Crest of a Knave: Jethro Tull

I liked it a lot when it came out, but it hasn't aged very well for me. It really does sound a bit like a mid 80s Dire Straits album, which isn't a bad thing in itself.  I think "Farm on the Freeway" has a lot going for it - a prog throwback kind of number with classic flute stylings and multiple sections. It was my favorite track on the album, along with "Jump Start".  Both of them sound a tad cheesy to me today, however.  I kind of liked the synth-pop tracks too, like "Steel Monkey" and "Dogs in the Midwinter".  But "Budapest" and "Said She Was a Dancer" are Dullsville.   I think "Mountain Men" was too, but I can't remember how that one goes.

Overall, a pretty good album, and the last Jethro Tull album I really cared about.

I'll spin it once or twice a year, always a good listen for me.

SteveG wrote: Jokingly refered to as Tull's metal album for copping a metal Grammy (over Metallica) or snarked as a Tull's Dire Straits wanabe album, whats your take on Crest of a Knave?

It has some decent tracks on it and not bad for a disappearing act of 2 or 3 years from the band prior to it's release. The wanabe aspect unfortunately developed from the obvious Dire Straits sound. I don't hate the album, but a few songs I can do without. BTW, "Farm On The Freeway" and "Living In The Past" drawn from the Tower Theatre Philadelphia performance on the  20 Years Anniversary box set are most enjoyable.

I listened to the hell out of this one when it was brand new. Overall, it's a very good Tull album. "Farm On The Freeway," "Dogs In The Midwinter" (which was the "CD bonus track" back then, along with "The Waking Edge") and "Mountain Men" are the songs I like best.

I haven't listened to this album for years. I have the LP of it, nice cover. I listen to Rock Island more.
CoaK is rather smooth, mellow, does remind me of Dire Straits, but I think Knopfler wanted a Martin Barre sound to his guitar, not the other way round :-) Ian can sound Knopfler-ish. Maybe DS sounds like Tull ??!! I might have to give the album a spin.

Tom Ozric wrote: I haven't listened to this album for years. I have the LP of it, nice cover. I listen to Rock Island more. CoaK is rather smooth, mellow, does remind me of Dire Straits, but I think Knopfler wanted a Martin Barre sound to his guitar, not the other way round :-) Ian can sound Knopfler-ish. Maybe DS sounds like Tull ??!! I might have to give the album a spin.

The DS influence is also in Anderson's 'talky' lyrics and song structures.

^ Nah, Jethro Straits
The long piece, Budapest, is the real Straits-sounding tune here, very subtle for a mini-epic. Modelled on the structure of Telegraph Road perhaps ???

verslibre wrote: I listened to the hell out of this one when it was brand new. Overall, it's a very good Tull album. "Farm On The Freeway," "Dogs In The Midwinter" (which was the "CD bonus track" back then, along with "The Waking Edge") and "Mountain Men" are the songs I like best.

It's folk you hear, not country.

If I hear Steel Monkey, I don't want to hear any more. If I remember to skip that abomination, most of the rest is OK and a few bits are good.