AQUALUNG

The first side of the album deals with the poor and the social outcasts, and how society looks at them.The second side deals with the religious hypocrites who put rituals ahead of people, and religion ahead of getting closer to God. There is a connection between the two, between the man made religion, and the man made "down and outers". In the first case religion is held in high esteem and protected and spread at any cost, while the outcasts are ignored or sneered at as filth.

The first song "Aqualung" is so amazing to me. The way Ian makes us feel contempt toward this disgusting person who eyes little girls, and is such a greasy person with shabby clothes who has a chronic cough.The picture on the front of the album cover is that guy. The music that accompanies this is heavy with riffs and Ian spitting out the words in contempt. Then contrast this to the next passage where the music and vocals become sympathetic and light as the man is described as lonely, his leg is hurting bad, he goes down into a bog to try to warm his feet.This same guy is now pictured on the back of the album cover. Which way do you look at society's down and out ? This what Mr.Anderson is asking. Incredible song !

"Cross-Eyed Mary" opens with flute and mellotron and features Ian's harsh vocals.The next three songs are acoustic tracks while "Up To Me" features some scorching guitar from Martin Barre who is at his best on this record.The second half of the record starts with "My God" a dark, angry song with some excellent guitar and a great flute solo. "Hymn 43" is an uptempo tune with some beautiful piano. "Locomotive Breath" features lots of guitar and piano melodies.The vocals and flute are really good. I love the lyrics on "Wind Up" about how God isn't just there for us on Sunday only as many religious would imply by the rituals they do on that day.

I'm still not tired of hearing this album and I love the heaviness of it. 4.5 stars. I just recently got the re-mixed version that Steven Wilson did and it's a huge upgrade in sound quality over what I had.