AQUALUNG

It is 1971. Jethro Tull have just recruited a keyboardist, John Evans (who appeared as a special guest on their previous work). With a boom of creativity from the group's contemporaries, it was time to leave dry blues-based hard rock cliches behind and push the boundaries of their musical horizons. And so they certainly did. First, "Aqualung" greets us with outsanding cover art somewhat preluding moods to come on the album. What comes inside is a bliss. This piece of pure solid work still remains one of our favorite prog works after all these years. Although, I might not share the full-blown enthusiasm of many other prog reviewers and believe this relase does have its flaws, "Aqualung" undeniably deserves four stars. Not only for the music itself, but for its creativity and importance. Moods on this album is strongly influenced by English medieval and renaissance folk based on strong rhythm rooted in blues. Charles Dickens-like Englishness is another characteristic. Those are best visible on "Cross Eyed Mary", my favorite track. Amazing acoustic (and electric) guitar playing, virtuosic flute and great singing. These are probably the main atributes. I feel like the phenomenal keyboard skills of John Evans (which were to be revealed in following years, still not here) are not utilized enough. However, that is enough of my criticism. With this record, the band created a name for themselves as "the bards of progressive rock". All in all, saying that every prog fan needs this album is probably a brutal understatement, most of you highly likely have this album already. Anyway, enjoy the listen, get carried away to mysterious lands of Jethro Tull's music!