*Group Discussion *

[Nai Noswad]

I've been listening to the whole of Thick As A Brick and I remember at the time Anderson declared this release as a criticism of prog rock..... yet it turned out as a homage. But I can't help considering this first piece is jazz ~ am I mistaken?
I'd appreciate some help and opines.
Regards, Ian.

 

[dr wu]

Definitely prog rock but there are some 'jazzy' bits as there often are in prog rock.
I also think it was satire and a parody of 'prog rock' and 'concept' albums, but in the end he ended up creating a fan favorite of 'prog rock'.
An interesting analysis of the lp https://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/tuesday-tome-thick-brick-jethro-tull-irony/
2005 interview with Anderson:
"In my mind when it came to writing the next album, Thick as a Brick, was done very much in the sense of: ‘Whuh, if they thought Aqualung was a concept album, Oh! Okay, we’ll show you a concept album.’ And it was done as a kind of spoof, a send-up, of the concept album genre."

I always felt he should have had 4 long songs on his 'concept' rather than just 2 tracks. I always lose interest about half way through each track.....and I'm a Tull fan btw.

 

[Gold Dust Woman]

I agree with @dr wu , this is definitely progressive rock. I think in the beginning of the song when the piano comes in is a jazz influence to the song and also later in the song when the song becomes more intense when the piano comes in there are more elements of jazz added to the song, but mostly the song is progressive rock.

 

[dr wu]

Since we are on Tull.....I always preferred Stand Up, Benefit, and Aqualung as well as a few later ones.....Ian Anderson was at his best when writing shorter songs with a comment or observation on life and/or people.

 

[Nai Noswad]

Since we are on Tull.....I always preferred Stand Up, Benefit, and Aqualung as well as a few later ones.....Ian Anderson was at his best when writing shorter songs with a comment or observation on life and/or people.

Heavy Horses has a brace of short songs, I don't think with Tull we can expect catchy songs.... whether it was the time that was in it, I pretty much knew music was going to be sprawling affairs. That's why I asked about the 'jazz effect '... The band just free styled on many numbers when I've seen them, each time versions differ. Only with Uriah Heep and Jethro Tull have I walked out the venue thinking "I could really go right back in and watch it again".

 

[dr wu]

Heavy Horses has a brace of short songs, I don't think with Tull we can expect catchy songs.... whether it was the time that was in it, I pretty much knew music was going to be sprawling affairs. That's why I asked about the 'jazz effect '... The band just free styled on many numbers when I've seen them, each time versions differ. Only with Uriah Heep and Jethro Tull have I walked out the venue thinking "I could really go right back in and watch it again".

Tull wrote plenty of 'catchy songs' imho....Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, Living in the Past...to name just a few. Heavy Horses is a solid lp but imho not as interesting (as memorable? ) as say Songs From The Wood or some of the earlier ones. I also like Stormwatch better than HH. And I think Baker St Muse (16.49) on Minstrel is better than anything on HH.
I agree on the 'jazzy' bits scattered around their lps though only Thick and Passion Play had really longer songs.....especially after Evan ,Hanmmond, and Barlow joined for a few lps.

 

[Pilgrim]

I agree with @dr wu , this is definitely progressive rock. I think in the beginning of the song when the piano comes in is a jazz influence to the song and also later in the song when the song becomes more intense when the piano comes in there are more elements of jazz added to the song, but mostly the song is progressive rock.

I'm thinking because I listen to jazz and my mum and dad love Big Band, I don’t hear jazz when I listen to Jethro Tull. I definitely hear progressive rock!