release date: Sep. 14, 1979
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,60]
producer: Ian Anderson, Robin Black
label: Chrysalis Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights:1. "North Sea Oil" (3,5 / 5) - 2. "Orion" (3 / 5) - 3. "Home" (3,5 / 5) - 4. "Dark Ages" (3 / 5) - 7. "Old Ghosts" (3 / 5)
12th studio album by Jethro Tull is also known as the final album in a trilogy starting with Songs From the Woods (1977) with focus on folk rock in a celtic folklore frame. The album may very likely have strong bonds to the '77 and '78 albums, but I never found it any near the same level, and / or of much interest. I think, time simply caught up with a band that didn't fit in anymore, and just enjoyed playing big live concerts repeating itself, and here, band leader and composer Anderson hasn't been able to come up with his usual strong compositions. The album is the last with the band's most celebrated members list including Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, John Evan, David Palmer, John Glascock, and Barriemore Barlow. After this album only Anderson and Barre would continue Jethro Tull with new band members. The band's bassist John Glascock wasn't able to contribute on all studio recordings due to heart problems, and was replaced on a successive US tour, and eventually died in Nov. '79. The untimely death of the band's bassist led to drummer Barriemore Barlow's departure from the band in early 1980, and as a consequence of Anderson's announced plans to record a solo album, both David Palmer and John Evan decided to leave. After this, Anderson worked on and recorded his first solo album but due to contractual obligations the album was released as a Jethro Tull album titled A (1980) for "Anderson", with a very different kind of music in a synth pop style, which is of even less interest.
[ allmusic.com 2 / 5 stars ]
