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Jethro Tull - Aqualung CD (album) cover

AQUALUNG

Jethro Tull

Prog Folk


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Matti
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Aqualung, the breakthrough album of JETHRO TULL, hardly needs introduction; right now its ranking number in PA's "Top Prog Albums" is 30. I'm just going o to kill some time writing the first (!) review for this single. Knowing that the two songs taken from that album actually need no introduction either.

'Aqualung' is among my Top 5 of Tull songs, as it undoubtedly is for the majority of us. It wouldn't be if it didn't have that slower, emotional B-part (featuring vocal distortion) that comes in turns with the hard- rocking, riff-centred A-part. Together they form an extremely affective, perfect rock song. The lyrics are credited to Ian Anderson's wife Jennie. Maybe Ian is the real writer but at least Jennie's photography of misfortunate people on the street gave inspiration to this and several other songs on the album.

One interesting anecdote about this song deals with the word Aqualung itself: Anderson didn't know it was a registered trademark, not a general word for a diving equipment. You know, the sonic association of the tramp's noisy breath from his diseased lungs...

On the flipside there's 'Hymn 43', one of the album's religion-themed songs, beginning with the lines "Oh father high in heaven / Smile down upon your son / He was busy with his money games / His women and his gun / Oh Jesus save me!". Musically I don't find it very interesting. It's similarily based on a cocky guitar riff as 'Locomotive Breath' (which I also find a bit boring). John Evan's piano is nicely heard in it too.

If there had been a non-abum track of good or even decent level, this would definitely be a five-star release. Even the cover art is the same as on the album.

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Posted Friday, July 10, 2015 | Review Permalink

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