Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
InsideOut/Sony Music
Three albums in three years: Ian Anderson clearly wants to show that he is still making relevant music. And he does so with gusto. Following The Zealot Gene and Rökflöte, he once again proves what a fantastic composer and lyricist he is.
Curious Ruminant features Jethro Tull's current lineup, but because older demos were incorporated into the recording process, former keyboardist Andrew Giddings can also be heard on keyboards and accordion. Since regular drummer Scott Hammond was unavailable for a few recording sessions, Anderson enlisted his son, James Duncan—an excellent drummer best known for his work on Anderson's classical orchestra concerts.
Back to Folk RootA pleasant surprise on this record is the return of the acoustic guitar and mandolin. Missing from the previous two albums, their presence leans Jethro Tull’s sound back toward their classic folk period.
While Anderson has developed a highly recognizable style in recent years—with instantly familiar riffs and melodies—his lyrics feel much more personal this time around. He is the Curious Ruminant himself. Nor does he shy away from politically sensitive topics, as heard on the beautiful "Over Jerusalem". (A lesser-known fact: Anderson never boycotted performing in Israel, choosing instead to donate his concert proceeds there to local NGOs.)
Curious Ruminant is a wonderful album. Anderson's flute naturally takes center stage, but there is also plenty of room for great electric guitar solos from new guitarist Jack Clark (who, like his predecessor Joe Parrish-James, comes from the band Albion UK).
The album contains nine tracks: eight shorter songs and one epic spanning nearly seventeen minutes, the largely instrumental "Drink from the Same Well". Playing both standard flute and bamboo flute, Anderson once again demonstrates what an exceptional musician he is, musically recalling the style of Roots to Branches. David Goodier's basslines provide a gorgeous foundation throughout.
At 77, Anderson may not sing like he did at 25, but his vocals on this album hold up well. His fellow musicians deliver top-tier performances across the board. I was already a fan of the previous two records, but with Curious Ruminant, Anderson has truly outdone himself. What a great album!