CD-Charts Position 1
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Aqualung

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date February 09, 1999
When people talk about progressive rock being dull and dated and pretentious, they surely can't be thinking of Aqualung. Jethro Tull's gospel-weary opus may be full of flute solos and lyrics about man's relationship to God, but it still rocks more righteously than anything Guns `N' Roses ever did. There's not a Moog synthesizer or an extended suite to be found (except for the title track, and it's not really all that extended), and pyrotechnical displays of instrumental prowess are kept to a tasteful minimum. Classical influences share space with strains of blues, folk, and a bit of gospel. The lyrics, even when they become abstract, make sense more often than not, and they're almost always poignant. The band even insists that it isn't a concept ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Stand Up

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date January 08, 2002
This one takes me back to my high school days which were good times. Some of the best memories from those days of my youth were spent discovering new musical sounds and nothing was as unique as Jethro Tull. Who in their right mind would name their band Jethro anything? These guys were not only tight rockers but they also had a flute player! The vocals were unique as well almost demanding the listener's attention. Nice grooves kept my feet tapping thanks to some great up front bass and drums and that guitar player just flat out smoked. They also had a good twisted sense of humor (Fat Man). A lot of people like to rave about the classical cum rock tune Bouree and I concur that it is infectious much like chocolate. These wonderful tunes represent a ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Very Best of Jethro Tull

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date July 03, 2001
Jethro Tull. They are a legendary progressive group whose music has made an impact on many generations. Led by Ian Anderson, the legendary flute player and singer and Martin Barre, Tull has made some of the finest music ever put out.

'The Very Best of Jethro Tull,' unfortunately doesn't document it. There are so many songs missing. And, 'Thick As A Brick' and 'Heavy Horses' are both edited. 'Thick As A Brick' is chopped down from 40+ minutes to just 3:03, and 'Heavy Horses' from 8+ to 3:20.

And, if you're going to issue 'The Very Best of Jethro Tull' AT LEAST MAKE IT TWO DISCS!!! Where is 'Teacher,' 'Crossfire,' 'A Song For Jeffrey,' 'Warchild' and 'Dharma For One'? These are key tracks to Jethro Tull's legacy, and yet, they are ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Thick as a Brick

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date June 16, 1997
Tull struggled to sustain the level of invention and listener involvement over the course of this one. It certainly has its moments, however, the real prize here is the 12 minute live distillation, from N.Y 1978. This has all of the essential moments from the album, seamlessly joined, and, played with no little abandon. This one rocks.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Benefit

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date January 08, 2002
While I believe that 'Benefit' IS the best of all Jethro Tull albums, it is extremely misleading to shoppers looking for positive reviews and suggestions of what to buy to call it a HEAVY METAL album or JETHRO TULL a HEAVY METAL band.

The band's roots were in BLUES and they were initially a Blues/Rock band. 'Benefit' itself is a transitional album. It is a brilliant mix of blues, rock and some folk and even jazz influences that would become more important for the band, particularly after 'Aqualung'. But it is NOT, in any way, HEAVY METAL.

If you are looking for a top-quality album, certainly one that belongs in anyone's collection, check this out. If you are only looking for an addition to a Heavy Metal collection---don't bother.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

This Was (Collector's Ed.) (2 CDs)

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date June 10, 2008
I'm a big Tull fan, and was excited about the anniversary issue of their first album. Sadly, i had forgotten that I only liked three of the songs from this album, which are the same three featured on their various greatest hits collections. Save your money for the next release, due out early 2009!

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Songs from the Wood

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date May 20, 2003
I've been listening to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull since I was a teenager, 40 years ago. I am amazed at his skill and control of the flute from which the most magical sounds emerge. Timeless celtic music that takes you into the woods to commune.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Minstrel in the Gallery

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date November 05, 2002
This is a nice release from 1975 that essentially established the proggy folk rock/hard rock blend that would characterize many of their subsequent albums. Surprisingly, a near-epic is included on Minstrel in the Gallery (the four-part, 16 minute long Baker St. Muse suite). This is surprising in the sense that following the lambasting of the prog epic A Passion Play, the group turned around and released the comparatively lighter album War Child.

Musically, Minstrel in the Gallery includes a nice mixture of progressive rock, early English folk music, folk rock and hard rock. The quieter passages played on acoustic instruments nicely leaven the thunderous, proggier sections. There are some great performances by all of the players and drummer Barriemore Barlow is in ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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Heavy Horses

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date May 20, 2003
I'll admit upfront that I'm not a rabid Tull fan. Neither am I a passionate detractor. I recently bought Stand Up on CD after not having listened to it since the eighties when I had it on vinyl and have been enjoying it quite a bit. I picked up Heavy Horses based on the many positive reviews here, expecting something special. I was actually quite underwhelmed. The main deficiency is a lack of memorable melodic content/themes. By contrast with the material on Stand Up, very few songs here have what I would call strong melodies. Nor are the lyrics particularly noteworthy. And Ian Anderson's voice sounds rather anemic as well-- perhaps this is due to the production, which tends to bury his vocals in the mix. The arrangements are most interesting in terms of texture. The guitar playing is ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

The Broadsword and the Beast

by: Jethro Tull

Release Date April 26, 2005
Other than Jethro Tull compilations, "The Broadsword and the Beast" is the last cd that I care to own. I've heard selections from the following album "Under Wraps" when Tull went "techno" and I wondered what they were thinking. The heralded "Crest of a Knave" from '87 didn't sound much better, in my opinion, even though I remember when it won a music award for best hard rock/metal album of the year. What a joke! I have three songs from the 1987 album, and none of them really rise above the ever-present synthesizer. Is there any quality Jethro Tull music in the last 20 years? I pretty much stopped listening after "Under Wraps" and "Crest of a Knave." I have heard a track or two from 1991's "Catfish Rising" and thought Tull might be returning to form, a bit. I just love "Aqualung," ... Read More: