Jethro Tull
Catfish Rising - Chrysalis 1991
Tracks: 1. This is Not Love / 2. Occasional Demons / 3. Roll Yer Own / 4. Rocks on the Road / 5. Sparrow on the Schoolyard Wall / 6. Thinking Round Corners / 7. Still Loving You Tonight / 8. Doctor to my Disease / 9. Like a Tall Thin Girl / 10. White Innocence / 11. Sleeping with the Dog / 12. Gold-tipped Boots,Black Jacket and Tie / 13. When Jesus Came to Play
Comments:
What can I say about this 1991 Jethro Tull album? The craftsmanship is as usual sublime. With musicians behind, such as guitarist Martin Barre, bassist Dave Pegg and drummer Doane Perry, Ian Anderson has a very strong band who musically supplies quality support.
As far as songwriting is concerned, Ian Anderson this time takes a strong base in the blues and Mark Knopfler's influence on both vocals and guitars is pronounced on several songs.
Fortunately, the production has been significantly improved in comparison to the 1980's albums, where dominant keys and heavy drums ruined much of the group's original fine sound. Especially the album "Under Wraps" is an example of a terrible 1980s sound/production.
The reason that I do not feel that "Catfish Rising" is up there with the best Tull albums, is mostly due to the songwriting, which I feel only in a few cases, rises above mediocrity.
The positive exceptions to me are the folkish / bluesy "Rocks on the Road", "Thinking Round Corners", which almost sounds like the golden age in the 1970s with albums like "Heavy Horses" and "Minstrel in the Gallery" and finally "Like a Tall Thin Girl ", which also has much of the original" Tull-Feel "
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