Aqualung

Pretty groundbreaking stuff for 1971 that still holds up today. Dig the yazz flute 4/5.

Yummy

JETHRON JA HJALLIKSEN METKUILUT TAAS... huilunpuhaltaja ,, tulee nokka huilu ajat mieleen.... hyvää työtä tässä. vaikuttaa tylsältä OSITTAIN. MUTTA EI OLE.. kun kuuntelee .. pistää korvan lähelle.. musiikkia... sen jälkeen on selvä. hyvä album... paras biis my god.

The only thing that turns me off is the lead voice. It’s just not something I’m into. The music is awesome

You better know flautist Jethro Tull. He gonna toot toot all over your guitar and he gonna big yell and shout at you. Toot toot you mother fuckers. Toot toot. His voice rules biggly and the guitar lines have some pervy swill to them. Also, the guitar tones big time blast off and buzzsaw inside the heart. Dis album Thich as a Brich, bruv.

An absolute classic that blends acid folk, hard rock and heavy prog in a really cool way, but honestly, its songs tend to be kind of hit or miss. However the hit ones really hit HARD.

good use of flute. 4.

*Aqualung Jethro Tull* With this being my first randomly generated listen, it is definitely not what I expected. I absolutely love the guitar so far, especially some of the chorus parts in Aqualung. Trying to listen to the drums to gain a better understanding. "Much of this album was, in fact, inspired by frontman, lyricist and singer Ian Anderson’s then-wife Jenny Franks' photographs of the homeless along the Thames Embankment in central London." (Genius) I find this to be so cool especially since I'm into photography. It's almost like they're creating a story or theme song for her photo's which is extremely interesting. After listening to the entirety of the album I've gained a bigger interest in rock and have definitely gained an excitement to explore older music.

Classic Album with good tunes and flute

didn't want to listen to it, actually kind of liked it

È storia, dalla superlativa title track a "My God". Sarebbero 5 stelle, ma sono 4 solo perché esiste Thick as a Brick.

Homeless prog Music!

Outstanding album by an incredible band. It was in my LP collection as a teen and I remember seeing them play at the Worcester (MA) Centrum in the early/mid-80s. Such superb musicianship and interesting compositions. These tunes hooked me back then and still have me hooked to this day.

I like this album.

ikkje lika bra som thick as a brick, men fortsatt sjukt bra

Great tunes

Excellent album, pas une mauvaise chanson. Honnêtement près du score parfait.

4/3 drowned

I liked it more than I thought I would. Aqualung (the title track) is probably the best, and I dug the overall folk-rock slant. I've kind of dismissed Jethro Tull in the past I think I have a new appreciation.

A very nice album with a couple of standout moments (an in particular the brilliant Locomotive Breath). However, some parts also feel a bit uninspired and meandering. In particular, some of the more folk pieces don't work that well for me. Still, very good, just not quite enough for 5 stars.

I’ve heard of Jethro Tull before this, but never actually got around to listening to them. I liked the album. I haven’t heard a lot of older folky/rock music with flute in it, and I actually like it a lot. The flute solo followed by guitar solo in Cross-Eyed Mary was awesome! Aqualung, Cross-Eyed Mary, and Locomotive Breath are some of my favorites from this one.

Good bit of folky-rock. Smells like hay bales and cider and cigarettes.

Eddie

Very interesting

Heard before: no Another one where my prejudices were proved wrong - all I knew about the band was: prog folk rock with flutes. This album was a blast - great tunes. Some meandered for a bit too long, but loved it overall.

Really enjoyed the three times I listened, great riffs, good singing, nice pedal measures

Folk rock, all over the place, shaggy and rambling, and I am mostly here for it. Flute/chanting bit took me by surprise though.

Solid classic rock album. Aqualung is top 10 classic songs of all time. Standouts: Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Cross-Eyed Mary, Hymn 43. 4/5

some of this is really hard to listen to but that jazz flute is ON POINT

Aqualung is of course Jethro Tull's best-known album and is generally known and loved by rock fans (The titletrack and Locomotive Breath will still be heard anywhere, and you'll find them on rocklovers lists). It is indeed the best introductory album to Jethro Tull. However, as I've been told by many of Tull fans, this is probably not their best work. That honor goes to the more progressive Thick As a Brick. Still, Aqualung has enough highlights for a successful listen. The title track is magnificent and My God also remains Jethro Tull at their top.

Great

Yeah not bad. Liked the famous flute bits and pretty happy with it overall apart from that.

Jethro Tull albums generally follow the CCR Format, but also reinventing Led Zepplin. The title song is a timeless classic and there might be one other really catchy jam on here. (7/10) FT: Aqualung, Locomotive Breath , Bourée

cool medieval metal sounding album, with multiple songs spanning the same tale, definitely a great unique sound

pretty nice

I honestly saw the album cover and was like wtf is this shit - put it on while I cleaned my home - super groovy I really liked it

This was a pretty cool album. Even the songs I didn't like all that much would get bumped up a star or so when the riff (guitar and/or flute) kicked in. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would, even knowing I would like "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath".

tri

My grandad is always on and on about this band ( so I hope it’s good)… The album starts off with the title track, a fairly cool 6 minute multi parter, It starts with this fairly heavy bit where it kinda reminds me of black sabbath, then theres the slow section which is alright but not brilliant only to explode into this great pop track the kinda song I thought this band would make theres an instrumental that reverts into the slow second which while isn’t my favourite kinda glues all the songs sections. It ends full circle on the awesome black sabbath-y part. Amazing! Cross eyed Mary starts with a brilliant flute based intro really showing what this band can do, the main song itself is a great slow rocker with great lyrics. Cheap day return is a short and sweet interlude-y track providing a nice breather before… Mother goose is a very folk based track it’s not my favourite but it’s still good especially with the songs flute workings in it. Wond’ring Aloud is another short track not an interlude as such as it’s a bit too dynamic for that but it’s still good especially with the string work. Theres some laughing which brings on up to me it’s a decent track with a great groove to to it and good lyrics just slightly going under the quality of the first two songs. Side two starts off with the 7 minute long my god it’s intro is a great piece of acoustic picking which Segway’s into a great verse. The song fights with the original riff until it turns into quite a heavy track that eventually blends all of the sounds from this band the most interesting part is the flute solo backed with the ( na na na na na’s). Then the heaviness comes back for the last minute great! Then is the album’s first ( of two) singles hymn 43, despite its name it’s probably one of the heaviest songs on here acting as a true grand centrepiece to the whole album. Slipstream is another break-y interlude thing it’s good just not special. Then is the other single and penultimate track of the album, locomotive breath a piano led track at the start but then takes a complete left turn once the song hits and proves itself as a true rocker very entertaining! The album’s goodbye is in the form of wind up it starts off as a really beautiful acoustic track that slowly builds up what a closer. Wow really good… thanks grandad! —- But my minds changed so I had to re review—— Firstly I said it’s a 5 but I’m not sure. But I never re-listen to this thing honestly I don’t listen to much prog in my spare time and some songs on here are a bit boring. Here are the highlights: Aqualung especially for its intro and coda is really cool, the middle bit is cool too even if it does go on. Cross eyed Mary might be the best use of that all powerful Jethro Tull flute. Seriously for it’s time my god is a super bold song, it’s got this doomsday factor to it as if the great plagues are being summoned as the song plays. Hymn 43 is very danceable for its time a genuinely very cool, I like this comes after my god for the religious theming. But then you have the little ones cheap day return, wondering around, slipstream, these drag more than the multiple long tracks on here. I have sentimental value because my grandad who died two years ago really liked the band but I can’t give it a 5. It’s a 4

holy shit this album kicks ass. i seriously had no idea. the title track & most famous song might be the one of the worst ones on the album which is maybe why i've never listened to it. 'locomotive breath' made me google black sabbath's 'paranoid' album to see who was ripping off who (which really says something given this song features a bluesy piano solo and jazzy flute solo), but those albums came out within months of each other so probably no foul play there. looking forward to jason doing 'cross-eyed mary' at karaoke.

Great to revisit this album.

A fun album with some classic songs

The prog with flute kings rise to the top. An SCC prog album with room to build upon.

nice and good album

Amazing album. I just imagine Ron Burgundy rocking out with his Jazz Flute to this.

I like it, different sound, but the vocals remind me of the smiths/morrissey.

Wind-up é famosa

Good Album. Didn't love every song but it it wasn't horrible.

Enjoyed the experience of the album overall, however I did find my interest waning after the first couple of songs, however from mid-album found it picking up again. Some pretty sick flute solos scattered throughout, not something I've found in rock albums I've listened to in the past. It's a pretty good full-album experience, although I'm not sure if I'd find myself going back to listen to individual songs as a once-off in my regular music rotation.

While it makes no sense that they won an award for metal, this is a pretty rocking album.

Yep, good one, I liked it!

Þessi er alls ekki allra. Ég ólst upp við þetta og fíla vel.

Quite nice

Only the 70s could give us rock flute. And because its the 70s, it works. 4/5.

This was a surprise, I thought I hated these guys but it turns out I was wrong.

Cool one

O álbum é bão mas a capa é melhor

eles querem tanto ser o bruno maia 😭😭😭

Non male. Li avevo già sentiti in passato, non mi erano dispiaciuti ma non mi avevano mai preso troppo. Però lo stile mi piace molto.

Le había entrado a Jethro Tull hace muchos muchos años, cuando mi tío me dejó tomar prestados CDs y LPs de su colección y me puse a explorar que otras cosas tenía. En aquel entonces me gustaron muchas cosas: el tema de agregar flauta y piano "clásico" a rolas de rock, la voz de Ian y el sonido completo y "choncho" de las canciones con todas las partes que uno espera en una banda setentera. Ahora también me gustó aunque quizá una rayita menos. La voz ya no me sorprende tanto, la flauta la siento un poco como gimmick y las temáticas religiosas del disco ya me dieron flojera. Sin embargo, sigo sintiendo que tiene un gran sonido de banda setentera y que siguen teniendo grandes guitarras.

Listened all weekend.

Far from timeless. Guess it didn't start a wind instrument jn rock craze. Loved it back then. Enjoyed listening again.

One of my college roommates used to repeatedly tell the “story/history” of the song Locomotive Breath every time it came across our listening plane (which was often enough in 1985). He would say… “This song was written by a young/autistic/mentally-challenged/ street-person/asylum resident… who carried around a rag soaked in whatever bodily fluids he ‘happened to have coughed up’ that date. Use your imagination there. Reallly, it’s true!” Sorry Randy, not true, but you sure told a helluva a story. Good album with strong tracks and two all time classics. I Was leaning towards a five here, but rounding down out of respect for my old friends bullshit.

I actually really love the mix of 70's rock and sort of old-english folkyness that the band brings here. Was expecting to just enjoy the hits and the novelty of the flute, but I'd say it's all good stuff. A strong 4.5!

Jethro Tull are in full possession of their powers here, contrasts made sharper by Wilson's remastering work. Flute against distortion, folk song against the cynical humanism. Even the cover captures the muddiness of the temptation to misanthropy. I'm partial to the band's weirder output, but here they demonstrate the potential of short-but-full songs. Radio-ready, somehow: The best intro album to Jethro Tull.

Great album growing up as a young teenager…. My cousin played it all the time. Aqualung & Locomotive Breath my favorites.

Another banger for the week! I have a different Jethro Tull album on vinyl, not sure why I wouldn't have this one. It's funny that Jethro Tull is known for the flute contributions, and yet what's most memorable about any given song are the epic guitar riffs. Like the title track, when I think of "Aqualung" I hear that six-note riff. The flute is just an exquisite touch that elevates this a little bit above classic rock fare. Lots to love on this album, I think it's great. Favorite tracks: Aqualung, My God, Cross-Eyed Mary, Mother Goose, Locomotive Breath. Album art: Absolutely iconic. The evil hobo, looking like a fairy-tale troll rendition of Charles Manson. I've always enjoyed this one, I like to think he's about to pull a flute out of his coat and go nuts with it. 4/5

i think i liked it! giving 4 stars based on a strong first few trax.

This flute rocks hard! What a banger - folk tinged, retro sounding, full throated, hugely enjoyable. I love the lyrics alluding to some Victorian past. So much fun.

Un bin album de prog. 4.15

Muy buen álbum

I see a lot of people saying there’s too much flute. I felt the opposite. I didn’t really think they’re was that much flute. It was only very noticeable in a few songs and when it was used, it was tasteful. If that’s too much flute then I don’t know what to tell you. I like this album a lot more than I thought I would. Good melodies and highlights. Aqualung was a great way to start off the album. It was a solid album.

Oh hey, Aqualung. Maybe my favorite Jethro Tull album, good albeit corny (3.5/5)

Hi- Cross-Eyed Mary, My God, Locomotive Breath Raise your flutes to the sky! Jethro Tull has a story to tell (Actually 12 of them), so gather 'round for some prog-rock goodness with a heavy dose of flute-rock. The songwriting in every track is great, but the standouts are superb. Great album.

Loved my god

Good album. Has some really great tracks.

Really enjoyed it Some catchy songs I may have heard before?

Quite good

Nice album, enjoyed the uniqueness of the flute, combined with some "old sounding progressive/psycholedic" tunes. Also liked the singing voice of Ian

Prog, Proggy, Prog, Prog. Rather enjoyed it.

A surprusingly good full album. Had heard aqualung many times but the rest of the album carries it on well

Classic prog, but not too Genesis or Yes! Good riffs, voice and flute. I'm going to give it 4 because it is easily listenable.

I'm likely biased since I learned bass on these songs, but man is this album one of balance. It knows when to go for the proggy narrative lyricism but also when to let the rippers fly, when to dial it down to acoustics but also when to crank the dynamics to 10. The fact it maintans a sense of cohesion throughout is just the cherry on top

Aqualung is the fourth studio album by the British rock band Jethro Tull. Aqualung has widely been regarded as a concept album, featuring a central theme of "the distinction between religion and God".[4] The album's "dour musings on faith and religion" have marked it as "one of the most cerebral albums ever to reach millions of rock listeners".[5] Academic discussions of the nature of concept albums have frequently listed Aqualung amongst their number. The initial idea for the album was sparked by some photographs that Anderson's wife Jennie took of homeless people on the Thames Embankment. The appearance of one man in particular caught the interest of the couple, who together wrote the title song "Aqualung".[17] The first side of the LP, titled Aqualung, contains several character sketches, including the eponymous character of the title track, and the schoolgirl prostitute Cross-Eyed Mary, as well as two autobiographical tracks, including "Cheap Day Return", written by Anderson after a visit to his critically ill father.[18] The second side, titled My God, contains three tracks—"My God," "Hymn 43" and "Wind-Up"—that address religion in an introspective, and sometimes irreverent, manner.

Excellent album

первый реально хороший альбом

в последний раз слушал, наверное, лет в 17. тогда мне показался и лучше и хуже одновременно. лучше - потому что считал заглавную тему этаким качем, ну и типа риффак легендарный. хуже - потому что особо ничего с тех пор не запомнил. а вот сейчас, переслушав, ясно осознал, что первая тема вообще-то муть какая-то душная. по крайне мере первая часть и последняя части, в середине довольно приятный и мелодичный кусок. а вот вся эта хуйня с резкими сменами ритма и, будем честны, не особо-то интересным риффом, мне вообще разонравилась. вот уж реально выебон для выебона. плюс вокал очень паршиво обработан, при том что там в принципе вокалист середняковый такой. короче выписано из топов а вот в чем я был не прав - так это насчёт остальных песен, ибо они процентов на 70% - очень даже годнота. особенно зашли Cross-eyed Mary и Up to Me. ну и My God в зависимости от настроения может считаться либо самой гениальной либо самой смешной вещью, что я слышал. и то и другое в целом - хорошо. конечно, песни 2-3 из альбома стоило бы выкинуть - больно уж он длинный и однообразный, особенно под конец. но в целом все равно ровная тема, хован вроде одобряет. 8/10

I liked this more than I thought I would. 3.5 but I'll give it four stars.

surprised, better than expected

floot floot

Wow this is a really good album. I'm familiar with the title track, Cross Eyed Mary and Locomotive Breath but I thought the whole album was really good. 4 🌟

loved it

Title-track and Locomotive Breath are instant bangers. The albums works better in vinyl or cassette with each side representing either Aqualung or God lyrical themes respectively. They can rock hard and while the flute might annoy some, it is extremely well played by Mr. Anderson and remains a trademark of Jethro Tull.

Very interesting album. Had always heard of it but never got around to listening to it

So many classics within - I've never been a Tull "fan" per se, but it's hard to argue with this album. Ranging from straight rock to progressive with dashes of english folk in-between, enough interesting variety to make this a true classic album. Highlights include the epic title track of course, the heavy metal of "Cross Eyed Mary" (Iron Maiden did a cool cover of this in the 80s), and the bitter "Hymn 43" - even as one who doesn't always pay attention to the lyrics, I do love the cynicism and iconoclastic imagery throughout the album. Statement: we need more flute in modern music, dammit.

I had listened to Aqualung (the track) prior to this full Aqualung the LP listen and had wrote off Anderson’s vocal as being painfully theatrical. I must’ve been still reeling from Rush 💀. This is an easy listen for prog beginners, it’s filled with hard rocking groves throughout. It’s like medieval-ish without the pomp and pageantry of the Canterbury scene.

Love Jethro Tull. It must be something about standing on one leg and sticking your tongue out, because I also love Loudon Wainright III. Locomotive Breath is just brilliant and very easy to play (badly). Sam likes this album, having discovered it for himself.

Great stuff, hadn’t heard this before and really enjoyed it, Locomotive Breath & Wind-Up were favourites but great riffs all over the shop, will investigate further.

Querflöte und Gitarrenrock. gute Kombi.

Great!

I actually really really enjoyed this. Had heard of Jethro Tull but never listened to their music. This album was a real pleasant surprise

Dommage qu'ils soient moins bon que Bruce Springsteen et son tatouage tribal, un 4/5 bien mérité

Hadn't ever listened to this album despite knowing several tracks on it like the back of my hand. Was surprised at how overall high quality it was and really enjoyed it.

Wonderful

Very solid album, I'm surprised I haven't heard of the band before. I especially appreciate the flute, solid 4

i like this, but have heard some of the tunes so much I cant listen to them again!

Good. Except the interview at the end. Liked the prog rock/pan pipes vibe.

Much like Faces yesterday, this is a favourite of my dads. Personally I’m fonder of this than the Faces, the song Aqualung is rightfully a classic and everything else on here is a decent standard without getting close to that level.

Enjoyed this a lot by the end of it. Lots of fun bits in there, especially the Ron Burgandy style jazz flutes.

Can see why these guys are one of the originators of 🤘 It's a lot more acoustic than I was expecting although a few good heavy riffs here and there. Not totally my vibe, but influenced a lot of important bands that followed them. 7.5/10

Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected. Initially thought, another folk rock/progressive rock album for us to listen to, but it was really different.

Classic album, need to be in the mood.

Lots of interesting songs on here, I could see myself listening again. 8/10

Tough one. I'll give it a four just to separate it from some of the threes but probably not as good as some of the fours!

Of course the title track is a prog classic. I like the combination of longer grandiose pieces with the acoustic buck & change connectors. The thematic lyrics connect it all nicely. Very ambitious.

Played the crap out of this during my first year of college. Some interesting songwriting undermined by flat production values. Title track, 'Mother Goose' and 'Locomotive Breath' the standouts.

When i was 10 yrs old I heard the opening lines.. Sitting on a park bench Eyeing little girls with bad intent Snot's running down his nose Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.... and then with all those tempo changes and crazy instruments, I mean a flute??!!! I knew this was something special. This gets 4 stars because of four iconic songs, Aqualung, Cross eyed Mary and Locomotive Breath

Notable song and enjoyable listening separately. All together I struggle with the voice itself.

4* got really into it by the end, but struggled at the start

Classic prog rock. Lotta flutes. Fun stuff.

So some of these songs surprise me. There’s a harder sound, and then suddenly there’s something that sounds almost folky.

where else can you hear enchanting flute solos and sweet guitar solos in the same song?

Solid prog-folk. Mad Bingo vibes.

Only first and last songs are worth it, but they’re REALLY good

Hmm, Aqualung. Sort of an anthology about an individual, Aqualung, even though he isn't mentioned more than 1 or 2 times past the title track. I have this album on vinyl purely for the single, but I guess there's a little more for me there too.

Enjoyed it!

Nice warm classic rock, some cool bass and guitar licks. Production reminds me a lot of early Sabbath/Bowie. Little bit hippy and whimsical of the time. Road trippin music.

Very interesting and unique concept album. Versatile, well-written, and fully realized. Glad I found this!

Classic!

Classic

This is a 4.5 star album. Genuine classic rock, some really good stuff. I can't believe I hadn't ever heard of Jethro Tull before. The Title song on this album I had heard but barely, and I didn't have any context. Want to re-listen interview at the end of this album too since I didn't catch much while at work

This album is good

Prog Rockin

good album, i like their style!

The flute addition really gives this music such a unique vibe. The guitar work and musicianship is commendable, and I'm a big fan of Ian Anderson's voice. I'm between 4 and 5 stars right now.

Interesting

Surprised, pretty interesting concept album

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

The leap from barnstorming to conception had become the latest in a bevy of furious activity for the young rock and roll genre and Jethro Tull were one of the bands to take the change in stride. In fact, they'd lead the charge in the early to mid Seventies surge in the flourishing wave of prog rock. Aqualung, one of two of their most recognizable albums, plants its flag firmly in the soil with its starting riff and lets the flag fly freely. What followed was a litany of complex realizations and epiphanies that would soar past most heads if they didn't dig into the topic at hand while settled in. Such is the power of the human mind. Favorites: Aqualung, Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose, Up to Me, My God, Hymn 43, Locomotive Breath.

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

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

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

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

Ihan toimivaa settiä!

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

3,5

A fun listen

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

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

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

It’s fine

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

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

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

Flute prog rock!

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

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

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

Not available on Apple Music

Not for me, although I'm sure it's great "classic rock."

I’ve never heard of this Jethro Tull guy before but this wasn’t a bad album. I don’t know why there’s a 15 minute interview as a bonus track included though

Didn’t care for this but props for adding flute into rock music. DNF (3)

Haven’t heard much music with a flute solo before. It’s fascinating to listen to a combination of folk. Sounds like it could be put in a modern fantasy anime with slice of life or battle montages.

For prog rock it was pretty good. I know Aqualung is the famous song, but Hymn 43 outshined it and Locomotive Breath. But still, it's prog rock.

Bra, men blir litt for ensformig til å være ei prog-plate.

Et band jeg aldri har hørt på før, og som jeg neppe kommer til å oppsøke igjen, selv om denne plata er full av god, gammal middelalderrock. Ikke min kopp med te, dessverre.

Cool, liked wind-up, and post interview was really cool, never seen an album include that

Aqualung by Jethro Tull is a thematically-driven not-quite-a-concept-album whose creative instrumentation and varied styles give its sound range from medievally bardic to bluesy hard rock. It starts strong with an awesome titular track whose blend of styles sets listener expectations for what’s to follow. The album transitions into the rest of the first half with the wonderful intro to Cross-Eyed Mary but loses a bit of traction after this song until the second half. There’s plenty of beautifully colorful instrumentation here, but the sparser sections highlight where the album shines most—leaning into either of its best aspects: the more instrumentally creative sections, and the incredibly fun hard rock influenced sound. The album’s energy picks up again with the catchy Up to Me, and My God marks the beginning of the second half where the album truly finds its thematic footing in its anti-religious satire. Shoutout to the flute solo here, because the flute on this album is awesome; its choral section is also one of the most interesting on this album. The groovy hard rock sound briefly shifts into more of that beautiful orchestral color only for the punchy guitar and piano to bring us to the fun, bluesy Locomotive Breath. The final song thematically wraps the album up, making it easy to see how some see this as a concept album: perhaps the truly "poor" ones are not the slimy, destitute characters from the fairytale beginning but the Church of England’s spiritually impoverished priests and bishops, the singer realizing the church’s flawed vision of god and finding his own that doesn’t involve so much “pomp” and hypocrisy. This is a somewhat inconsistent album with high highs that tries to do a lot and succeeds to varying but almost always satisfying degrees, making for an overall quite enjoyable and fairly thoughtful album. Rating: ~6.5-7.0/10 _____ Album 4 / 1001+

i enjoyed this album as much as i’m not familiar with jethro tull, highlights were hymn 43, up to me, wondr’ing aloud and wind up. i appreciate the prog rock in this a lot!

More rock albums should have sick as hell flute music, anti religious lyrics, and deep prog commitments. I really enjoyed this record, having heard part of it before. I liked the range and the vocals and the huge span of instruments. Got a little samey in the back half, but still managed to be great

It was ok

Enjoyed a few songs a lot but it’s too long and at times annoying.

Progerokkia. Lopussa haastattrlu albunista.

Its an okay rock album that didnt grab me, its fine but dont understand why its in here. Feels like filler almost

Okay, not memorable

Very fun!

The title track is a dynamite opener that sets up the rest of the album perfectly. Locomotive Breath is the other standout track on a solid album that I don't listen to enough.

Tää on semmonen bändi mihin on pitänyt tutustua jo pitemmän aikaa. Sopivan erikoisia taustahommeleita ja kuulee selvästi miten Leevi & the leavingsin gösta ottanut vaikutteita omiin projekteihinsa. Ihan kelpo menoa

Ihan kivan monipuolista ja pari hyvääkin biisiä, mutta ehkä kokonaisuutena kolkki kuitenkin.

Tää vaatisi ehkä enemmän keskittymistä kun että kuuntelee vaan työpäivän taustalla. Ihan kovaa ajoa kyllä paikkapaikoin, mutta sitten taas kyllä aika raskasta soutua suurilta osin. Posin kautta kuitenkin kolmosella.

Aqualung carries the album

Flooty tooty. Good riffs, should be heavier

This album quite a medieval tone to it. I appreciate the fact that this fair amounts of complexity to it, whist having catchy elements. Usually in a lot of music it's one or the other, but no with this album it's both. This album is not afraid to tell it how it is, there's mentions of actions that the disgusting titular character Aqualung might do to under-age people, there's mentions of prostitution and drug use. It's all delivered in a blunt way, which is definitely ahead of it's time. The title track has such a cool vibe to it, with it's menacing riff and it's so so ominous. Another sinister riff I like is in the song "My God." I quite Ian Anderson's singing style, this album for sure opened me up to him and his band. At the start I wasn't the keenest, but by the end I've come to the conclusion that I will give this album a deserved re-listen. It's a cool album overall. Highlight Song/s: "Aqualung"

Progressive tic at its finest …Ian Anderson on the flute ladies and gentelmen

I cringed when I got this assignment. I change the channel every time Jethro Tull is played. This wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Stand out tracks are Mother Goose and Up To Me.

Describe this album: “Proggy Sabbath lite with extensive, extensive flutery” Sounds awful. It’s actually alright 🤷🏻‍♂️. 3

I like this more than I thought I would. The flute is annoying. But the musicianship is excellent and it's got some great hooks and sections throughout. I reckon I like a lot of what this band have influenced.

I think this is my favourite of the few prog albums I’ve listened to (or endured). Lyrics are more engaging (less nonsense). The brief Cheap Day Return the highlight of side 1. And maybe Locomotive Breath for side 2. Good mix of folk and proper rock. That said I’m unlikely to revisit.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled prog-jamming

This was not what I was expecting. I thought there would be more folk influence, more whimsy, more woodwind, more middle earth if you would. Why would I not expect that from the inventor of the seed drill? The album is hard to pigeonhole, it has those expected folksy elements, then again it also delivers some banging blues. Sadly, and all too often though, it wanders in to prog rock nothingness and ends up sounding like The Who on a bad day. Decent enough but not one to ever revisit.

der titel ist interessanter als die musik, viel zu lang auch

Zepp IV if it was made by Sabbath.

Es como que arranca con un medio rocksito medio blusero. Me gusta. Bien mezcla. Buenas baladas. Arranca con cositas de los beatles, y un rock muy tranka. Ya después se empieza a poner un poco más pesadito Me gusta. 7/10

[Album #4] i honestly didn’t really know much about jethro tull before listening to this, just hearing the name and i had heard the beginning of the title track before (without knowing that’s what it was). i wasn’t excited to listen because i just had a kind of negative connotation associated with them for no reason i guess. i was actually pleasantly surprised with the album once i got into it. it felt really cohesive without being repetitive (which was a problem i had with my first couple of albums on this project). i liked how the instrumentation, vocals, and lyrics all meshed very well and i did like the flutes. it might not be the type of album that i would listen to all the time but i thought it was a pretty good album and i wouldn’t be against revisiting it. i don’t see myself listening to any of the songs outside of an album context though. Rating around 3.5

Listenable.

Band jeg har hørt om mange ganger, men aldri dykket ned i. Syntes dette var mye kult. Jeg hører nok gjennom flere ganger. 3-4

11/05/26 a semiótica desse álbum sempre foi interessante para mim, mas eu nunca tinha parado para ouvir a primeira música é interessante, mas tem mta subida e descida que é meio monótono a segunda faz um blend in interessante de voz e instrumental agitado o vocal deles é foda, é tipo um filho do ozzy com o vedder o clima mudou do nada wtf não me agradou de faixa a faixa muda de agitado pra calmo, inconsistência chata pra cacete locomotive breath a melhor aqui, mas faz parte desse cu de inconsistência, sendo o ponto agitado depois do calmo que solo pika eles usam essa flauta asiática de forma bem única wind up mto igual a anterior tem outro wind up que é um closer mto bosta se n fosse a inconsistência e a duração excessiva, esse projeto seria muito melhor daria 3.5/5 / 7/10, pelos defeitos vai 6

Really interesting album. I'm not sure if everything on this project suits me well, but I'll definitely need to give this another spin a couple more times to fully grasp this LP 7/10 Will I add this album to my library? yes

Enjoyed this one better than previous 70s rock.But won't remember too much about it

Na

Relatively good album, maybe nothing new in 'Old Dad Music' era, although i liked it? Solid 3.

Interesting album for sure. Had some cool parts. 6.1/10

old in a way I don't like

Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this at all, so imagine my surprise when I found out it was decent! Don’t think I’m a convert, but I won’t be as dismissive in the future. Favourite track: Wond’ring Aloud

A really interesting listen. I enjoyed having it on, it was the perfect zoning vibe.

I dug this.

It's nice music and the title track is great. Flute mixes well with the rock. Reminds me of Christmas because they have the Christmas song. Wasn't really in the mood for this today though, and it got a wee bit samey I fear.

3.5/5

Sympa mais sans plus

Eh

I want to like this more but it just is not clicking with me. Eh.

Things I thought I knew about Jethro till prior to listening. Aqualung the song, use of flute/recorder, beat metallica for first heavy metal Grammy (or some such category; not sure which album). After listening to this album, I might recognize the locomotive song. Tried to whistle along to a few parts, which definitely does not belong in the same category as Metallica; they get head bangs or air drums. The recorder or whatever wind instrument was used made me picture frolicking at a ren fair. The album did have some chords that sounded cool, or possibly fun to play. Listened to remaster which included an interview with the front man, who went on to state he wasn't sure this album was the seminal Jethro Tull the label thinks it was. HAHAHAH. Cool, I wasn't all that impressed either, it's okay but did I need it before I die? Up until that interview wasn't interested in listening to another Jethro album; afterwards, alright, I might check out the one he thinks is in a higher category of works

Didn't really expect to like it, but it was very enjoyable. Prob won't listen again though

Not bad. ★★★

this album mihgt be 4 star material upon future review but im giving it a high 3. 75/100

The flute is nice, overall a mit meh 3/5

Didn’t think I would like it but better than anticipated

Why tf does this have a full-blown 14min interview at the end, lmao? Otherwise, okayish album. One of those that I will maybe hear one day can won't be able to remember who performs this.

Lo escuché sin prestarle demasiada atención pero me pareció un álbum bastante escuchable. Al principio lo juzgue bastante mal por su portada, pero no me molestaría que suene algún tema de ellos en una playlist. Sigue sin ser algo muy de mi estilo, pero bastante decente.

I don't think I've ever listened beyond 'Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy Aqualung' with a picture of Will Ferrell in my head. Unfortunately, nothing really grabbed me throughout. I enjoyed all the instrumentation and quite a few songs, I'm just not going to want to put it on most of the time.

Lindo sonido, medio monótono; no terminé de conectar con él de forma completa.

buen album, me recuerda a los indigenas

5/10

Probably better on relisten, but not sure I've got the motivation to listen again.

Pallid

An quoted taste that is not mine.

omg okay album art. I still don’t know what to make of this album and I’m nearly done with it! The songs surprise me and the order surprises me, even if it’s not quite for me Cool voice cool vibe Flute on locomotive breath 🙌🏼

Love the instrumental

I’ll have to revisit this after only getting the chance to play it once. I really enjoyed it, more rock than I expected and the flutes just gave it something else Yeah good one

I remember watching a video of a live performance of this band with a sheet music on top where someone transcribed the flute solo that was playing in the background. I thought it was really cool So when this album got recommended, I had expectations for a very fun and energetic experience. Turns out this was a quite flaccid and inoffensive progressive rock with a heavy influence of folk. This album might have a very clear production (or at least the 2011's Steven Wilson's mix sounds very good), a voice that both sounds pleasant and with attitude, and a very distinct use of the flute, but I feel the more energetic moments, where the electric guitar riffs are predominant, aren't that hard hitting, and the soothing ones, being the acoustic and folk passages, not that captivating. So in the end, there wasn't really anything here that was doing it for me, except for the cool flute solos. I still going to give this a positive score, as there are some enjoyable aspects, but I wasn't really feeling this.

The rest of the day will have me repeating the words "Sitting on a park bench... I don't know the words except park bench" in my head endlessly as 30 Rock continues to bleed into this activity for me. Anyway, I thought this album was fine. I was familiar with some of it from when my friend and fellow band geek Josh Wilson got super into the concept of a rock band with a flute in high school. I thought it was much cooler then. By the end of the album I was just waiting for it to be over because I was getting bored with it. There are still some really fun parts on here but overall it left me feeling pretty meh.

Ensikertaa kunnolla Jethro Tullin kuuntelua. Hyvä ja hieman erilaisuutta tuo huilu.

👍🏼

No-one's about to deny the level of Musicianship on this. Top notch playing with some killer riffs and solos. Two things I find jarring. One is the general "I'm so much smarter than you" smart arsed attitude. There's a sort of Upper Middle class English sneering going on. The other is a very 70s interest in school girls. There's a song about a school girl sex worker that is just unsavoury, post Jimmy Saville. The stuff about God and Religion isn't anywhere nearly as deep as it would like to think it is and the whole thing seems a bit... up itself.

Some quality hard rock and blues amongst the prog and flute.

Flutes, flutes everywhere

Didn’t give this album as much time as I should’ve on the lyrical front, but hearing that this album was recorded in the same studio and same time as Led Zeppelin makes some sense. Overall enjoyed this one

3,5

People overly dunk on this album for the flute. It absolutely is a gimmick, but honestly, it's the only thing that makes Jethro Tull interesting. Without the medieval to colonial vibes thrown in, it's just a generic 70s rock album. I thought the songs got much better when the flutist came in.

Oh I like aqualung.

A really unique album! A fantastic blend of loads of genres. Fav song is ‘Mother Goose’.

I’ll give it a 3. I feel generous.

Pretty middle of the road stuff. Had enough to keep it interesting but there wasn’t any standout tracks.

Good album Jethro tull is amazing with the flute Gives off a fantasy setting vibe where a group of cool bards with guiter and drums are playing music :3 Favourite track- Wond’ring loud Date listened- 20th March 2026

Enjoyed the opening song. A bit led Zeppelin esk.

Kinda cool

Struggling between 2 and 3 because it really didn't do much for me, but was quite a bit more pleasant than the past 2 albums. Interesting storytelling and lyricism again. Needed more flute.

generator please give me something newer despite me loving the past few 60s and 70s records ok this gets heavier after the start why is cheap day return so short :c getting more than slightly whimsical in a medieval bard way on Mother Goose my God what is happening in My God Ends on a high note and there are bangers, I guess I was just expecting something harder from the album cover and from an album that existed after King Crimson, The Rolling Stones, and Hendrix

I have been culturally aware of Jethro Tull as the 70s rock band with a flute, but outside of the occasional song on the radio I never gave it much thought. There is some really great stuff on here, but not all of it works the same.

Flute solos go crazy

Quite good

1971. Themes of religion, injustice, society, personal struggles. Was never meant to be a concept album.

Why aren't there more flute solos in rock songs?

As much as I can appreciate the talent it took to make this record, the instrumentals, the compositions, and all of that, this album didn’t do much for me. There are some good songs but a lot that don’t stick in my mind.

Remarkably boring with objectively too much flute Best Song: Cross-Eyed Mary Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3

2/3. Really fun album, some really chunky rhythms. Much more of a straightforward rocker than I expected. Ian’s flute is always fun to hear as well, such a great addition.

Not bad

First time listening to other songs aside from the two that were overplayed...I enjoyed this album!

Got a bit old

Jethro Tull fyrir mér er annaðhvort frábært eða bara allt í lagi og þessi plata var pínulítið þannig líka. Það góða var gott en hitt bara fínt.

Good flutey prog

"All music is folk music: I ain't never heard no horse sing a song" Variety: 2 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 3 Uniqueness: 2 Emotionality: 2 = 2.6 rounded up to a 3 INTRO Man, what I expect to be another rough one. Tull is one of those bands I can definitely see the appeal of. Interesting is not something I could accuse them of. Their approach seemed more rock oriented than some of their progressive peers, but I also remember them being just as self-serious. The title track used to be a radio staple ( or at least an edited version of it maybe?). And while admirable enough to justify it's place in the radio-worthy canon, man did it get overplayed. Even by the time I was listening to the radio a good 1 years after it came out. Enough to overstay its welcome anyway. I braved this album a good 20 plus years ago and do not remember it too kindly, but also don't remember absolutely hating it. Let's see once more if age has tempered my view. THE TRACKS Side one: Aqualung "Aqualung" - Been a hot minute, but it all came rushing back. Undeniablly solid stuff, and one of the all-time memorable riffs. This one definitely has benefitted from some time in the closet. That being said, I'm good for another 10 years or more. "Cross-Eyed Mary" - Electric prog folk? This one hits better than I recall. Lyrical, uh... content aside here, this one has a lot of good stuff going on musically. "Cheap Day Return" - Pretty little acoustic interlude here reminds me of Cat Stevens or something Zeppelin would have in between some harder bits on later albums. "Mother Goose" - I find myself much more amenable to this sort of thing which I might have dismissed as "folky nonsense" 20 years ago. But find myself admiring how damn catchy it is. Since then though I've come to love stuff from acts like Fairport Convention and the like, and this seems of a piece with all of that. Anderson's vocals here are not as overcooked as they are in my memory, though I suspect that "Aqualung" can be blamed for that, looming as large as it does in the memory of this. "Wond'ring Aloud" - Another nice little interlude here. Maybe a bit string heavy. "Up to Me" - And the flute comes back in strong here. Electric prog folk.... funk? There's a LOT going on here, and not sure it all works. Still not awful though, and there's a bit of vibe that keeps interest going along with that repeated flute line. Side two: My God "My God" - Think between the two modes I've heard thus far, the more acoustic, folky ones are my preference. This one spits the difference opening with a dark, sinister bit that would not be out of place in the soundtrack for the old animated Rankin and Bass Hobbit movie. But then the electric guitar kicks in and we get some actual noodling. But maaaaan that flute solo. I just could not help but picture Ron Burgundy going to town during this. This was on track to go on the highlights, but you just had to double down and add some chanting background vocals to the flute. This becomes a bit of a slog after that. I think stuff like this is where Tull gets the reputation as a pompous, over earnest group. "Hymn 43" - This one fades in like a coda to the previous track, and but you've got the piano and guitar chugging along so it's got some good dynamic contrast. As bluesy as anything we've heard on here, but to my ear sounds more like a rejected track from Jesus Christ Superstar. Not necessarily a knock on it, but feels slightly out of place. "Slipstream" - I might want to hear a whole album of these little acoustic interludes. With less strings though. "Locomotive Breath" - Ignoring the night club piano opening, this one comes in strong and feels like Aqualung pt. II. But now I can't shake the Jesus Christ Superstar comparisons out of my mind. This also has strong 70s rock opera vibes. "Wind-Up" - Anderson's voice sit somewhere in the middle and neither greatly offend or amaze me, but seems like they are the focus here. Dig that guitar tone when it comes in though. Dang there's a killer .38 Special deep cut buried under all those vocal gymnastics. Feels like an appropriate final statement for the album. HIGHLIGHTS - "Mother Goose" - The purely acoustic stuff - The general dark vibe - The guitar work on "Wind-Up" LOWLIGHTS - "My God" - Anytime strings pop up FINAL THOUGHTS The flute on this was not nearly as excessive as I recall, and the album feels very cohesive aside from some minor quibbles. While it's not something any but the most hardened ren fair devotee might ever try and dance to, it's got some fine grooves throughout, and could see this being a once a couple of decades listen. The flower children and the hard rockers can meet halfway here, in the magical grove where the bongwater flows and the mushrooms grow. If you can ignore the bleak lyrical content, this could provide some nice background music for your D&D game. I don't think I'll ever be a big Tull fan ( though Thick as a Brick is awesome) this was listenable, and interesting throughout. Just too serious to take seriously, and in need of a remix to remove those damn strings. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - "Mother Goose" and "Cross-eyed Mary" can stick around. I think I've had my fill of the title track for this lifetime, as good as it is. - Find me the isolated guitar track from "Wind-up" that I can play on repeat

tiene cosa

I liked it and there were some very good parts. I get why it is a classic album. But I don't think I will listen to it again. Very good record though.

A strange but interesting mix of hard rock, folk and prog.

I hope you like flute

Some great sounds, would have liked to hear more of that fabulous for playing.

The skill is undeniable, they are absolutely nailing what they are going for and have earnt their adoring fans. The bits that are great straight up rock or more glam I enjoy. The prog bits are not my kind of prog - the tendency to stick a flourish on top of a flourish, and the generally medieval vibe on some songs, is a genre mismatch for me. Still - it's fun to spend an hour in an unfamiliar part of town.

Love the flutes and this is a type of prog i could get more into if i spent more time with it, high 3

fav songs: cheap day return up to me folk, quirky, theatrical 50/100

Pretty good. Like the acoustic and flute shart more than the hard rock

Pocas bandas tienen tantos matices en cada canción como Jethro Tull, es que me encanta. Cada disco del grupo es para escucharlo de principio a fin, teniéndolo de fondo o estando atento. Funciona siempre

Aqualung and Cross Eyed Mary are great; but it all gets a bit too real ale after a while.

I was always curious what Jethro Tull sounded like.

Nothing wrong with this album, really. I just can't get excited about it. I guess we can give it an extra half-star for the unmistakable opening guitar riff of the title track. And then subtract the half-star because Ian Anderson's flute makes me think of that one scene in "Anchorman".

Led Zeppelin Lite

Geen fan van de zang, kudos voor de fluit

Är tvärflöjtstorsk och uppskattar gnom-progg. Stark 3a, nära 4a.

otroliga bardvibes

Mindre skruvat än jag trodde. Skulle behöva lyssna några gånger till för att verkligen komma in i det

Adorei as experimentações com sons de animais, piano e guitarra, um baixo marcante e letras interessantes

This record sounds ancient and modern at the same time. I feel that quite a few riffs off this record were spun off to create entire new genres of Rock music. I also love the addition of orchestral instruments.

A few song were bangers but some of the other ones were a bit forgettable. Very consistent style throughout the album. Have added some songs on playlists but don't see myself playing the whole album again.

good classic rock. I enjoyed the interview

I only knew Cross-Eyed Mary before I listened to this. The some songs are pretty good, with a mix of soft and more rock songs.

This album is pretty cool. No bad parts. Not incredible by any means, but just a solid, well done piece of music. 7/10

Very inconsistent but quite good at its best

good vocals, little bit repetitive highlights: Hymn 43, Wind-Up

Great story driven album but I lost interest in the end

Fun listen! The contrast between the Sabbath-esque deep and dark guitars and the flutes (a rare sound in rock music) really worked for me. Not sure that the 'homeless people are evil peados' angle has aged well though. Look forward to listening again. 6/10

Decent album

Good but missing something

This is clearly good, just not my cup of tea

Does the flute really have a place in rock? Arguably yes, according to this.

People who call this "Hobbit Rock" are LIARS. This is CLEARLY elf rock.

I just got the joke from Anchorman. Some bangers on here.

I want this on when I'm dying of the bubonic plague.

3.5

Don’t mind this, and it’s weird that people are so up in arms about the flute. Really? I’ve always liked “Hymn 43,” but never placed it in the larger context of Side 2 of this album. The musings about religion start to get a little tedious after a while. The riffs are great.

Might deserve a re-listen