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Thick As A Brick

a Studio Release
Release Year:
1972
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Added To Proggnosis on: 01 Dec 2000

Track Listing 

  1. Thick As A Brick part one
  2. Thick As A Brick part two

Performer Credits  


Ian Anderson
lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, violin, saxophone, trumpet
Martin Barre
electric guitar, lute
John Evan
organ, piano, harpsichord
Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond
bass, spoken words
Barriemore Barlow
drums, timpani, percussion

Reviews


review by: MJBradyHow many Tull fans found themselves hitting a bong, and reading the newsprint from this album, trying to tie all the items of relevant interest on the album cover to the music you were listening to? I didn't either. Now I am not advocating drugs here, but admitedly it seemed to come with the territory for progressive rock fans from this era. All you had to do is go to a concert during these days and you know what I am reeferring(Pun Intended) to. There is no doubt that 1972 produced some great progressive music, and none more impressive than Tull's Thick as a Brick. This was an epic, full length song, that led the listener through many movements of techncally challenging instrumental music that encompasses many interesting styles, and than Ian Anderson would bring the the storyline back into the mix with his all to familiar voice, if for but a short while, and than it was back to the music. This was a breakthrough lp for this band, and for a period after this record, saw their most inventive and progressive music in their long and storied history. This core group of musicians(Anderson, Barre, Barlow, Evan) would remain intact for a good period of time, enough to have left us hours of the definitive Tull progressive sound. Thick as a Brick is a pure listening adventure, one that consumes two full sides of a vinyl lp, it was the kind of course, that required that you kick back and drink it all in it's entireity. Many proglovers know this album inside and out, everylittle nuance, tricky beat, and riff, let alone the full charts of lyrics, attending Tull shows made the fact evident with packed houses going word for word with Anderson. It seems most Tull fans have a personal favorite album by the band, yet most would agree that this is definetly in the top five of all time, or higher.

review by: NunoThick as a Brick is a 43 minute epic that was only divided in two parts due to the LP constraints. Apart from that, the album is really an adventurous ride into some of the best progressive music ever recorded. All is stellar here, from the lyrics (the poem is just amazing) to the vocals and (specially) the flute playing by Ian Anderson, the drums and percussion, the acoustic piano and the acoustic/electric guitar, all is simply perfect.
To listen to this album in a breath is simply a delightful experience. One where the listener is taken to the peaks of enlightment. Though the album was recorded in 1972, it does not sound a bit dated to me. It still provides me with a unique and refreshing sound that puts a big smile on my face every time it slips in my player.
The melodies are insightful and truly inspired, with the flute always stepping into heavenly grounds. The album floats from harmonious melodies to straightforward energetic rock parts without ever loosing sense and orientation. Even the hardest parts are carefully sparkled with melodic breaks that keep the listener deeply immerged in the music.
The rock influences are melted with folk and medieval ones, which was really the infatuating trademark of this historic band.
A true masterpiece that MUST be on everyone's collection. There aren't that many albums as good as this one, and you can take credit in my words for that!
This ranks very high in my all time favorite progressive album list.

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