades. It's unique and it rules, you maniacs.

I did like the flute, but the songs are just tedious to listen to. Maybe I'd enjoy them more FULLY without the lyrics. I mean what are those themes and lyrics? They were totally turning me off. I tried giving this album a go 3 times. Re-listened from the beginning cause I wasn't quite getting why I don't like it that much. Just very unappealing to me. Something is just grossing me out in this album. It must be the lyrics and the singer's creepy giggles at the end of some verses. Why? 2 starts for the decent instrumentals but realistically the whole experience is 1-star like many people commented, this would be appropriate at some medieval festival, blackjack tournament or in some goddamn pub but i wouldn't listen to this on my own volition. This album makes me want not to go to England ever

A magical Prog feasr from the 70's

🪈🪈🪈🪈🪈

Nostalgia trip. I listened to this album a lot back when the options were seemingly much more limited, but as I aged and my tastes firmed up (and you could find anything under the sun on the internet), I left this one far behind. It was fun to revisit and my younger self would have given this album four stars, but present-day me is pretty ambivalent.

Metal Grammy award winners. Suck it Metallica.

That’s a lot of flute. I mean A LOT ALOT.

Solid album, not really one that I'd go back to consistently, but some good stuff.

Tää oli kiva! Mulle myös vieras bändi, mutta tykkäsin!

Tää oli oikein hyvä! On sivistyksessä aukko enkä ole aikaisemmin tutustunut tähän pumppuun. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ihan toimivaa settiä!

I thought I liked prog rock. Turns out, I just like Alan Parsons

High school me would scoff at my total lack of appreciation for this album. What a dork! Don't I realize this shit is terrible?

I had the greatest hits in high school and have had this album on vinyl since my 20s. What can I say, I'm a nerd. The flute solo in Locomotive Breath is a remarkable achievement: a flute solo that is bad ass.

Four songs that kick all kinds of ass (Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43, Locomotive Breath), in distinctive ways. Some interesting filler. A closing track I'd never heard that is pretty damn good. Two more observations: (1) the "hey" after the "do you still remember" line in Aqualung, and the moment in Locomotive Breath when the guitar slams in, are amazing. (2) Rush got mocked in the Onion for being nerdy-guy music to drive away women with, but (partly based on my wife's reaction) I think JT might be right up there.

5/5 - I guess we learn something about ourselves with this list every once in a while. I learned I like Jethro Tull far more than I thought I liked Jethro Tull. Maybe it's just the incredible production of the recent remaster/remix, but this sounds very good, and I was into it the whole time. Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary, Locomotive Breath, Hymn 43, Mother Goose.

4.5 stars.

This album is a good example of the kind of Folk Rock I folk-with. Anything folk-music related is, and always will be, a tough sell. I'm unfortunately not wired that way. However, this album was one of those rare cases where I found the exact type of folk-rock/music I can enjoy. I should add that this album seems to be more hard and progressive rock than folk in most aspects. The rhythm and cadence of this album is always offering something new and distinct for me. A track can start a certain way that may not immediately jive with me but then, midway through, it changes almost completely winning me over. It's that change and distinctiveness that surprised me the most and retained my interest. The tracks can sometimes have this sense of being separated by acts or chapters that immediately tell you what section of the track you're on. I need to mention Anderson's flute solos; they are so sick when they show up and flows super well with the guitar riffs that accompany it. My personal favourite from the album was My God as it encapsulates my favourite aspects of the album well. The song has a lot going on with it; sick guitar riffs to a even sicker flute riff from Anderson with some orchestral and opera elements slipped in there for added effect. In a perfect world this album would be the standard for folk rock. Overall, don't care if this is considered a concept album or not. I agree with Anderson when he says its not and that there's just songs with varied instrumentation and intensity and that variation is what I appreciate the most. Also, Locomotive Breath is *chef's kiss*. Love electric guitars dancing with pianos. T3: My God, Locomotive Breath, Up to Me

Fantastiskt!

Amazingly, Jethro Tull can sound both really old and truly timeless at the same time. They reach far back, and down deep, for inspiration; then they offer something progressive, varied, and energetic. Listen to “Up To Me”: what a fantastic combination of flute, acoustic and electric guitar, percussion, and of course Ian Anderson’s gritty vocal presentation. Or you could just listen - again - to “Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “Cross-Eyed Mary,” or any other song on this stellar album. Occasionally you’ll hear the influences of contemporaries. This short song may sound a little bit like Cat Stevens, half of another song might fit on a Black Sabbath album, but most of it can only be Jethro Tull. There’s just nothing quite like this. It’s an album that still sounds great over a half century after its release.

This is a rock and roll renaissance festival. In fact, I might actually go to a renaissance festival if Jethro Tull provided the musical soundtrack! This album is amazing. The combination of volatile lyrics, instrumentation, music genre/style, and power grab you and take you on a tour of images and direct confrontation. It is easy to remember the flute as it stands out in rock and roll as a surprise element. But the piano also features prominently and gives the music a fuller feel. Even their slower, folk songs feel full and strong, while serving as great counterpoint to the real shredders. Love it.

Thought it was pretty cool. Would relisten again 7/10

8 / 10

There are some ideas and some riffs in here that promise something better than what is delivered. It’s not terrible, but it’s not good. Starting your album off with a song about a lecherous hobo who’s touching himself looking at little girls at the park was a choice, even in 1971.

God

3,5

Dark and moody jams disrupted by cheerful flutes and folk singing. Serious Hobbit vibes but it’s well done.

A fun listen

Not pleasant

Enjoyed this more than most of the prog I've heard on here so far. Maybe a slightly generous 3 but yeah, pleasantly surprised

New to me and not totally terrible as one star albums go, but very much one star. Tom.

Tykkäsin bändin akustisesta soitosta ja hivenen erikoisista soittimista normeihin verrattuna. Hivenen tylsiä biisejä, eikä nimiraidan lisäksi jäänyt muita mieleen.

No saves unfortunately

This banged more than I thought it would bang. Also, I married a flutist. I almost want to give it 5 stars... But might knock it down to 4....

This a strong 2. Wasn’t really a fan, but I can see how some ppl may vibe with it.

Really tootled my flute!

This is the kind of prog rock that I do not like

It's interesting. Not something I would choose to put on, but I also wouldn't turn it off it it was on.

had some groovin bits

It’s fine

I had very low expectations. A flute the 70s, it did not appeal. However was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the album

Most people don’t hate the flutes on this album but the general reviews are skewed by Georg Flütenhater who writes 10,000 reviews complaining about the flutes on this album every single day

Album was fine, didn't love it didn't hate it. Nothing stuck with me, but also nothing stuck out as bad to me. It was fine to listen to.

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 🤪🏚️🧥 Production (Steven Wilson Mix 2011): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎸🧩🗺️ Rating: 🫁🫁🫁🫁/5

Really good album. I know it’s not a “concept album” but the overall theme of the record (especially Wind-Up) got me thinking about the concept of organized religion in a way I hadn’t really thought of before, even as a Christian myself. The instrumentation is crazy good - Anderson’s flute playing is something I’ve really never heard before in rock music, and it adds such a cool medieval sort of feel to the songs. I think this is one of the few albums where I actually prefer the 2nd half to the 1st half; My God, Hymn 43, and Wind-Up are all amazing, along with the short acoustic interludes that decorate the album. All in all, it’s a fantastic album that I will definitely be listening to again and has gotten interested in Jethro Tull’s discography. I’d give this 4.5 stars

Maybe a 3.5. Several good songs, kind of up and down album though. High highs, low lows kind of. Mix between Prog rock, hard rock, and folky sounds.

Aqualung is the first album by Jethro Tull I’ve come across in this challenge, which genuinely surprised me. They’re one of those bands whose name you hear all the time, and I was vaguely aware of them, but I’d rarely properly listened to their music before. So I was looking forward to giving this a chance. Aqualung was much better than I expected. It’s a really enjoyable listen and far more accessible than I had imagined. The blend of rock, folk and progressive elements works brilliantly, and the album has a lot more energy and groove than I was anticipating. The standout for me is the flute playing, which is absolutely incredible throughout. It sounds so distinctive and gives the album a unique character that immediately sets it apart from other rock records of the era. Combined with strong riffs, catchy melodies and excellent musicianship, it makes for a really engaging listen from start to finish. This was a really pleasant surprise and has definitely made me more interested in exploring more of Jethro Tull’s catalogue. Favourite tracks: “Mother Goose” and “Aqualung” are both great tracks Least favourite tracks: Every song deserves its place on the album Album artwork: There’s something very Oliver Twist about the album cover, which I quite like

Flute prog rock!

It's pretty decent. I've had it way too hyped up for me over the years as this perfect album and... it's fine? Some of the reviews about people loving the flute or people hating the flute are funny. The flute is fine. It's not make or break for me, it's just... there.

Pre Listen: Aqua Lung was a pretty cool concept game, then it was made into a movie. I don't think this has anything to do with that, but the album cover is neat. No expectations. Notable Tracks: Aqualung - Instantly hooked. This is playlist worthy for the sound alone. Please, PLEASE maintain this quality through the rest of the album. I especially love the guitar riffs at the start and end. Mother Goose - I normally dislike Renaissance-y sounding songs for being somewhat cheesy, but this shit goes so hard. Perfect blend of flute, acoustic guitar, and electric. Slipstream - Another highlight. Wish it was longer. Wind Up - Probably my least favorite track, if I had to choose one. It ain't bad, it's just the most boring out of everything here. It feels out of place. Post Listen: Felt like a lovely union of Black Sabbath, Yes, and English Folk. Such a well crafted assortment of instruments. The drums, the flutes, the guitars, the bass, the piano, damn near all of it was so well done and well balanced. The vocalist compliments everything too, solid lyrical work. I do think the A side was a lot stronger than the B side, but it was all fairly good regardless. I knew this would be high up there for me after I started humming along on the first track and beyond, having never heard any of this in my life. Some things just scratch your brain the right way, and you jump on that wavelength effortlessly. Almost a 5 if the B side just had like 1 more great song, painfully, 4.5/5. Maybe I'll come back and bump it up at some point. EDIT - Came back, bumping it to a 5. The album may not have finished as strong as I would've liked, but it was still strong. Downloaded my favorite songs, and they're so good. If an album contains multiple songs that make me feel things in a strong way, and I don't give it a 5, idk what a 5 is.

This got…better as it went on? I really enjoyed the B-side but nothing stood out enough to the point where I wanted to add it to my library. Besides that, Aqualung is a classic track, as expected.

never heard of this group before but i dig the vibe. lots of jamming and fun arrangements. easy to throw on and chill to while listening. good times!

Groundbreaking? Maybe. Formative? I guess. Historically important? Um, sure...? But good? No. Not in any sense of the word. This is the definition of aging poorly.

This was an alright listen. I was surprised how many songs I recognized. Nothing new really stood out at me. Probably would not seek this out again.

Favorite songs: Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Cheap Day Return, Wond’ring Aloud, Slipstream, Locomotive Breath, Wind-Up 3.5

Jethro Tull's sole selection on this list is the prog rock staple Aqualung: an album that continues to kickass. Iconic opening riff, the incredible flute opening and epic crescendo in Cross-Eyed Mary. Also like the My God and Hymn 43 transition, hits as thick as a brick. It's a classic for a reason. Everyone talks about Ian Anderson's flute but it's Martin Barre's guitar chops and tone that really seals the deal and makes Aqualung such a great album.

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