Thick as a Brick 2
Ian Anderson · 2012
157 min · 60 tracks · rock music
A whimsical blend of progressive rock and narrative storytelling that echoes the charm of its predecessor.
Top tracks — play these first
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From a Pebble Thrown — Opening the album, this track sets the stage for the narrative journey with its playful instrumentation and introspective lyrics that reflect on life’s small yet significant moments.
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Banker Bets, Banker Wins — This track critiques financial systems through clever wordplay and engaging melodies, serving as a modern commentary that resonates with contemporary listeners.
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A Change of Horses — As one of the longer tracks, it showcases Anderson's signature storytelling style while exploring themes of transformation and choices in life, encapsulating the album’s essence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's narrative depth and progressive elements create a rich listening experience, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessor.
What we noticed
- The album features a continuous narrative structure, with tracks flowing seamlessly into one another, creating a cohesive storytelling experience.
- The lyrics are dense and thematic, often reflecting on nostalgia and societal commentary, which invites deeper analysis from the listener.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- whimsical narratives with playful twists
- thought-provoking themes for reflection
- short interludes that surprise
- immersive storytelling through varied tracks
- headphone detail in lyrical delivery
Maybe skip if you
- prefer straightforward song structures
- seek instant gratification from music
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2012, Thick as a Brick 2 marks Ian Anderson's return to the thematic world he created with the original Thick as a Brick in 1972. This album arrives during a phase of his career characterized by exploration of both new material and revisiting classic concepts, showcasing Anderson's enduring creativity and commitment to elaborate storytelling through music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Jethro Tull· Camel· Gentle Giant
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 From a Pebble Thrown 3:06
- 2 Pebbles Instrumental 3:30
- 3 Might‐Have‐Beens 0:50
- 4 Upper Sixth Loan Shark 1:13
- 5 Banker Bets, Banker Wins 4:27
- 6 Swing It Far 3:28
- 7 Adrift and Dumfounded 4:25
- 8 Old School Song 3:06
- 9 Wootton Bassett Town 3:43
- 10 Power and Spirit 1:58
- 11 Give Till It Hurts 1:12
- 12 Cosy Corner 1:24
- 13 Shunt and Shuffle 2:12
- 14 A Change of Horses 8:04
- 15 Confessional 3:08
- 16 Kismet in Suburbia 4:17
- 17 What‐Ifs, Maybes and Might‐Have‐Beens 3:36
- 18 From a Pebble Thrown (5.1 mix) 3:06
- 19 Pebbles Instrumental (5.1 mix) 3:30
- 20 Might‐Have‐Beens (5.1 mix) 0:50
- 21 Upper Sixth Loan Shark (5.1 mix) 1:13
- 22 Banker Bets, Banker Wins (5.1 mix) 4:28
- 23 Swing It Far (5.1 mix) 3:28
- 24 Adrift and Dumfounded (5.1 mix) 4:25
- 25 Old School Song (5.1 mix) 3:07
- 26 Wootton Bassett Town (5.1 mix) 3:44
- 27 Power and Spirit (5.1 mix) 1:59
- 28 Give Till It Hurts (5.1 mix) 1:12
- 29 Cosy Corner (5.1 mix) 1:25
- 30 Shunt and Shuffle (5.1 mix) 2:12
- 31 A Change of Horses (5.1 mix) 8:04
- 32 Confessional (5.1 mix) 3:09
- 33 Kismet in Suburbia (5.1 mix) 4:17
- 34 What‐Ifs, Maybes and Might‐Have‐Beens (5.1 mix) 3:36
- 35 The Making of the Album, Part 1 3:00
- 36 The Making of the Album, Part 2 2:59
- 37 The Making of the Album, Part 3 2:59
- 38 The Making of the Album, Part 4 3:00
- 39 The Making of the Album, Part 5 2:35
- 40 Interviews, Part 1 3:00
- 41 Interviews, Part 2 2:59
- 42 Interviews, Part 3 2:59
- 43 Interviews, Part 4 3:00
- 44 Interviews, Part 5 3:40
- 45 From a Pebble Thrown (lyric reading) 1:08
- 46 Might‐Have‐Beens (lyric reading) 0:52
- 47 Upper Sixth Loan Shark (lyric reading) 0:38
- 48 Banker Bets, Banker Wins (lyric reading) 1:23
- 49 Swing It Far (lyric reading) 1:47
- 50 Adrift and Dumfounded (lyric reading) 1:14
- 51 Old School Song (lyric reading) 1:19
- 52 Wootton Bassett Town (lyric reading) 1:30
- 53 Power and Spirit (lyric reading) 1:26
- 54 Give Till It Hurts (lyric reading) 1:00
- 55 Cosy Corner (lyric reading) 1:13
- 56 Shunt and Shuffle (lyric reading) 0:36
- 57 A Change of Horses (lyric reading) 1:05
- 58 Confessional (lyric reading) 1:20
- 59 Kismet in Suburbia (lyric reading) 1:58
- 60 What‐Ifs, Maybes and Might‐Have‐Beens (lyric reading) 1:48
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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