THICK AS A BRICK 2 (AKA: TAAB2)

It would always be a daunting thing to attempt to make a "Thick as a Brick" part 2 album as we are talking about one of the seminal classics of progressive rock music of the 70's. I've noticed that usually this type of part 2 thing done much later on in time doesn't really work and as an example I will point to Queensryche's follow up to "Operation Mindcrime" which was not a bad album however it was nothing like the original in quality. How does this album fare? Well let's see.

"The theme of this anniversary "part two" album is to examine the possible different paths that the precocious young schoolboy, Gerald Bostock, might have taken later in life and to create alter-ego characters whose song-section identities illustrate the hugely varied potential twists and turns of fate and opportunity. Not just for Gerald but to echo how our own lives develop, change direction and ultimately conclude through chance encounters and interventions, however tiny and insignificant they might seem at the time" - quoted from Mr Anderson himself.

"It was a little daunting to consider the impact ? or perhaps lack of ? which this release might have on old and new fans alike but I eventually decided that I would embark on this for my own benefit and enjoyment rather than trying to please anyone else at all. To find the balance of interesting musicality and more accessible content too was not the main issue. The conceptual and heavily lyrical nature of the beast, however, might be out of place in the attention span-deficit world which we seem to occupy these days. But, having toured in 2010 and 2011 in Italy, Latin America, Australia and other countries where passions run high, I decided that maybe the world ? or our little corners of it ? was, in fact, ready for a bit of more substantial and weightier fare". - also quoted from Mr. Anderson.

Immediately, in the album's opening tracks I hear strains of what Jethro Tull was in its peak progressive period and to my ears it's a joy. The sound is very good however and that is to be expected in an album produced by Steven Wilson. The musicians here were not present for the original (except for Anderson himself) "Thick as a Brick" recording however these guys are no slouches and they do get the sound right. To attempt to remain faithful to the original "Thick as a Brick" album Anderson and Co here use the same brand instruments as were used on the original album.

So - to my feeling about this album. It isn't as sublime as the original album but then I doubt that much could be. Those who love older Tull through to the "Heavy Horses" album should adore this as that's what the sound is all about. The music is very well composed and structured in its attempt to be part 2 of the classic album. Lyrically and musically it is not a giant work as the original was however it is very very good at what it attempts to achieve. To rate this properly I have to take the original work out of the equasion and look at this as a recording on its own while remembering the older work. If I do that then I cannot but give this a full 5 star rating. Compared to the original this is not 5 stars as it isn't the equal of the original however it is a very very good album in its own right. It is essential for Tull fans and it is essential in its own right - had this been released by someone else without comparrison to TAAB it would have been recieved as a 5 star release by many. So - the full 5 stars.