20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Island Unto Themselves, July 15, 2005
This review is from: Clutching at Straws (Spec) (Audio CD)
Marillion is one of rock's great undiscovered treasures, and it would almost be a shame for that to change at this point. Though they've been in existence for nearly 30 years and released well over a dozen studio albums, they've never approached a real commercial breakthrough in the States. Yet their shows here sell out, their appearances here are events, and their American fanbase is as tightly bound as any collection of Deadheads, a devout and diverse brethren who revel in their select citizenship on one of prog rock's little-known islands.
For the uninitiated, "Clutching At Straws" is an historically relevant and musically accessible place to dive into the pool and test the water. Released in 1987, this was Marillion's 4th album, and their last with the original singer, Fish. By '89 Steve Hogarth was manning the mike. Hogarth has gone on to lead the band far longer than his predecessor, yet there is a contingent of fans who cling to the "real" Marillion; Fish's Marillion. While I don't take it this far, I find this brand of devotion easy to understand whenever I revisit this album.
Like most of Marillion's work, "Clutching At Straws" is conceptual. Expanding the theme of growing up too fast that was at the core of 1985's "Misplaced Childhood," "Straws" examines the trappings of adulthood, responsibility, and the temptation to drown one's sorrows. The sleeve-art depictions of multiple artists who died young (including John Lennon, Dylan Thomas, and Lenny Bruce) would suggest that "Straws" is about the excesses of success, but a close listen to Fish's lyrics reveals an everyman story; the guy 'in his cups' at the end of the bar could be a millionaire, or he could be an out-of-work joe; alcoholism isn't picky.
From a musical standpoint, Marillion is definitely prog; complex and interweaving. Don't let that scare you away. This isn't musical showing off or shapeless wandering. What has always set Marillion apart in the prog universe is their adherence to song form and their ability to write beautiful music; some of it sad, some of it haunting, some of it heavy, all of it easy to love. Try this album, then try 1994's "Brave" as an introduction to the Hogarth era. That way, you will have heard (in my opinion) the best of both worlds, and you can decide for yourself if you want to take sides. Myself, I like the whole island.
Notes on the remaster: This is definitey worth the price. The bonus disc contains the seeds of material that would later end up on "Season's End" or in Fish's solo work. Plus it contains a different version of "Going Under" and also "Tux On," a very cool track originally available only as a B-side.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Like a mother's kiss on your first broken heart", April 17, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Clutching at Straws (Spec) (Audio CD)
Clutching at Straws is simply the best album ever released. So why not buy it again, remastered and with a bonus disc featuring very rare tracks. The seven previously unreleased on the second disc could have been the fifth masterpiece, but these songs were recently found on a twelve year old tape and now released on the bonus disc of Clutching at Straws, "like a wedding ring, lost in a kitchen sink or thrown in a wishing well". Listen to songs like Sunset Hill, Shadows on the Barley and you know where the inspiration comes from on the late Marillion and Fish albums. "If I had enough money, I'd buy a round for that boy over there, a companion in my madness in the mirror, the one with the silvery hair and if some kind soul could please pick up my broken heart". So buy it now and play it loud when you are alone. "I heard Sinatra calling me through the floorboards where you pay a quarter for a partnership in rhyme".
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fish bows out with "heart on his sleeve" masterpiece, February 3, 2006
This review is from: Clutching at Straws (Spec) (Audio CD)
Almost 20 years ago since this classic appeared in 1987. The first thing I heard from it was the single "Incommunicado" which I really enjoyed. The album appeared a few weeks later and at the time I really didn't understand a lot of the background about the album, I was however struck by the emotion of the lyrics and Fish's singing was as good as I had ever heard it. There were a number of very emotionally moving songs so beautifully sung by Fish and played by the band (Steve Rothery - Guitar, Mark Kelly - Keyboards, Ian Mosley - Drums and Pete Trewavas - Bass (who would also join up with Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Neal Morse (Spock's Beard) and Roine Stolt (Flower Kings) to form a superb "sideline" band called "Transatlantic" in 2001)).
The songs were written in a number of places all around the world (one presumes whilst Fish was with the band on tour) and it feels like Fish was telling a story from place to place about life on the road (eg alcohol and attempts to deal with it and the impact on life - in real time - check out "Just for the record" for starters). I think (when I'm in the "sit down and listen" mood) this is my favourite Marillion album, because it has a feel that is brutally honest, from the heart and sung with passion and 110% emotion (eg check out the opening suite of songs that merge so beautifully together - "Hotel Hobbies" / "Warm Wet Circles" / "That time of the night"), it really moves me like few other albums have (the closest might be Genesis - "Duke" in songs like "Duchess" and "Please don't ask"). Individually the songs are superb ("Sugar Mice" is just stunning), great hooks and melody and when played from start to finish they are just something else, like a book that is so good you just can't put it down.
In summary it's hard to single out any one song, they are all so good and the flow from one to another makes this a very very special album. This was to be Fish's last album with Marillion, he returned as a solo artist in 1990 with the excellent "Virgil in a Wilderness of mirrors".
I find this album to be a truly rewarding listening experience, it has so much emotion. I really enjoy it and hope you do as well.
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