[Rick and Roll]

I'm glad you posted that vax, it gives good perspective on why you feel the way you do about Marillion - and hopefully Coyote and others can join you in seeing them in the future.

I am not a Hogath hater. However, I don't like much after Seasons End. It's not the vocals..it's the music. Emotion only goes so far...you need vibrancy in the music. I don't feel it. The first time I noticed this was seeing "Univited Guest" performed live, then hearing it on the record. What a difference! So flaccid on CD, but excellent live.

There's only a handful of songs after that that come to mind as vibrant. "Dry Land" is a beautiful song. Reminds me of a Marty Balin song, almost commercial. Rothery's stunning guitar makes it for me. But these moments are too few. It's the band that disappoints me. I honestly think they've gotten lazy.

Brave sealed it - I just can't get into it. It's not a metal thing. Sure I like heavy, but I also listen to stuff that makes Brave sound like Anthrax. Nothing to do with heavy. Funny, the LACK of musical emotion is my beef.

All that said, I'd like to sample Marbles. I'll always give things a shot. But this Fish vs. SH thing is silly. it's just the natural evolution of bands. I don't care if Englebert Humperdick (sp error intentional) sung on Misplaced, Clutching, or Fugazi), it would still rock my world. The music on Fugazi still tingles the spine.

Look at any other band, no matter the personnel changes, they just wear out. I'm not a prog purist or snob (except for Queen and Paul Rodgers lol), so let SH be....

And I still feel that Phil Collins is not the anti-christ (I like the Yoko Ono reference vax, very apt). look at Calling All Stations. Ray Wilson on vocals, but the album is crappy because of Banks and Rutherford. It's embarassingly pedestrian. the music of the song "Abacab" is simplistic...that's not Phil's fault. After all didn't Mike have the Mechanics? Yuck!

There are some high points in later Genesis, but much less frequent. That's just the way it is.

So that's why I'm not interested in Marillion anymore.