Listening to Curious Ruminant by Jethro Tull, released March 7, 2025
Very positive from the first listen. It's not as self-referential as I thought (though I wonder why someone who made music history wouldn't be). Ian Anderson's voice and flute clearly stand out on every track, but what amazed me were the compositions and the retro folk rock sound that distinguished this band from the beginning, now back in vogue.
The leader's role as a songwriter is clearly evident. It's not a prog album except for brief sections of a few tracks, but a coherence that seemed lost in recent albums seems to return here.
I'm convinced that the "return to vinyl" is influencing the direction of many new works by prog stars, which tend to be a return to the past. My opinion.
A pleasant return to the folk-prog roots and elegant compositions, introspective in its lyrics, with a more relaxed and acoustic sound than the hard rock peaks of the past, yet celebrating Jethro Tull's identity through enveloping music and profound reflections.
The atmosphere is the acoustic of their early days, and the undisputed leader's voice is that of a storyteller, dispensing thoughts and fairy tales with the theatricality that has always been his unique style.
The suite "Drink From The Same Well" is beautiful, a great instrumental piece that harks back to typical Jethro Tull passages. The riffs in "Over Jerusalem" are also beautiful.
The band as a whole does an excellent job. Some members have been with the band since 2007-2011, with the electric guitar added last year. The only member from the original lineup is the aforementioned Anderson.
I haven't read other people's reviews of this album, and I don't know how it was received by others or by purists of the genre and the band (whose masterpieces I own myself and can clearly see the difference).
I loved it and have absolutely no regrets about buying it sight unseen.
The Tracks
1. Puppet and the Puppet Master (4:04)
2. Curious Ruminant (6:00)
3. Dunsinane Hill (4:17)
4. The Tipu House (3:31)
5. Savannah of Paddington Green (3:13)
6. Stygian Hand (4:16)
7. Over Jerusalem (5:55)
8. Drink from the Same Well (16:42)
9. Interim Sleep (2:33)
Running Time 50:31
Line-Up
- Ian Anderson - flutes, vocals, acoustic and tenor guitars, mandolin, odds and ends
- David Goodier - bass
- John O'Hara - piano, keyboards, accordion
- Scott Hammond - drums
- Jack Clark - electric guitar
Featuring:
- James Duncan - drums, cajon, percussion
- Andrew Giddings - piano, keyboards, accordion
