Marillion

[Rick and Roll]

Originally Posted by VAXman

Read back... working band.

They tried a Porcupine Tree and Radiohead : sound on those albums. A couple of tracks worked and a couple did not.

H's home life was falling apart too (in fact, it's over since about the beginning of the year). It's hard to compose with that sort of crap looming. It's quite evident in House.

I think he's saying that he didn't like it as much. (I've never heard it). You can apply the working band reasoning then to a lot of stuff. Sort of like saying Phil gets a pass for his relationship songs

[ion_tichy]

I discovered Marillion way back in 1983 (Fish era). I lost track of them after Clutching at Straws but then rediscovered them with their Brave album (H era).

I have filled out my collection of Marillion albums since then minus marillion.com and anoraknophobia - did not care for these ones.

To me, the Fish era is characterized, in lyrics, by observations of world conflicts, religion gone bad, politicians gone bad, human relationships, and human vices (alcohol, drugs, rock n roll). Fish read a lot of books and observed the world through his eyes. The melodies are good too.

To me, the H era is characterized, in lyrics, by personal human stories and human relationships. The Brave album deals with suicide. The melodies are just as good.

I listen to music that matches my mood at a particular time. And both eras of Marillion offer me that.

During the creation of Clutching at Straws, there were a number of songs that did not make it on the album. If you listen to Fish's Vigil and Marillion's Seasons End, each party took their share of these "homeless songs" and built much better tunes : Fish (Family Business, View from the Hill), Marillion (Berlin).

There were synergies between band members in each of the eras. I am just glad that they recorded what they did.

Cheers.