STAND UP

With a purported stylistic shift away from the Blues/Jazz-Rock of their debut album (This Was, 1968), Stand Up marked the beginning of Ian Anderson's taking of the creative helm, as he became responsible as the primary (and, here, sole) songwriter for the band. This was following the departure of original lead guitarist Mick Abrahams, unhappy with the changes in direction. This will be a review for the 2001 remastered edition featuring the four bonus tracks listed above.

Certainly, I would describe the opener, "A New Day Yesterday", very much as an of-the-time Blues Rock number. Like something out of the canon and tradition of Cream or early Deep Purple. Solid, straight-ahead number with nice soloing from new guitarist Martin Barre followed by Anderson on flute. Unsurprising Tull track is to follow in "Jeffrey Goes to Leicester Square", a sort of troubadour-type ballad. Very cool, sparse instrumentation, in the form of distant, clanging guitars and simple percussion (like bongos or congas).

Next is the classical "Bourée", based on Bach's "Bourrée in E minor", which, though starting straight, goes into a very satisfying Rock groove approaching the middle. Simply put, this is classic early Prog, through and through. "Back to the Family" has a super classic sound. One of the nicer, less Andersonian vocal performances from Anderson (I can't say his voice ever helped in my already lacking draw to Jethro Tull). Real solid song, real classic early Prog once more.

"Look into the Sun" is very of the Psychedelic era, comparable in feel (though less sweet) to Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" to my ears. Next, we are back in a flute-fronted groove on the at-first quieted "Nothing is Easy". Solid performance here by drummer Clive Bunker. Then we're back to the more traditional percussion on "Fat Man". Not a whole lot happens here and the instrumentation just hits me as overly harsh...

A return to Blues Rock on "We Used To Know", a low and slow jam. And then a return to very personal sweetness on "Reasons for Waiting", which in all of that sweetness has an underlying heaviness. Loveliest things thus far as we approach the original album's end. Not sure what I have to say on "For a Thousand Mothers". It's lively, but I was pretty bored with this album at this point.

Onto the bonus tracks, we first have the very recognizable "Living in the Past", a surefire classic. This was released as a single prior to Stand Up. Then is the straight-ahead "Driving Song". It was alright. Then it was the single that followed the album, "Sweet Dream", which had a very interesting beat and had some very cool instrumentation, honestly. Finally was its B-side, "17", a very upbeat number. Decent song.