Script For A Jester's Tear [Remastered] - Marillion

Advantages: Marillion at their finest - original album with bonus CD full of extra content
Disadvantages: Not something you can put on in the background

...Marillion (named after Tolkiens book 'The Silmarillion') formed in 1979 in Aylesbury, England. They have recorded 14 albums and are classed as having two different era's - the Fish years and those following his departure with vocalist Steve Hogarth. Their initial sound was very akin to that of Genesis i.e. progressive but later became more commercial whilst still retaining a lot of its roots. 'Script for a Jester's tear' is their first studio album and came out at the end of some very intensive gigging in 1983 and features Fish on vocals (real name: Derek Dick - you can see why he chose to go by Fish). The remastered edition features all six tracks from the original vinyl version and comes with a bonus CD featuring B-sides and unreleased demos. CD1 - 'Script for a Jester's Tear' is the opening track and begins with just... Read review

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Advantages: heartfelt and emotive debut album
Disadvantages: can be a bit self indulgent

...With those opening lines my love affair with Fish era Marillion was ignited. It seem a life time ago, over twenty years, and Im still playing the album on a regular basis, to me that makes it a classic. Marillion fronted the new wave of progressive rock bands, the sons of Yes and Genesis, which included a host of other acts destined for immediate anonimity, Twelfth Night, Pendragon, IQ and Pallas, anyone remember them? Marillion were a breath of fresh air to an audience that had been bombarded with the cliche tail end of the punk scene and New Romantic style over content music. Yes they were self indulgent, the songs long winded, but there was an intelligence and use of emotion that tugged on the heart strings and brought a tear to the eye. The songs are stories and inveriably revolve around bedsit poets, unrequited love... Read review

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Advantages: A great representative selection of Marillion songs from the Fish years
Disadvantages: Not all tracks are easy listening. Don’t try and multi-task!

...’s poetic lyrics weaving rhythmic magic, until the musicians are playing full out. It’s a picture of the city set to music with overtones of a fairground ride. Lie back, close your eyes and let it take you over. ‘From the Time-Life-Guardians in their conscience bubbles Safe and dry in my sea of troubles Nine to five with suitable ties Cast adrift as their side-show, peepshow, stereo hero Becalm bestill, bewitch, drowning in the real’ ‘Script For a Jester’s Tear’ opens with some great memorable lyrics (and on this recording you can hear the audience singing along, and you probably will as well). But I’m afraid it’s not my favourite. It’s about being a loser in love. It’s a bit maudlin, and at over 8 minutes again, well… I think it goes on a bit… ‘So here I am once more in the playground of the broken hearts One more experience... Read review

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