solid JT album

By 1989, published by Chrysalis "Rock Iceland" Ian Anderson goes with his cult band Jethro Tull one step further away from the largely unloved electro sound of the '84 work "Under Wraps".
Even with the predecessor from 1987, "Crest of a Knave", the flute dervish had slowly kicked in gewohntere sound robes and so reconciles many fans and critics.
Here the whole thing is a total now even more rock and earthy.
It is true that with Peter and Martin Allcock Vettesse two guest musicians engaged for the keyboards, the focus is clearly on a sound that is more similar to older times.
With Martin Barre on electric guitar, Dave Pegg on the E-bass guitar, acoustic bass and mandolin and, for the first time as a real member of the band, Doane Perry on drums, the band from mastermind times well positioned again.
Anderson himself accepts of course again the flute and now restrained (after a very severe inflammation of vocal cords) singing and controls to some drum parts, play on acoustic guitar and on the Synclavier at.
"Rock Iceland" to its name; you have it (partly already hard) rock to do with some folk elements here with quite crisp,
which, as is well known by JT, a very tasty mixture results, especially since the compositions, can convince melodies.
However, the listener is nothing new here stylistically really offered what really does not scare me.
When an artist has found its way and this is consistently at a high level, bothers me not.
While other albums "repeat offenders", as that of me vehemently defended Neal Morse, also have many similarities, but this can come up with new overwhelming melodies and arrangements, Anderson can keep the quality of many older albums for me not quite.
"Rock Iceland" is quite good, a solid Jethro Tull album, however, are no longer achieved in fundamentally similar style, the class and the brilliant ideas of albums such as "Aqualung", "Heavy Horses" and many others.
This includes the melody as well as the singing and the effect of the overall album.
Nevertheless, I would like "Rock Iceland" not to miss when it also certainly not one of the better Tull albums.
Compared to other works of this last phase of the band (Anderson will probably only solo work) can "Rock Iceland" but certainly points.
Even with not really brilliant older discs, like "Too Old To Rock 'n Roll, Too Young To Die" can easily keep up "Rock Iceland".
To that extent this 17.Studio album of the band is to recommend to the connoisseurs of the genre quite.
And the cover is pretty cool ...

At the sound quality there is nothing to find fault.
The album was recorded and received more than solid.
And the Remaster from 2006 can also be a sound esthete good life, I mean.
On remaster sins was completely waived.
The authentic sound was maintained, thereby affects the CD fresher and more detailed than the first, old CD.
There are still three (Live) bonus tracks.