Curious Ruminant by Jethro Tull

What, Jethro Tull again? But Harold, you've just done a Jethro Tull review, what are you thinking of?

Let's get Ian Anderson's voice out of the way first, because I've already talked about it last time. Yes, the very up-front sound is odd. Yes, there's a lot more spoken word stuff and less singing. Yes, the sound is different. But it's fine, in fact in places it's very rich in tone. Get over it!

The album starts with Puppet and the Puppet Master, and you're thinking a bit of piano? That's not very Jethro Tull! And then it's the old bait and switch, because they go straight in to the most Tull sounding thing I've heard since Songs From the Wood.

The thing that comes across most is that they sound like they're having fun as a band. This isn't an Ian Anderson solo album, there's a real band in there. This is probably down to the origins of the album as a set of instrumental pieces dating back quite a few years. 

Next song is Curious Ruminant, and blimey, it starts with piano again. But the flute - oh my, this is just some of the best stuff Ian Anderson's ever done. He finds the best melodies he has ever found, and it's utterly glorious. The arrangement, as ever, is clever and composed, with lots of consistent musical ideas passed around between the instruments. The lead guitar and flute duet superbly. Everything sits together as a whole. I've been listening to Jethro Tull for a long time, and this ranks right up there with the very best. Excuse me, I need to go and have a lie down.

OK, I'm back, and I'm listening to the rest of the album, but after the second track it's going to have to go seriously wrong for me not to love this. And it doesn't go seriously wrong. It's great. Go and listen to it.

Today's reasons are copied from the previous review. I have done this (a) because they are still relevant and (b) because it bulks out the text without me having to write anything new. It's hard writing this stuff when you know only two people regularly read it.

Reasons to listen:

  • You like the classic Jethro Tull sound
  • You're a fan of English folk-influenced prog
Reasons not to listen:
  • Tull isn't just Ian Anderson
  • You can't get used to Ian Anderson's voice as it is now

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