What does it sound like?:
This album, originally released back in 1997, was the band’s ninth and their first after parting company with EMI. It’s now reissued in the same book format as previous efforts, with 4 cds plus a bluray and an informative 52 page book. The first cd has a new mix of the album, while the next two discs are devoted to a previously unreleased live show from Grand Rapids recorded in 1997. Disc four has a generous and comprehensive selection of B sides and bonus tracks, which are a welcome addition to any collection and it’s useful to have them all collected together in one place at last. The bluray, audio wise, along with the usual high resolution and surround mixes, has a further 25 tracks of jam sessions and early versions of the songs that ultimately appeared on the finished album. As with all these things, they are not something I would play on a regular basis but nevertheless it’s nice to know they’re there and to be able to trace the development of the songs over time. Finally the video element of the bluray encompasses an 85 minute documentary on the making of the album, a different live show running over two hours and a couple of promo videos for singles thrown in for good measure. This isn’t one of the band’s biggest sellers but I think it’s something of a neglected gem in their catalogue, with songs such as Man of a Thousand Faces and Estonia standing out. The highlight for me though is the epic title track, which Steve Hogarth wrote about his father – a real classic from this era of the band that still sounds great today. This is the first of three albums the band made before hitting on the crowdfunding idea that would serve them so well in the future, and a more comprehensive and well put together look at an album you will not find – highly recommended for fans of the band!
What does it all *mean*?
At around the thirty quid mark, this set is simply fantastic value for money, and is more than on a par with their earlier releases in this excellent series, rivalling those produced by Crimson and Tull in terms of content, care and overall quality. Other bands would do well to look at this before charging extortionate prices for their own deluxe editions.
Goes well with…
Christmas shopping – that gift for the Marillion fan in your life is now well and truly sorted – pop it in their stocking without any further delay!
Release Date:
Out now
Might suit people who like…
Great music and getting incredible value for money – I don’t know how they’ve done this for the price!
Thumbs up, BP. Marillion often produce generous box-sets, whereas others are a bleeding over-priced disgrace. No wonder they are so well-regarded by those who appreciate them. Pissy prog fans who rely on the same 50 albums from the early 70s really need to look at themselves and ask, “Is this progressive?”.
“Pissy prog fans”? I shall ask you to step outside, sir – and I’ll take my hat off!
“Not seeing that progressive means music after 1974, too”.
Oh, that’s all right then – I may hate and detest Marillion, but at least I like Zopp and Big Hogg and MoeTar and Knifeworld and… (cont’d pg 94)
Hating and detesting Marillion is bizarre.
The first 4 albums are some of the greatest ‘prog’ ever made.
100% right, and thanks to BP for the review.
TSE is a long way from my fave from the Marillos (that’s Fugazi, since you ask), but this packed set is ridiculously good value, and the new mix has made me see some of the songs in a new light.
The documentary was also eye-opening: the band were refreshingly honest about the tough circumstances they faced at the time – even though I’ve loved them since hearing Misplaced Childhood, I didn’t realise what dire straits they were in after leaving EMI.
The fact that they kept plugging away, maybe invented crowdfunding, and still turn out great albums deserves more credit than they receive.
So be it – I must be “bizarre”, then…
Give them another listen.
Script for a Jesters Tear as a stand alone track is marvellous.
Funnily enough, Marillion are one of of the few bands where I’ve left before the end of the gig…1983, Glasgow Pavilion, I think.
Peter Hammill was supporting and I paid the ticket money to see him (as a big VdGG fan). I’d never heard Marillion before, so it was all new to us.
We left about halfway through…
(Perhaps I should give them another listen, though…)
Zopp are superb!
Great band!
I have taken to removing my cold-weather ‘beanie’ hat of late in the manner of Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell, in the current BBC series, grasped from behind*, though when I do so, I lack a skullcap underneath.
* Moose, where art thou?
Yes! Where is the Christmas Moose of yesteryear?
My fave Marillion album.
Might give this a pop.