Jethro Tull - A
	Released: 2004 Label: EMI/Capitol/Chrysalis Cat. No.: 7243 596899 0 6 Total Time: 42:53 / DVD: 57:34
	Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, July 2004 A started out as an Ian Anderson solo album and turned into a full-blown Jethro Tull project. Despite a mixed reception when it first came out in 1980, it stands up as a solid JT album today. With some remastering, tweaking, and a DVD with early videos and concert footage, you get the best of both worlds. One can appreciate the care that went into this presentation. Adding a DVD that is a greatest hits compilation (to that point) was a smart way to approach this sleeper. I refer to it in this light because I think it is indeed a good album and it deserves more credit for its worthiness as another prog-rock dandy that should find a place in your collection even if it has not been one of the critics’ darlings. Martin Barre’s guitar work is superb per usual and Anderson is in fine voice on this album. Dave Pegg (bass) and Mark Craney (drums) form a great rhythm section for the ever-changing Jethro Tull lineup. Considering how quickly they had to make the transition into the band, they need a strong acknowledgement for their efforts, even if it is 24 years later. What made this album different from any other release was Eddie Jobson and his contributions with the keyboards and violin, giving the band a new refreshing sound. Rather than Anderson dominating the tracks, this sounds like a more balanced band. Barre’s guitar playing is restrained rather than bursting with the explosive energy found on previous albums. I found this ironic in that it started out as an Anderson solo project, then how his role changed as it developed and matured into a full album. Anderson stepped back and let everyone else flex their musical muscles, which in the end, showed what a brilliant and flexible leader he could be. The results proved to be surprising. This may not be the greatest JT album but it is certainly very good. Rating: 4/5 [See also Bobo's review -ed.] More about A: Track Listing: Crossfire (3:55) / Fylingdale Flyer (4:36) / Working John, Working Joe (5:04) / Black Sunday (6:38) / Protect And Survive (3:37) / Batteries Not Included (3:53) / Uniform (3:34) / 4.W.D. (Low Ratio) (3:43) / The Pine Marten’s Jig (3:28) / And Further On (4:23) Bonus DVD Slipstream: Introduction / Black Sunday (live) / Dun Ringill (video clip) / Fylingdale Flyer (video clip) / Songs From The Wood (live) / Heavy Horses (live) / Sweet Dream (video clip) / Too Old To Rock N Roll (video clip) / Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day (live) / Aqualung (live) / Locomotive Breath (live) Musicians: Ian Anderson - flutes, vocals Martin Barre - guitar Dave Pegg - bass Mark Craney - drums Eddie Jobson - keyboards, electric violin Contact: Website: www.jethrotull.com Note: will open new browser window Discography This Was (1968) Stand Up (1969) Benefit (1970) Aqualung (1971) Thick As A Brick (1972) Living In The Past (1972) A Passion Play (1973) War Child (1974) Minstrel In The Gallery (1975) M.U. The Best Of (1976) Too Old To Rock ‘N’ Roll: Too Young To Die (1976) Songs From The Wood (1977) Repeat - The Best Of Jethro Tull Vol 2 (1977) Heavy Horses (1978) Bursting Out - Live (1978) Stormwatch (1979/2004) 'A’ (1980) The Broadsword And The Beast (1982/2005) Under Wraps (1984) Original Masters (1985) Crest Of A Knave (1987/2005) 20 Years Of Jethro Tull (1988) Rock Island (1988) Catfish Rising (1991) A Little Light Music (1992) The Anniversary Collection (1993) 25th Anniversary Box Set (1993) Nightcap (1995) Roots To Branches (1995) J-Tull Dot Com (1999) The Very Best Of (2001) Living With The Past (2002) (cd) The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003) Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle Of Wight 1970 (2004) Living With The Past (dvd) (2002) Live Review: Jethro Tull In Concert At The North Shore Theater, Beverly, Massachusetts, August 25, 2001 Live Review: Jethro Tull In Philadelphia, Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania April 23, 2002 Live Review: Jethro Tull: An Evening With Jethro Tull & The Boston Symphony Orchestra Live Review: This Locomotive Keeps Rolling Along - Jethro Tull Live 2004 Interview: Ian Anderson and Martin Barre (January 2000)
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