-
Jethro Tull Curious Ruminant Album Review
The legendary band Jethro Tull released their 24th studio album, Curious Ruminant, on March 7 of this year (2025).
Singer/Flutist/Multi-Instrumentalist/Songwriter/Founder Ian Anderson and the band is still going strong, still writing in my opinion very good songs.
Even though Ian is the only original/classic member left in the band, he still has great players with him.
On this album he has Jack Clark on electric guitar, David Goodier on bass, Scott Hammond on drums, James Duncan on drums/cajon/percussion, John O’ Hara on piano/keyboards/accordion, and Andrew Giddings on piano/keyboards/accordion.
Ian, while singing and playing flute as always, also plays acoustic guitar/tenor guitar/mandolin on this album, and as listed “odds and sods, bits and bobs”.
I know that several Jethro Tull fans don’t like what Ian and the band do now or have been doing for many years because they don’t like that Ian’s voice is not what it used to be.
It does not bother me at all. I think he still sounds good. It’s definitely different sounding now, but it doesn’t sound awful.
Ian just changed his vocal style to best fit what he can sing now, and as long as it doesn’t sound terrible, it does not bother me.
I understand why people aren’t as into it anymore, but I also think they are missing out because Ian and the band I think are still great.
I’ve already played this new Jethro Tull album, Curious Ruminant, several times. I find it very pleasant and fun to listen to.
Way to go Ian Anderson!! Keep on making music. I’ll keep on buying it and enjoying it.
-
Dream Theater Parasomnia Album Review
The Progressive Metal band Dream Theater released their 16th studio album Parasomnia, on February 7 of this year (2025).
For Dream Theater fans, this is a treat because Mike Portnoy, the original drummer and co-founder, is back!!!!
He left Dream Theater in 2010 to pursue other musical ventures, while the band (James LaBrie on vocals, John Petrucci on guitar, John Myung on bass, and Jordan Rudess on keyboards) carried on with drummer Mike Mangini for 5 studio albums and a few live albums.
A few years ago, Portnoy saw Dream Theater as a fan for the first time, worked with Petrucci and Rudess on another album by their instrumental band Liquid Tension Experiment (LTE for short), then worked with Petrucci on one of his instrumental solo albums and did the tour.
Sometime during that period, the decision was made for Portnoy to return to Dream Theater.
This new album, Parasomnia, is the result of this reunion with Portnoy back on drums.
If you are a Dream Theater fan, you should really enjoy this.
It’s very heavy, but also has plenty of progressive music, intricate parts, great singing, long songs, and even one ballad.
It’s a great album to listen to if you are a diehard Dream Theater fan, and it’s a great album for any new Dream Theater fans.
This may not be your cup of tea, but if it is, get it!! It’s great.
Welcome back Mike Portnoy!!!! Hopefully this is the lineup for the rest of their career, which I thought it would be until it wasn’t in 2010.
But I’m glad the band carried on, and I love a lot of what Portnoy did outside of the band, but nothing against Mike Mangini, but this is Portnoy’s gig and I’m very glad he’s back.
Carry on guys!!
