Aqualung

Instant 5 for me. Love his album and I don't even have to listen to it to rate it.

Easy 5. I have this album memorized. Everything about this album is great, from the classic-rock station staples (Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Cross-Eyed Mary), through the "deep tracks" (My God, Up To Me, Mother Goose, Hymn 43), to the short interludes (Wond'ring Aloud, Cheap Day Return, Slipstream).

unique. the flute mixed with the distorted guitar gives a very interesting vibe. overall pretty fucking banging Favorite Song: My God or Cross-Eyed Marry

Prog rock is one of the most volatile genres we've come across, with no idea what to expect. This was one of the times where it worked. From start to finish this album was easy to listen to and kept the listened engaged. You don't often get a flute in rock feature this prominently and it absolutely worked. I will definitely come back to this album and might explore the artiest further. Would probably be a 4.5 with half stars but I'm going to round up as I enjoyed the whole thing.

Great album.

I played this CD constantly in college. I still know it front to back but it’s been a while since I listened all the way through. So this was fun.

Excellent album with a lot of replayability.

10

Tull is like your favorite familiar local restaurant. Often you go elsewhere, sometimes close by for a change of pace, sometimes venturing far afield to explore new culture, different surroundings, feel the thrill of novelty. But here you are now. Back again for the millionth time and no less disappointed for it, on the contrary, like coming home to loved ones or a familiar place that has etched a deep groove in your heart. Familiarity overwhelms objectivity. What's good about the album, what's not, none of that matters. Music you fell in love with early on is forevermore untouchable, and this is such an album. I would posit that this is objectively good, whatever that means: well executed, well recorded, solid compositionally, surprises here and there, emotionally charged performances, intelligent, interesting, and unusual subject matter presented in a pleasantly poetic fashion. It even rocks, and there are those of us out there who, and this might be hard for some to believe, actually like the flute! To add, the 2016 Steven Wilson remaster is a great addition to the canon. The drums are a bit more percussive, and the orchestral sections move forward in the mix to great effect, especially in My God and Wond'ring Aloud.

Now this is a fantastic album. I love the vibe and how smoothly it all flowed together. The interview at the end of the Special Edition of the album was also a really great listen!

Owned this album 30 years ago. Still great.

Some really great instrumentation combined with gripping lyrics makes this a top-notch album. Just the opening few seconds foretell that this album will be something special. Spotify has an interview with a band member at the end, I always enjoy hearing skilled artists talk about their work and this was no exception. Favorite track: "Locomotive Breath."

Listened to it three times

JAZZ FLUTE

That flute goes crazy!

Very relaxing

First time listening to this album. This is the type of record I anticipated from this challenge. Unexpectedly good, and deserves a deep listen. Feels like a good book set to music. Also, the flute is enchanting and adds nice texture to the rock. 4.5 - rounded up so as to please the hubby.

This one is already on my playlists.

Their most well known album. Fantastic Throughout

Sweet classic rock. With a flute nonetheless

Honestly, at first I didn't like this record precisely because so many people I knew loved it. The flute thing was a gimmick, right? Eventually I decided "Thick as a Brick" was fantastic, and it ended up changing my opinion of this record. It's brilliant.

So many bangers on this man. I honestly can't believe I haven't listen to these fellas. The flute in particular makes the tracks really distinctive and unique The medieval/LOTR feel to it also goes really well. A fantastic listen through and through. Best - Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose, Up To Me, My God, and many more Worse - NONE 5/5

This is another landmark album for me. It was released during peak prog years for me. Jethro Tull were a big band but not exactly my favourite and because there was an embarrassment of prog riches my money was spent elsewhere. I had just started my career and was living in a hostel in Wakefield with other young lads many of whom shared my love of music. Aqualung always reminds me of one particular pal who was heavily into Jethro Tull and who introduced me to this album which he loved and wore a long trench coat. He would always greet you with “Aqualung, my friend”. It is a top album which I grew to love but strangely never bought the album until very recently when I saw the CD cheap in a sale. Just about everyone I knew had a copy, it was always played on the radio and more recently was readily available on streaming platforms. So there was never a dire need to own it. I do have other Tull albums, in fact most of them, and I rate some of these more highly than Aqualung. But this album means so much to me that I can only give it 5 stars. A lot of my fellow reviewers seem to be hung up on the use of flute by Ian Anderson and don’t think it very prog. My view is that they are missing the point. I do like the flute and Ian is a very proficient player but a lot of it is to do with Tull’s image. Ian stood erect on one leg playing his flute is very iconic and an image immediately associated with the band. 5/5 26/7/24

First time listening to this band. The instrumentation was something that I was able to appreciate. The flute playing whimsical

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Where Jethro Tull stopped being a blues-rock band and became... something much stranger. It’s not actually a concept album—except it kind of is. Ian Anderson’s flute work helped set Jethro Tull apart, adding a baroque, pastoral weirdness to songs that were otherwise about God, homelessness, and nuclear anxiety.

eins der ganz grossen

not their best imho but god, it's a great great album

Truly an amazing work! From those iconic intro chords of the opening title track through the growing crescendo that closes out the final Wind-Up, each track perfectly complements what precedes and follows it and gives unity to the entire album even as it twists and turns its way through Rock, Prog, Metal, Folk, Blues, Renaissance, and Medieval elements...and then they throw in that kick-ass flute to boot!

Disgusting prog folk. Sick. Gross.

Not one bad track on the whole album!!!

Amazing prog rock with a soul. I honestly LOVE the added touch of the flutes.

Great

JT are very unique

What an absolute delight! I think that I have discovered my genre: Progressive rock /Psychedelic rock! Absolute perfection! Favourite track: Aqualung

Trying to be ultra-selective with my 5 star ratings, but this is clearly one!

One of the greatest prog rock albums of all time.

muy buen disco de Tehro en su mejor momento. Imprescindible

I haven't actually listened to Jethro Tull, other than maybe in the background of a great local cafe that used to exist that was Jethro Tull themed. It was great! Led Zeppelin-ish but a bit more folky and with flute. I have discovered the flute was controversial but I loved the creativity and uniqueness of this album with a great underlying rock vibe. Fave Track: Locomotive Breath Rating: 5

One of the all time classic albums, ever! A mix of folk-rock, progressive rock, and hard-rock. I still listen to this album.

I owned this album on vinyl, and while I knew I'd be somewhat familiar with the material (not having listened to it in decades) I remembered way more than I expected, and at the same time, it was a revelatory listen. This is a brilliant record. The riffs never stop, the arrangements are superb, it's not pretentious, but it has a sense of being music for adults (for lack of a better descriptor), so in that sense, it takes itself seriously enough. The band is excellent, the songs are all fantastic, the lyrics interesting, and did I mention the riffs? The blend of acoustic and electric and the flutes... this is exactly the kind of album that belongs in this endeavor. Anderson and company were brimming with ideas, you can hear it in every song. Loved it. Great start to my day.

Huh. For some reason I avoided this album when I was young and listening to this kind of music. JT was unavoidable on classic rock radio, so I knew several of their songs and even had a greatest hits album, which I enjoyed a bit but never enough to pursue their albums. (Plus, I did take a chance on Thick as a Brick once and didn't care for it.) Now I'm sorry it took me so long to listen to this album, for this thing cooks. It's an epic concept album that avoids pretentiousness. (I think it's saved by its empathy for the losers of the world.) The songs are well-written, (this thing has guitar riffs for days), the lyrics are fantastic, the arrangements are thrilling, and the performances are top-notch. Plus, I found the sequencing perfect.

One of Jethro Tull's classics.

Fantastic prog rock.

"My God" has the greatest flute solo of all time. Really enjoyed listening to this one. Anyone complaining about the flute is a bit of a wanker, probably.

I genuinely don’t get the complaints about the flute. Maybe I’m just tired of generic rock albums from this challenge already but it’s an objectively interesting twist, even if it’s not to your taste. I personally thought it was done really well, and it’s definitely not classic rock and roll but they fit in way better than I would’ve expected. If anyone ever asked me if you could shred on a flute I’d point to the My God solo and say absolutely. I came into this one after having read the reviews not expecting much, and I ended up really liking it. I’ll admit some of the lyrics are a little over the top, but the singing itself is well done, and it’s just hard not to like every song in this album.

Hervorragend!

I discovered this album a couple years ago and have been in love with it ever since. There's something so visceral about it. It feels like Led Zeppelin with more umph and some wind instruments. The guitar riffs are electric, the choruses are catchy, and the whole album has a consistent aesthetic. I love concept albums like this.

First time listening to the actual album. Loved it

Epic record!

Awesome

I like this band. This album is the best one by Jethro Tull. Every track is very good and several are masterpieces, like Aqualung, Mother Goose and Locomotive Breath . I am really happhy to listen it again! I did not listen Jethro for years! Thank you!

Great artist. Great album. One of the greatest flutists of all time. I’m in awe every time I listen to him play.

Fuck yeah, and they Jethro Tull isn't cool, Ha 🤘!

One of the best of all time

I really liked listening to this album.

Fifty years later, this is still great Rock & Roll. Powerful arrangements, Ian Anderson's distinctive voice, and...flutes? It all worked then, and it still works now. Probably one of the first albums I ever bought and it was nice to listen to the entire performance again.

Who says rock can't be layered and multidimensional.

Oh baby. The hour and five minutes during which I listened to this album were very memorable. My mom decided to drive so I was back seat enjoying the ride listening to this then my phone died and then I was like ok if I’m gonna sit up front to charge I’ll just drive then jethro tull cooked a bit too hard bc I was cruising at a hundo and then I saw a cop slowed down but not enough and got pulled over for speeding and my license expired so I just have a printed piece of paper for the extension and also since the car is a brand new used car they hadn’t mailed all the paperwork yet so didn’t have registration for the officer🤪. I ugly cried to the officer and we had to call my dad for proof of purchase and he is furious w me and Darlington car is in jeopardy and now for the rest of my life I have to drive like an ancient old lady with a massive fucking barbed stick up her ass so I don’t go broke from paying my insurance and everyone will hate me for driving so pathetical and lawful. #makingcruisecontrolmybitch Anways ab the album I actually really liked it and it’s so snazzy and quirky 9/10

Masterpiece

Killer folky prog? Sign me up. I honestly haven't listened to them as much as I should cus they're very much in my wheelhouse. This album is just ripper after ripper.

I liked this album overall. It has a great sound and I enjoy rock flute - I know many don’t share that opinion. This album really epitomizes progressive rock. It’s a 5 for me. Favorite songs: Aqualung, My God, Locomotive Breath

I usually do thick as a brick when I'm going to do a jethroat toll listen. This was a nice change of pace

Iconic

This album is a must have in every collection. What's not to love about it?

I love this album, flutes and all.

Concept album or no, this LP clearly has a message about the difference between personal faith and "religiousness." It can come across as somewhat pretentious, but if you take it as gospel, you're missing the point. Besides all that, the instrumentation of this incarnation of Jethro Tull, as well as some brilliant mixing, make for a gorgeous listen. It's perhaps not an "anytime" album, but it is certainly one I will return to and reflect on semi-frequently in the future. PS - After listening again to some of the LP, the gorgeous arrangements - how delicate things are, and the cleverness of some of the lyric - all has worked to convince me to move this to a 4.5/5, which I will graciously round up. A stunning project.

I grew up listening to Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath on the radio. When I was in high school, I finally listened to the entire album — my dad's vinyl record of it. I still remember the guitar and drum entrance on "My God". I was hooked. Just a fantastically fun album from start to finish. Rock, prog, blues, folk. It's got it all. I spent years listening to Jethro Tull's discography after that, but nothing really matches Aqualung.

Comenzamos el martes con uno de mis discos de juventud. Lo escuché incontables veces y en todas me voló la cabeza. Disco sólido, conceptual. Extraño, también, al ser una banda en la que la flauta traversa tiene un rol principal. Mi favorito de Jethro Tull y uno de mis más queridos álbumes de mis 20s y del rock progresivo en general...es que un disco que empieza con un tema como Aqualung no puede ser malo.

I was really into this one. Definitely varies in theming and how hard they lean into prog rock or folk, but it flowed really well for me. Love that flute.

Ganz klar fünf Sterne

Could listen to this on repeat(and have) for hours on end. Delicate acoustic coupled with with heavy brashness. Evocative lyrics and composition. Top of their game here.

One of my favorites

Fantastic!

Each songs are perfect!

Outstanding! Fantastic complete listen all the way through!!!

Aqualung was released when Jethro Tull was at its best. I don't think there's a weak moment on the album. Ian Anderson's lyrics, tunes, flute playing, and singing are superb. Martine Barre's guitar work is also terrific. The story of Aqualung holds up nicely, 50 years after it's initial release.

Nada que añadir

THIS is my kind of music!! Tull is one of my favorite bands and this is one of the (many) great albums. There is not a bad song on this and most are absolutely amazing. NOTHING bad to say about this album; great music, great lyrics, great performances, amazing musicianship.

Great album. Good memories of listening to it in my first headphones in the early 70’s.

A classic, loved it!

Jethro Tull combined an unusual collection of stylistic elements: classic rock guitar, some folk-like ballads, obscure to inscrutable lyrics, and more frequent use of a flute than almost any band in modern popular music. This unique mixture made for a remarkably successful band, and Aqualung was their most commercially successful album. The title track is a great example of Jethro Tull's style, complete with dramatic transitions and religious overtones throughout the lyrics. The album contain other similarly intense songs, including "My God" and "Locomotive Breath." Several critics believed that Aqualung was a concept album discussing the relationship between God and religion. The band did not intend it as such - this is just the work that was typical for Jethro Tull.

This album was a favorite of mine in my early teens. I haven't listened to Aqualung in a very, very long time and as much as I liked it I doubt I will listen again.

Classic

this is an album i have known my own life, through my dad. this album hit my dad really hard in his life and has been a constant favorite in his life. so i have learned to love this album through him, and i still do to this day. for me, i just really love the sound of this album. it sounds so great. very soft, yet aggressive at times, with a touch of sinister at times. the bass playing is unreal, as is a lot of the musicianship. another biased review, but yeah, i love this album a lot.

How have I not heard this music??? It's amazing! 5/5

One of my favorites! Especially Locomotive Breath, Hymn 43, Mother Goose, My God, and Cross-Eyed Mary. Love the blend of folk and prog!

An album I’m very familiar with, but it’s been a while since I’ve listened to it in its entirety. I’m yet again blown away by the craftsmanship demonstrated by this collection of songs. All the musicians are skilled on their instruments, but Ian Anderson’s song writing truly stands out. There’s an interesting variety of song constructions, including some rather complex arrangements, and the lyrics are thought provoking, ranging from character studies of pathetic individuals to scathing commentary on institutionalized religion. An added benefit is that Anderson can actually sing. This is an album I could listen to again and again.

Classic

This album makes me feel like I'm digging for gold in the Middle Earth with a bunch of dwarves. Absolutely fantastic. Loved the flute by the way.

10

Classic Rock. 5/5

The rockin flute and some iconic rock classics earn it a 5.

Absolutely loved it - you can hear the impact it’s had on loads of modern prog artists like Steve Wilson Music for hobbits by hobbits

I love it

Classic Album forever

I listened with both headphones at work! I dig this. It’s very up my alley, not sure why I never tried to listen to the album before. No bad songs. When did stereo become a thing? Immediately listened again once it was done. I like the almost medieval folk sound. “Aqualung” (song) has a real “What’s New Pussycat” feeling in the middle/end there. “Hmm, Aqualung is a lot longer than I thought…”

Absolutely love this album. Very creative instrumentation, and really well composed songs. Favorite track: Aqualung

Top album

1970s blues inspired rock, I think bands like Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, ect really inspired the hard rock/heavy metal wave that followed. This album stands out from the “Masters Of Reality” & “Led Zeppelin II” because of the flute work by the vocalist Ian Anderson.

Me voló la cabeza y fue parte de mi introducción al rock progresivo. Sobre todo con thick as a brick; pero este album tb es hermoso y fácil de escuchar una y otra vez

Favorites: All of them Classic Album. Ian Anderson brings flute into progressive rock.

Big respect for incorporating the flute as part of their whole sound. I actually really enjoyed this and one of the diamonds in the rough. 9/10

Great album!

One of my all-time favorites! Have been listening to the music of Jethro Tull most of my adult life. Love the way the songs on this album were developed and recorded. Saw them live shortly after this album was released.

Aah, probably the ultimate Folk-Rock album. Aqualung - so uniquely brilliant. Cross-Eyed Mary - follows from Aqualung in the same way. Great use of flute. Cheap Day return - acoustic filler Mother Goose - almost pure Trad Wond'ring aloud - gentle break Up to me - so uniquely JT My God - 7'11" Brilliance Hymn 43 - almost a continuation of My God Slipstream - filler Locomotive Breath - catchy Wind-Up - mixture of everything Lick Your Fingers Clean - grungy flute n guitar Wind-Up - great guitar

A prog classic with impeccable flute and vocals from one of my top two prog-rock singers named Anderson.

An absolute classic and easily one of the finest prog albums of the 70’s. The shorter songs could have just been fillers, but Anderson’s undeniable talent for songwriting makes them stand out as some of the most emotional experiences of the entire album. “Locomotive Breath” is possibly one of the greatest blues rock recordings of all time - and if you’re Danish you will most likely recognize that Dizzy Mizz Lizzy must have listened to the guitars of “Wind-Up” when recording their debut album.

Enjoyed the album. Like the songs and flute.

A banger. Flute rock forever

This ren faire fucks. 5-2-3

Bomb.com

Loved it

Wondering aloud

This album is so good I don't even listen to it anymore. Really great to reunite tonight.

Un álbum realmente extraordinario con el toque único del Jethro Tull.

Great album this is the first recommendation of the album generator and it was something I was already very familiar with, but it is an album, my love that I think it is in fact outstanding.

A classic

I think that I have listened to this album before, but I don’t recall most of it. I really like, though.

This album means a lot to me as it is one of the few that my husband and I agree about. When I think of this album, along with the title track obviously, I think mainly of Mother Goose and Wond'ring Aloud, which I find heart-achingly beautiful. But it's got so many other great ones like Cross-Eyed Mary, Up To Me, Hymn 43, and Locomotive Breath, all beautiful in their own ugly way. Lots of stuff to love on this one.

aus 1973, genial! Ich liebe es!

Still fun. Locomotive Breath never gets old. Makes you want to stand on one leg!

Great. For sure one of the most influential records at the time and among my mostly German friends.

okok nostalgie pur für mich flöteliguy aber gfürchige alte mah ufem albumcover ui ui aqualung riese song, de taktwechsel um 2:00 isch so schön es 6:30 lied wo gfühlt höchstens 4 min gaht nachane einigi akustischi lieder, wo ich alli chli passiv vergesse han? hans "rockiger" im chopf gha aber au das mega schön und halt chli villsiitiger hymn 43 au en riese banger ellei de übergang vom schön ruhige, vo klavier ihgleitete und chli jazzige intro zum DÖDÖDÖDÖMMMMDÖMMDÖMMMMM vo locomotive breath isch für mich es 5 wert und die querflöte-soli, de triibend rhythmus und bass, es isch en einzige traum ok ja natürlich au us nostalgiegründ und will aqualung und locomotive breath unglaublichi lieder sind klar es 5

Has both greatest hits and deep cuts. The only Tull album needed.

That guitar tone is so sweet

classic

Blind album, know the artist by name. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this whole listen though. I thought the flute was super cool and the style complimented well together.

great album, good jazz flute

Un disco impresicindible de principio a fin. Clásico indiscutible.

Some of the tracks on here are kind of forgettable, but Aqualung, My God, and Locomotive Breath alone earn this fucker 5 stars

More albums in general should have flute solos. Favourite track: Locomotive Breath

Better than I expected

Great album

I love this album. I love the tracks about different characters. I always found the Aqualung character himself compelling and the album artwork is really cool. Also, rock flute is always nice.

Awesome!

Een van mijn favoriete albums uit mijn jeugd, een throwback naar andere tijden. Leuk om weer eens herrinerd te worden aan dit geweldige album!

I've always liked this album. Still do

- Awesome, love progressive rock, I can definitely tell these guys were pioneers love the contrast and different cultures they used to really amplify their sound

Great album with classic tracks

Wonderful album. I didn't expect to like it so much, but I enjoyed all the songs. I love how unique this band is to others that were out at the time.

I already listened to this one...

damn near perfect, one of the faves

I was very excited for this because who doesn't love rock n roll flute. I was surprised that all of the Jethro Tull songs I love were on this album, it makes me wonder about the Greatest Hits and Best Of compilations from over the years...

Fuck yeah! I enjoyed the hell out of this. The guitar started to get a little repetitive by the end of the album, but other than that I thought this was great.

Excellent album from top to bottom.

Great

Good work

A really cool folky prog-rock album. The flute-heavy instrumentation doesn't grate on me as much as I was expecting, either. Most of the tracks that were boring for me were short interlude pieces, and they were definitely outweighed by the tracks that absolutely slap. Some great 70s rock here. Favourite: Locomotive Breath

heard this once a long time ago didnt remembered anything beside the title track. yesterday i began to listen to the title track again and heard again thick as a brick. and what do you know the next day i got this album on the project. heard this thing like 5 times today. steven wilson remix, live album, special edition everything. love the combination of prog rock and folk and man the flute is awesome. incredible lyrics just perfect album and so far my favorite from jethro tull so far ive listened to aqualung, thick as a brick, a passion play and A

Never really listened to Jethro Tull before. Great stuff

Klassiker, Querflöte-Batz-Geil. Eines der besten aller Zeiten

Jethro Tull has many great albums under their belt. 'Aqualung' is certainly one of them. It shows the wide range of styles of the band. I don't listen as often to it as my favourite 'Songs From The Wood' but I thorougly enjoy it and recommend it for everyone who want to get into this band.

Prog rock delight.

The grand daddy of prog rock! It always puzzled me that they weren't more popular.

I was a big Jethro Tull fan growing up. Still am, although my love for them has faded a bit over the years. This is a great album, although Stand Up is still my favorite Jethro Tull offering. Obviously Aqualung and Locomotive Breath are the two most well-known songs on this album. They are both great songs with great riffs that rock hard. I'll never forget hearing Aqualung for the first time at a picnic at my uncle Paul's house at 7 years old. "Snot running down his nose" - what the heck! And combined with Ian Anderson's unique voice, the iconic guitar part, and flute in a rock song! It left quite the impression on young me. But my favorite part of this album is the (mostly) acoustic stretch of songs starting with Cheap Day Return (the best sub-1:30 song I've ever heard) and going through Up To Me. Wond'ring Aloud in particular is such a beautiful, tender song that perfectly captures the feelings of falling in love. There are a few weaker points on this album - the quasi-religious/philosophical stuff never really did much for me - but it's still an incredible album worthy of a 5 star rating.

One of the best ever recorded

Not for me

(So glad we can edit now so I can give a proper review.) My best friend and I discovered the song "Aqualung" through Rock Band, and for some reason we gravitated towards it. But the whole album is stellar top to bottom. There should be at least one other Jethro Tull album on this list, but I'm glad Aqualung is here at least.

Really enjoyable

Retro perfect

I can't get enough of Jethro Tull. Man I love this album. Have since I was a kid.

que gran fucking disco por favor!

🐐

One of the best albums of its genre ever.

Still have copy I bought in 1971. Great album.

Not their greatest album, but this one did get me through high school. Wore out two vinyl copies from my Dad's collection (I replaced the first one), and then several CDs. This one is very special to me, but others may find it bombastic.

Absolute mind melting album! Who can play the jazz flute better?!?! Cannot believe how man classic Jethro songs are on here! Aqualung of course, cross-Eyed Mary, My God and Locomotive Breath??? What a great listen! Will never complain about Jethro Tull!

Iconic prog album. So fun to listen to, and so much respect for the amount of unorthodox instrumentation, lyricism and somehow clean sound that Ian Anderson & company managed to create. Fave tracks: Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, Up to Me, My God, Locomotive Breath

fajne

Love this album. True classic.

It's a nice album. I may come back again

My first 5 star. Absolutely fantastic in every way. Love the flute and the guitar.

One of the best rock albums of all time. An absolute must-listen. The flute has never been so cool.

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.

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

Goood God! I never thought I would like Jethro Tull. I recognized Aqualung and began thinking it was going to be a painful listen. But wow! Flutes, acoustic guitar, tender melodies and mysticism! Absolutely up my alley.

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

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.

<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.

Unreal.

Freaking love this album, please give me more

One of my favorites from my teenage years.

Goddamn classic.

Amazing, really like this one

Amazing

Un album super piacevole da ascoltare con suoni folk e celtici

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)

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

-"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!

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

A Masterpiece

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

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

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 ✌🏻

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

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.

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!

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

Love this one

I liked this a lot!

A milestone, a historic piece.

I go nuts for a mad flute solo

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

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!

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

This is fire ! Somehow it reminds me of Toto

Some good songs

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

Classic

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

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

Fantastic

Jethro Tull at one of their peaks of creativity.

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

Foda

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

Good jams, like the flute.

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.

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.

This has long been one of my favorites.

a calda do bolo

A true masterpiece, nothing less

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!

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

cool

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

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

Rock flute at it's best.

Creepy lyrics and nice music

Already know this one, great 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.

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

okay, this is good

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).

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

Hmm

Kinda nice

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

B+

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

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.

A magical Prog feasr from the 70's

Metal Grammy award winners. Suck it Metallica.

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

Fantastiskt!

8 / 10

God

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

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....

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

I think this is the album I've enjoyed most since starting these recommendations.

Singing about the Cross-Eyed Mary accompanied by a flute – I knew then that I wouldn't be disappointed. I listened to the album with interest and had a great time, listening to its diverse range of instruments. The energy was fantastic.

This is an album I listened to a lot 40 plus years ago but haven’t revisited in a long long time. It really is a great rock album maybe Jethro Tulls best or one of the best. The modern Steven Wilson mix is well worth a listen as well

Really great album overall. Many 5/5 songs, but there's just a few toward the middle that lose me a little, bringing the total down to 4/5. In theory, flute on a prog-rock record sounds like typical prog wankery, but in practive Ian's playing just feels so natural, it really doesn't come across an excessive or out of place in my opinion. I do wish Thick as a Brick was on the list as well, as it is my 5/5 Jethro record, and I think the concept of it being 1 long (absolutely bangin') song makes it so much more interesting than many of the other albums that made this list.

The opening track is iconic, the rest of the album is quite good as well. All in all, quite fun and a great incorporation of interesting instruments and themes.

Certainly a very interesting album. Not sure i fully understood this even after 2 listens but I still think this was pretty great regardless. Enjoyed the flute playing a lot.

Really enjoyed this one. Original tunes. Aqualung a classic and seems appropriate for our .PDF times. Overall a fun listen.

Αλμπουμαρα, μου το έμαθε ο Τάσος

Un álbum buenísimo pero no para cualquier momento

"You play the flute? Play some Jethro Tull dudeeee"

It’s not often a flute makes me stank face

This was awesome! Jazz flute was a great addition but just beautiful songwriting all round. Locomotive breath is a classic that I'll listen to many times again!

The crime here isn’t the amount of flute usage, it’s the first two song subjects. You can sing whatever you want over prog rock songs that are this explorative and whimsical, and you choose that to open up the album? Man. Getting over the uneasy lyrical content of the first two songs, there’s some solid instrumentation throughout. “Cheap Day Return” is a short little track that hammers home the fact that this will be folksy in nature, not unlike Zeppelin IV. Another thing I can appreciate about this record is how it doesn’t get lost in the explorative sauce as much as many ‘prog’ rock records do, if you could really even call it that (I’m looking at you, Yes). Jethro Tull will actually hold onto a melody and time signature if they find it to be in service of the song over all. “Wond’ring Aloud” was very pretty, those light little pianos and strings dancing around behind the guitar and vocals were a nice touch. It stoped as quickly as it started, I wanted a resolution or at least another stanza of the same acoustic guitar passage. While side 2 gets surreal and explorative right away with those choral vocals behind the dueling flutes on “My God”, I’m not too sure it’s worth calling this thing some stroke of genius, dense, concise concept album. Do I want to be stuck in an endless loop of focusing on bunches of white dudes noodling around ok instruments 50 years ago? No, but this list corners me into doing so. At least this bunch had some ideas and execution. Soft 4/5, I won’t be back with this one very often, but I respect it enough

Of course this album sounds incredibly 70s but it's very coherent and it conveys the feeling of a whole unifying concept which I quite liked.

Heard Before? Several times. I've gone through more than one prog phase. Notes: - the lyrics are always cheesy (sometimes outright awful) and the concept is stupid. so what? - what does bother me is the try-hardy vocals which utterly fail to sound heavy and edgy. much better on the acoustic songs. - I'm in the minority surely, but i could go for less vocals overall, and maybe more piano or organ. or other winds? - all the flute parts remain a highlight, even the extended solos. - that said, the focus here is on the songs themselves and not on wanky solos for their own sake, which i very much appreciate. - sequencing is wonderful and the album really hangs together as a whole, getting more cohesive with every listen. - i adore how these songs are structured. yes i want to take notes and analyze, but at the same time they are still fun and exciting. it never feels academic or overcooked. Verdict: The proggiest prog, with lots of folk influence and a ridiculous but ignorable story. I love it almost as much as Harmonium's "Les Cinq Saisons". Listen Again? Next time I feel the prog urge, certainly.

Distest it already... and that was a prejudice...

Amazing shit. I need more listens to absorb it but really good first impression. Not exactly my style so no 5 stars.

Hovered between a 3 and a 4. On first listen I thought it was often good, sometimes great. Will give it the benefit of the doubt and a few more listens.

Surprised that I liked this one! I’ll return back to it.

Tää on kyl hyvää veivausta, vaikka joskus muistan kun mainittin jossain tilaisuudessa jetro tullin niin joku repes ja sano että "SEHÄN ON JOTAIN METSÄLÄISMUSIIKKIA".

Cool pre-heavyrock era music, loved the flute 4/5

Had been a long time, liked it more than I expected

Liked this more than I thought I would. Fun flutes and instruments. Favorite was Locomotive Breath.

Maybe my third listen ever and I always really enjoy it but I never return for whatever reason. Probably because I’m an idiot.

“Aquaaalung” Ron Burgundy Only 20 years later I now get the reference. Completely over the top. But I got into it.

First time listening to this and thought it was great. Will be back for more

Fun album, great prog rock. No complaints.

Not my style. but decent

Loved this album. Really freaking great.

Pied piper in Shrek 4 type beat

Knew this would be a 4 going in, and I think I'll stick with that knowledge. Love the vibe on the album, jazz flute, vocals, it's all pretty tight and consistent while staying interesting. Missing something truly standout to make it a 5. And has a bit of filler.

I was not looking forward to this album. I’d heard a lot of JT as a child of a dedicated hard rock dad in the 70’s. I really enjoyed the gritty hard rock tracks like Aqualung and Locomotive Breath. I did not enjoy the folksy tracks. I can truly appreciate this as a pioneering album that seems pre-metal, pre-progressive rock. They definitely paved the way for what came in the rest of the 70’s and 80’s. This is a long review for a band I don’t like!

I’d consider this a bit of a guilty pleasure. Yes it’s prog rock with a flute, but I still enjoy it quite a bit

this has the exact amount of prog rock I tolerate

GENRES: Hard Rock, Folk Rock, Progressive Rock FAVs: Aqualung, Up To Me, My God, Locomotive Breath, Wind-Up FIRST LISTEN RATING: 8.5/10

A flute. What other band brings a flute into rock and roll so well. Just a couple of weeks I put on Jethro Tull driving around the Portuguese countryside, only for my family to ask to switch the music. Not for everyone, but I enjoy. Other than a few songs, I had never listened to a full Jethro Tull album, and Aqualung was a great discovery, with JT at its best. Fun, good lyrics, jazzy, folky, awesome guitar (from Cheap Day Return’s acoustic to the bigger belters like Up to Me and Locomotive Breath), variety in the heavy/soft (of course well balanced by the FLUTE, bringing medieval vibes in a non ironic way). An album I can imagine was fun creating, and excellent for a roadtrip. Ian Anderson’s vocals provide more variety than I thought, turning raspy in Cross Eyed Mary.

Aqualung and Locomotive Breath are great tracks. The whole album flows nicely. Love the rock flute solos. Excellent album.

I actually found this pretty interesting. Maybe we've found my 70s prog concept album sweet spot. Or maybe twas the flute

If I had to summarize Aqualung (1971) in one sentence, it would be this: It is a brilliant album, but not a perfect one—and its imperfections are part of what make it feel so human. It was the record that established Jethro Tull as one of the defining rock bands of the 1970s, blending hard rock, folk, and progressive elements in a way that very few bands could match at the time. Ian Anderson writes about people, not heroes The first half of the album introduces us to society's outcasts: a homeless man ("Aqualung"), a teenage prostitute ("Cross-Eyed Mary"), and other ordinary people. There is no glamour or moralizing. Instead, Anderson observes these characters with a mixture of compassion, discomfort, and social criticism. The second half shifts its focus toward religion and spirituality. Many listeners describe Aqualung as a concept album, but Ian Anderson himself has repeatedly said that this was never the intention; the thematic connections emerged naturally during the writing process. That transition works far better than it sounds on paper. The album moves from grounded human stories to profound existential questions almost seamlessly. Rating: 9.5/10 Not because every single song is a masterpiece, but because Aqualung accomplishes something remarkably rare: it feels intelligent without becoming pretentious, powerful without sacrificing sensitivity, and sophisticated without losing its accessibility. It also serves as an excellent introduction to Jethro Tull. If you enjoy Aqualung, you'll likely appreciate the greater ambition of Thick as a Brick, or the richer folk atmosphere found on Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses. My only reservation is that, despite its reputation as one of progressive rock's greatest albums, I see it primarily as an extraordinary rock album with progressive touches, rather than a quintessential progressive rock record. Ironically, that may be exactly why it has remained so influential, approachable, and timeless for more than fifty years.

Siempre me sonó a música de mi hermano. La flauta me sacaba de onda con el ambiente rockero, peor escuchándolo después de mucho tiempo, hay cosas muy interesantes como Wondering aloud, Up to me, Hymn 43 que no recordaba. Qué bueno el trabajo de la guitarra en My god, por ejemplo. y bueno, el inolvidable riff de Aqualung.

Una mezcla de bowie en ziggy stardust con medieval core y la duracion de canciones al estilo pink floy. Yo digo: sí.

Really enjoyed this classic album. It's somewhere in between Fairport Convention and old Genesis. Great production and sounds wonderful. I can definitely see myself listening to this more.

Nothing like good ol' flute rock. Not my favorite Jethro but it still has a couple of their best songs

Great brit rock album. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but can respect the musical vision. Lots of great guitar riffs. Main themes were religious doubt and breaking from the church. Again, not my cup of tea but it’s an original story to tell.

cool rock favs: aqualung 3.75/4

Accidentally listened to the Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree, I assume?). It's admittedly a little long and Ian Andereson's critiques of organized religion are a little hackneyed and still oblique. On the other hand, it's pretty rad. The interplay between the drums and the guitar riff throughout 'Aqualung' is worth the price of admission. A lot of acoustic guitar and flute but somehow still a fresh-sounding rock album, 55 years later. 'Up To Me' is surprisingly cool, to this day. Actually a pretty good listen. It's a 4/5 and maybe a kind of weak one for me (might be a 3.8 or 3.9) but it's a worthwhile inclusion in The List.

Best Track - "Aqualung"

Aqualung - 4.5/5 Cross-Eyed Mary - 4/5 Cheap Day Return - 4/5 Mother Goose - 4/5 Wond'ring Aloud - 4/5 Up to Me - 3.5/5 My God - 4/5 Hymn 43 - 4/5 Slipstream - 3.5/5 Locomotive Breath - 4.5/5 Wind-Up - 4/5 This album has a little bit of everything that was coming out of the English rock scene in the 70's. Prog rock, hard rock, and folk rock come together here to create a fairly complete package. And they also have a guy that can give a killer flute solo. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Aqualung, Locomotive Breath