Friday, September 12, 2008

This week, Aurora listens to... "AQUALUNG" from Jethro Tull (1973)

AURORA: I have to say one thing about Jethro Tull, Bill, and here it goes. They're quite complicated in their progressive-rock coolness. You know as a listener that you're gonna get a kick from this English band once you realize their lead singer is cool enough to rock out with a flute and spice it up with spacey lyrics. His vocals are entrancing in the first tune, "Aqualung," which starts slowly and smoothly and kicks it up with a mid-song, up-tempo splash.

BILL: At the height of progressive-rock coolness, Tull's Ian Anderson was among the coolest, Aurora, leaping around stage singing and matching guitarist Martin Barre with flute blasts. This album was their masterpiece, balancing the social commentary of the song "Aqualung" with criticism of organized religion on songs like "Hymn 43" and "Wind Up," both of which are lost classics.

AURORA: If there's one thing they're not, it's boring. One moment they're starting things slowly and smoothly with a swift piano and art rock groove in "Cheap Day Return," and another moment they're starting their songs with laughter and Celtic-inspired, country-like riffs in "Up to Me".

BILL: And then they get down with "Cross-Eyed Mary" and "Up To Me," another kinetic blast that gets overlooked.

AURORA: I admit, they lost me in the last few songs, but still kicked it in "Locomotive Breath," a swift entertaining tune. Nice CD pick, my friend.

Article taken from Gainsville Sun. Click here for full article.

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