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**Ian Anderson - Thick As A Brick 2: Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock?**
★★★☆☆

When Ian Anderson announced he was returning to the fictional world of Gerald Bostock forty years after Jethro Tull's prog masterpiece "Thick As A Brick," the collective response from fans ranged from cautious optimism to outright skepticism. After all, how do you follow up one of progressive rock's most audacious statements – a single 43-minute composition that satirized concept albums while simultaneously becoming the ultimate concept album? The answer, as it turns out, is with characteristic Anderson wit, musical craftsmanship, and just enough self-awareness to make it work.

Released in 2012 under Anderson's solo banner rather than the Tull moniker, "Thick As A Brick 2" picks up the thread of the original's fictional narrative, exploring what might have become of the precocious eight-year-old poet Gerald Bostock in various alternate timelines. It's a clever conceit that allows Anderson to examine different life paths – the successful businessman, the homeless vagrant, the religious zealot, the soldier – while maintaining the conceptual framework that made the original so compelling.

Musically, Anderson has wisely avoided trying to recreate the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of 1972. Instead, he's crafted a more mature, reflective work that acknowledges both his advancing years and the changed musical landscape. The album's five lengthy suites flow seamlessly into one another, maintaining the single-song structure of its predecessor while offering more distinct movements and breathing room. Anderson's flute work remains as distinctive as ever, weaving through complex arrangements that blend his folk sensibilities with progressive rock's architectural ambitions.

The opening suite, "From a Pebble Thrown," immediately establishes the album's contemplative tone, with Anderson's weathered voice delivering cryptic observations over gently building instrumentation. It's here that longtime collaborators like keyboardist Andrew Giddings and guitarist Florian Opahle shine, providing a musical foundation that honors Tull's legacy while pushing into new territory. The interplay between acoustic and electric elements feels organic rather than forced, suggesting years of musical chemistry rather than mere technical proficiency.

"Pebble Instrumental" serves as the album's most dynamic moment, featuring some of Anderson's most inspired flute passages in years. The piece builds from delicate folk fingerpicking to full-blown prog bombast, complete with the kind of odd time signatures and sudden dynamic shifts that made classic Tull so thrilling. It's followed by "Might Have Beens," perhaps the album's emotional centerpiece, where Anderson's lyrics achieve genuine poignancy as he contemplates roads not taken and opportunities missed.

The album's latter half maintains this high standard, with "Upper Sixth Loan Shark" offering some welcome humor amid the philosophical weight, while "Banker Bets, Banker Wins" provides pointed social commentary that feels entirely relevant to our current economic climate. Anderson has always been at his best when balancing whimsy with insight, and these tracks demonstrate that his satirical edge remains sharp even as his voice has grown more gravelly with age.

What's most impressive about "Thick As A Brick 2" is how it functions both as a standalone work and as a companion piece to the original. Newcomers won't feel lost in references or callbacks, while longtime fans will appreciate the subtle musical and lyrical connections Anderson weaves throughout. The production, handled by Anderson himself, strikes an ideal balance between clarity and warmth, allowing every instrument to breathe while maintaining the cohesive sound essential to a concept album.

Of course, this isn't quite the revolutionary statement that the original "Thick As A Brick" was in 1972. That album arrived at the perfect moment, when prog rock was reaching its creative peak and Anderson's satirical instincts were at their sharpest. This sequel arrives in a very different musical world, one where prog has been thoroughly deconstructed and rebuilt multiple times over. But rather than feeling like a relic, "Thick As A Brick 2" feels like the work of an artist who understands his place in rock history while still having something meaningful to say.

The album's legacy may ultimately rest on how it fits into Anderson's remarkable six-decade career. While it may not reach the heights of "Aqualung" or "Songs from the Wood," it stands as proof that artistic vision and craftsmanship can transcend nostalgia. In an era of reunion tours an