***The Secret Language of Birds (Roadrunner)
Former Jethro Tull flutist and lead singer Ian Anderson deserves the recriminations music critics have heaped on him during the last 15 years: his voice has become markedly weaker, he often misbehaves in interviews and his albums have been somewhat disoriented. But, with the delivery of his latest CD, The Secret Language of Birds, Anderson can be forgiven. His best recording since collaborating with Jethro Tull on such classics as Songs from the Wood and Heavy Horses, the collection features his signature sound — the same high quality folk/art/fun found in the rock legend’s 1970s work.