Record Reviews

JETHRO TULL ~ CURIOUS RUMINANT INSIDEOUT 738 (Barcode: 198028618823) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2024 Released: 2025 This is the 24th studio album by iconic British Prog band Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, following relatively very quickly the previous album “RokFloteFind albums with this title” released just a couple of years earlier. The album was recorded over a period of several months by a lineup that includes alongside Ian AndersonFind albums by this artist, who sings and plays flutes and guitars, keyboardists John O`HaraFind albums by this artist and Andrew GiddingsFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jack ClarkFind albums by this artist, bassist David GoodierFind albums by this artist and drummers Scott HammondFind albums by this artist and James DuncanFind albums by this artist, all playing in various configurations. The album presents nine original songs, all by Anderson. In the booklet accompanying the album Anderson explains at length (and in his customary style) the background of each track, using his usual “oiber-chuchem” (check this out in Yiddish) attitude, which I have learned to accept over the years, taking it half-seriously. I have been listening to Jethro Tull for almost six decades now, and honestly one has to respect, if not admire, Anderson’s stability, persistence, stamina and passion, which basically never fails. Jethro Tull is the last remaining band going back without interruption, and is still very much in the game! In all respects the music is very much the “good old Tull”, with a strong Folkish tinge and as good as anything Anderson wrote in the last six decades, which means there are no surprises or innovations, for good and for bad. He still very much plays the first fiddle in the band and the musicians, although playing along amicably, have very little space to show their chops, apart from an occasional guitar solo here and there. The formula is kept intact and the big question here is the relevance. How long can we listen to the same music time after time. For some, myself included, the answer probably is: “forever”. Personally I would have loved and appreciated Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson even if their book was closed twenty years ago. Overall, this is a fine album, better than most of the current releases in the stale Progressive Rock universe, but it adds nothing to the group’s splendid legacy and as such is simply less relevant today. That chapter of music history is definitely closed by now. Of course it is still better than most of the horrible music that surrounds us these days, but there is very little solace in that. Jethro Tull / Anderson fans will undoubtedly love this album, especially since it manages to hide the problems Anderson’s vocals suffered from during live performances in the last two decades. Have a ball!

Updated: 09/04/2025Posted: 05/04/2025

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JETHRO TULL ~ THE JETHRO TULL CHRISTMAS ALBUM (FRESH SNOW AT CHRISTMAS EDITION) INSIDEOUT 729 (Barcode: 198028183529) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2003 - 2008 Released: 2024 This is a reissue of the 21st studio album by the British Prog Masters Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, called “The Jethro Tull Christmas AlbumFind albums with this title”, recorded in 2003 and the live album “Christmas At St. Bride`s 2008Find albums with this title”, recorded in 2008. The two albums were bundled into a 2CD album in 2009. This reissue consists of four CDs and one BD. CD1 contains the “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” album in original 2003 mixes. CD2 contains the “The Jethro Tull Christmas Album” album in new 2024 remix by Bruce SoordFind albums by this artist. The JT lineup on this album consists of Ian AndersonFind albums by this artist on flute, acoustic guitar and vocals, guitarist Martin BarreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Andrew GiddingsFind albums by this artist, bassist Jonathan NoyceFind albums by this artist and drummer Doane PerryFind albums by this artist. Several guest musician and a string quartet perform on selected tacks. CD3 contains the “Christmas At St. Bride`s 2008” album in new 2024 remix by Bruce Soord. The JT lineup on this album consists of Ian Anderson on flute, acoustic guitar and vocals, guitarist Martin Barre, keyboardist John O`HaraFind albums by this artist, bassist Dave GoodierFind albums by this artist and percussionist James DuncanFind albums by this artist. CD4 contains the recording of the Ian Anderson Band “Live At St. Bride`s 2006” mixed by Bruce Soord in 2024. The IAB lineup consists of Ian Anderson on flute, acoustic guitar and vocals, guitarist Florian OphaleFind albums by this artist, keyboardist John O`Hara, bassist Dave Goodier and drummer James Duncan. Violinist Ann Marie CalhounFind albums by this artist appears as a special guest. BD contains the entire material on CD2 in High-Resolution formats (Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD 5.1 Surround Sound) and in High Resolution stereo format and CD3/CD4 in High Resolution stereo format only. Personally I couldn’t care less… The entire set is lavishly packaged in a digibook format, with great photos of the band, background material and other goodies, which are all beyond reproach. Musically, the album presents the group as brilliant studio musicians and live performers, superb instrumentalists and extraordinary entertainers, with very few equals. Although since the end of the 1970s Progressive Rock was steadily losing its steam and the artistic / aesthetic end of the genre was imminent, and yet Jethro Tull were going ahead as if they were living on a different planet, which in retrospect might have just been right. They were still at their artistic peak, which continued for years, without any signs of getting worn-out. Perhaps they were, after all, a class of their own. Overall, this is a very nice Box Set, full of great music and elegantly packaged, fitting all the previous Jethro Tull reissues in digibook format. For collectors of these reissues, this is obviously a must have. But honestly Prog has been dead for so long, that anything, which does not “smell funny” is a blessing. I had a blast listening to this stuff, especially the two live recordings, which alone are worth the price of this Box Set.

Updated: 12/03/2025Posted: 12/03/2025

4CD+BD 5 Digibook Box Set Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend