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CD reviews

Aqualung

Jethro Tull - Aqualung Audio CD

A fair review of the Jethro Tull "Aqualung" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Jethro Tull reviews here, or go back to the Jethro Tull tabs.

Band: Jethro Tull
Title: Aqualung
Rating:

Release Date: 1990-10-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Aqualung 2: Cross-Eyed Mary 3: Cheap Day Return 4: Mother Goose 5: Wond'ring Aloud 6: Up to Me 7: My God 8: Hymn 43 9: Slipstream 10: Locomotive Breath 11: Wind Up

Memorable Music!
The music and the lyrics are amazing. This is one of the best CDs I've bought recently. Their music is very unique and have not heard any other group using such style. I am very pleased with this CD and it's production. Worth every penny spent on it.

Terrific album, DCC remaster blows away every version I've heard
This review is for that version. It's a pity the gold DCC CD isn't in print any longer because it is the definitive presentation of the "Aqualung" on CD. Steve Hoffman went back to the original master tape for this edition. Unlike the version remastered by Peter Mew the year before, this edition doesn't have any noise reduction applied or any odd EQ choices. "Aqualung" sounds better here than in any other format I've heard the album.

Yes,this is the version that Hoffman sliced the mastertape for but there was a reason for this. Evidently someone damaged the mastertape during play back (perhaps it happened during the transfer for Mew's sessions no one knows)which required Hoffman to slide a section out, take a copy of the flat transfer CD, copy it and and then splice it in for the damaged section. He made his transfer then edited the damaged section back in so it could be returned to England. Amazingly Hoffman did such a great job on putting this together that no one could honestly tell.

The only drawback is the cost for the CD itself but if you're a fan of Jethro Tull and this album in particular, this is the version you need to buy. If it isn't available I would opt for the second U. S. pressing or UK versions of the album simply because they are flat transfers and use a better source tape than the first regular CD pressing.

The album and songs speak for themselves. Ian Anderson has gone on record as stating that he doesn't feel this is the band's seminal album and he could be right but the album connected with so many fans and radio in a way that previous Tull albums had not.

Highly recommended.

.

Everything here but sound level
It seems that the source tapes must be short on sound level. I have been searching for an acceptable recording of Aqualung since the dawn of the CD era. This is the best yet, and you can hear the title cut in all of its glory, but you will need a hi-end stereo to appreciate it. This IS the best version of Aqualung now available (or previously). .

Aqualung, My Friend! An Audio Treatment for an old Friend.
While ordinary CD's can sound quite nice at 16 bit, there are HDCD's High Definition versions which use either 20 or 24 bit recording technology adding 25 to 50% more musical information to a CD. When the Japanese do things they tend to do it right and the whole issuance of these Mini-LP-CD's has been a blast from the past with true care for the sound of the album. This results in warmer and fuller sounding music from the disc and most modern CD players have the technology built in.

Here the offering is 24 bit and with 50% more of the music information filling in all those little holes, making this cd is a joy to hear. After listening on my pretty good sounding system I took it to my friend's house to listen to on his basic $25K plus audiophile system and it has definately been a blessing to hear. Sweeter, warmer and a fuller sound than your regular CD's.

Side One
Aqualung / Cross Eyed Mary / Cheap Day Return / Mother Goose / Won'dring Aloud / Up to Me

"Side Two"
My God / Hymn 43 / Slipstream / Locomotive Breath / Wind Up

Presentation is superb as a Japanese Mini-LP-CD instead of the jewel case the CD is presented as a miniature of the original vinyl album was released, so here there is a mini gatefold album cover the linernotes and an extra sheet in Japanese of the album's information. It also has the Miniature OBI the slip of paper that is around the one side of the original album that is a Japanese tradition. (As a Side Note: Japanese pressings are pretty much audiophile for vinyl albums to begin with and so the audiophile guys look for the Obi as proof of origin and quality. )
This is why the listing while on one CD shows the original yinyl album song line up for sides one and two.

Those not old enough to have heard this album may not realize that the entire album was FM radio fodder and just about every cut is really something to listen to musically and for the meaning of the songs. It deals with "bums" low class people who are destitute and are doing what ever to get by, the lack of care for them, and how it seems the organized religion does not help but is a place of pompusness. He rails against not Christianity but against those that control the religion. It is a quintesential phase of Jethro Tull music to have in your library if you like Tull. It has some of the charming presentation of the early stuff, but is not as much hippie music as a more hard rock mix with classical to Renaisance Fair to Mideval undertones and remains a musical tour de force. It is very "English" but it was really well received by the US listeners and the Hits from this release Locomotive Breath, Cross Eyed Mary and the title cut Aqualung blasted Jethro Tull into a higher fame plane of orbit here in the US market.

Other albums worth a listen ARE: Thick As A Brick which has a similar musical outlook, and then Warchild which has some changes in delivery but is very interesting. If you like Hippie styled music the early stuff is fabulous too like Stand Up.

So if you have a low end stereo or do those horrid MP3's - don't bother with the good copies from Japan, it's a waste of the HDCD technology, get the regular CD. But if your stereo of Home Theater is in the good / better / best type and you'd like to hear a fine version but don't need to deal with an SACD or DVD-Audio version, these Mini-LP-CD's are the ticket.

Happy Listening! .

Thanks for ripping us off again Ian!
How many different versions of your albums do we need sir? Jethro Tull used to be my favorite band, but after surviving the past decade with no new music from the band, and an ever increasing array of remixed, remastered, redone versions of the same old crap, I've had enough. Oh lookie!!!! It's yet another release from marketing genius Ian Anderson!

MY GOD.

What's next? The Norwegian version of "Passion Play"? I can hardly wait!.

You can see a complete list of all Jethro Tull discography, or go back to the Jethro Tull tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.