Aqualung

I've always been familiar with the band Jethro Tull and how it had lots of flute and how it is one of the prog rock bands. Beyond that I've never actually listened to any of it. Now that I have, it was 100% exactly what I think of when I imagined the term prog rock. I should enjoy this more than I thought but it was just okay. Maybe if I were younger I'd dig it more. No other rock bands feature the flute so heavily -- for somewhat obvious reasons -- and it definitely is something different from the sound everyone else had. I will always applaud bands who try something different, but in the end it's not for me.

Not a band I would listen to, and their reputation is not inviting. Surprisingly sprightly and concise, mostly, with some excellent tunes. Solid 3, but the amount of flute will prevent more.

Cool record! Nice storytelling throughout the songs that connect and keep you invested. Jethro Tull have a unique sound as well which is refreshing. 6/10

Hey aqualung!! A famous anchorman quote but I never went and listened to the full album. Definitely some flute action in this one and great guitar riffs. I wouldn't put this anywhere near some other rock albums but I think this is a really good one, especially with the use of other instruments than the typical rock fare.

OK, i've had this on the backburner for days now, listening & relistening. I still don't know whether I like, whether it is good or great, or polished or raw. I just don't know. Honestly cannot rate fairly. Real conundrum. Is that the point?

decent bit of prog

I enjoyed the non-traditional instruments. I found this somewhat boring though and might appreciate it more on more listenings

A classic album but not my cuppa tea.

Pretty good. A little repetitive. Like a cross between Pink Floyd, Metallica, and Bad Religion

3.5/5 Aqualung Mother goose Cross eyed mary

Essential folkrock album. Aged galantly.

The second half is much better than the first, minus the title track. Highlight Tracks: 1, 7, 10

meh? it was okay. also he's australian!!

Wow I DO know this. Aqualung is a classic song... love it. Cross eyed mary reminds me of Jack Black in School of Rock lol. Cheap Day Return is a softer song. Does Up to Me have a jazz flute??

not my fav

Nice this band.

Far less hey-nonny-no than I had imagined.

It almost feels like a caricature of the Epic rock genre. It’s interesting but not really my jam.

Like watching a snuff movie....in a good way.

If music could smell, the tunes included here would; probably of cheap ditch weed and sweat. Hippy prog made by crusties with flutes. Best Tracks: Aqualung; Cross-Eyed Mary; Locomotive Breath

sitting on a park bench...i think more pop music should have flutes but this wasn't exactly my jam

Lotta flute. Lil too much piano.

Definitely a lot of jazz flute. Some well known songs. Other songs are just ok. I don't think I would choose to listen to the full album again.

some real nice tunes in here good message overall wouldn't relisten though

Actually liked it more than I thought I would.

Skipped after the first few songs

Pretty solid. I enjoy the unique-ness of the flute in there. 2RS

Ok. A bit flat maybe

Rocks harder than I remembered.

i like "cross eyed mary"... the flute really had me ASCENDING on that one... actually the flute is the best part of this album all the way through.

3.5

Nice

Obviously styled as a dostoevsky esque rock opus, right down to the wretched character that haunts the album sleeve. Interesting in parts but I didn't stay engaged.

Premetto che i Jethro Tull sono un gruppo che ho ascoltato molto intorno ai 15/16 anni e quindi conoscevo bene Aqualung ma non lo ascoltavo da molto. Onestamente riascoltarlo dopo tanto tempo mi ha fatto un po' un'impressione strana, forse perché questo tipo di progressive rock '70 oggi è invecchiato un po' male, anche perché è stato preso, storpiato e ricomposto in tutte le salse possibili, forse anche perché mi arriva come più pretenzioso di un tempo. Comunque parliamo di un bell'album, Ian Anderson sflauteggia anche meno del solito e fa sempre ridere quando si sentono i suoi versi. L'album è considerato da tutti un concept album ma i Jethro Tull dicono che non lo è e non l'hanno mai pensato come concept e secondo me si sente molto questa cosa. Diciamo che oggi mi arriva come un album sicuramente di un certo peso artistico ma che ci prova un po' troppo. A questo punto penso di preferire Stand Up che invece era un po' meno sofisticato e ci sono grandissimi pezzi come We Used To Know. Direi un 3.45.

Come molti dischi del genere passo da momenti di esaltazione a temere che spunti da un momento all'altro qualche folletto o gnomo da dietro le casse. Mi piace Ian Anderson come strumentista ma non come cantante.

G 3.5 B 3

Prog flute classic, good campfire background, probably worth another listen on a decent hi-fi but otherwise not really for me.

Already owned

The production was like when you see a movie in 8k ultra HD and you can see all the people on the screen acting and reading lines. I could hear them playing instruments, not playing music. I actually like the much maligned flute, and everytime the piano came out it got into a bit of a bar room rocker. But I'm just confused about what Jethro Tull actually is, because most of the album sounds like a dance around the maypoll meeting of some Hobbits and the album never really takes off. I don't really get why half the album is the sounds of 1650. Hymn 43 was a good song. 2.51/5

This starts strong, and the rock flute is really somethin' else. When your brand is rock flute, you don't have a ton of competition. That said, this rolled off into the background and I only realized later that it had stopped.

This was interesting. I only knew a little bit of Jethro Tull previously and didn't think it was really my thing, but I found this pretty entertaining. I also enjoyed the interview with Ian Anderson at the end of the deluxe edition.

Strange, but it works.

A little theatrical, but still pretty cool. I'd have to give it another listen I think.

Great album! Very emotional

okay instrumentals, boring overall

Anthony Perry was my best friend when I was 12 and his older sister had this album. As 12 yo brats we didn't need to hear much more than "Snot is running down his nose" and "watching as the frilly panties run"  to declare this album "amazing". As I listen to the album today, I'm not sure we ever got past the title track. Anyway, the word "amazing" no longer  trips off the tongue the way it did back then. At the midpoint I was starting to worry about the bad karma that comes with giving less than a "3" to a cult album.  Fortunately, the album ended strong and earned its 3. I hope Perry agrees. 

Actually a really good one

Not as great asI was expecting ***

Jethro is wel ok. Beetje bombastisch en wat gedateerd maar ik kan die sound wel waarderen.

Leuk die dwarsfluit.

not too bad of an album but bit weird. very strong theme throughout the album and im not sure its quite my cup of tea

6/10

Musically uninspired, sonically one-dimensional, lyrically heavy-handed. 5

Paar nette Sachen dabei

Tidvis meget bra

Hørte en gang en beskrivelse av Jethro Tull som om en britisk sjømann som er glad i whiskey skulle fått barn med en hippie i San Francisco som er veldig glad i blomster. En rar miks, men det funker jo helt greit. Favoritt Jethro-låt 'song for jeffrey' er ikke med på aqualung - trekker litt ned.

drugs

No ha estado mal. Me ha recordado a la época de Pink Floyd. Este es uno de esos discos que tenía eternamente pendiente de escuchar con atención.

The last time I listened to whole thing, it was 1978. Actually, I liked this more than I thought I would.

well rounded music, worth a revisit

A little too much flute

Pretty good. I like Thick as a Brick more. 6-7/10

Aqualung - maybe the best song Cross-eyed Mary - could be a fun dance track

i thought this would take me right back - it didn't, but i was kind of ok with that, too. ian anderson is an interesting songwriter, for sure.

Classic rock is classic. A bit odd.

Musically fantastic, vocally grating

Not feeling this.

this sounds kinda medieval idk why but some of them songs were fucking weird. pretty cool if u ask me. this guy has a good voice ###

Best wel prima album, vooral aqualong

Tons of iconic riffs, though this era of rock does seem particularly histrionic.

D’ya like the flute? The Tull certainly does. Is this their best record? No. Is this a good record? That is for you to determine. I liked about half of this and the other half is what I would expect from a 1970’s prog-folk band. I can’t really say I’d come back to this (try Thick as a Brick instead), but it was an enjoyable listen. The changes in time and feel on the title track are a definite highlight. Favorite track: Aqualung (I mean cmon) Least favorite track: Hymn 43

6.5

Pretty sold flute rock

pretty good sound but not a lot of real jams

Lots of good songs. A mix of every popular 70s genre.

Only liked parts of the albums namesake track. Nothing before 2min mark though. Cross-eyed Mary is a solid track - flute is badass. Full on Anchorman jazz flute solo. Keys sound ok, but very basic for having so much presence in the mix. UK Folky, foot tapping fun - Mother Goose Locomotive Breath- keys come alive. And the crazy flute is back! Love it. Really grew on me, but no where near other similar bands of the same period (like zeppelin)

Tricky one. First impression is that I hate this folky prog rock nonsense. No time at all for pipe smoking mustachio twiddling warlock rock. But then there’s the odd blistering guitar that Hendrix would have been happy with or beat box flute that Jurassic 5 should be sampling. This gets everything from a 1 to a 5 so I guess we’ll have to go down the middle for a 3.

I'd heard the big songs before but not the whole album. The flute is pretty wacky.

Didn't like all of it but I really liked the bits I did

I really like the guitar tone on this album. The distortion is really crisp and it's mixed well. My least favorite parts of the album seem to be the lyrics and the flute. Aqualung and Up to Me have this really creepy feel that makes the album distinct Overall the album sounds a bit dated, definitely a product of its time. It drags in places, but when its good, it's really good.

Interesting

Lots of flute, pretty interesting. Liked Wind-Up

Just not my style

There's too much flute on this album. I don't mean this in a stuffy "any flute is too much" kind of way, I just mean there's too. much. flute. Best track: Aqualung

This was fine, nothing really stood out to me.

Not my cup of tea. Not entirely objectionable (like the Beach Boys) but no memorable tunes, not one I'll be putting on in future.

I do like jethro tull but this album didn't do much for me....Just alright innit 2.5!

Not a huge Tull fan, even Aqualung gets repetitive really fast.

What is this. Why am I being plagued with boomer rock.

singer kind of sounds like tobuscus on a few songs. alright but not really my thing

No fun… Gotta love the jazz flute tho.

Quand même cool mais c’est moins mon style

Don't really get the folk rock of Tull.

Not sure I get the hype. All a bit too pleasant for prog rock?

By men for men. By cult leaders for cult leaders. The soundtrack to Magic the Gathering.

Gross pedo lyrics, some uninteresting wannabe led zeppelin topics, but good flute solos

perdón..todavia no puedo con este género

shits wayyyy too long

progslop

I thought I liked prog rock. Turns out, I just like Alan Parsons

High school me would scoff at my total lack of appreciation for this album. What a dork! Don't I realize this shit is terrible?

There are some ideas and some riffs in here that promise something better than what is delivered. It’s not terrible, but it’s not good. Starting your album off with a song about a lecherous hobo who’s touching himself looking at little girls at the park was a choice, even in 1971.

No saves unfortunately

This a strong 2. Wasn’t really a fan, but I can see how some ppl may vibe with it.

This is the kind of prog rock that I do not like

had some groovin bits

mid

Nothing about this album excited me.

Not really into progressive.

My POP liked Jethro Tull, and try as I might I could never get down with their peculiar progressive blend of folk and rock. Maybe it's the lyrics? Maybe it's the choices in instrumentation? Maybe it's the tonal inconsistency and jarring shifts across songs? Despite their solid musicianship, I subscribe to all three criticisms. The album is not a total abomination but I'd like to know if I'm listening to King Crimson or Cat Stevens and this record just can't decide. Sorry Dad.

Too long and mostly boring songs.

321/1089 some of the fluting etc in My God is pretty nice otherwise it was decent, glad i listened but didn’t really excite me personally 48/100

2/5.

Not my thing but interesting

Surprisingly more folk rock than hard rock

Aqualung didn’t really do it for me.

i hate prog rock

i didnt really like it

Prog rock seems to walk a fine line between artistic masterpiece and dumb bullshit. This album lands in the latter for me

Nej, detta var inte för mig. Tråkigt och för mycket flöjt. Några låtar gillade jag dock: Aqualung, Cross-eyed Mary och Locomotive breath. Förstår att det här var nydanande för sin tid men för mig känns det inte så spännande idag. Men visst... Musik kan de skapa bara inte för mig.

I recognize aqualung, couldn’t get into the album

Wth is die fluit??? Ik denk dat het idee achter dit album als rockgroep met een fluitist nog wel cool is, maar het slaagde er maar niet in om mijn aandacht te grijpen.

NOt really a fan of these guys...

While the title track, "My God," and "Hymn 43" provide some much-needed momentum, the rest of Aqualung simply didn't do anything for me. The constant presence of the flute was an interesting choice that gave the album a distinct folk-style flair, but that novelty couldn't mask the fact that the record felt way too long and bloated. Overall, I felt like I wasted my time on a listening experience that didn't justify its runtime.

They should’ve just given the Grammy to Spinal Tap.

eh

Bij sommige albums weet je halverwege dat je dit niet een second opinion gaat geven. Dat is ook bij deze. Het is niet de dwarsfluit die stoort, het is het theatrale eromheen, melodramatisch en vervelend gezongen. Krijg beetje Jack Black vibes. Wel een mooie albumhoes

Ik vond het album niet echt een vibe, als iemand dit op zou zetten, zou ik vragen of we iets anders kunnen luisteren. Ik vind z’n stem niet heel nice. Ik vind religieuze thema’s in de meeste gevallen ook niet heel erg leuk om naar te luisteren, ongeacht wat het standpunt is.

This is the only prog rock you'll ever catch me listening to with anything adjacent to enjoyment, probably owing to its heavier-than-usual guitar riffs. But there's only so much flute a girl can take in one sitting.

snurk...

What?!

Not for me, not in this mood.

This one is not for me.

High 2 This sounds like not very gifted people trying to make a really good album. Its high stakes, low results. Sorry boys.

Ugh. No.

kinda questionable

Always aware of this album throughout my life but never actually heard it. Maybe if I listened to it at the time I was barely getting into classic basic prog or glam rock this might have been more of interest to me, but for now i'm not. Don't get me wrong, its a fantasticly recorded executed album, the flow is great, but speaking of the style, it just escapes me why this is big other than the weirdness of adding flutes to the mix. Borederline meh.

Not my jam.

that flute got me amazed. wow

It's pretty average. I don't hate it and I don't love it. Some of the guitar is very inspiring and well done. There's three great songs which are going on my playlist "Cross-Eyed Mary", "Mother Goose", and "My God" are all great tunes. "Mother Goose" in particular reminds me of a Led Zeppelin song because of how whimsical and fairy-like it is. Overall it's a fluty 5/10

He has a good voice. But I won’t listen again.

While reading about the album, I really wanted to like it. But it's just too divided for me. High and lows.

Cant get into it

Speaking as someone who is often turned off by the twists and turns of prog rock, this album flows really well. The title track drifts between different sections fluidly, and in a lot of cases the transitions between songs are so smooth as to be unnoticeable. The harder tracks, like the title track and "Locomotive Breath," have some good riffs. I'm less of a fan of the folkier songs though, as they meander a bit and lack those interesting riffs. They also reveal that the entire album is a bit hookless, relying instead on constantly evolving songs to draw you in. If I liked the lyrics more - they alternate between silliness and not-as-deep-as-they-think religious musings - it might succeed. But as a whole there's not enough that interests me to get past those lyrics and difficult songwriting.

Got a lyric about noncing kids 10 seconds into the album. Great

- nimibiisi oli ihan jees mut muuten aika tasapaksua puurtamista

This is the kind of music that Spinal Tap were making fun of. Overly serious, overblown bollocks that is quite tedious to listen to. As much as I enjoy the fact that they do something different by including a flute, it does make it kinda hard to take seriously. Anybody else think of Allison Hannigan in American Pie when they hear a flute?? 'This one time, at band camp.......' No? Just me then.......... Anyway, this kind of prog just bores me to tears, with po-faced lyrics that try to be serious but are kind of ridiculous, and not enough of interest musically.

I guess i dont like prog rock, pretty good band tho. But haven't caught me.

I dunno, man I mean, not everyone is into Renaissance fairs.

Too much flute. Never liked this band much

Interesting album

I just don’t connect with it at all. I was waiting for the songs to end. I feel like you have to be into something that I am clearly not into to really enjoy this.

Very fun album! Interesting topics. My favorites were "My God"(and the early version too), "Hymn 43", and all versions of "Wond'ring aloud"

I grew up on this album as my dad is a huge Jethro Tull fan and I was lucky enough to see them live in 2000. The title track on this album is a banger and while I appreciate how futuristic this must have seemed when it came out because of all the artists that copied and elevated this sound I find most of it to be mediocre.

Folk-y alt rock, don’t like. Flute sounds fun. Had to keep adjusting volume bc some tracks softer?

I just wasn't that impressed after the first two songs.

unmemorable

Given how much of an influence they are on bands I like a lot, I've always felt I should like Jethro Tull way more than I do (which is not at all). I've tried repeatedly, but they just don't click. Although there's so much going on musically, it all just sounds so one-dimensional. I just find them tremendously dull - maybe you had to be there.

Decent story and sound. Not sure about some of the lyrics but hoping it has some alternative meaning.

Having met Martin Barre, you'd have thought I'd like this but it doesn't touch me. It doesn't speak to me at all.

Not really what I like in music. Not Bad just not for me

Feta flöjdsolon. Resten av albumet var dock inte min smak. Längtade tills att det skulle ta slut.

More flute, more riffs and less whimsical vocals and lyrics and this would be for me. As it stands, I really struggle with themed, fantasy, proggy meandering fluff like this. It's often bloated, self indulgent and unsatisfying to listen to.

I got the same vibes as with the live Hawkwind album—Spinal Tap. Just too proggy for me. Some cool riffs here and there, but not much else. Besides, I can’t forget they beat Metallica for the metal Grammy!

Nice variety not my cup of tea though

Uh que embole llega un punto que es re repetitivo, ni siquiera busca sorprenderte, se queda queda el molde nomás, QUE NO ESTA MAL, pero podría agarrar y cambiar algo como para que no sea semejante noni tiene muy buenos arreglos de guitarra, capaz por eso le sumo una estrella más, pero en si es un embole, not my cup of tea

favorites: my god; wind-up

kinda overwrought. really wasn’t into this aside from a few moments of songs here or there, typically sections without vocals.

Overblown flute is like nails down a blackboard to me. Earnest prog is not up my street at all. The occasional moment seemed alright but overall just not my cup of tea

Songs I saved: Cross Eyed Mary

Didn’t listen to the full album, but I don’t think it’s my thing.

Jeez, I forgot they sing the "snot" line twice. Some good riffs on here (like "Locomotive Breath," which rips), but I find most of the songwriting tedious.

An acquired taste one feels, but not one I have been able to acquire.

Imagine being a person whose personality was that they are really into Jethro Tull.

Had its moments, mainly the flute ones.

Not really my thang. The only songs I've heard on this album have felt overplayed.

https://youtu.be/484A9Ju4F8g?si=P1SOs9x9PODTQ7te

Was starting to get into the swing of things but My God really reset me. That sort of early 70s British prog stuff that can really hit or miss with me. Unfortunately for ol Tull, more of a miss here. Dig the more blues infused tracks but the more prog it goes, or the more flutes it adds, the less I like it. Favorite Tracks: Up To Me, Locomotive Breath, Mother Goose

It twas strange.

What is this evil music. Why has all the music been devious as fuck recently. Ok Jethro get into it I guess. Like I mean okay but what. Sure why not but also just why. O have just not had much to say about these recent ones like am I hearing a fuckin recorder what are we doing. Sure am get medieval with it why not. Be my guest dog. Like what are we doing. I'm just so confused. And intrigued but mostly just confused. Like that one gif of Jonah Hill. And the other gif of Jonah Hill. Like I just don't really care about this music. Like he's jamming out some of the time other times he's cooking up some straight bullshit. Why is he crying in the town square. I just don't know man. He's just playing around it's fun I suppose. Favourite: Up to Me Least favourite: My God

firmly in a genre i call 'lord of the rings' music and much like the movies i never want to experience this again

Don’t care for this group at all. “Some furious flute solos tho” -M Murphy

Snore

EDP445-says-I-mean-it's-alright-.gif Locomotive Breath notwithstanding, this to me sounds like Ren Faire music. Which is great if that's what you're into but it's not classic prog rock to me like it's advertised to be

Maso

Flute goes hard af. Thought it was a little treat when it popped up in Cross-Eyed Mary and then it just kept coming back? Incredible. Highlight of the album.

'Snot running down his nose / Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.' It isn't the flute, no, it isn't the flute that makes this record a shitty exposition of all that would be wrong w/ rock music until punk revived a sense of the real and the basic. Well, it's not only the flute, which is just a symptom of a genre and an approach that emphasizes ornamentation rather than details. These songs never get going b/c they're conceptual monsters, stuck in the throat of a bloke w/ no regard for the pleasures of music, everything a very plodding adventure into a British realm I have all the reason in the world to eschew. 'My God,' is Ian Anderson ever a self-serious windbag, opting for the flute b/c of the hot air he's full of. Problem: he has an inexhaustible store.

acoustic stuff is neat. hard rock of this era sounds more kitschy every day

Too much flute. Sounds like Led Zeppelin if they weren’t that good at music.

solid 2

Not my thing.

Something about this album feels out of place. Its an album you can live without. You can see who they are trying to be but aren't.

Eh. The songs sounded very similar to me and none really stood out tbh.

2.0 stars This rating is based on my enjoyment of the album, and whether or not I want to relisten to it or not (I do not). I can see it's appeal...it's not a bad record, per se. Just not for me. Favorite track: Locomotive Breath

Nisam ih nikad preslušavala aktivno, iako znam par stvari s albuma. Nije to ni toliko loše. Dosta mi bacaju na Black Sabbath zapravo, koji generalno ne volim baš. Bit će 2/5, 4/10

Weird old white people (men, likely) music. I liked "Wondr'ing Aloud." On the fence about the flute. No thank you to long interviews. 2.5

Never even heard this artist name before, so not sure what to expect. Imagine the you're in the Lord of the Rings/Hobbit world and you're hearing a folk song around you. Now imagine the hobbits had electric guitar in this time and thats what this album sounds like. This is an intriguing thought, right? But in practice it ends up being songs that seem like there is too much going on in concept album about religion that isn't actually a concept album. For most of the songs, it feels like a DJ who doesn't know how to craft song transitions in the sense that it feels like two different songs were spliced together and the through line is the singer is the same. There were a couple songs that where the juxtaposition just doesn't work at all and you think "why did you do this?" but there are also a couple songs where this idea actually works and in the middle of a guitar riff a flute solo comes in and you think I kinda like this. Overall most of the album was boring and hard to get through with the exception of a couple songs.

Not bad but I found it impenetrable, doubt I'll be returning.

Meh

The flute. It’s a good easy listening album but not one I would go to often.

Pre-Listening: oh great, another album that I have listened to, but not for like two decades! Looking forward to revisiting.

Smor

Interesting, not really to taste. Lots of anti-religion themes.

Didn’t finish the last song - it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing.

This feels too much like a good funk blues band trying to sound like a shitty Medieval minstrel troupe...

Excellent song - not as excellent album

This wasn't really to my taste, but I did at least listen to it. I think this is probably the first Jethro Tull album I've ever played. From reading the Wikipedia article, the story of how they came by their name and how their first single was credited to Jethro Toe is all a bit Spinal Tap! The album is OK. I guess that maybe back in 1971 this could have been seen as goundbreaking, though ine 2025 it just sounds dated to me.

Pas fan du style mais ça va

3.0/10 Too much flute.. was driving me nuts.

Who the fuck put flute in my rock and roll? Terrible idea. One song has a decent riff but I'll be damned if I'm going to go back and look up which one.

Didn't like it. Seems to cement my (admittedly controversial) opinion that the piano does not belong in rock. Fav tracks: Aqualung

Jethro kennt man, sein Musik Styl vermutlich auch. Der Start ist eher durchzogen kann nur besser werden

Album review 024 Aqualung by Jethro Tull (1971) Rating 2/5 Before listening to Aqualung, if you’d have asked me what I knew about Jethro Tull, I’d have answered that I don’t know much beyond them being named after Mr Seed Drill and their singer stands on one leg whilst playing flute. After listening to Aqualung, if you were to ask me what I know about Jethro Tull, I would answer that they’re named after Mr Seed Drill, their singer stands on one leg whilst playing flute, and I don’t like their music. Not a truly awful album, but not one I particularly enjoyed.

This album has the been the butt of the joke my whole life, so I really tried to give it a fair listen. I can get down with the Sabbath-style riffage and some of the more psychedelic flute bits, but basically everything else is insufferably corny. The lyrics are distractingly bad (and borderline pedophilic). And there's something especially irritating about British guys who hate religion; we get it, get over it.

Not my fav

This album has a very midevil vibe to it. A lot of flutes. There were some ok songs that I would listen to again but nothing I would really be excited about playing. It's not my cup of tea, but overall, not terrible.

Good riffs but I didn’t like his voice

Aqualung (the song) is pretty classic but I didn't connect with much of the rest of the album.

2 - Playing back to back Jethro Tull songs is more than enough for me per month. I also thought Will Ferrell was over exaggerating jazz flute. I was wrong. I believe he talks into the flute more than once.

Kind of treads this weird in between ground of sensitive folk (Cheap Day Return, Mother Goose, Wond'ring Aloud) and borderline Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin rock...but with flutes? All topped by weirdly enunciating melodramatic vocals. If I squint, I can kind of see where the Led Zeppelin lovers might be fans - but it all just landed a bit weird and incoherent for me.

Meh

Not for me.

Sounds like listening to led zeppelin but they have decided to blueball you. Hard rock but not doing it too hard on the rock.

Meh.

Decent, but too much thought about Christianity

5/10. Not good, not bad. And Anchorman has ruined the flute as a musical instrument

Honestly just kind of exhausting to listen to and not in a very fun way. 2.5

somewhat boring and bit dull songs that felt like could've been more

Generally not my vibe though there are some super cool moments throughout (string slidey moment on Slipstream for example) Mother Goose is my fav on the record

Tried a couple separate times listening. Gotta be honest it's not my thing. Won't return. To be fair, 70s prog rock in general is something that doesn't speak to me. To me, this music just feels so self-indulgent and crude. I came in thinking of the flute scene from Anchorman. I leave thinking of the flute scene from Anchorman. It's getting a 2 because 1 is reserved for things I don't like and think are really bad for some specific reason.

Hard to hear

I absolutely love 70s prog, and have tried with this one before, but I just can’t do it. The vocals kill it for me. The acoustic stuff is beautiful (scratches the early Genesis itch) and the flute work is wicked, but I just can’t get past Ian Anderson’s voice.

I enjoyed a few of the songs on this album but there was no real cohesion between all of them. While I often enjoy old-school rock this is a big meh for me. It feels like they were experimenting and maybe another album of theirs would suit me more.

Not for me. I can handle maybe one song at a time, but not a whole album.

Not my cup of tea, but “Locomotive Breath” is a keeper.

Is this prog? Honestly I only know Tull because "Locomotive Breath" was in heavy rotation on WCKG, Chicago's All-Classic Rock, during my high school days. This really loses me with the wandering self-indulgence of the songs, which need more form for me to really dial in. Or maybe I just need to be totally fucking baked.

Honestly can’t remember any of it. Must be about a 2

These songs trick you. They are sometimes acoustic while othertimes they are just awful barely melodic rock. The slower songs of this album are leagues ahead of the rock songs.

Lo pocovque he escuchado parece bastante aburrido

Well, that was a bit boring wasn't it.

It starts out great and then... Flutes!

Ok 2/5

Den tyngre progrocken är okej, även några av de akustiska låtarna. Men när det börjar låta medeltida folkmusikfestival vill jag helst stänga av.

Never listened to jethro till and I wasn’t impressed.

I bet these guys are a big hit at Renaissance Fairs.

Really not my style. I don’t like much classic rock of this era, and less so with a flute.

Nicht mein Stil, anspruchsvoller Sound zu dem der Zugang erst mit der Zeit gefunden wird.

Not my thing, just couldn’t get into these tunes for some reason.

The flute I don’t mind, quiet like the flute. Don’t want to be negative about whole genre’s of music that others like, but prog tends to leave me cold. Music can be an intellectual experience about complex ideas both musically and lyrical , and it can be art as an expression of emotion and culture. Sometimes it’s both but prog just for me falls into a glacial world. This really at time sounds like Black Sabbath if they had been middle class boys who think they are clever and have big ideas, removing all the grit and heart and replacing it with previous musical twaddlings. I can appreciate this as an album, a piece of music but I can’t feel it. 2 Star

Kirkville in musical form. Yes, PGG, it brings back 95X, the whole lot. Not in a good way.

prog rock not my cup of tea

There was something decent about it but it never really captured me

Sounds like a Tribute to Black Sabath , some songs were interesting to listen, after a while it gets repetitive and boring.

I don't like Aqualung the song so I've never listened to the whole album. In my ignorance Jethro Tull seemed to me like a token band boomers would cite to indicate they were real music heads. Now I have listened to it in its entirety and I can say with confidence I don't like it.

like certain Queen but prog and not as good. but damn, that flute!

Strange

Only got part way through. It's fine. Can kinda hear the 60s folk influence. Nice riff on Aqualung itself.

i cant do it yall

🗯 Prog largely leaves me cold — to my ears, it often feels like personality-free middle-aged men playing Dungeons & Dragons with their guitars and box of tissues close by. Not really my vibe. 🙄 Aqualung is the band’s most famous record, and I get why. It is impressive. Ian Anderson’s flute flourishes, the shifts between delicate folk and thundering riffs, the ambition to make rock more “serious” — it’s all here. The title track has bite, Cross-Eyed Mary struts, and Locomotive Breath is undeniably iconic. But the further it sprawls, the more I feel the “prog problem”: the virtuosity and concept outweigh the emotional pull. I respect it, and I know why it’s canon, but it’s not something I’m rushing back to spin. Verdict: Respectable (important, but not for me) For fans of: King Crimson, Yes, middle-aged men in capes rolling dice to riffs. ✊🏻💦

FEELING LIKE A DEAD DUCK

Am Anfang fand ich es ganz gut, es ist schon was Besonderes, mit der Zeit nervt es allerding etwas. 2 1/2.

A medieval story telling album. Sounds like I should be listening to this at a renaissance festival. I like some of the guitar solos. Very folky.

Flute Rock at its finest, if there is such a thing. I saw these guys as openers for The Who at Folsom Field in 82. From what I remember, it was an annoyingly long set. (Unlike John Cougar, the filler, who left in disgust after a few songs. He did not like being ignored) There really is little use for a flute in Rock, and certainly no business putting the thing front and center. I’ll give it 3 stars for a couple of monster songs, then ding them one ⭐️ for sounding so damn pompous.

There’s a good sound at the start of Aqualung so I’ll give it that. The intro hooked me for a second, but then the lyrics lost me, and the whole thing kind of trailed off into what felt like story hour. No thanks. As for the rest of the album… I don’t know. The flute must be an acquired taste. I get why it stirred things up for what was supposed to be a “rock and roll blues band,” but to me, it often just felt kind of silly like something out of Wayne’s World or Anchorman. Not really what I’m looking for, ever. Coincidentally, I listened to this while visiting my mom, who was apparently all-in on Jethro Tull back in the day. And maybe I would’ve been too, if I’d grown up with it - who knows? But overall, I didn’t feel much from this album, other than a general sense of reaffirmation… that it’s probably just not for me.

It was alright, I guess.

I’ve tried several times over the years, but I just can’t get into this album. I don’t dislike the music, but it never holds my attention. No matter which track I start with, the album always begins on a promising note, but after a song or two my interest drifts and I realize I’ve stopped listening. As a result, making it through the whole album has always been a struggle.

Didn’t finish yet but enjoyed the flute melodies mixed with the rock energy, didn’t love the vocals

Meh. I like house, country, and rap.

Like if Zeppelin sucked and also had a flute player that sucked.

I first heard the name Jethro Tull in grade 9 social studies when we were randomly learning about 18th-century agriculture? A guy named Jethro Tull invented a piece of farm equipment called the seed drill. As I worked on my homework assignment, my dad chimed in to tell me there was a 70s rock band called Jethro Tull as well. Ok sure, I thought. And I didn’t think much about Jethro Tull until I had my son, and his enthusiasm for vehicles led to us flipping through books that get very specific about agricultural devices, including the good ol’ seed drill. “That was invented by Jethro Tull,” I tell my toddler for no reason every time we get to the illustration of the mechanical seed-sowing behemoth. My husband hums the opening riff to Aqualung. Anyway, this album sounds like a dorkier Led Zeppelin. The part I enjoyed the most was the “Ian Anderson Interview” tucked at the end of the Aqualung special edition I was directed to on Spotify. I gather he is the lead vocalist and flautist(!!) of Jethro Tull. I half-listened to the interview while I did dishes, and it was pretty entertaining. Highlights include him spilling the tea on his feud with Robert Plant (which he started by insulting LZ’s lyrics) and throwing shade on Muddy Waters’ music and maybe the entire genre of blues for being too simplistic?? Yeesh.

L'inizio dell'album è molto interessante, il riff che si ripete in tutta "Aqualung" prende molto, ma con l'avanzare delle tracce è come se ci fosse un "peggioramento" a mio avviso. mi aspettavo di più dopo aver sentito la prima canzone

Kinda boring

Two good songs... The rest, not so much...

non mi ha entusiasmato. la parte con il flauto però molto simpatico

Pretty bad

It's usually going to be interesting if a rock band includes a flute. I remember playing Aqualung in highschool marching band as a sousaphone player and thinking it was a really odd sounding song. Fun to play though. Album was just ok for me

Eh. Not sure I’m a new fan. It’s ok.

it was fine, don't feel strongly about it. good, solid rock album. Aqualung is a banger.

More prog rock. It’s fine

Groupe connu. J'ai découvert cet album dans les années 80, mais je n'avais pas accroché à l'époque. Qu'en est il 40 ans après ? Et bien j'ai plutôt apprécié le début ! L'harmonie est originale, en particulier celle d'Aqualung (+++). J'ai apprécié aussi le chorus de guitare. Et la flute et le chorus de guitare dans 'Cross-eyed Mary' (+). Par contre j'ai trouvé les morceaux acoustiques moins intéressants. Et malheureusement ils sont majoritaires. Je ne suis donc pas sur d'avoir envie de l'écouter de nouveau ... =>2/5

When I was in high school, I tried to get into Jethro Tull. I bought the Greatest Hits and listened to it a bunch. It reminds me of Renaissance Faire drama nerds going hard. (Full disclosure: was said nerd.) not terrible, but not really my cuppa tea, either.

Not a big fan. I find it odd, alot of the early songs, alot of the lyrics I can understand seem to be about school children, was this what happened in the 70s. Alot of solos that I lose interest in. Slower songs that resist pan pipe solos are better

Boring and long, folky prog rock with flutes... look forward to never listening to this again

It was pleasant enough. Guy really has a thing for school aged kids though, it was a "different time" but maybe not a better time. Nice songs, creepy feeling.

"I'd rather look around me, compose a better song" you don't say

prog rock

Another fine example of "it's 2025 and I have no idea what this is doing here." Serviceable, unremarkable, forgettable.

Not for me ngl. Sorry dad!

Sucks

I’d say just under 3 stars for me. I didn’t really enjoy this one found I found it a bit boring

I have understood this, Not really for me

With my taste in music, this 2 is a very strong 2. I can see why someone would like this a lot, I think it's an enjoyable listen, but I wouldn't buy this on CD.

this album felt like unseasoned scrambled eggs

This list is making me realize that it's impossible to be completely unbiased about music. Whether I find an album good or bad depends not only on the music but also on my personal circumstances and state of mind I guess. Before listening to this, I binged through a shit ton of music that I already love, which sound completely different from this one. Maybe that's why this fell flat in comparison. Most of the time I was just tuning out. The flute was really cool though, that much I could tell. Would I revisit this album in future: sure, yes. I think I have to, lol. Favourite track: Locomotive Breath

3/10

Unfortunately not my vibe

Dated. Not horrible but very dated.

Ok. Some muddled "freakazoid" and "anti-religion" lyrical messages, accompanied by progressive but tuneless prog-rock meandering. The flute isn't as bad as it could be. Steven Wilson's remaster is really good.

I get that they have skills and make interesting music. That music is just not for me, and that’s ok.

I can’t stop thinking about Ron Burgundy. I don’t have any stand out tracks. It’s meditations don’t resonate with me but I’m sure they impacted so many others.