Aqualung

I enjoyed a few of the songs on this album but there was no real cohesion between all of them. While I often enjoy old-school rock this is a big meh for me. It feels like they were experimenting and maybe another album of theirs would suit me more.

I wasn't really sure what to make of this album, I enjoyed parts a decent amount, but others left me cold. I liked it most when it was more folky. Probably a low four for me.

4/5 classics on this some age old riffs that can stand the test of time with acoustic dwindling in between

Interesting listen, and certainly entertaining. It reminds me of Court Crimson but a lot less all over the place. Which is what makes this a tad boring. I still had a good time but I don't see myself coming back to much of this in the future. Still, as a piece of art, I enjoyed it start to finish. The flute on this rocked, too. My God was easily my favourite song.

Jethro Tull's most popular album, which is not as good as thick as a brick. I think that Jethro Tull differentiates itself enough from the pack with a lot of their contemporaries in prog rock, which to be honest around the time they were releasing this stuff was just total slop. I like the flute :)

Im sick of googling bands and albums on this list and it saying "hard rock" and it turns out its milque toast gen x prog. Theres nothing wrong with it, its good even. But c'mon has this list got anything heavier? 7/10

This is really something special. I have often seen Jethro Tull derided for their use of flute and I am sure those same people have not heard this album. My God genuinely blew my mind, I really thought I would come away from this album thinking 'that was good, but I already knew the best song on this album' but I was wrong. The title track is probably the least representative song of this album's sound ironically enough. No skips, two amazing sides that combine hard rock and folk creates a unique sound that sounds like Ian Anderson time-travelled back to Stonehenge days and got in the neolithic music studio with a bunch of druids and they created Aqualung. Pay no mind to all the references to Christianity and homelessness, the druids simply had clairvoyance. Also, it's a crime that Thick As A Brick isn't on this list. Highlights: Aqualung, Cheap Day Return, My God, Locomotive Breath

Cool album I'd listened to on vinyl but first time revisiting in a while. Love the flute, the musicianship, and creativity. Hobbit Rock! Music for guys who probably don't smell good or bathe in rivers. Some of the most creative lyrics out. You don't see many albums like this simply because it's very hard! This level of creativity and expertise doesn't come around much.

Surpassed expectations. Wanted to hear it more. Will come back to it. r liked it too.

Haven't listened to this since college, over 30 years ago, and it's fine. Just not my thing but you can hear how much it influenced since. Will likely be another 30 years before I spin it again.

Not for me. I can handle maybe one song at a time, but not a whole album.

Not my cup of tea, but “Locomotive Breath” is a keeper.

Is this prog? Honestly I only know Tull because "Locomotive Breath" was in heavy rotation on WCKG, Chicago's All-Classic Rock, during my high school days. This really loses me with the wandering self-indulgence of the songs, which need more form for me to really dial in. Or maybe I just need to be totally fucking baked.

Honestly can’t remember any of it. Must be about a 2

I thought this would suck but I was enticed by the use of the flute.

"We have Led Zeppelin at home"

Great prog rock

Classic rock. Doesn’t get better than this with complex but catchy arrangements.

LOVED! Flute, wood instruments. Let's go

Simply superb. Been wanting to listen for ages and was not disappointed.

3.5

Loved the British vibes. Kinda reminded me of the Ramones.

These songs trick you. They are sometimes acoustic while othertimes they are just awful barely melodic rock. The slower songs of this album are leagues ahead of the rock songs.

The Special Edition version's sound quality really sucks. The Steven Wilson Stereo Remix from 2011 is much better. The Yazz Flute scene in Anchorman when he screams out "Hey Aqualung!" finally makes sense. There are also flute solos galore on this album for any flute aficionados. The big thing with this album is that I guess it was assumed to be a concept album and everyone said it was a concept album.......except the people who made the album. Whatever though as it caused the band to blow up so I guess they can't be too mad about this. Love the artwork of the album as it tells a great story in it of itself. The music is great, very folk Rock and the flute solos are something else. Worth it for the rock mixed with flute alone.

I didn’t like this when I started listening to it, but it grew on me as it went on. I found the genre changes from folk-y to rock-y a bit jarring, but quite enjoyed the instrumentation. Would have given 3.5 if I could, not quite a 4.

I liked the song Aqualung in all its creepy glory, but the rest of the album was a bit samey/generic folk rock to me. Cool flute-ness but nothing really caught me.

Najdraži pastoralni prog rock bend? Kad slušam njih odmah imam poriv da odem čuvati ovce. Ovo mi nije baš najdraži album, Thick as a Brick ipak zauzima to mjesto, ali je veoma dobar i zanimljiv.

Great start, but the back half fell off a bit. Still pleasantly varied and interesting.

Lo pocovque he escuchado parece bastante aburrido

Pretty good, I’ve heard the title track multiple times but this is the first time I’ve actually gotten past the first part

Not bad. Liked the inclusion of flute. Not something I go crazy for, but I can appreciate it's quality.

Well, that was a bit boring wasn't it.

One of my favorites by one of my favorites. Such a great guitar sound, the electric and accoustic, and yeah, that flute (most of it played on one leg, in concert anyway). If you enjoyed this, brew a big pot of tea and put on Thick as a Brick.

Sitting on a park bench

Perfect. No better way to start my day. Fantastic flute.

my favorite [fl]autist

Sitting on the TOILET

Something something dead duck

An interesting (concept) album. The English folk rock moments and elements stick with me the most.

It starts out great and then... Flutes!

as a kid, I basically jammed to the title track and that was it. bored by the rest. but now I feel the opposite? aqualung feels like it's just for the masses and I found myself enthralled by the mad soulful flute and the gasping breaths in between notes during intense solos. amazing orchestration all throughout the previously "boring" middle of the album.

Aight

It’s strange. I got this album after Soft Machine *Third* and at first I groaned about getting more prog. However, this album is so great in comparison. It’s prog, but keeps a groove and has interesting themes and lyrics.

More bangers than I expected.

Another one I thought I would like more than I did. I think this album has a reputation it can't quite deliver on. Music was a little too medieval ren fair for me. If you're into prog rock with a TON of flute work, then this one is for you. Overall it was OK, but there was nothing I loved, not even the title track. 3/5

Incroyable album des belles années de Tull. Tout de ce qu'on peut aimer de la musique dans un album légendaire : son unique, plume habile, et mélodies qui accrochent. Thick as a brick est toujours favori, mais si on le compare au reste de la musique de la liste, 5/5 est assuré. Un bonheur à réécouter

Ouais ça bang

C'est du lourd, pas autant que Thick as a Brick mais y'a plusieurs moments qui l'accotent.

Only listened to it once but it's not my thing.

Ok 2/5

När det börjar spelas flöjt som en annan jädra hovnarr... Då tappar jag det, då är smärtgränsen överstigen, då blir det stoppknappen

Den tyngre progrocken är okej, även några av de akustiska låtarna. Men när det börjar låta medeltida folkmusikfestival vill jag helst stänga av.

Att ta sitt namn från en av de för industrialismens viktigaste innovatörer är naturligtvis positivt. Betydelsen av Tulls såningsmaskin ska inte underskattas. Men frågan är om de positiva slutar här. En blandning av folk, medeltid och tidig hårdrock. Det blir ingen vidare soppa.

25 sekunder av Cross-eyed Mary lovar gott. I övrigt är skivan en trist blandning av hårdrocksriff, medeltidsballader och akustiskt folkrock.

Spectacular. A lot more folky than I expected. Ian Anderson’s voice is so clear and resonant, Martin Barre’s guitar playing is fluid and creative, and Clive Bunker’s drumming is more Bonham than Bruford. Any time the folk songs started overstaying their welcome, Bar would come in with overdriven guitar.

Good

pretty good, liked the flute

I love the flute.

(90/100)

Never listened to jethro till and I wasn’t impressed.

big man flute man

FLUTE SOLO

Very good, dark and haunting, interesting themes.

Locomotive Breath is genius - it has spawned many imitators, many of them seemingly on this album.

Discovering Jethro Tull in university was a revelation to me. This hit me less hard now. Vocals sound surprisingly close to Jack Black at times. Although flute playing is still on fire. Listening to aqualung and locomotive breath brings me right back to a less cynical time in my life

Gotta admit I enjoyed this more than I expected to.

I bet these guys are a big hit at Renaissance Fairs.

JT is okay. But it's kinda behind me why they're so popular. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Stodgy dad rock

Enjoyed this one!

I liked it.

Cool

meh, some good singles, some ok filler.

Tull the best

Guess I like Jethro Tull. Full of bangers, can definitely see myself listening to this one again.

Very good

Fascinating dive into the separation of God from religion, painting portraits of various characters and their intersections with morality, spirituality, and organized religion. The acoustic ballads gave a nice contrast to the heavier riff-heavy rock. Gotta love the flute too!

I knew I probably was familiar Jethro Tull’s music. But I couldn’t tell you a single song of theirs I had heard of before playing this one. When the first guitar riff played in the album title track Aqualung, I was ready for a fun classic rock experience. The album art is thematic to the album experience. Which was apparently inspired by photographs of unhoused people along the Thames and drives the story more around that.

Absolutely banging album. The later half of the album I found died off a bit. But, overall this is a sick album with some bangers songs on it

I really enjoyed this. The flute went hard as fuck, the piano went hard as fuck, and the guitar went hard as fuck. Surprised I had never heard of these guys before. Locomotive breath was definitely my favorite on the album. Would definitely summon a hoard of goblins and ghouls to these tunes.

Tremendous flute work.

Flute =) Aqualung is a great song, while everything else is pretty good.

Hobbit Rock made by actual hobbits.

A Renaissance fair of riffs and flutes that never once clicked for me. Theatrical, preachy, and grating from start to finish.

I was introduced to Jethro Tull through album by my older brother when I was still a young teenager in the Mid70s. Jethrol Tull has been a constant in my life ever since, one of those bands for which I have acquired every track ever released. Not all are classics like Aqualung but I love them each in their unique way. I probably could have rated this album without listening because I know every word and every note by heart— but I listened anyway, twice, because there’s never a good reason not to.

Holy peak. Maybe I’m just a sucker for prog.

I had never even heard of the band’s name before! I read on Wikipedia that they’re known for bringing the flute into rock, and indeed, the interplay of flute and electric guitar on Cross-Eyed Mary, Up To Me, and My God is really cool. Experimental sounds can sometimes feel overcomplicated or hard to grasp, but this album also has a straightforward kind of coolness that I really enjoy. Some tracks even gave me a Led Zeppelin-like vibe, which I loved. I wish I could have seen them live!

96/1001 Jethro Tull - Aqualung Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❎ A solid prog rock album with flute flourishes that makes it an engaging enough listen, but nothing that sticks in the memory.

Really not my style. I don’t like much classic rock of this era, and less so with a flute.

Not as good as Thick As A Brick or Songs From The Wood but a good 3. From an era when bands could actually still experiment with what ‘rock’ was, rather than confirming to narrow market constraints, like in the past 30 years.

I always thought of JT as the rock band for people who don’t really like rock music. I’m quite partial to a bit of flute, early Genesis or Peter Gabriel, but maybe not on every single song! That said it’s a bit of entertaining Middle Earth type hokum that’s not nasty on the ear and contains some good bits of music so I’ll mark it accordingly.

Nicht mein Stil, anspruchsvoller Sound zu dem der Zugang erst mit der Zeit gefunden wird.

Absolute classic. Their second best album next to Thick As A Brick in my opinion. Excellent bangers anchored by the trifecta that are the title track, Cross-Eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath. Actually, depending on my mood, I would say this is Jethro Tull's best album, but TAAB speaks more truth to me. Let's just call it a tie.

Not my thing, just couldn’t get into these tunes for some reason.

4/5

Это что-то что я уже слышал но никогда не знал. Я на секунду подумал что это блэк саббат. Классное осознание про узнавание незнакомой музыки. Очень приятнывй альбом! Слушается на одном дыхании, интересные миксы, довольно современно для 1971 года

The flute I don’t mind, quiet like the flute. Don’t want to be negative about whole genre’s of music that others like, but prog tends to leave me cold. Music can be an intellectual experience about complex ideas both musically and lyrical , and it can be art as an expression of emotion and culture. Sometimes it’s both but prog just for me falls into a glacial world. This really at time sounds like Black Sabbath if they had been middle class boys who think they are clever and have big ideas, removing all the grit and heart and replacing it with previous musical twaddlings. I can appreciate this as an album, a piece of music but I can’t feel it. 2 Star

I remembered the hits from this album, which I have owned in multiple formats, but I'd forgotten all the little gems. The unique use of the flute, the variety and nuance make this a flute.

What a cool experience! The Beatles style rock with tons of jazz flute? Yes please. Sign me up

Don’t really have much to say but that was decent I guess

I heard some good sounds throughout, but I'm just not big on prog rock... especially when it starts to sound like something I would hear at a medieval fair.

pre-80s brit rock gets me every time

Good album, as my introduction to Jethro Tull. However, it felt just a bit generic, with some fairly bog standard prog-rock instrumentation, however as a concept album, it works very well. The story of Aqualung is told throughout the lyrics of the music, which is a concept that wasn't often seen when this album was released. Overall, it's a solid project, 8/10.

Prog classic.

Musically interesting. Thought was put into the lyrics and the anachronistic feeling flute sections provide a coll accent or counterpoint to the rest of the song. Not quite my cup ot tea and not a best metal album of the year.

I’m pretty sure I was not the target audience for this record. I was sophisticated enough to get the sly reference the name implies, but for me a pop dance record is not that interesting. Gay disco has been around for decades and frankly done better. None of these tracks are catchy enough to be memorable and time has not been kind to this record. I recall the faux outrage of the cover of Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, but the track is really a like it or leave it proposition. Listening to the album all the way through for the first time and then going back to see if I missed something, the record is rather kitschy but mostly lifeless. It’s bad when a dance pop record doesn’t catch your attention. And for that, Track 8 Music Is The Victim encapsulates how I feel about this record.

All the FM radio of the mid-70s came rushing back, middle school, 95X, all of it!!

Kirkville in musical form. Yes, PGG, it brings back 95X, the whole lot. Not in a good way.

An inovator, rocked to a different drum, cult followed, and still active on the rock genre. Also known for his very long instrumentals.

3,5

I didn't realize I was going to like this... I thought this would be something that drove me nutes...more prog rock. But I find this to be pretty good. There is a momentum to the music, some songs you know, and not a lot of the annoying prog rock elements. 4/5

Good album.

If you know you know. If you don’t you’ll never get it. One of the top albums of all time from the album era.

too much flute, too oddly 70's for my tastes!

An extremely pleasant listen. I don’t think I had ever listened to this album, though I know it.

Not for me.

Geggjup plata ekki fyrsta skiptið að hlusta á hana though

Rating: 4.6/5 Short Review: A prog-folk fever dream where the hobbits start questioning the church and the riffs are biblical. Favorite Track: “My God” – it sounds like a priest and a warlock got in a bar fight, and someone recorded the sermon.

The interview at the end of the special edition album was a nice touch

While hearing the interview as part of the album is quite jarring for me (because it takes me out of the flow of enjoying the album), it's a fun album all round. Not sure why people get upset about a freaking flute in rock and made that big part of their review? I don't even remember hearing the flute because I enjoyed each song as a whole rather than suddenly focusing on one instrument. I had missed a day, but I'm glad I got to listen to this while working. It's definitely something I would add to a work playlist.

Enjoyed this way more than expected, had only heard the song Aqualung prior to this so think my perspective might have been a bit off. Don't normally have much flute-prog in my life but I like it!

prog rock not my cup of tea

There was something decent about it but it never really captured me

I like this band it was good kinda reminds of Led Zeppelin

The Good: Fucking Jethro Tull! The Bad: Finding a good version of the album online… The Ugly: The fahking beard on the homeless man… Mr Aqualung! Fuck Yes!!! That was my instant reaction when I saw the iconic album cover this morning. I think that I’ve listened to this album at least 5 times today... So, there. To all that don’t like it… close your eyes and listen to it again, and again, and again. This album was a staple of my college days—and no, I am not of that generation—where my roommate would play this album constantly as we played cards, talked about life, or just sat back and got wasted. Great memories. Also, jazz flute! For the moment, might just be my favorite album from the list… 5*

Sounds like a Tribute to Black Sabath , some songs were interesting to listen, after a while it gets repetitive and boring.

Sounds good. It just sounds kinda abstract

Cross-Eyed Mary is phenomenal

Jethro Tull! I was excited for this one, and it started strong but was really just okay-ish by the end.

Am... am I a Jethro Tull fan? When I loaded the page and saw Jethro Tull I thought "Ugh, great, another famous 70s prog rock band that's way overhyped." Listened to the album once, I recognized Aqualung but that was it. Then on the second playback I started getting into it. Then on the third I started liking it. Will I run out and buy this album? Nope. Would I listen to it again? Yep. Is it worth being on this list? Definite yep. 4/5.

Great album. Evolves throughout and love the banger flute solos. Very much your British classic rock, and the flute is a great spin. Fun listen. Might put some more time into this band.

Didn’t know flute could be like that

This has got all the little bits of silliness that get the Tull in trouble - ie Ian Anderson extending vowels into multiple syllables like a weirdo, a little indulgence etc. But they groove, and they rock. Bass lines are tight. Drum lines are tight. Every transition and return in aqualung is thrilling and its all about some dirty old homeless man with a COPD exacerbation. Locomotive breath goes hard. The flute's cool as shit as a rock instrument. "The flowers bloom like madness in the spring" is a great line where you aren't sure what it means, but it sounds cool as hell. Don't you start away uneasy.

I don't like Aqualung the song so I've never listened to the whole album. In my ignorance Jethro Tull seemed to me like a token band boomers would cite to indicate they were real music heads. Now I have listened to it in its entirety and I can say with confidence I don't like it.

She woodwind on my instrument till I prog

Lots of flute.

Really good album. Can’t say a whole lot more than that. I couldn’t really connect to it 100%, maybe another time in my life.

Wow, wusste nicht das Locomotive Breath von denen ist :D Cooler rockiger Sound, durch das gesamte Album

Chilliger 70s Rock. Ich fand die Flöte geil, hat es mal zu was anderem gemacht.

3.5/5. Verrassend aangenaam

Cross-Eyed Mary and Hymn 43 are bangers. Locomotive Breath is pretty good too. I can do without the forest sprite ballyhoo.

Haven't quite finished this one but have enjoyed so far, rather progressive!

Pretty cool.

Classic album with some great tracks! Never given the time to go through the whole thing, glad I have now. Gonna go back for more another time.

rockende gitaren met een fluitende flamingo overgoten met saus nostalgie.. topplaat!

like certain Queen but prog and not as good. but damn, that flute!

At the record store where I worked we took turns playing music, and there was one kid who was into Jethro Tull and I worked enough shifts with him to where I feel I should never have to be asked to listen to them again. But even without that, when I seek injunctive relief from the courts over The Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame's existence, Exhibit A is going to be the fact that the inaugural Grammy award for heavy metal in 1989 went to these jokers. WTF

I remember checking this album out of a local library when I was a kid/tween, wanting to enjoy it more than I did, and mystified why there were so many flutes on a rock album that everyone seemed to revere. I might have wondered if this was some crossover album by Cat Stevens or something (especially with tracks like "Wond'ring aloud"), and never did recognize that this fell into the prog rock camp just as much as my beloved Rush (especially their earlier albums). I don't think I ever listened to the whole Jethro Tull album then, or since, so it's kind of nice to finally revisit it, warts and all. I've always been a bit haunted by the opening lyrics of the title track, but aside from the opening and closing sections it's not nearly as great of a song as I'd long imagined; I'd say the same of "Cross-eyed Mary" and "Locomotive breath", although they're a bit stronger throughout. I also enjoyed "Up to me" and "Hymn 43", although the whole album just seems a bit tedious (and a bit long-winded, lyrically and flute-ally).

need me that weird little flute https://youtu.be/d64K_QJkLbk?si=j1BQ4K9MXjOxXv4t

5/5

song 1: vocals and song don't align timing wise but lowket interessting. song style resarts and it lowk turns into bohemian rhapsody fire. NOW A HAPPY JIG song 2: WOAH flute intro, kinda geeky kinda interesting song 3: super nice intro and then it rebuilds, not bad overall song 4: kinda country core, mehh song 5: slower love style, i fw it doe song 6: PIRATE JIG WITH LAUGHs, and flute, new top song 7: guitar strum intro, experimental core, turns into electric guiatar, top close except for the flute-y ness halfway through, wait lowkey song 8: bon jovi core or whatevs, sinners jiggy ish song 9: lowkey speaking idk it was meh song 10: fun intro, electric guitar with piano ooh, meh vocals let me down a little, but nice constaant bass beat song 11: slower beat mehhhh, it picked up kinda reminds me of cars movie song 12: end of movie type song, hard headed social worker ahh song 13: CHEEEe HOOOOO song 14:s song my asss its an interview

Probably my 100th listen. Every song is fantastic- even the interludes! Ian Anderson remains one of my favorite musicians of all time and this is my favorite project of his.

Ould be one of those rare albums with every song being good.

WELCOME TO PROG FLUTE HELL! YEAH! but i like the folk-rock-prog style of this. prog need to be more like this and less technical wankery. 4/5

Descent but has not aged well

Terrible

It was ok- I liked all of the different instruments

There IS a Jethro Tull. And this is among the very best. And it’s either this or Queen II that is the greatest album of the rock era. Anderson eviscerates British society, religion, schooling, theology. He tells folk stories and little personal anecdotes. All in front one of the best bands of the rock era. Martin Barre, on guitar knows exactly what to play. So does geoffrey Hammond on bass. Held down on drums by Clive bunker and Rod Evans on the keys. Hymn 43, the title track, and the glory that is locomotive breath rock like a pivoting rock on a pivoting rock balanced on a rock that is pivoting. Sensitive songs like Wondering aloud and cheap day return show an everyday side to Anderson. One a love song, the other a little vignette on visiting his father in hospital. My God and Wind up stick it to the establishment in a mature and considered way. The treatment of poor aqualung - at least the salvation army gives him a cup of tea. A much better book would have been listen to this 1001 times. Or maybe 500 times and Queen Ii 500’times. Deducted half a star for not having mandolin. 55000000444000003030003003030300999.5 stars

My first listen... Aqualung/Jethro Tull Here I am thinking I dont know the band... but its familair... like all heavy metal of the era, to some extent. I am getting a lot of School of Rock vibes/Jack Black. Its fun and exciting. and then annoying. I stop.

I am writing this review knowing that my good friend David Lewis is going to read this moments after I post it. And he _loves_ Jethro Tull and has been hanging out for a Tull record on this list... But I just never got Tull. I have tried many times, but I don't get it. Ian Anderson just knows he is sooooo clever, and he wants you to know it too. And 'clever' is, to my mind, the anthesis of rock and roll. This album comes across like Christopher Hitchens fronting Led Zeppelin. 2.5 stars rounding up for not being too ridiculously proggy.

Cool 70's hard rock, great song subjects. Nice piece of history but not a must have record for my collection

lol, fucking flute rock. Honestly, I'm listening to Jethro Tull for the first time in my life, and I'm so glad this project pointed me to Aqualung. This record is goofy as hell, and I can't stop giggling. It sounds like a bunch of renaissance faire musicians playing at a LARP convention, and occasionally somebody drops some tasty guitar licks into the mix, all while Tumnus the Fawn dances around the whole thing with his pan flute. I'm actually pretty sure this record was a reference point for all of Tenacious D's work. Be that as it may, Aqualung is a joy to listen to. It seems like Jethro Tull was having fun on this one. I really wasn't expecting much out of this record, but I'm so happy to be wrong. 5/5

This was a full vibe while ripping through the mountains with the windows down. Missed most of the lyrics but instrumentals carried.

I liekd it. cool pipe sounds over rock instrumentals.

Strange

I thought Jethro Tull was a person, not a band 😂 quite liked the more folk rock tracks, didn’t like the more hard rock - album quite varied!

Only got part way through. It's fine. Can kinda hear the 60s folk influence. Nice riff on Aqualung itself.

i cant do it yall

When an album tells a story and the music goes on its own journey. Masterful

I've had this album in my collection for a long time, and I love it, so no notes are necessary.

Great album!

6/10… progressive rock

For me it is an Album which could be heared through in one - take. Experimental -alternative. Something you didn't hear all the time, but with the easy and uncomplicated songwriting and schemes.

• 3/5 • maybe it’s the vocals but a lot of the songs sound similar . . . Except Aqualung is better

3/5

Rock flute? Deep poetry? Snot running down his nose? I'm in.

rockcito clasico

🗯 Prog largely leaves me cold — to my ears, it often feels like personality-free middle-aged men playing Dungeons & Dragons with their guitars and box of tissues close by. Not really my vibe. 🙄 Aqualung is the band’s most famous record, and I get why. It is impressive. Ian Anderson’s flute flourishes, the shifts between delicate folk and thundering riffs, the ambition to make rock more “serious” — it’s all here. The title track has bite, Cross-Eyed Mary struts, and Locomotive Breath is undeniably iconic. But the further it sprawls, the more I feel the “prog problem”: the virtuosity and concept outweigh the emotional pull. I respect it, and I know why it’s canon, but it’s not something I’m rushing back to spin. Verdict: Respectable (important, but not for me) For fans of: King Crimson, Yes, middle-aged men in capes rolling dice to riffs. ✊🏻💦

Some classic songs on this album! Great listen.

The flute is rad as hell. Between Aqualung, Up To Me, My God, Hymn 43 and Locomotive Breath, this album is full of bangers.

FEELING LIKE A DEAD DUCK

So much damn Flute

A lot better than I expected but the 3 blind mice style flute playing still bothers me

Blast from the past. Tull was my first concert when I was 13. This album took me back to the times I used to love this. Not my thing as much anymore but still a fun listen

Desde el primer segundo suena a disco de culto, muy sólido, no me agradó una canción en particular pero escuchar todo el álbum completo lo vale

Sick flute solos

Alright

Not a prog guy, but a reasonably accessible album with minimal complications. The title track is a nice and enjoyable song. 3/5

Been listening to this one for what feels like forever

Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it. Thought I’d like it a bit more than I did

opening your album with a song about a nonce is diabolical

Am Anfang fand ich es ganz gut, es ist schon was Besonderes, mit der Zeit nervt es allerding etwas. 2 1/2.

I've mostly listened to Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play over the last decade, but this was the album that I used to play a lot my Senior Year of High School, and I'm sitting here wondering why it's been so long since I've really played it. "My God" and "Hymn 43" are amazing still... maybe even better than I remember them.

Interesting. I’d listen again to pay more attention to the lyrics. A bit repetitious with the same song and all; but might pay off?

A medieval story telling album. Sounds like I should be listening to this at a renaissance festival. I like some of the guitar solos. Very folky.

Expected to hate this but it wasnt horrible. I dont need to listen to it again but i wouldnt be tortured if it was on. Like, say, that gawdawful Muse shite :) Anyhow, rock flute is hit and miss

This is one of the best albums ever created!! So original both musically and lyrical content. Ian Anderson is a genius and in his eccentrically bizarre stories makes a social statement for the ages. His flute playing is iconic and inventive. This is a must LP for your rock collection. Is it prog rock or is it so original it belongs on a shelf of it's own.

8/10 - rock flute is rad af

Ingen andre kan rocke en tværfløjte som Jethro Tull.

Way more than just the title track, the progressive and folk mix is awesome

There was a *lot* going on. Am a fan of the flute though, and very dense lyrics.

I had an hour long out and back drive so I got to listen to this album in two parts. Most of the songs were new to me and the ones that I did know I had only heard a few times. I found this album to be enjoyable to listen to in all aspects of

7/10 4 stars for locomotive breath is a good trade. rest of music isn't offensive and some of it has a nice groove but locomotive breath rules. 8-22-2025

Love the guitar solo for the first song. Very blue's inspired so far. Not bad

Hadn't listened to any Jethro Tull before. I thought this was actually ok! Not all of it was really my thing, but I'd probably listen again.

Flute Rock at its finest, if there is such a thing. I saw these guys as openers for The Who at Folsom Field in 82. From what I remember, it was an annoyingly long set. (Unlike John Cougar, the filler, who left in disgust after a few songs. He did not like being ignored) There really is little use for a flute in Rock, and certainly no business putting the thing front and center. I’ll give it 3 stars for a couple of monster songs, then ding them one ⭐️ for sounding so damn pompous.

There’s a good sound at the start of Aqualung so I’ll give it that. The intro hooked me for a second, but then the lyrics lost me, and the whole thing kind of trailed off into what felt like story hour. No thanks. As for the rest of the album… I don’t know. The flute must be an acquired taste. I get why it stirred things up for what was supposed to be a “rock and roll blues band,” but to me, it often just felt kind of silly like something out of Wayne’s World or Anchorman. Not really what I’m looking for, ever. Coincidentally, I listened to this while visiting my mom, who was apparently all-in on Jethro Tull back in the day. And maybe I would’ve been too, if I’d grown up with it - who knows? But overall, I didn’t feel much from this album, other than a general sense of reaffirmation… that it’s probably just not for me.

This record smells like musty bongwater. Although I can certainly hear how this band has influenced bands I really like such as Ween, Beck, Man Man, etc, this kinda late 60s dirt fairy elf worship stuff is really not my jam. I am also not a big fan of the flute, especially how it is used outside of classical music contexts. (Really it only works overblown in Love and Rockets' cover of "No New Tale to Tell" and I think should not be allowed anywhere else, ever). Given that Tull features this instrument so prominently in almost all the songs here, and the above-mentioned aversion to any audio equivalent of dirty Birkenstocks, patchouli, and beaded headbands, the deck is stacked pretty squarely against me getting into this at all from the get-go. All I can see is grubby hairy white people in buckskin tassled leather vests grooving out in a field somewhere on mescaline when I hear this. Just, no. Overall, this is clearly proggy and stoney and conceptual. This is not a record for a sober mind. I like how it is kinda weird, but it's just not weird enough for me. Dude's vocals are also pretty annoying. I like when things rock out, and "Hymn 43" kinda gets there, but if I wanna hear aggressive stoney guitar riffs, I'm putting on Master of Reality instead of this. Overall, it feels like the soundtrack to a rock and roll musical and I'm way the fuck in the next county for it. Perhaps it would be super at home blasting out of a hi-fi in a wood paneled room in Laurel Canyon in the 70s or at a Renaissance Faire in any decade. One highlight is "Wond'ring Aloud", which has a good folksy Sunday afternoon vibe somewhat evocative of Nick Drake, but that's all I got here. Nothing else connects. Totally could have died without hearing this. The album art reminds me of digging through dusty bargain record bins. I've rifled past it a hundred times. It looks so much more vibrant than I recall ever seeing it. I like a good Black Letter type treatment, although there is some serious tangent action happening on the art. I mean, the graphic looks woodsy and psychedelic enough, which I reckon is the point, so it does receive passing marks for conveying exactly what is contained therein. Adequate but not exciting.

Fett, kann man sich geben

It was alright, I guess.

This album alone should have this band in the R&R Hall of Fame.

So close to a 4, yet most of the B side lowers it down to a 3

Need to listen to it again. Solid band

Очень даже неплохой прогрессив-психоделик рок из начала 70ых. Прослушал на одном дыхании.

Aqualung and Locomotive Breath was good. The rest of the songs were okay

I'd never heard Jethro Tull before but this is fantastic! It's catchy, it rocks, there's lots of emotion, it's interesting to listen to and most of all it's fun. The songs have complex structures and sound very theatrical. The flute parts match really well with the acoustic guitar too. The title track is 10/10, and I also really enjoyed the simple but extremely catchy Mother Goose. Just about every track is great though.

I was dreading this one since the few songs I've heard from Jethro Tull before did not inspire me to delve deeper into their work and It did turn out to be very difficult to get through. It actually took multiple tries. It is really not my type of music at all. While I acknowledge the stellar musicianship, if I was a douchebag music journalist, I'd write this is folk rock played by horndog fratguys. I get arrogance and cockiness wafting from every pore of this album. Mother Goose and Wond'ring Aloud were tolerable. I'll stick to Fairport Convention and Trees if I crave this kind of music (which I rarely do). I wouldn't even mentoin them in the same league as Pentangle.

Hey Aqualung! (3.5)

Just finished this album I’m glad I listened to it I didn’t hate it, wasn’t boring I could do without the extras (flute and story telling parts ) but for the most part I liked a few songs and would listen to it again probably not the whole album and mixed with other albums .

This album has some classic songs, and JT is a cool creative band, but they have never been a band that has really connected to me.. I’m not sure if it’s the vocals, or kind of theatrical arrangements, but I’ve never quite got it. That said, I enjoyed the listen

I’ve tried several times over the years, but I just can’t get into this album. I don’t dislike the music, but it never holds my attention. No matter which track I start with, the album always begins on a promising note, but after a song or two my interest drifts and I realize I’ve stopped listening. As a result, making it through the whole album has always been a struggle.

Dad listened to this when I was but a wee littl' lad. I always thought this band was kind of goofy, but here they sound layered and ambitious with this almost Broadway-meets-hard rock vibe, all while singing about the messiness of being human. Y'all sold me at the flute solos. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Aqualung - Wond'ring Aloud - Hymn 43 - Locomotive Breath

Didn’t finish yet but enjoyed the flute melodies mixed with the rock energy, didn’t love the vocals

Meh. I like house, country, and rap.

The world is a better place with weird little flute prog rock music!

This album is prog rock at its finest. Each song is complex and the lyrics are dense

I actually enjoyed this more than I was expecting. Despite the strange start with I actually enjoyed all the flute that was in the album, and the vocals weren't that bad either. The whole vibe of the album felt very D n D to me for some reason. That sentence doesn't make much sense, but that's the best way to explain it. My overall rating is 8.3/10.

Like if Zeppelin sucked and also had a flute player that sucked.

Not really my thing, but it's good. I liked a lot of the songwriting.

great

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Sehr gut, aber etwas langwierig.

Heavily assuming that most of those dismissing this would also not be capable of telling Bach from Telemann or Haydn from Händel or Coltrane from Coleman. Not that Tull are an of these. But that's about the quality f the dismissals. Apart from that, it's a rock solid British classic rock album, with a lot of musicality and instrumental capacities. Anderson's lyrics are what it costs a point. A little bit too pretentious and dismissive sometimes for my taste.

Folky rock a decent listen

One of the landmark’s of prog rock!

I got super excited when it came to listening to Jethro Tull! I have enjoyed listening to them in the past. Anyone who hates on the flute or says it isn’t rock & roll can eat my butt. I’m biased, but I think the flute elevates the music and gives it such a unique color and sound!! Flute IS rock and roll!!

Started ok, worsened considerably. It’s a 3 from me

Though it seems un-cress He rocks with the best

I first heard the name Jethro Tull in grade 9 social studies when we were randomly learning about 18th-century agriculture? A guy named Jethro Tull invented a piece of farm equipment called the seed drill. As I worked on my homework assignment, my dad chimed in to tell me there was a 70s rock band called Jethro Tull as well. Ok sure, I thought. And I didn’t think much about Jethro Tull until I had my son, and his enthusiasm for vehicles led to us flipping through books that get very specific about agricultural devices, including the good ol’ seed drill. “That was invented by Jethro Tull,” I tell my toddler for no reason every time we get to the illustration of the mechanical seed-sowing behemoth. My husband hums the opening riff to Aqualung. Anyway, this album sounds like a dorkier Led Zeppelin. The part I enjoyed the most was the “Ian Anderson Interview” tucked at the end of the Aqualung special edition I was directed to on Spotify. I gather he is the lead vocalist and flautist(!!) of Jethro Tull. I half-listened to the interview while I did dishes, and it was pretty entertaining. Highlights include him spilling the tea on his feud with Robert Plant (which he started by insulting LZ’s lyrics) and throwing shade on Muddy Waters’ music and maybe the entire genre of blues for being too simplistic?? Yeesh.

I liked this more than I was expecting. It really stands out as a unique sounding prog rock album. The instrumental pallet is just so strange and specific. It's a mix of acoustic guitars, piano, flutes, strings and super heavy fuzz guitar. It's way cooler than it sounds... i swear. But also it feels deeply uncool and nerdy, which I also kind of like. I assume this was not music for the cool kids in the 70s. It has too much of a renaissance fair vibe to it, but I dig that. I like how weird and folksy it is. It feels like they took inspiration from some led Zeppelin songs in this vein and then just ran with that sound and pushed it to a bunch of new places. I love the contrast between the whimsical folk and the black sabbath guitar riffs. It’s very cool. There’s also one song with this crazy flute, chanting breakdown (My God). It’s super fun. I just found myself smiling at the instrumentation, variety and song structures. I also dig the vocals. He’s not a great singer, but he has character and a gravely edge to him. It works. Unfortunately, the words he’s saying didn’t always work for me. I consider the lyrics a strike against the album. I found the less I focused on them, the more I enjoyed the album. But there were a few lyrics my ears just couldn’t ignore that made me cringe a bit or question the ideas of the band. Maybe if I dug into them, I’d appreciate the songs more. Or maybe I’d like the record less. Luckily, I don’t have time to find out. This is a solid 3 for me. 
 Thoughts on some tracks…

 Aqualung - it was great on Guitar Hero and it’s still great now. It’s just a big epic prog rock banger. The lyrics are… interesting. I get that it’s a character portrait of a sketchy, pervy homeless guy, and the lyrics definitely get that across. He doesn’t sound like someone I’d want to encounter, which I think was the goal? I read them a bit and it’s pretty solid writing, really paints a picture of this man. But is it enjoyable to think about while listening to the song? For me… not really. I just love the word Aqualung and dig the music around it and try to ignore the phrase “Watching the frilly panties run” while I head bang to that huge fuzzy riff. Cross-Eyed Mary - The lyrics on this one are even less enjoyable than Aqualung. It seems to be about a teenage prostitute who might be hired by Aqualung. It’s a lot. And the instrumental on this one isn’t good enough for me to ignore the lyrics. But I swear the album gets better from here. Mother Goose - it has Zeppelin vibes in a good way… a mix of ramble on and going to California Wond’ring Aloud - A pretty little folk track with some nice strings. Up to Me - I dig the acoustic/flute groove on this and the sprinkles of electric guitar. My God - This is an epic track. It has a Sabbath vibe. It starts as this ominous folk track then becomes a moody hard rock track. There’s a big guitar solo then a big flute solo which morphs into this Gregorian chant/flute interlude. It’s just really fun and weird. Slipstream - A nice little acoustic folk cut. Very pretty guitar and strings. Locomotive Breath - It starts as a classical piano piece and morphs into this hard rock track and it has a fun flute solo. Note: maybe I’m really into flute… who knew. Another note: This is probably the record they should have won a Grammy for... but they weren't appreciated in their prime... so then the Grammy's gave them the first metal grammy in the 80s instead of choosing Metallica... oops. Love at stupid legacy grammy win. Always entertaining.

Good

1971 memory

L'inizio dell'album è molto interessante, il riff che si ripete in tutta "Aqualung" prende molto, ma con l'avanzare delle tracce è come se ci fosse un "peggioramento" a mio avviso. mi aspettavo di più dopo aver sentito la prima canzone

Great album! Always one of my dad's favorites as well. The sound is great, there are highs and lows that transition rather nicely. The style is one of a kind and shows that Hard Rock can be super versitile.

Great mix of Prog, Folk and Hard Rock. Martin Barre kills it on guitar.

Good to hear this again. Not my favourite Tull album, but some great moments here nonetheless - the title track, Cross-Eyed Mary, Locomotive Breath… Some really good subtle hooks that draw you in, which I think you only truly notice after multiple listens. I’m conscious that first time listeners won’t give this a second listen, which is a shame. A patchy week on the generator, so Aqualung was welcomed.

I fucking love wood instruments

Very boomer rock, but the good kind.

I hate myself for not listening to this earlier. Who knew that intentionally avoiding certain things just because your parents enjoy it, in some sort of act of rebellion, would deprive you of some great stuff. Really makes me want to pick up the flute again tbh. Also I made a mistake of looking at the reviews (never doing that again) - damn some people are so vehemently opposed to the idea of the flute and act like the instrument composition of rock bands was ordained as immutable, and any addition is heresy. cowards. whimsiless mfs. Easy 9/10 Favorites: Locomotive Breath, Hymn 43, Mother Goose, Wond'ring Aloud, Cross-Eyed Mary

same like da last recommendation

It’s obviously very good but I got tired listening to it

Absolut classic

Now That's What I Call Goblin-Summoning Music

It was really unlike anything I’ve heard. The instrumental cohesion was unique and fluid and I really enjoyed giving it a quick listen. I probably won’t put this on any daily music cycles but I am really impressed by how harmonious the music is while having so many elements simultaneously at center focus. Super cool!

not my favourite, but it had a nice sound

Good without the flute, better with.

I feel like I'll regret the rating I've given it today, but I definitely see why this album is legendary. Love the flute work, and I love how it feels like the sound of each song gets more and more complex as the album reaches its conclusion.

Phenomenal Flute work

Very different sound between each song. Catchy too

Fantastic album

Weird album but I was into it

The flute goes crazy

Great listen, would listen again

Kinda boring

pretty good

Great album. Diverse & original.

Two good songs... The rest, not so much...

Yes, this album definitely had to be on the list. I don't even need to listen to it to be able to judge it. I've been listening to it over and over again since my youth. At first, it was just the song Lokomotive Breath that regularly created a good atmosphere at parties. Later, however, I also became aware of the quality of the other songs. 5/5

4.5 - fantastic album. Loved the medieval sound

non mi ha entusiasmato. la parte con il flauto però molto simpatico

Bra tillverkad musik, men kanske inte för mig. Lite av musiker-musik. Andra låten på albumet hade något intressant. Kanske ska jag ändå lyssna igenom den ordentligt.

Mindblowing, and unmatched in its creativity

They said it couldn't be done - wind instrument hard rock in the style of a middle ages troubadour. Jethro Tull is like, "Hold my piccolo," and pulls off a bewildering spectacle (auracle?). And I can't help but think of Jethro the bard enunciating with menacing flute flourishes and making big eye gestures... 'Bravely ran away, away! When danger reared its ugly head,He bravely turned his tail and fled.'

Enjoyed my first listen very much - the album offers quite a few layers. Multiple listens are probably advised. Fun record. I will take my time and give it more repeats.

I mostly know Jethro Tull as "The Prog Band With The Flute" so I frankly expected this to have more or what I find annoying with some prog. However, I actually liked this quite a bit. It honestly scratches a different itch than most prog, the word that comes to mind to describe the sound of this is "Earthy". It's the acoustic passages, the relatively reigned in song structures, and the lyrics which I actually like quite a bit. There are all kinds of ultra visual character portraits and surprisingly relatable philosophical musings. For example, on one of my favorites here, the title track, we have both many of the greatest compositional moments on here as well as some super interesting lyrics which portray kind of a really ugly figure in a way that almost makes it impossible not to view him with at least some empathy. I also usually like the aforementioned flute on this project. The intro to Cross-Eyed Mary is really cool, and the flute break on My God is honestly kind of fascinating. Some other highlights on here are the light and folky Mother Goose, and the driving single Locomotive Breath. I will say that Cheap Day Return and Wond'ring Aloud are fine, but kind of insubstantial. And I'm not really into Hymn 43. But I liked this a lot! And I think it has some real highlights!

Lite småflummigt men ändå bra. Lite småproggigt. Funky ahh intervju i slutet🫣

Kinda interesting 70’s story telling Rick

I can see why people took this and went overboard with the unnecessary stuff, but Jethro Tull strikes a perfect balance here. I can see why people hate the ren faire stuff, but frankly that is pretty minimal in this one. It still has the edge it needs. And btw, flute >> synth.

For years, we have debated the meaning of Jay-Z's adlib on 'The Blueprint 2', where he claims to have 'brought the flutes this time, though', and asks staff to 'unleash the flutes on them'. I am now choosing to assume that he, too, was listening to Aqualung.

One of my all time favorites. I have fond memories of my personal discovery of them when I was younger after I had exhausted Ozzie, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Stones, and Led Zeppelin. I know Jethro Tull is a huge band, but I feel like they (and by they I mean Ian Anderson) flies under the radar a bit. I really enjoy the tempo changes, changes in composition between and within songs, and the creative lyrics.

3.2 Meh. I can see where he was going, but the voice didn't do it for me. I had a mate who was terrible at singing but thought he should be a star, went on X-Factor and all and ended up as one of few clips they show on TV where people embarrass themselves. I shit you not. Anyway, he sounds EXACTLY like this. So that was unwanted flashback. Anyway, the music was actually alright, but the flute I couldn't do, so between that and the vocals it wasn't the most pleasant 45 mins

Nice

I’ve said this before but I grew up with a certain distaste for overused classic rock riffs like that immediately displayed by the opener. But 3 minutes in I’m liking it. 13 minutes in I’m liking it more. But then, around the 23rd minute, I’m beginning to ask “what the flip is it with the flutes?” By the time Up to Me came on I was ready to be done - solely on account of the flute. I listened a second time on way home and still can’t decide. Love the prog rock elements here - remove the flutes and it could be a 5. In the end I’m voting 4 to encourage me to come back when time allows.

More panpipes than I was expecting

Badass guitar work, wild lyrics that combine filth with religious imagery, and some cool flute to boot. I love this record.

I liked when it sounded like the Pied Piper from Shrek 4

Flute. 3.2/5

Caught myself going "hell yeah" multiple times while listening.

I enjoyed it for a while then I got kind of bored.

I think I was expecting a southern rock band with a name like Jethro Tull.

More music needs flutes, I bloody loved this it's an instant 5 from me and is likely my next purchase

Really liked it.

Rad. Great band, good listen through. Saved a bunch of the songs

goes pretty hard, consistently good

🤷

HOW IS HE SINGING AND PLAYING FLUTE AT THE SAME TIME?!?

Very nice! Loved this album.

Very nice

I gotta fever and the only prescription is more flute. As much as I heard of this album, I just never listened to it. All I knew is that they're known for their lead singer using a flute and like one or two of their songs. So I am surprised how much I actually enjoyed listening to this. It reminded me of the folk songs of Led Zeppelin but more harder at times while also being more "fairy tale-like?" I dunno how to explain it, but it's good and I'm surprised how good I I think it was.

I never knew what Rock really needed was more flute ...