In the street as the last bus goes by
The pavements are empty
the gutters run red
While the fool toasts his god in the sky|~
Hey everyone! For this edition we'll check out one of the giants in the folkier veins of Progressive Rock. It's time to grab some fiddles and giant balloons, and put on some Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull is an English band that has been active since the late 60s, and are still active today albeit with a history of an everchanging lineup, spearheaded by singer/flute player/mad dancer, Ian Anderson. For our first album we'll take a look at their fourth studio record, "Aqualung".
Aqualung
Possibly the bands most well known record, for the title track and opener "Aqualung". Not really intended to be a concept album, the record still has a very cohesive theme. Mostly focused around apathy, nihilism, hope and the differences in faith and religion when applied to life.
Starting off with the massive hit "Aqualung". The album starts off with a very somber melody with lyrics from a derelicts point of view, slowly growing into a freak out jam. The record goes on to "Cross Eyed Mary", a track that seems to be very confused at first before the chaos settles into a funky prog track.
The record goes on with an almost preaching way of communicating it's message to the listener, the rhyming rhythmic vocals luring you into the groove with a great mixture of folk instrumentation with a prog rock backbone. Our first track today is of course the opening track, here is "Aqualung".
Aqualung
Thick As A Brick
For their fifth album, the band decided to poke a little fun at some of the more pompous elements of prog rock at the time. "Thick As A Brick" is a record that looks, sounds and feels like it should be a concept album. However it all carries a deep seated sense of irony, starting out with the premise that it is based on a poem written by an 8 year old genius.
Originally released as two parts, it has since been released divided into 8 tracks, spanning ~44 minutes(hey, if you take 4... and 4, that's 8 you guys seeing a theme?). The album might be intended as a parody, it really is a great concept album taking all the best elements of bands like ELP(Don't worry we'll get to that)/Genesis/Yes and polishing to perfection.
Since it's a concept album, I feel it's better to begin at the start. This is the opening track and the overture for the album, "Really Don't Mind/See There A Son Is Born".
Thick As A Brick - (Really Don't Mind/See There A Son Is Born)
Minstrel in the Gallery
The bands eight record, "Minstrel In The Gallery" is less of a concept album than the others we've discussed. This record still has it's themes though, this time more centered around medieval english instrumentation and scales. However the band still breaks out in instrumental prog rock breaks, breaking out from the more acoustic scene into their older harder style.
The second track of the album is one that starts out gently, ushering us along on an adventure. "Cold Wind To Valhalla" has a very uplifting melody to it, with a clear medieval inspiration and it really feels like a bard next to a fireplace singing for coin and a place to rest weary feet.
For our final track today we'll check out the opening track once again, and once again it's the title track of the album. This is "Minstrel In The Gallery"
Minstrel In The Gallery
