Jethro Tull’s Curious Ruminant: When Existence is its own Victory

First off, who is Jethro Tull’s Curious Ruminant for? It’s a 6 minute prog track from the 70s dropped into 2025…like the musical version of Quantum Leap. Is the track for me…a person who loves 70s music, but also loves exploring new music? Not really. Is it for someone who likes to crate dive in the 70s music section of the local record store? I don’t think so. Is it for 70s prog fans? Maybe, but there is so much great 70s prog from the 70s that a new song may not force itself into that person’s playlist. Is it for Tull fans? Once again, maybe…it will help fill out the catalogue, but there is only one original member left and Aqualung is such a banger that you would go for that 1,847x more than this track.

So, why am I writing about it? Well, I think the track’s mere existence is a victory for music and focusing on who its for, misses the point. Sometimes in music a track’s importance lies in that it is even here in the first place. I think the Backstreet Boys’ new track Hey also falls in this category. Hey and Curious Ruminant do not come close to hitting their respective bands’ highs, but I love that they are here. Both tracks come across as genuine attempts to keep their genres going and add to the modern music landscape, as opposed to superficial vapid cash grabs…I’m looking at you ABBA. Having said all of that, what is the song all about?

This is the title track to Tull’s new record coming out later this year. You start it up and it is as proggy as it gets. You are met with classical piano, the telltale Tull folky flute from Ian Anderson and a mix of doom inspired metal guitar and drums. Even though Tull is made up of predominantly new members, musically this track would fit in well with their 70s work. Production levels are far cleaner, which I think hurts the overall sound. I miss the 70s fuzz, grime and poor levels that give that era of music texture and soul. However, the sound is true to Tull’s musical ethos and does not come across as a cover band. There is an honesty to the music that I respect and hearing the flute with some metal guitar does conjure some pleasant memories of Tull’s 70s work. I don’t think this will win over new fans, but Tull fans will appreciate the commitment to the genre.

Vocally Ian Anderson still has that unique English folky twang that I do love. It is not as cutting or powerful as it is on Aqualung or Locomotive Breath, but it still has that folky vibe that made their earlier work so popular. Their last record came out 2 years ago and if you are worried that those years have dulled their prog senses, have no fear. At times it sounds like Anderson typed into Google “words least used in the English language” and built his lyrics around them. This is pure prog at its heart and fans of the band’s unique blend of early metal and English folk will find a lot to like here.

Now, this track isn’t really for me. In fact, it drove me to dive into Tull’s early work and luxuriate in endless 70s prog delights. Even though the track itself does not rise to Tull’s early standard, the fact that they put out an honest and heartfelt prog track in 2025 deserves my respect. Anderson has taken on the role of prog’s super powered defender and music is the better for it. Even though the track is not for me, keeping prog alive in 2025 keeps music fresh. You see, music is a living thing and when genre’s die off music becomes sick and less inspiring. So, keep that prog flag flying Anderson! I salute you.

Listen to Curious Ruminant