OK, so I shelled out my £30.00 or whatever some months ago to help enable Marillion to make a new album. Then there was all the hassle when they released inferior quality versions online. I'm with them on that - not a problem as I would get a beautiful book and double CD with my name in it.
It turned up the day (before?) of the official release and it was a work of art. I had a quick spin of the CDs and didn't really take any notice. My other half listened and was not impressed. Then I had 2 longs drives the other week and I managed to listen to both CDs uninterrupted from start to finish. Fitting music for a car that has Marillion window stickers front and back. Season's End, Brave and Clutching At Straws are permanent CDs in my car.
Very disappointed. I wasn't sure which of the last 3 albums I'd put on my iPod (iPhone 3G actually ;-) ) Instantly forgettable. I'm now puzzled because when I look at the Marillion Forum I read that they've just released the most original and perfect album since (the last one) time began.
How come I have a different CD to the one everyone else is listening to?
Unoriginal, lame, tame, boring, and WTF does Steve Hogarth have to keep whispering or going 'James Blunt'? I can't honestly see me thinking 'Yeah, let's have a listen to HITR'. Last night I played a few tracks from Misplaced Childhood and Clutching At Straws.
It'll be off the iPod soon to make room for something that will be 'listened' to.
The past couple of month or so I've picked up on Panic Room, Mystery, Mostly Autumn and Odin Dragonfly courtesy of Classic Rock's 'Prog Spawn' CD and Sieges Even and Glass Hammer's latest album courtesy of www.morow.com. And either bought on iTunes or in the case of Panic Room the CD. All of these have had and will have more play than TENC (or HITR as you know it).
All of these albums have songs that stick in your mind and have more originality than HITR. Or just listen to Porcupine Tree album.
It's the end of the road for me. I won't prepay for the next album.
Pretty sad really as I've been listening and following since picking up a newly released copy of 'Script For A Jester's Tear' in the NAAFI at Schloss Neuhaus the day after I returned from a tour of Northern Ireland in 1983. They played at the Schloss the next year(?) as well. What a marvelous day that was. Warm sun, beautiful open air setting, lots of girls in skimpy garments, vast amounts of German bier. Paul Young canceling because he had a sore throat.
I can reveal now that a good proportion of the UK's Nuclear Artillery were 'slightly the worse for wear' that afternoon. Not a very Rapid Reaction Force at all ;-)
Sadly, we come to the end of our fellowship
So long, and thanks for all the fish
Ian
Nicely written! Thumbs up!
But I don't agree. :)
-Paco
Yeah, Ian, I find it strange that when a group have made a big splash - and in Marillion's case, rightfully so - that, even if they don't have much to reinvigorate it, they can retain their mystique with fans for so long ???
What's the reason: inertia, fixation, faithfulness ?
Probably some combination of the three.
Nicky.
Ian....I reached your conclusion when I first played Brave - an overlong, meandering dribble of music which was badly mixed and had a stupid lyrical theme. I've still bought every studio album since though (though I won't pre-order) and although they've hit some pretty high heights, they've never really done another classic album as such. I still buy more out of habit and in hope really. ;D
Did I already mention that Marillion stopped existing 1987?
**runs**
Quote from: Peter on Thu, 2008-11-06, 20:21:51
Did I already mention that Marillion stopped existing 1987?
**runs**
:D
You're forgiven, Peter. ;)
I agree with Peter. They should have given it another name, or at least "Marillion II" or something.
It's just so different.
But it's both good! ;D
Just don't look for 80's Marillion in the 21st century Marillion.
Brave - a stupid lyrical theme?
Oh God...
Very interesting post, Ian, and very well written too. :)
I think many old Marillion fans will join your point of view.
I like some of the H's era albums but I have to admit that I am a bit confused with Marillion's actual marketing strategy. OK for using the new technologies but I feel in their case that's just too much. Too many albums in a row, too many dvd's, too many EP's, way too expensive SE.
I have not bought
HITR (and don't plan too) but I bought the previous album released ... less than one year before, right ? And frankly, would not some (many) fans agree that out the whole of three average CD's Marillion would have made a better artistical choice to pick the best songs and release just one CD ? I can't help but thinking that the commercial approach supplanted everything else and it's disturbing :-\ And I don't even think it's a winning strategy in terms of sales on a middle term ...
Quote from: Moonloop on Thu, 2008-11-06, 06:42:34
Ian....I reached your conclusion when I first played Brave - an overlong, meandering dribble of music which was badly mixed and had a stupid lyrical theme
I for a long time had the same feeling (except for the lyrical theme) and it took me ten years to finally begin to like some of the songs (and it's still a work in progress :P) when it took me ten minutes to fall in love with It Bites new album 8) And it's more or less the same story with all the following albums, they demand a lot of dedication and some self-conviction that you are listening to great music : it just takes an awful lot of time to get to this supposed greatness when there are so many new and fresh things around ...
Quote from: Deenfan on Fri, 2008-11-07, 10:46:44
Brave - a stupid lyrical theme?
Oh God...
This album will always divide Marillion fans, Deen : you're one of the pro's and they outscore easily the con's but if I was asked the question : "What classic prog album would you absolutely NOT recommend to somebody who wants to try prog rock ?",
Brave would be my first answer.
Considering his playlist of last weeks, I am sure that Steve would have a lot of slightly different ;D things to say about it if he had time to write more than two lines each time he visits the Room ;)
Quote from: Bupie on Fri, 2008-11-07, 15:29:14
... and some self-conviction that you are listening to great music
A very insightful point. "It's Marillion, so it MUST be good"....or...."I haven't liked the last few albums so I won't like this one either"...
First impressions are in the head, before you've heard a note.
It's very difficult to listen anything objectively without some form of predjudice. Marillion probably attract that more than most bands, but I guess for those of us of a certain age who were around 'at the time', any new product will always be held up in comparison against those first 4 classic albums. Whether they like it or not ;)
Quote from: Bupie on Fri, 2008-11-07, 15:29:14
This album will always divide Marillion fans, Deen : you're one of the pro's and they outscore easily the con's but if I was asked the question : "What classic prog album would you absolutely NOT recommend to somebody who wants to try prog rock ?", Brave would be my first answer.
I'll meet you halfway, in that it isn't the ONE album I would definitely recommend to somebody who wants to try prog rock! ;)
Quote from: Moonloop on Thu, 2008-11-06, 06:42:34
Ian....I reached your conclusion when I first played Brave - an overlong, meandering dribble of music which was badly mixed and had a stupid lyrical theme. I've still bought every studio album since though (though I won't pre-order) and although they've hit some pretty high heights, they've never really done another classic album as such. I still buy more out of habit and in hope really. ;D
Yet I loved Brave from the very first listen. I still think it's possibly their best album
Ian
Quote from: Oliver Twist on Wed, 2008-11-12, 20:52:34
Yet I loved Brave from the very first listen. I still think it's possibly their best album
Ian
I still know it is their best. 8) ;)