This is my very first exposure to the "new" Marillion, and in many ways it is almost like being introduced to a new, previously unheard band entirely. For those unfamiliar with the history, let me explain.
Marillion was originally part of a "new wave" of progressive rock bands who came along in the early eighties — at roughly the same time as the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (or "NWOBHM"). The idea behind these bands was to revive the sound of seventies progressive rock bands like Yes and Genesis, whose sound had all but disappeared off the map in the wake of both punk rock, and its somewhat more synthesized (and elegantly dressed) illegitimate bastard stepchild, "New Wave."
Marillion were perceived by most — if not all — as the de facto leader of this movement. I first heard of them by reading raves in the pages of Kerrang! magazine, which at the time was considered the bible for underground metal fans. When I finally was able to check out their debut album, Script For A Jesters Tear, my immediate reaction was, of course, that it had all been done before by Genesis on albums like Selling England By The Pound. Which it certainly had, right down to the vocal mannerisms and theatrical stage get-ups of lead singer Fish.
Still, there was a certain earnestness and sincerity about these guys that I liked immediately. And in all truthfulness, if you liked this particular type of music (which I did and still do), at the time Marillion was the best, and perhaps it can even be argued, the only game in town.
A few years and a minor American hit single ("Kayleigh") later, and Marillion all but vanished from the map. Fish left to pursue the obligatory solo career, and that was basically it. Or so I thought...
When my interest in Marillion was reignited several years later by a concert from the Fish era captured on the DVD Recital Of The Script, I did a little Google searching and soon discovered that not only was Marillion still around — they were also as popular as ever, at least in Europe.
So as I said, this album is my first listen to the "new" (at least for me) Marillion, with lead vocalist Steve Hogarth. And I have to say, not only am I pleasantly surprised by how "modern" it sounds — but how much this CD sounds like it was made by a completely different band than the one I remember from the eighties. Which I guess is what happens when you pick up on a band once again, some twenty years after the fact.
Article comments
1 - Frans
Now that's a very even-handed review! So many people love automatically dismissing Marillion, but you managed to hang in there and give it an honest listen, which is refreshing! Now I'd like to see what you make of Marbles, but try to get the double disc version.
Cheers,
Frans
2 - John R
Nice review,
I'm a Marillion fan and I'm still trying to get my head around the album!
It certainly has up and down moments, but on the whole there is still the Marillion-esque lush sound that is almost a staple to their work without being repetitive.
And yes, Marbles is a truely excellent album. In my opinion one of the very best albums that I own!
3 - Hung Nguyen
My goodness, if you haven't listened to Marillion since Fish left, you got a LOT of catching up to do.... Season's End, Brave, Afraid of Sunlight, This Strange Engine are among my favorites, as well as of course Marbles. The ones I didn't list are also pretty good, but those are the highlights for me.
4 - Glen Boyd
One thing at a time Mr. Nguyen.
I plan to start with Marbles (which I just ordered -- and yes, I did go for the double disc) and work my way backward from there.
I simply had no idea these guys were still making music, and that it sounded so completely different from their earlier stuff--which good as it was, even a fan would have to admit was highly derivative of a certain other british prog-rock band with a penchant for theatrical storytelling and equally theatrical stage props.
I've read elsewhere that some fans regard "Somewhere Else" as a little bit of a disapointment, but I gotta tell ya that I was quite unexpectedly knocked out by it.
I can't wait to hear Marbles. And I imagine I'll be getting around to the rest of the catalog as well. But for now, it's one CD at a time for me.
Thanx to everyone for the comments.
-Glen
5 - Stuart
Somewhere Else is imo Marillion's best album in years, i tend to find Marbles a bit overdone. If you likes the early Marillion I'd recommend checking out some of Fish's solo stuff too, such as Vigil and Field of Crows. My recomendation if you like SwE is probably This Strange Engine in the Marillion back catalogue.
6 - Glen Boyd
I just listened to Marbles for the first time and it is one of the best records I have heard in something like ten years. Just an absolute sonic masterpiece. Thanx to all for the recommendations.
-Glen
7 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites and Boston.com.
8 - JC Mosquito
So, Glen - what's so different about this that it's turned you around to Marillion? Or is it something in your own tastes that's changed?
9 - Glen Boyd
So I guess this technically means that I can now add The Boston Globe to my resume. How cool is that? Thanx Connie.
-Glen
10 - dumbfounded
Hello, got the link to your review from the portuguese official marillion fan club. I must say I enjoyed reading it, and as was already said, check out the other 9 albuns of the post fish era.
I'll be forwarding your review to the actual marillion site, in the UK
Cheers
11 - Vasco "Stalker"
Good work, keep it up.
cheers
12 - Tom Johnson
Great review, as usual, Glen! Glad you liked it and glad to see you're getting the 2-disc Marbles, too! I think you're in for a treat!
And dumbfounded, be sure to check out my Somewhere Else review from a couple weeks back, too.
13 - Paul Roy
Glen, if you enjoyed Marbles, check out the Marbles On The Road concert DVD from that tour. They are an incredible live band too.