Well hello there you lovely people. It’s been some time since I scribbled down some randomness from the recesses of my mind, but as they say sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot. I’ve been listening to a lot of music recently, mainly as a good way to help with work and escape some of the odd issues that arise in life, and thought, why don’t I rank some albums by some of my favourite bands? And seeing as my most recent gig, and first in what seems like years now, I saw Marillion, so I thought I’d start with them and the vast catalogue they have.
So for those who aren’t up to speed or unaware of who these chaps are, here’s a quick history. Originally formed in 1979, they first appeared under the name Silmarillion, in reference to the book by J.R.R Tolkein, however shortened it to Marillion to avoid legal issues. Their breakthrough came in 1983 with their debut album, Script For A Jesters Tear and proceeded to have a run of ever more successful albums and international success, culminating in 1987’s Clutching At Straws, before issues with the then lead singer Fish, lead to him departing and being replaced by Steve Hogarth, in a line up which has not changed since. With diminishing support from their record label and often been labelled as uncool by music media, they forged their own path and are often credited with the starting the crowd funding scene in music by asking fans to help them cover touring costs and production costs and as such have been going their own way ever since. A band who it’s deemed uncool to like, and they don’t care! With a dedicated fanbase, they do give a lot back to them with regular gigs and weekend festivals.
I’ve been listening to their music for several decades now and have delved deep into the catalogue, so here is my countdown of their respective Studio albums. As a side note, I’m not including the following albums – Less Is More (An album of stripped down re-recording of previously released songs), B-Sides Themselves (A B-Sides Collection) and With Friends From The Orchestra (Again, a re-recording of previously released songs with Orchestral arrangements). Not that there’s anything wrong with these albums, I just wanted to focus solely on the main studio releases. With each entry, I’ll give a little back story and my thoughts with some favourite and least favourite tracks. Anyways, on with the show, and starting us off…
19. Happiness Is The Road, Volume 1: Essence
We have to start somewhere and in this case, it the first part of a double album released in 2008. Initially intended as a single album, a burst of creativity lead to a large amount of material being written and recorded and as such, the dual format was used. For me, there’s not that many stand out tracks that stay around long enough to want to re-listen but there are a couple of gems worth your time.
Favourite Tracks: Wrapped Up In Time, This Train Is My Life, Essence
Least Favourite Track: Woke Up
18. Happiness Is The Road, Volume 2: The Hard Shoulder
Coming up just ahead, is volume 2 of Happiness Is The Road. Again, while not the strongest album, it has a few more hooks and creativity to give the edge over volume 1. There’s a vast collection of influences across both volumes with the usual rock sound being augmented with pop, soul and dub influences. One for the connoisseurs, but a few more memorable tracks this time round.
Favourite Tracks: The Man From Planet Marzipan, Older Than Me, Whatever Is Wrong With You
Least Favourite Track: Thunder Fly
17. Radiation
Up next at 17, is 1998’s Radiation. At this point in time, the band had recently been dropped by EMI and signed a short deal with Castle Communications to release their next album. With a tweak in sound with different mix from previous records, it gets lost in back catalogue, though it was re-issued in 2013 with a new mix which improves the albums overall sound, though as with previous entries, you have to look for the gems.
Favourite Tracks: These Chains, Three Minute Boy, Under The Sun, Cathedral Wall, These Chains
Least Favourite Track: Costa Del Slough
16. Somewhere Else
Following on, we arrive at 2007’s Somewhere Else. Continuing a trend from their early 2000’s work, we find the band driving for a sound that would fit in with the times radio flavour, (though as usual, radio play was extremely limited if any) it proved a success at the time, being their first album since 1998 to break the UK album top 40 chart (24 highest position) and a single in the top 20. It’s more approachable for a first time listener, with some tunes that will stick around, particularly the title track.
Favourite Tracks: Somewhere Else, Thankyou Whoever You Are, No Such Thing, The Wound
Least Favourite Track: Most Toys
15. Holidays In Eden
In at 15, we take a little trip back in time to 1991 and an album that signalled a quick dalliance in radio friendly tunes to appease the record label. Moving away (albeit temporarily) from their Prog Rock leanings, the boys gave us an album which was under requirement to provide singles to promote the album, and with its more approachable sound, it did as required. It’s a good album to introduce new listeners too, but doesn’t give you the full scope of what the band are capable of.
Favourite Tracks: Waiting To Happen, No One Can, Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven), Splintering Heart
Least Favourite Track: The Rakes Progress
14. marillion.com
Up next, we arrive at marillion.com. The last album issued by Castle Communications before the band went fully independent, it was their first album to not break the top 40 and subsequently drop off the charts after one week. Titled as a nod to the band’s increased method of interaction with its fans, there’s more here than it’s reputation decrees. Mixed in part by Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree fame, there are some rich elements of both the prog origins and current pop they were driving, well worth revisiting again.
Favourite Tracks: Go!, House, Interior Lulu, Rich,
Least Favourite Track: Enlightened
13. Marbles
In the proverbial unlucky 13, we find 2004’s Marbles. An album not strictly a concept album, but linked throughout its track list by segues and call backs to previous lyrics and songs. Whilst still retaining some pop influences, including their first Top 10 single since 1987 in You’re Gone, there are some big Prog influences with several lengthy tracks, of which several are great highlights.
Favourite Tracks: Ocean Cloud, Neverland, The Invisible Man, You’re Gone, Don’t Hurt Yourself,
Least Favourite Track: The Damage
12. Afraid Of Sunlight
Next up, we have 1995’s Afraid Of Sunlight. Following on from the previous years release, Sunlight is a loose concept of fame and the damage that can be done. Bringing a lush soundscape across the album and having elements of The Beatles and Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys, the tracks linger around long after listening. There’s a lot of good to pick from here for further listening.
Favourite Tracks: Gazpacho, Afraid Of Sunlight, King, Out Of This World, Beyond you, Cannibal Surf Babe
Least Favourite Track: Afraid Of Sunrise
11. Fugazi
At 11, we have our first album from the Fish era, the sophomore album Fugazi. This album would also mark the debut in the band of drummer Ian Mosley, who remains behind the skins to this day. Following up their debut album, the band eased some of the Prog leanings and moved towards a heavier rock sound. As was the norm during the Fish era, the lyrics are very complex and broach a variety of subjects and as such, the overall product is a little bit all over the place, but the musicianship and melodies are strong. This would continue the band’s push into the prominence of the UK music scene, hitting number 5 in the album charts.
Favourite Tracks: Fugazi, Assassing, Punch & Judy, Incubus
Least Favourite Track: She Chameleon
10. This Strange Engine
Beginning the top 10 of our list, we have 1997’s This Strange Engine. The first album released post being dropped by EMI in 1995, the band again retain the elegiac melodies and lyrical beauty that had become part of the Hogarth era. The title track is the longest song on the album, a tribute to Hogarth’s father and his desire to be close to his family. Though singles were released, neither charted well in the UK, continuing the show of decline in Marillion’s relevance in the current music scene at the time.
Favourite Tracks: Man Of A Thousand Faces, 80 Days, Estonia, This Strange Engine,
Least Favourite Track: Hope For The Future
9. Brave
Following on, we find ourselves still in the 90’s, with 1994’s Brave. A concept album based on a story Steve heard about a girl found alone on a bridge and the police appeal to find out who she was and her family given she was unwilling to communicate with people. With a strong lyrical tale throughout the album, we follow the tale along and what happens at the end. This could vary if you brought the vinyl version as it was released with a double groove, allowing for two different endings (Happy or Sad) to be heard. There’s a lot to like about this album and certainly worth listening all the way through, which is how they initially toured it upon release.
Favourite Tracks: The Great Escape, Alone In The Lap Of Luxury, Living With The Big Lie, Goodbye To All That, Made Again, Hard As Love
Lease Favourite Track: Bridge
8. Script For A Jester’s Tear
At 8, we have the band’s debut album, Script For a Jester’s Tear. Drawing heavily on the prog influences of Peter Gabriel era Genesis, we are introduced to Marillion in the pomp and glory. Certainly not a radio single friendly album, with each track clocking in at over five minutes each, we’re taken through a variety of stories as Fish weaves his lyrical magic and Steve Rothery’s lush guitar work. Well received upon release and helping to usher in a new wave of prog music in the eighties, Marillion came out swinging, not afraid to show their inspirations at a time when prog was frowned upon as past its time.
Favourite Tracks: He Knows You Know, Forgotten Sons, Garden Party, Script For a Jester’s Tear
Least Favourite Track: Chelsea Monday
7. Seasons End
In at the magnificent seven, we have the album which introduced us to the voice of Steve Hogarth, Seasons End. After a tumultuous split with Fish after him telling the band to choose between him or their manager at the time, citing burnout from touring and a growing tension with Steve Rothery. The search began for a replacement, with Hogarth landing the role after deciding between touring with The The or taking the lead singer role permanently. With a different voice and tone from Fish, the new songs moved away from the previously concept based albums of the Fish era, and became more individual identifiable, touching on again a variety of influences, several taking reference from political issues at the time (The Berlin Wall, IRA bombings, Climate Change) which would remain a running constant with the band to this day.
Favourite Tracks: Seasons End, Easter, After Me, Hooks In You, The Space…, The Uninvited Guest
Least Favourite Track: Holloway Girl
6. Anoraknophobia
One for the fans, or Anoraks as we’re sometimes known, 2001’s Anoraknophobia was the first album to be crowdfunded after the band appealed to their fanbase to help them produce and release it, after having no record deal at the time. As such, the response proved incredibly successful and has been the way forward for the band til this day. The backers were named in the album sleeve and all received a copy as part of the process. Moving away from the progressive rock, they drew on a multitude of musical influences such as house, jazz, blues and trip hop, with the released tracks drawing comparisons to U2, Massive Attack and Radiohead. For me, when I first heard it, it took a while to grow on me, but since it’s become a favourite with many memorable tracks
Favourite Tracks: When I Meet God, This Is The 21st Century, Quartz, Seperated Out, If My Heart Were A Ball It Would Roll Uphill
Least Favourite Track: The Fruit Of The Wild Rose
5. Sounds That Can’t Be Made
As we draw nearer to the end, we come across 2012’s Sounds That Can’t Be Made. After a little slump in 2008 with Happiness Is The Road, the band come storming back to form with this excellent release. Returning to the neo prog roots, the majority of the songs are all six minutes or longer, with three exceeding ten minutes that again touch on a variety of topics including political and their fanbase. Each song has it’s own identity that takes you along for the proverbial ride, regardless of length. An album that very much requires repeat listening, you’ll find yourself recalling melodies long after it’s stopped spinning.
Favourite Tracks: Gaza, Power, Sky Above The Rain, Montréal, Pour My Love
Lease Favourite Track: Invisible Ink
4. Misplaced Childhood
At four, we have the bands most commercially successful album, Misplaced Childhood, which topped the UK album charts and had their most successful and best known single, Kayleigh. A concept album about love, loss and misspent youth, all from the mind of Fish whilst under the influence of LSD. All the songs relate to moments in Fish’s youth and are somewhat autobiographical in nature, though Kayleigh was the not her real name! An incredibly accessible album, you’ll be humming refrains that seem so familiar, and if you haven’t heard Kayleigh or Lavender, then shame!
Favourite Tracks: Kayleigh, Lavender, Blind Curve, Heart Of Lothian, Bitter Suite
Least Favourite Track: Waterhole (Express Bongo)
3. Clutching At Straws
In the bronze medal position, we have 1987’s Clutching At Straws, the final album to feature Fish on vocals and lyrics. Again tracing a concept, we follow Torch, who laments on his life with his failings as a father, an alcoholic and an unsuccessful singer. A lot can be read into the songs and Fish’s state of mind at the time, with the tour that followed leading to his departure as touched on earlier in the list. Featuring several singles that would chart well, its a dark trip into the troubled mind and a masterpiece that sometimes get criminally overlooked.
Favourite Tracks: Sugar Mice, Incommunicado, White Russian, Warm Wet Circles, That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)
Least Favourite Track: Just For The Record
2. An Hour Before It’s Dark
In the runners up spot, we have the band’s most recent release, coming out in early 2022, it’s an album that began recording in 2020 before the pandemic set in and as a result, a change of direction and theme occurred, with the band giving us an album full of hope, drama, loss and high emotion, you can’t help but be swept up in it. Through seven songs (four of which broken into respective parts), we’re taken on a journey of consumerism, the perils of closeness to loved ones during the pandemic, African exploitation and in perhaps one of their finest pieces ever written, a tribute to the workers in the NHS for the work they did and continue to do for us all. I saw them perform the album as a whole recently and it was a genuinely moving experience.
Favourite Tracks: Be Hard On Yourself, Murder Machines, Sierra Leone, Care
Least Favourite Track: Only A Kiss
1 . F E A R (Fuck Everyone And Run)
And finally, we have our number one entry, 2016’s F E A R. Ultimately, it could have gone either way with An Hour Before It’s Dark or F E A R, but it just nicks it. Where as An Hour is very much a COVID inspired tale, F E A R is more of a tale of doom, anger, politics and social injustice. Every track ebbs and flows with grace and beauty, but also as such with tracks like The New Kings, a piece about the corruption that big money and power brings, the lyrics bristle with anger and venom and how if not controlled, the less well off suffer at the hands of those with great wealth. A sonically brilliant album that takes your breath away from start to finish, it’s well worth you’re time and investment for a band that cares about what it does and those who want to listen
Favourite Tracks: El Dorado, Living In F E A R, The Leavers, The New Kings, White Paper
Least Favourite Track: Tomorrow’s New Country (And this is only because I have to pick one!)
So I hope you enjoyed this little list and maybe take some new tunes away to enjoy in your own time and maybe even delve a bit deeper into the discography. Of course, these kind of things are always up for debate and no word is set in stone, this is just how I feel about the music I enjoy. I shall return with another list in due course for you to delve into and peruse at your leisure.
Until then, I’ll catch you down the road…
Dan Dared 