Marillion

[coyote]

Am new user...so may have them on board..would imagine so.
Love to hear Marillion anytime..particularly from Marbles(most nearly perfect concept cd i've heard in years). Also from Brave and all others.

Most underrated prog band ever..amazing artistry and longevity.

Glad to have found aural moon and to know prog is alive and well.

[sharcnorris]

Welcome to the Moon. Marillion is here and many members such as I rate them as special.' Also some wonderfull photograghers have modern shots of the band that you may find in these forums. Have fun Here and Rq a Favorite

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by coyote

Am new user...so may have them on board..would imagine so.
Love to hear Marillion anytime..particularly from Marbles(most nearly perfect concept cd i've heard in years). Also from Brave and all others.

Most underrated prog band ever..amazing artistry and longevity.

Couldn't agree more.

Originally Posted by coyote

Glad to have found aural moon and to know prog is alive and well.

Hi Coyote,

I will try to complete the Marillion catalogue here on Aural Moon (as well as a number of other artists) soon. I've just been too busy with my day job, evening job (photography) and troubles in the home life to get to ripping them.

As for Marillion, my wife and I are well acquainted with the band. Anything you would like, let me know. If you want, we have lots of pix of Marillion too. See: http://brave.tmesis.com/

[sharcnorris]

Well Vax, that was of course exactly what I had in Mind but needed you to do it for privacy reasons!! I consider your shots some of my all time Favorites

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by sharcnorris

Well Vax, that was of course exactly what I had in Mind but needed you to do it for privacy reasons!! I consider your shots some of my all time Favorites

I'm currently backing up my Powerbook drive in anticipation of installing a much larger drive. Once that is done and M and I have completed our CalProg/Wedding Anniversary trek, I will get to processing more photos. I have ROSfest and NEARfest photos which are just lying about waiting for me to put them up on my web server.

Originally Posted by VAXman

I'm currently backing up my Powerbook drive in anticipation of installing a much larger drive. Once that is done and M and I have completed our CalProg/Wedding Anniversary trek, I will get to processing more photos. I have ROSfest and NEARfest photos which are just lying about waiting for me to put them up on my web server.

Can't wait to see them VAX...............also if you have any pix from my party I wouldn't mind seeing them too.

Now to get back on thread.

Welcome Coyote. This is a great place to be. Lots of great like minded people around here. We call it a community because everyone looks out for everyone else in whatever way they can. It's ALWAYS great to welcome new faces. I hope you stay a long while and post often.

[coyote]

sharcnorris VAXman KeithieW

Thanks for warm welcomes to the community
Hope to be around for along time
long live prog

coyote

cause its only knock and knowall,
but i like it!!!

[Rick and Roll]

I'm not a big marillion post Fish fan at all..but the only time I saw them was on the seasons End tour.

But I did want to welcome you in...where in Ohio?

[rick_wakeman]

Welcome bro, I'm from France. there are 2 kind of marillion fans : Hogarth's and Fish's. I like both, but speaking of Fish era, i prefer the Script's Fish-with album. It is also said there are two kind of Hogarth's Marillion fans : Season's end 's and Brave's : i must say i prefer Brave sounding albums...

... And i dislike Fish albums after he "gentleman" excused.

[PFD]

Plenty of Marillion fans here. I've been a fan since I first heard Script in 1983. Like both the F era and H era as well as Fish's solo stuff. Going to be heading out to Haddington later this summer to watch Fish in Scotland

[VAXman(Admin)]

I was introduced to Marillion in the early '80s when I was visiting a record shop in Red Bank proNJ -- Jack's Records. I wearing a Genesis shirt and the proprietor said I should check out Marillion if I liked Genesis.

Early Marillion didn't sound too much like Genesis to me. It was pretty crude and the early Fish lyrics reminded me of a critique I got from my creative writing professor -- LOSE THE THESAURUS.

Fish honed his lyrical talents as Misplaced Childhood and Clutching at Straws made their appearance. Still a few too many alliterations and thesaurus gilded verses but not as blatant as before. However, by this time, Fish's habits had caused too much friction in the band and they parted ways.

Along came Steve Hogarth. The band themselves asked him to join. I don't know why he's treated like the Yoko Ono of Marillion. Fish left; H didn't toss him out. At least he's not like Phil Collins,who sold out and he was "promoted" from within.

The early albums should not be any indication of later efforts. H was trying to find his way in a band that had been fronted by a rather well received former frontman. However, if you have some of the old demoes (I do), songs like "Berlin" are much better with H and his lyrics than the original lyrics penned by Fish. There's still plenty of great stuff on the first 2 albums... Brave was the real defining moment though.

H is a much more emotional man. He can sing joy, sadness, pain and sorrow in a lyric that Fish could never do; hell, Fish was lucky to hit a note on any good try. He also has taken inspiration from many facets of life -- his and others, unlike Fish. He draws from personal experiences like his autobiographical "This Strange Engine" -- an ode to his Father, as well as from the lives and life stories of others, perhaps not well know, but interesting people -- Jake LaMotta(Gaspacho), Donald Campbell(Out of This World) and -- a favorite of many from Marbles(Ocean CLoud) -- Don Allum.

If you're a heavy metal head, you won't like H's singing and lyrics but the band has progressed and tried many things that would have never happened with Fish at the helm. H's lyrics are much more personal and emotional -- for example, "House" about his home life -- and somber than Fish. There's a lyric in "This is the 21st Century" that sums him up.

FWIW, I have a very good rapport with Marillion (there are a few here that know this). I can tell you all are much happier with H at the helm than with Fish. There are a few other things I'm not at liberty to disclose in a public forum but if you ask me privately...well...

Also, and the purists will dis them for this, they are a working band. Unlike a great many of the artists here who have day jobs outside of the band, Marillion are musicians and make their living only from the music. The UK music scene is different and strange. Marillion put a poppier number or two on their releases to get the radio airplay needed to try to get sales. Remember, it is not 1972 when free-format radio introduced us all to the great music we are all here to hear. Marillion are paying their way to their retirement years on their musical output.

BTW, if you haven't seen Marillion live, you really ought to. There aren't many bands that can perform and reach out to the audience like they do.

Respectfully, VAX -- who has seen Marillion so many times there aren't enough fingers and toes and other body appendages on which to count them all.

[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.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by Rick and Roll

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.

Emotion!? There's more emotion in Brave and Afraid of Sunlight than enything Fish ever did with them.

[mailotron]

don't want to polemize ( ?) cos' I'm not good enough in english to do so but there is a lot of emotion in songs like Chelsea monday, white russian or warm wet circles to name but a few. Just for the record, I like Marillion-H a lot and never tried to compare two so different characters . To see/hear them live is always a pleasure.

[Rick and Roll]

Thanks Mail, I'm trying not to make this a Steve vs Derek thing. Really doesn't interest me.

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by nadina

I've been a fan of Marillion since 1981/82. I heard Kayleigh and Lavender on the radio, but quickly realized these were not their best songs. After hearing the rest of Misplaced Childhood, I had to find the other albums. I love F-era and much of H-era. Yes, it took me a bit to get used to H, but I do like his voice. I don't love every ablum he's done, but as much as I consider myself a Fish fan, I don't love every one of his solo albums. Brave is one of my favorite albums overall (and that is including my non-Marillion albums).

Before finding the Moon, I didn't know any other Marillion fans. I was excited to see Marillion and Fish here as well as learn there were not just folks who had heard of them, but were truly fans. My love of Marillion (both versions) has been renewed since hanging around here And it was because I mentioned Marillion on my myspace page that I have a wonderful new person in my life.

Nadina

...and got to a private party with the band!

[PFD]

Yeah, I always stay away from H vs Fish. To me they're different bands now. I think they've both put out great stuff, and some weaker stuff.

Marillion had two albums out i didn't care for. Radiation and dotcom. Anaraknophobia was a step in the right direction and Marbles is a classic. Fish peaked with Sunsets on Empire; Zippos was great IF you liked Plague of Ghosts; but his last two, I've been indifferent to.

I've seen both live countless times. Like VAX, I've also spoken to them on many occasions. I prefer Fish, overall, I think he's far more laid back than H after a gig. After gigs it's easier to chat with Fish as H is normally hounded by all the ladies!

I'll probably see VAX in Holland next February.

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by nadina

I've been a fan of Marillion since 1981/82. I heard Kayleigh and Lavender on the radio, but quickly realized these were not their best songs. After hearing the rest of Misplaced Childhood, I had to find the other albums. I love F-era and much of H-era. Yes, it took me a bit to get used to H, but I do like his voice. I don't love every ablum he's done, but as much as I consider myself a Fish fan, I don't love every one of his solo albums. Brave is one of my favorite albums overall (and that is including my non-Marillion albums).

Before finding the Moon, I didn't know any other Marillion fans. I was excited to see Marillion and Fish here as well as learn there were not just folks who had heard of them, but were truly fans. My love of Marillion (both versions) has been renewed since hanging around here And it was because I mentioned Marillion on my myspace page that I have a wonderful new person in my life.

Nadina

When I got my prog awakening in college, Marillion hit right at the beginning (1981-84). The crap they received for Grendel was initially hard to overcome. The Apocalypse in 9/8 ripoff section was a bit much, and that gave the critics fodder for piling it on. But after Fugazi, thay distanced themselves enough from Genesis, and even spawned bands like Iluvatar, who are unabashed in their praise of the band (seeing them do the entire first side of Misplaced Live was a treat).

They've always had lots of fans, it's good that you have a place to pull them together here. And it's great about the new person

[VAXman(Admin)]

Originally Posted by PFD

Yeah, I always stay away from H vs Fish. To me they're different bands now. I think they've both put out great stuff, and some weaker stuff.

Marillion had two albums out i didn't care for. Radiation and dotcom.

Again, experiment. If you want to hear them regurgitate the same old same old, cut a tape loop of Grendel... play it until you're nauseous with Rick. There are some good elements but overall they're is not consistent.

Originally Posted by PFD

Anaraknophobia was a step in the right direction and Marbles is a classic. Fish peaked with Sunsets on Empire; Zippos was great IF you liked Plague of Ghosts; but his last two, I've been indifferent to.

Vigil was tiring. Sunsets is a pretty good album save for the "rap". I really can't believe he stooped to that level.

Originally Posted by PFD

I've seen both live countless times. Like VAX, I've also spoken to them on many occasions. I prefer Fish, overall, I think he's far more laid back than H after a gig. After gigs it's easier to chat with Fish as H is normally hounded by all the ladies!

You're just jealous!

Originally Posted by PFD

I'll probably see VAX in Holland next February.

See you there!

[PFD]

Originally Posted by VAXman

Again, experiment. If you want to hear them regurgitate the same old same old, cut a tape loop of Grendel... play it until you're nauseous with Rick. There are some good elements but overall they're is not consistent.

But I don't want to hear the same old, and will die happily if I never hear Grendel again. To me those two albums (dotcom, radiation) just seemed like a week attempt to get radio airplay and cash in on the Brit pop popular at the time. There's some good tunes on them, and I could make one good CD of a dozen songs from both those records.

Like I said, otherwise I enjoyed everything they did post Fish...except for Holidays In Eden which was a real bore. I didn't actually like Brave originally, until I saw them do parts of it live on the Sunlight tour. Now I love it. And I think Marbles is one of the greatest albums they've done ever.