Clutch at Straws [Original recording remastered]

Marillion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 22, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Sbme Castle Us
• ASIN: B00005UKM1
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #603,535 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Hotel Hobbies

2. Warm Wet Circles

3. That Time of the Night (The Short Straw)

4. Going Under

5. Just for the Record

6. White Russian

7. Incommunicado

8. Torch Song

9. Slainte Mhath

10. Sugar Mice

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Incommunicado [Alternative Version][Alternate Take]

2. Tux On

3. Going Under [Extended Version]

4. Beaujolais Day [#]

5. Story From a Thin Wall [#]

6. Shadows on the Barley [#]

7. Sunset Hill [#]

8. Tic-Tac-Toe [#]

9. Voice in the Crowd [#]

10. Exile on Princes Street [#]

See all 12 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Package for a Great Album, January 23, 2002

By 

Vaughan (Brentwood, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clutch at Straws (Audio CD)

Though I am gradually beginning to appreciate some of the work from the present-day lineup, Marillion were a lot more interesting with Fish (Derek Dick) at the helm, in my opinion. I find it grievous to have to admit that the original lineup will most likely never reform (per Fish's comments found in the inlay of the remastered Clutching at Straws album viewed on this page). Note to the reader: There is a good reason why I'm sharing my personal bias with you. Read on.

First of all, the job of remastering and generally cleaning up the original CAS album is quite good. One should listen to this album with headphones. You can hear Kelly passionately striking the keys to "Warm Wet Circles" with crystal clarity, which makes that moment all the more profound, honest and beautiful. The sound of the rest of the album is improved to provide the listener with a noticeable difference in clarity compared to the former CD transfers.

If you like Clutching at Straws, you must get this set.

Secondly, to call the second CD "interesting" would be a gross understatement. Seven of the tracks are from either the Clutching at Straws sessions or the 88' sessions with Fish (when they were laboring over making another album). You'll find a recognizable guitar solo in "Beaujolais Day", familiar Fish lyrics (and a really good song) within "Story From a Thin Wall" and what I think is one of those rare simple songs that works so well simply because it's 'so sincere' (to borrow from Gentle Giant), "Exile on Princes Street." And there's more...get it.

Although I love this CD, it always leaves me a bit depressed. When I listen, I can't help but wonder what Marillion could have done had Fish not left the band. It does, however, give me a better understanding and appreciation of the second Marillion lineup (with Hogarth). No longer will I wonder how the band went the direction it did after the departure of Fish.

I met Fish once. Very strange and complex person. I didn't really know how to take him, to be honest. I did see a sincerity in him and can say that he's a good guy. Still waiting for him to once again fuse that passion and potential with the great band called Marillion.

I can dream, can't I?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the band's best, May 15, 2003

By 

Rodrigo Llamozas (the last cubicle at the end of the hall...) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Clutch at Straws (Audio CD)

I'm always changing my mind as to whether I prefer this record or 'Misplaced childhood'. In the end, they're equally great and different enough not to cancel each other out.

This was Fish's last recording with the band (they had a not so friendly breakup after it), and surely demonstrates how the band matured. They'd always been considered as masters performing their instruments, and Fish's lyrics were like poetry, but it was in this album that they seemed to gel more perfectly and come together completely. While it's not a 'concept' album, themes of depression, abandonment, darkness, and failure all have their place in it and are intertwined throughout. It shows them at their 'pop-est' with 'Incommunicado' (talks about celebrity and its effects), their most introspective with 'Sugar mice' (divorce) and their most mentally troubled with 'Going under' and 'Torch song'. It also includes one of their crowd favorites, 'Slainte Mhath' and one of their all time classics in 'Warm wet circles', as well as 'White russian'.

As for disc two, it includes a series of outtakes and demos of what was to become their fifth studio album (didn't happen). It is really interesting, not only for the chance of listening to never released material, but for the fact that it's a strange mixture of the band's first album with Steve Hogarth (h) as lead vocalist (Seasons end) and of Fish's first solo album (Vigil in a wilderness of mirrors). It's very trippy to listen to the music of Marillion songs, while hearing Fish's solo lyrics...

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Final Act with Fish - A Superb One!, December 23, 2004

By 

Heitor Manuel "incommunicado" (Lisboa, Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clutch at Straws (Audio CD)

I believe it's never easy for a band the return to studio after an album with such a success and acclamation as 1985' masterpiece "Misplaced Childhood" had. Marillion were no exception to that. As the big poet tells on the booklet, he had a different view from the rest of the band about the course Marillion should take from then on. As an ultimate consequence of this disunion never solved, Fish would take the decision to leave the band during the "Clutching At Straws" promotion tour. Joining these facts with Fish's difficult period at the time ("And my advise is if you maintain this lifestyle, you won't reach 30" - as Dr. Finlay warns in the "Torch Song"), it's even more significant that their fourth studio album resulted so perfectly, at the same level of quality as their previous 3 original studio records.
Back in the year of release (1987), it was not difficult for Marillion to get the proper promotion everywhere. "Incommunicado", the 1st single that came out of the album, marked my entrance to their music - making it eternally special for me. Not the traditional Marillion sounding but with Fish's sense of humour well present on the lyrics - and also on the video.
The sequence of the first 3 tracks, Hotel Hobbies - Warm Wet Circles - That Time of the Night, is in my opinion the best opening of a Marillion album. Warm Wet Circles is in fact one of the most beautiful songs I've ever known in my life... just as "Sugar Mice". Lyrics with such sensitivity and power only a few can match with, and music at the same level of accomplishment. "White Russian", "Slainte Mhaht" and "The Last Straw" can also be gathered by the lyrics' direction - an expression of Fish's discontent over different aspects of the society. All these 3 songs are great and resulted very well live. "Going Under" and "The Torch Song" can also be gathered but for one sad reality on Fish's life those days - the alcohol among other things. "Just For The Record" is the only song I don't rate at the same level of all others.
Finally, one last thing: the 2CDs special version is highly recommended in this case, with lots of previously unreleased material from the band I enjoy the most.