Thick as a Brick really is ridiculously good. Sweet tunes, fierce playing, beautifully arranged. The strings near the end are next level.
― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 4 August 2007 12:40 (sixteen years ago) link
"Locomotive Breath" still rocks greatly.
― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 4 August 2007 12:51 (sixteen years ago) link
1) ...If this album were a one-off by an obscure British folk band (a la Mellow Candle) it would fetch hundreds of $$$$ in collector's circles.
Yes yes yes. In the run up to becoming full-on prog, they created some moody and unfussy stuff. Stand Up layers all sorts of acoustic instruments with blues riffing in a way that is intuitive and natural, rather than the hyper-organized feel they soon took on. Really solid songs that would hold up outside of the textures and arrangements.
― bendy, Saturday, 4 August 2007 13:31 (sixteen years ago) link
Their true masterpiece was "A Passion Play". Jethro Tull at their most progressive was also Jethro Tull at their best.
But they did some interesting folk influenced stuff later too.
― Geir Hongro, Saturday, 4 August 2007 14:25 (sixteen years ago) link
To me, Minstrel In The Gallery through Stormwatch = classic. The expansive prog notions recompressed into concise songs without losing the progginess.
The stuff from the first heyday's great, but I don't get the urge to put it on very often.
The string of high-concept records (Thick, Passion, Too Old) I have no time for.
― Jon Lewis, Saturday, 4 August 2007 17:22 (sixteen years ago) link
i own 'aqualung'. i like it and think it's pretty creative and inspired, but i don't listen to it often
― Charlie Howard, Sunday, 5 August 2007 06:25 (sixteen years ago) link
I went to see them live a few days ago. I only really went along to the gig after a mate said he wanted to go.
I hadn't much listened to them for 30 years, and though I wasn't a big fan I had mates who were very keen indeed and back in the day I did have a soft spot for the quirkier, pop-eyed silliness.
Before the gig I was kinda worried about all that zany 70s catweazle'n'codpiece stuff, since I figured it wouldn't have aged well...
I needn't have worried as there wasn't much of it, indeed there wasn't nearly enough of it. Stripped of the theatrics, left pretty much the music unadorned, though that did reveal some elements which I hadn't noticed before (or didn't know anything about to notice) such as the Mingus influences (though I guess the Roland Kirk stuff was always obvious).
Mainly though they sounded polite 80s rock. Barre's guitar sounded especially cleaned up, Dire Straits and (80s) Supertramp.
So not great then, mostly not even good, but now and then there were flashes about what made them interesting and did confirm there were interesting bits in the War child and earlier albums.
― Sandy Blair, Tuesday, 6 May 2008 19:24 (fifteen years ago) link
Their guitarist kicks ass and besides that they are fucking Jethro Tull. So many songs to love by them.
― CaptainLorax, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 06:39 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh god, I had an urge to hear "Skating Away" so I downloaded the Anniversary collection and I'm kind of enjoying it.
Kill me.
― Full Metal Slanket (Oilyrags), Friday, 1 May 2009 17:01 (fourteen years ago) link
They are classic beyond classic.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 1 May 2009 20:29 (fourteen years ago) link
people who HATE this band hate fun
― kamerad, Friday, 1 May 2009 20:32 (fourteen years ago) link
From another thread:
for all the shit jethro tull got for beating metallica in the grammys, they are probably the *weirdest* band to ever win a grammy. i mean jethro tull! think about it! how could you even invent jethro tull?― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, February 10, 2012 9:33 AM (6 minutes ago) i was listening to Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull the other day and the album is dedicated to the "hardworking shire horses of England"― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, February 10, 2012 9:33 AM
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, February 10, 2012 9:33 AM (6 minutes ago)
i was listening to Heavy Horses by Jethro Tull the other day and the album is dedicated to the "hardworking shire horses of England"
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, February 10, 2012 9:33 AM
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 10 February 2012 17:40 (twelve years ago) link
Jethro Tull OTM
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Friday, 10 February 2012 18:00 (twelve years ago) link
heavy horses and songs from the wood are both well worth checking out btw, late period successes...they decided to completely ignore punk/new wave/everything that was going on at the time
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 18:12 (twelve years ago) link
Songs From The Wood a little more so, but M@tt OTM.
Perhaps the receding of the prog wave did influence them to keep it concise on these two records. There are no long songs.
SFTW was my first-ever "favorite album" and it still captivates.
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 18:15 (twelve years ago) link
yeah i guess they are pretty tight, there's one funkier tune on heavy horses that almost reminds me of like a jazz rock version of itchy post punk funk type stuff but it's probably by coincidence
ned, do you like jethro tull?
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 18:17 (twelve years ago) link
I do, more casually than anything else but I had a small phase in the late eighties (oddly enough -- pre-Grammys, for what it's worth, but that album that won had a couple of creepily interesting songs on it like "Farm on the Freeway," which got some regular classic-rock-radio airplay at the time).
Songs from the Wood I heard courtesy of friends at the time too -- good album! Probably in more freak/psych/underground folk performer/listeners backgrounds than people admit to.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 10 February 2012 18:21 (twelve years ago) link
I'll rep for Stormwatch, which does have long songs, but I love the theme so much.
― the girl from spirea x (f. hazel), Friday, 10 February 2012 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
my best friend growing up was a big Tull fan but i never really gave them much thought until Thick As A Brick blew me away on the radio one day, love that album now, should really check more out.
― some dude, Friday, 10 February 2012 20:09 (twelve years ago) link
And hey, just got this in email that the UK's Burning Shed label is where to go for, well, everything Tull-related:
http://www.burningshed.com/store/jethrotull/
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 10 February 2012 20:49 (twelve years ago) link
woah Tull Xmas album!
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 20:59 (twelve years ago) link
Benefit is a killer album. I loved this band when I was a kid, then somewhere in early high school all the charm ran right out of 'em for me. "Locomotive Breath" is all-time though, really oughta be a more commonly-cited everybody-knows-that-riff tune
― unlistenable in philly (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:04 (twelve years ago) link
That riff in "Teacher" totally rules
― Trip Maker, Friday, 10 February 2012 21:07 (twelve years ago) link
xpost that wonderfully sludgy ga-chunka ga-chunka rhythm
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:08 (twelve years ago) link
lol I had no idea that this song was called "Locomotive Breath"
yes, it is fucking fantastic
― I spend a lot of time thinking about apricots (DJP), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:09 (twelve years ago) link
The only (sort-of) art-rock band where I can easily list a top 5: 1. "Witches Promise," 2. "Nothing Is Easy," 3. "Living in the Past," 4. "Skating Away..." 5. "Teacher." Unless ELO count.
― clemenza, Friday, 10 February 2012 21:24 (twelve years ago) link
btw A Passion Play is completely batshit and over the top and awesome in a way that makes their other albums sound like the Ramones by comparison, recommended on vinyl where it's sequenced as 2 complete sides of vinyl no "songs"
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:29 (twelve years ago) link
Next time i'm in mpls/stpl, BOC/Tull night at my mom's. Wordisbond.
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:34 (twelve years ago) link
Haven't heard Passion Play in yonks, and I can't really remember the music, except for one part:
THIS... is the story of the HARE...who lost his SPECKATICKES!
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:45 (twelve years ago) link
hahahaha
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, February 10, 2012 3:34 PM (22 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
cool! we can plan our launch of Classic Rock Artists' Late Period Albums No One Gives A Fuck About Magazine
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:57 (twelve years ago) link
― Ham House showdown (Dan Peterson), Friday, February 10, 2012 3:45 PM (13 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
haha yeah it's so goofy
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 21:58 (twelve years ago) link
Classic Rock Artists' Late Period Albums No One Gives A Fuck About Magazine
also featuring Grace Under Pressure/Presto/Hold Your Fire
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 22:53 (twelve years ago) link
Ha, I think the singles from Presto are pretty great.
― EveningStar (Sund4r), Friday, 10 February 2012 23:17 (twelve years ago) link
They are! That's why those albums have to be in the first issue of CRALPANOGAFA Magazine!
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 23:20 (twelve years ago) link
Sounds like a planet designed by Slartibartfast.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 10 February 2012 23:25 (twelve years ago) link
grace under pressure is a top 5 rush album, act like u know
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 23:44 (twelve years ago) link
THIS MONTH: SLY AND ROBBIE SPEAK OUT ON THE MAKING OF BOB DYLAN'S INFIDELS
― dave coolier (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Friday, 10 February 2012 23:46 (twelve years ago) link
lol
― Axolotl with an Atlatl (Jon Lewis), Friday, 10 February 2012 23:58 (twelve years ago) link
they were certainly well-realized/fully-formed. really looked exactly like they should have looked with their sound
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqZmtq5LhFo&feature=artist
― Chris S, Saturday, 11 February 2012 00:45 (twelve years ago) link
still pissed i lent Thick as a Brick to a girl in high school and never got it back
― if you ever leave me peggy, leave some propane at my door (zachlyon), Saturday, 11 February 2012 00:45 (twelve years ago) link
and spotify is reminding me that Thick is awesome fuiud
― if you ever leave me peggy, leave some propane at my door (zachlyon), Saturday, 11 February 2012 01:04 (twelve years ago) link
never had anything against them, have to admit. although I never really felt inclined to accept the punk rules (throw out a world of music because a couple 50s-revivalist punk bands said to? um, no thnx)
― Chris S, Saturday, 11 February 2012 01:06 (twelve years ago) link
fuck there was a foo fighters ad between pts 1 and 2
― if you ever leave me peggy, leave some propane at my door (zachlyon), Saturday, 11 February 2012 01:12 (twelve years ago) link
Tull Rulez. I find it weird that some ILXors don't know this and/or have only listened to one album's worth of material
― rubber belly hand necker (CaptainLorax), Saturday, 11 February 2012 05:52 (twelve years ago) link
I dunno about Tull but I have a soft spot for Ian Anderson's "Walk Into Light" solo record. It has to be one of the best arranged/programmed synth-based albums of the period.
― Lawanda Pageboy (Capitaine Jay Vee), Sunday, 8 April 2012 21:56 (twelve years ago) link
could not wring an ounce of pleasure from 'thick as a brick'. recently discovered that the whole thing is a giant pisstake, went back to it and loved it immediately. I've played the whole thing easily 10 times this week.
― 炒面kampf (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 6 December 2012 07:34 (eleven years ago) link
Ha that makes me happy. I'm a pretty big Tull-head but I haven't tried to listen to long-form Brick in a long time (usually reach for Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses or Aqualung).
Does the same contextualizing trick work for A Passion Play?
― my other pug is a stillsuit (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 6 December 2012 16:04 (eleven years ago) link
don't know tbh, i've not yet gone back to any other tull stuff
― 炒面kampf (Autumn Almanac), Thursday, 6 December 2012 19:45 (eleven years ago) link
I've been revisiting and enjoying War Child recently, unfairly maligned I think and supposedly a bunch of Passion Play offcuts and leftovers.
― MaresNest, Thursday, 6 December 2012 19:51 (eleven years ago) link
Skating Away is sheer magic but I really can't abide the rest of that record. Last time I listened, anyway.
― my other pug is a stillsuit (Jon Lewis), Thursday, 6 December 2012 20:09 (eleven years ago) link
It's not one of their greatest songs but "A Small Cigar" is such a funny idea with really funny lyrics, it was only released as bonus material https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBIA06c4L3s
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 13 March 2024 23:16 (one month ago) link
I mean it does sound good but much of the amusement comes from the lyrics
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Wednesday, 13 March 2024 23:21 (one month ago) link
they have some songs I really love - "Mother Goose", "The Whistler", "Inside"...what else have they got like that?
Singing All DayWond'ring Aloud/AgainLife's a Long SongAlive and Well and Living InFat ManJeffrey Goes To Leicester SquareDr. BogenbroomTeacherUp to MeCheap Day ReturnUp the 'PoolSkating Away on the Thin Ice of the New DaySalamanderMothsFire at MidnightBroadford BazaarHome
...as you go later, their albums will usually have 2-3 more acoustic and poppier numbers, but they kinda get increasingly baroque
― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Saturday, March 9, 2024 7:49 PM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
thanks, as I go through these I have come to the conclusion that I actually do like Jethro Tull
― frogbs, Thursday, 28 March 2024 15:37 (three weeks ago) link
I'd say that the odds are better that a given Tull song will be worthy if it's a ballad or "pop" song than a riff-rocker, maybe partly because the rockers last longer and have to make space for various often-monotonous instrumental solos.
― Halfway there but for you, Thursday, 28 March 2024 16:49 (three weeks ago) link
Still, some eternal riffs in the Tull catalogue: Locomotive Breath, No Lullaby, Sweet Dream. Cross-eyed Mary, Hunting Girl, Something's On The Move, etc.
― henry s, Thursday, 28 March 2024 17:00 (three weeks ago) link
Frogbs - have you done Passion Play yet?
In the documentary I watched last year Dee Palmer said that Eddie Jobson was the dictionary definition of a wizard (she even said which dictionary, oxford maybe?) and I looked it up and didn't really catch her meaning, I suspected it was an insult but maybe not.
― Robert Adam Gilmour, Friday, 29 March 2024 18:19 (three weeks ago) link
was about to, I thought I had it but it turns out it was Minstrel in the Galary lol
― frogbs, Friday, 29 March 2024 18:23 (three weeks ago) link
Valentijn otm velvet green is the ne plus ultra For frogbs, this would be my Tull PO5 right now:Velvet green No lullabyWitches promise TaaB (the usual excerpt from part 1)Mother goose And top 5 albums:Songs from the wood Living in the past (the first LP of the 2LP set or the first CD of the 2CD set)AqualungHeavy horses (ideally the box so you get the live show)A (ideally the box so you get the especially killer live show)
― realistic pillow (Jon not Jon), Sunday, 31 March 2024 16:08 (three weeks ago) link
Ohhhh, I didn't think this would get a reissue, I'm not sure that I've listened to it more than once.
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/jethro-tull-bursting-out-the-inflated-edition/
― Maresn3st, Thursday, 11 April 2024 16:03 (one week ago) link
I love how Thick as a Brick is claimed to be a parody of prog concept albums, which they thought would be apparent once people listened to the lyrics. as though people were gonna listen to it and go "yes I understand everything this guy is saying"
amazing album though surely one of the best prog LPs ever made parody or no
― frogbs, Friday, 12 April 2024 02:36 (one week ago) link
Also, “Inside” from Benefit is an absolute jam. Glen Cornick’s bass on this is just incredible.― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, April 23, 2018 9:48 PM (five years ago)
― Naive Teen Idol, Monday, April 23, 2018 9:48 PM (five years ago)
This song sounds so much like Can.
― timellison, Friday, 12 April 2024 04:15 (one week ago) link