Jethro Tull
Minstrel in The Gallery

I came to Jethro Tull later than other prog bands, perhaps because I had only listened to Aqualung, a masterpiece, yes, but not very prog, and since until some time ago I only listened to that genre...

Then I got my hands on this Minstrel in The Gallery. Not very convinced, I start listening to it... The title track is one of the two main masterpieces of the album, with a very medieval initial atmosphere, decidedly chilling (especially for myself, who loves medieval), with two subsequent tempo changes, the first leading to an electric guitar instrumental, with Barre having a lot of fun, and a second one that brings us back to the singing with a hard rock-like piece. "WOW! I like this one!" "Cold Wind To Valhalla" is a practically epic song, with an underlying vein of melancholy, along with some nice appearances of violin, with a catchy riff even if not predictable. The change between acoustic and electric guitar is beautiful. "Beeeeeeautiful..." A flute introduction leads us to the next "Black Satin Dancer", in my opinion the second masterpiece among the masterpieces of the album, a song suspended between the sad and the carefree. The violins here are very pronounced, increasing the pathos already given by the singing and the piano, while Barre, in the instrumental, creates a solo that's nothing short of perfect. Through various passages, we then return to the initial part. "HHHH!" "Requiem" and "One White Duck/0 (tentH) = Nothing at All" are two wonderful acoustic ballads, the first one sadder, in contrast to the semi-carefreeness of the second. Needless to comment on them, they are simply wonderful. "(orgasm (or orgasmo? I don't know...))"

"Baker St.Muse" is a suite, in my opinion the worst song on the album, but an absolutely relative worst (which is a bit like saying lowly high), it remains a masterpiece (if only all albums had a worse song of the mentioned kind!). Through four different parts, we pass between quite unsettling pieces and others that calm a lot (like the beginning), between huge strumming and "fluting" (with violins and similar almost omnipresent in the calmer parts), to ultimately create a decidedly beautiful song. "I like it a little less, but it's gorgeous." "Grace" is definitely the shortest song of the album, with a style following in the wake of "Requiem", but quite original, a little gem that worthily closes a wonderful album. "Nooo, is it over already?!"

"Minstrel In The Gallery" may not be the band's absolute masterpiece (which is probably "A Passion Play", the review of which will come shortly : -)), but, alas, it's marvelous. Then I go on scaruffi.it and I only see a 6 (which for scaruffi is like saying 1)... And there I decide to become a hacker!