STAND UP

Martin Barre joined the group at this point and stayed for the next decades and did a great job here on this one. Classic influences are easy recognizable on pieces like Bourée(a well known J.S. Bach composition) or Reason for Waiting(a very enjoyable and beautiful love song) and this is a big step forward from blues-rock sound of "This Was". Specific Jethro Tull sound is easy distinguishable starting with this release. Beautiful inflections of Anderson Voice combined with flute interludes.

One of the best songs here is "Fat Man". The song theme and lyrics are a bit funny for me and the music seems to indicate the same thing.

A drawback of this release is the songs length and this gives the impression of the collection of folk-rock songs only(4:25 being the longest track and 2:12 being the shortest track).A plus here is also the cover which shows a funny representation of the bands members in a woodcut style.

The lyrics are enjoyable and seems to be about certain day by day frustrations on some songs and past contemplations(A new day yesterday , Back to the Family and We used to know).All in one this is not a bad album with some great tunes without any bad or annoying parts and it's a good sign for the great releases which are about to come in the next decade.