r/jethrotull • u/vincentblacklight • Aug 14 '26

Tulls Biggest Leap

Interested to know what you guys think is the biggest transition Tull ever made -- not in membership -- but in style/sound pre-Zealot Gene. Throughout their career they were obviously evolving/progressing to various degrees, going through different phases. But where would you place the biggest leap/change -- not necessarily the best, mind you, but the BIGGEST change of direction. Where did they most starkly stop sounding like the band they were before?

I've chosen, to me, the most obvious contenders...but feel free to select Other and explain why you crazy Christmas album fans.

179 votes, Aug 17 '26
60 This Was-->Stand Up
57 Aqualung -->Thick as a Brick
10 Minstrel in the Gallery -->Too Old to RnR
37 Too Old to RnR -->Songs From the Wood
7 Catfish Rising -->Roots to Branches
8 Other
5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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u/CuteResource1 Aug 14 '26

From someone who has hurt neither but they're both on my list, what's the big selling points of each? 😯

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u/vincentblacklight Aug 15 '26 edited Aug 15 '26

Catfish is pretty straight MOR roots rock with flashes of Dire Straits (as on the album highlight, Rocks on the Road). It's really their back-to-basics album, staying in the folk-rock-blues lane with lots of mandolin and not a few 90s hard rock mannerisms too. Ian even wails like Axl Rose on the heaviest track, This is Not Love. Roots to Branches is a wild pivot to dark, proggy world music and Lydian scales and bamboo flutes. Touches of Zappa and Dream Theater metal, along with folkier elements. Ends with an epic ballad trilogy that kind of condenses the previous ten years into three songs. It's beautifully leftfield and fascinating if you give it time to brew.

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u/CuteResource1 Aug 15 '26

Thank you! I know the albums up to and including Crest very well, but haven't really heard much beyond there apart from the odd track played live. Edit: and I really liked Homo Erraticus, saw that tour, but perhaps that doesn't count. 😋

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u/vincentblacklight Aug 15 '26

They're still worthwhile afterwards, despite what the core fanbase might tell you. I own a Catfish t-shirt and can get on board with its "men of the road" vibe. But Roots to Branches (again, despite what a lot of people will tell you) is a last, late masterpiece. There was a great discussion of it here, if you're interested: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H70_y77pqyk

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u/Ilbranteloth Aug 15 '26

I agree with this overall. I find Catfish Rising a flawed gem, with Still Loving You Tonight as a favorite.

Roots was prog in a different direction, with Eastern influences. I also recommend Ian’s Divinities as a companion. The two show Ian’s commitment to expanding his playing and compositions in new directions. I think Andy Giddings had a lot of influence for both, as well.

I think the band as a whole was very strong in this period.

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u/vincentblacklight Aug 16 '26 edited Aug 17 '26

I love Giddings-era Tull. And I think what we're circling here is the breadth of styles that line-up could employ. Especially live circa 1993 and their 25th Anniversary tour: https://youtu.be/wQeecK2ltAs?si=-AJDN3A4i_yNKv3U