9. March 2025
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Media Review

Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant

Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
4.9

Rating

 4.9/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Lovely progressive rock album with a nostalgic sound
  • Great instrumental and lyrical skills

58 years of band history, 23 studio albums released – Jethro Tull are true legends of rock music. On 7th March 2025, they are releasing their 24th studio album, Curious Ruminant. I was really curious about that release.

 

Jethro Tull – About The Artists

Jethro Tull is a British progressive rock and hard rock band, which has been founded in 1967 in Blackpool, England. Including a band hiatus between 2011 and 2017, the key member is singer and guitarist Ian Anderson, who is the only remaining founding member of the band. The other Jethro Tull members are David Goodier (bass), John O’Hara (keyboard, accordion, vocals), Scott Hammond (drums) and Jack Clark (guitar). Their last album release was RökFlöte n 2023. It was a Top 5 chart success in Austria, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland. The only chart-topping album was the band’s sophomore release, Stand Up in 1969.

 

Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant – Track by Track

The nine track album lasts 51 minutes.

1. Puppet And The Puppet Master

The album starts with the speedy Puppy And The Puppet Master. It is a speedy, progressive rock track, in which the present flute leads to a folk music touch. Finally, that’s the kind of music why you love listening to the British band. A good plot, nice arrangement and very nice storytelling.

2. Curious Ruminant

The title track continues in a similar style. Jethro Tull show slower, emotional moments, right before fast guitar riffs add a very dramatic touch. The music stands for itself and perfectly supports the story over the six minute duration of the song. That’s excellent songwriting.

3. Dunsinane Hill

Dunsinane Hill is a hill in Scotland, which became famous through a battle in the 11th century. Jethro Tull take you there in the third song of their 2025 album. The flute is very present and has solo instrumental parts, which lead to a Medieval music sound. The song starts with a fine, gentle sound, but then gets more intense, also using guitars and marching drums. A lovely one.

Here rule I from high on Dunsinane Hill
But first I have to banish, blame the deed on servile others
They must be cast out into exile, and gone without delay

4. The Tipu House

Apart from Curious Ruminant, Jethro Tull only released one additional song from their 2025 album. It’s this fourth one, The Tipu House, one of the shorter listens of the record. The song has a nice speed, which is also partially driven by zesty flute parts. Ian Andersson’s voice feels to be perfect to tell the story of this one.

5. Savannah of Paddington Green

Glimpse me, squeeze me, see if I’m real
Tangible fauna, slippery eel
Chart me and dart me, faint dot on the screen
On the urban savannah of Paddington Green

The lyrical and harmonic style turns Savannah of Paddington Green to one of the most lovely listens on Curious Ruminant to me. As in most tracks in here, the beautiful harmony of lovely melodies and very caring and wise lyrics drive the fascination of this track.

6. Stygian Hand

The accordion and flute add a lot to the atmosphere of the sixth track of the record, Stygian Hand. The song is a bit of a hidden gem, as it is rather harmonic and does not surprise that strongly with sudden changes in energy.  Nonetheless, I enjoy this musical trip to London.

7. Over Jerusalem

After the songs before have been comparably short, Curious Ruminant becomes more epic again in the next two ones. Over Jerusalem almost hits the six minute duration mark. Thereby, the lyrics sheet of this song is not overwhelmingly long, it also lives from the virtuous instrumental parts. A treat for progressive rock fans.

8. Drink From The Same Well

The key reason why Curious Ruminant is coming with a total duration of over 50 minutes is this song. Drink From The Same Well is close to seventeen minutes long. In major parts, it feels like an instrumental. Ian Andersson spreads a lot of magic with his melodic flute play. Despite that solo part is rather long, it is really fine listening to it. On the vocal side, the band lead is kicking off after eight minutes. An iconic recording.

9. Interim Sleep

After having enjoyed this epic one, the album closes with a rather brief message, Interim Sleep. Its duration would fit into the one of its predecessor more than six times. The song feels like an epilogues, in which Andersson narrates the lyrics, slightly instrumentally supported by his bandmates.

 

Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Jethro Tull – Curious Ruminant – My View

Curious Ruminant feels a bit of nostalgic, also to the characteristic musical style of the British band. The arrangements on the instrumental side are lovely, songwriting works out excellently as well. Jethro Tull created a harmonically flowing release with this album. I really enjoyed the listen.

 

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