WAR CHILD

Amidst the string of excellent and impactful albums released by Jethro Tull in the 70s, 1974's 'War Child' stands as the first weak link of the band's discography, an album that was cut short after initial plans of a double album accompanying a film production, this seventh studio LP is also a reactionary release to the complex and intellectual efforts of preceding recordings, with the band stripping things down to a straightforward rock album with occasional folk and prog influences, resulting in a less touching, endearing listen, and a less memorable musical venture, despite claims of a productive atmosphere among the musicians.

The ten songs comprising the original release definitively carry all the recognizable elements of the Jethro Tull sound, yet the sly and hard-hitting edge of something like 'Aqualung' is far from present as the sound is less intriguing and less inspired, at least when compared to the epic nature of compositions like 'TAAB' or 'A Passion Play'. Even the humbler 'Benefit' stands as a more focused and adventurous work, an album overlooked by many for its unsettled direction and transitory nature. The 2002 remastered edition of 'War Child', however, unearths previously unreleased tracks and allows the album to take the form of a 65-minute-long disc, perhaps closer to what the original conception of it had been. With some fine instrumentals and quirky tunes, this album still manages to settle itself waywardly into Tull's catalogue, with finer offerings like the title track, 'Sealion', 'Bungle in the Jungle', and 'Two Fingers' retaining that joyous Tull atmosphere.

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