"A" (official studio album, 1980)

Basic info: released in 1980, charted #30 in US and #27 in UK

Line up: Ian Anderson (vocals, flute) Martin Barre (electric lead guitar) Dave Pegg (bass) Mark Craney (drums) Eddie Jobson (keyboards, electric violin)

Tracklist: Crossfire / Flyingdale Flyer / Working John, Working Joe / Black Sunday / Protect And Survive / Batteries Not Included / Uniform / 4 W.D. (Low Ratio) /The Pine Marten's Jig / And Further On

Rating: 7/10

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One of the first Tull songs I ever heard was "Flyingdale Flyer" and, honestly, I hated it. I hated it because it features such a beautiful vocal performance ruined by terrible synth sounds, which prevent the whole thing from really taking off as much as it could. So I waited for quite some time before buying "A". Plus, everybody ripped it to shreads and, alongside with "Under Wraps", it has the unpleasent reputation of being the worst Tull record ever. Once finally giving it a chance, I was totally surprised. Not only it's not the worst, but it actually beats most of the post-82 stuff by the band, including the overpraised "Crest Of A Knave" and "Roots To Branches". In fact, "Flyingdale Flyer" aside, there is only one more song that I found kinda hard to digest, that being "Batteries Not Included". However, after paying attention to the lyrics, even that one has some sense and can be, well, accepted as such. On the other hand, the album offers one of the best Tull tracks ever, "Black Sunday", and in addition there is "Working John, Working Joe", maybe the most striking protest-song that the band did after "Aqualung". The other stuff stands on its ground, not that much into hi-tech sound as many suggest, but rather somewhere halfway between "Stormwatch" and "Broadsword And The Best". Thus, "A" makes a good transition point and an acceptable album slightly damaged by a few out-of-place synths, but still very good, especially given that most of those darn synths work ok, as heard on forementioned "Black Sunday". So, if you simply have to hate something, rather pick "Under Wraps". It's much worse. In major part. Even if that one also has a few rough diamonds. But that's another story, huh?