New Tull

[Soundwaveseeker]

Well, it looks like a new Jethro Tull album is almost upon us, The Zealot Gene, their first - if we're not counting the Christmas album - since 1999's JTull.Com. Yes, their last album was in the 20th Century. Anybody looking forward to that? Two things kinda detract already: for one, no Martin Barre on guitar. You could say it won't be the same. Usually I'm not too line-up specific (I like ALL versions of Yes, for example), but I dunno. However, I will give it a chance, as I do love Tull. I'm sure Ian Anderson's current guitarist is competent and won't have a style that would detract from the Tull sound. I'll give it a chance.

Secondly, too much time between albums. True, Ian has done a number of solo albums in between - Homo Eradicus was pretty good, almost Tull itself - but what will make the Zealot Gene a Tull album rather than another Ian Anderson album? I guess we'll find out. I may wait bit to get it, we'll see. I will eventually get it and enjoy it, like I said I'll give it a chance. Heard a new song or two, not bad. I know he's had his vocal issues, but nothing too bad that I've noticed on the material. On Homo Eradicus his voice sounded almost like his old-school Tull voice pre-Crest Of A Knave. What do you think?

[Homemade Parachute]

I think Ian’s stated reasons for calling this a Tull and not an Ian Anderson album are almost 100% bs: it’s about sales and touring.

But, Thick as a Brick 2 was way better than it had any right to be, and really a nailed a classic Tull sound, while also moving forward and not sounding like a tribute band. The four musicians there and here are a cracking good band, who I thought could stand up there with some prime Tull lineups, for sure.

So far, the new albums looks a bit tame: ten or eleven songs 3 or 4 minutes long, with a single idea developed, where TaaB2 had a lot of variety and different sounds, but I’ll give it all a much closer listen come Friday, for sure.

Sadly, though, this may set a new low in Tull album covers, and that includes Under Wraps…

[Old Frothingslosh]

First two songs released were eh.. at best. Ian's voice is certainly showing age but the music doesn't grab me at all. Take that along with no Martin and interest is low for me on this one.

[alex peters]

Ian Anderson is 1 of a kind.

[Homemade Parachute]

Ian Anderson is 1 of a kind.

He’s certainly one *leg* of a kind…

[pianozach]

I'm not going to make a REACTION VIDEO for THE ZEALOT GENE.

But I cued up the Youtube playlist when it was uploaded and engaged in some passive listening.

I found the album immediately engaging, albeit a rather 'dark' sounding album. Anderson's a real artisan crafter with the music, and I like that a lot. His voice is either sounding better, or he's managed to write songs that sound good with the voice he has left.

As the album continued on, I found it less and less engaging, probably from the lack of eclectic diversity that inhabits most of the earlier JETHRO TULL albums. It was still 'good', just quite "same-y" towards the end.

One other thing: I didn't find that there were as many catchy riffs, tunes, lyrics, or surprises here. There was no song that really, REALLY stood out, or stayed with me. Not a single song made me want to go back and immediately listen to it again.

I found that Ian's deadpan promo "Unboxing" video was pretty amusing.

Here's my conspiracy theory on the album: Ian called Jethro Tull "quits", what, two decades ago now? Whenever. Judging from his lack of enthusiasm in that Promo Video he made, I think that this may have been more a matter of necessity than inspiration. The album sounds workman-like, as though he needed the money, so he "crafted" up another Jethro Tull album, barely trying to make it a bit more Jethro Tull-ish than Ian Anderson-y, but it seems that his heart wasn't really in it.

Granted, I have absolutely no factual basis for this assessment, just a subjective feeling from listening to this album, with a wonderful love of all the previous albums he's produced.

I'll eventually give it a second listen, though. I expect that I'll enjoy it more the second time.

[Soundwaveseeker]

I still don't have the new Tull album. Not avoiding it, just listening to other stuff at the moment. Got the new Marillion too, but haven't found the moment to break it in. I'll most likely listen to that probably before the new Tull. Maybe I'll wait till 'Tull season'. Jethro Tull sounds best in the Fall. That woodsy sound. Fits the autumn leaves.

[Gilly Goodness]

I still don't have the new Tull album. Not avoiding it, just listening to other stuff at the moment. Got the new Marillion too, but haven't found the moment to break it in. I'll most likely listen to that probably before the new Tull. Maybe I'll wait till 'Tull season'. Jethro Tull sounds best in the Fall. That woodsy sound. Fits the autumn leaves.

Don't forget those orange skies as well 😉

[Soundwaveseeker]

Oh, yeah the orangey skies. With a hint of purple with that though. 🙂

[Grey Wolf]

Oh, yeah the orangey skies. With a hint of purple with that though. 🙂

Always it's some other guy.

[Gilly Goodness]

Gee. You make me work....

[Gilly Goodness]

New Tull single.

Gee. Thought "Panopticom" was hard to pronounce.😉