review by thomas

One of Tull's most well known albums; if not the most well known. Features the popular songs "Hymn 43", "Locomotive Breath" and the title track. "Hymn 43" was certainly good the first times I heard it but is now just annoying. And "Locomotive Breath" can't be listened to every time one listen to the album, if one do it gets tiresome. The title track still holds through with it's alternately electric and acoustic parts throughout the song. The flute shows up nicely on the second track "Cross-Eyed Mary" which is of high standard, "Up to Me" is quite similar to "Cross-Eyed Mary" and of equally high standard.

The short acoustic songs "Cheap Day Return", "Wond'ring Aloud" and "Slipstream" are masterfully done in a way only Tull/Anderson could do it. The progressive highlight on the record are the long "My God". Heavy with thoughtful lyrics, a more jazzy middle section complete with choir-like vocals and out-of-breath flute playing. The best song all-in-all are the mostly acoustic "Mother Goose" with nice flute playing and whimsical lyrics. The album closes with "Wind-Up", a song that don't say that much to me but it's quite listenable. And not unusual in a Tull album there are some orchestral parts present and as usual the conducting of the orchestra and arrangements for the same are made by David Palmer (David became a full-fledged member of Tull in '76 or '77).

With the classically trained John Evans on keyboards and Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (yes, it's the same Jeffrey that's referred to in the Jeffrey-trilogy) on bass firmly in the band Jethro Tull headed for their most progressive and artistically fruitful period.