Customer Reviews

Fugazi (Bonus CD) (Spec)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard this album (yes, album)when it first came out. "Assassing" held my attention; "Punch and Judy" made an immediate purchase necessary. Marillion is a band that can be listened to on two different levels. On one hand, one can superficially listen to a very emotional vocalist spouting dark poetry, backed by a superb back up band with a clean, clean guitar, passionately soloing. On the other hand, if you sit down with the lyrics (sometimes, not entirely accurate), you can find deeper, hidden meaning within lyrics worthy of study at a College level English class.
Unlike, "Jester's Tear", which has some high points but which I find to be uneven, "Fugazi" has no low points. Each song is a finely crafted mini-opera. I would personally love to see a director take each song and craft a video for them. The subject matter is a dark view of relationships with women and the hardships they cause. Feminists beware, at this period Fish holds women in very low esteem. The only song not about relationships is the first, which is a slice of 80's upwardly mobile life, where you shove, walk and kill to get ahead. If the subject matter is a little dated, Rothery's guitar makes up for it.
In closing, Marillion fans are torn over vocalists, Fish versus Hogarth. Each has his admirers/detractors; this is one of the two finest moments for Fish. The other is "Clutching at Straws" a sobering and revealing look back at life through the bottom of a bottle.

The mid '80s were an interesting time for pop music. Some bands let keyboards drive them (Eurythmics) and some bands let their guitars do the talking (Big Country). During this same period, prog rock experienced something of a revival. And Gabriel era Genesis inspired Marillion led the way. With musicians par excellence (Steve Rothery - guitar, Pete Treavus - bass, Ian Mosely - drums, and Fish - vocals) they really took off, at least in England. In america, the best they could muster was an opening slot for Rush on the Power windows tour.

Fugazi is the middle album of a trilogy and represents the first record by the classic lineup with Mosely having replaced Mick Pointer on drums. An album of politics, blaring guitars, and heavy keyboard interludes, this album grabs you by the shirt. Where Script was uneven and Childhood bombastic, this album was much more succinct. That said, Script and Childhood are also musts, but this one is my favorite....The song Incubus is CLASSIC

I was surprised to see only 3 previous customer reviews for this album. I first discovered Marillion when I found the vinyl LP "Script for a Jester's Tear" at my local used record shop, back in my teen years. I'd never heard of them but the album art and themes just grabbed my attention, and needless to say that record is a classic. I think Fugazi must have already been out because I found it shortly thereafter in the same record shop. I was already a fan when "Misplaced Childhood" was released and I was fortunate enough to see the band twice on the U.S. tour for that monumental album. And I saw them again for "Clutching at Straws". I do prefer the Fish era, but I liked some of Steve Hogarth's work with the band too, it just changed a bit too much for my tastes and it departed from what had drawn me to Marillion in the first place. "Fugazi" in many ways is an ending...it has such moody, downbeat material that the next record couldn't possibly have been any darker, and then they delivered the magnificent "Misplaced Childhood". The first two albums mark Phase 1 and the latter two mark Phase 2 of the Fish era. I think "Fugazi" is generally the least-heralded of the Fish-era Marillion albums and this is a shame, because it's fantastic. If you have any interest in Marillion and you are not familiar with this album, check it out. You won't regret it.

Fugazi was one of my least favorite Marillion albums - that was until I really began to listen to it. Less immediately catchy than Misplaced Childhood or even Clutching at Straws, Fugazi holds some of Fish's most poignant lyrics and the music is often subtle - exactly what the songs call for. I would never have thought that a lyric including the words "cold linolium" could be touching. Fish and Marillion make it so.

Outstanding example of progressive rock. First album still the best, but this is a close second. A must for Marillion fans.

Um bom disco que mereceu a remasterização de qualidade. Vale à pena também o CD bônus que traz coisas diferentes. Esta edição é especial e para quem gosta da banda, não pode faltar. Não é o melhor disco da banda, mas não deixa de ser bom.

This is a must-have for all fans of Marillion. Great music and very addictive :). BTW, this particular album edition has two CDs - one original and the other one with remixed songs so you cannot go wrong buying it. 5 starts plus one extra

I read a review of this record in a magazine. I thought why would any band attempt to sound like old Genesis? The cover reminded me of some Jim Morrison poetry, too. So I bought it. Fugazi was my first Marillion record. I loved it. Particularily "Assassing." They sounded hard edged and pissed off on this record. Prior and subsequent releases softened a bit. But not the scope of poetry and sombre tones and dramatic song cycles. Each of the first four Marilion records are slightly different but all are rewarding. This is not their best record or masterpiece. IMO that belongs to "Misplaced Childhood." But this a personal fave, I guess it's my "number two" for best Marillion release. All the tracks are good and the lyrics to Assassing and Incubus still cut and inspire. Who said Progressive rock died in 1975? (I think it was Robert Fripp, wasn't it?)

This LP was a gift to my brother. I think he was pleased with it. He since, has passed, so I'm glad I made him happy when I did.

I am not exactly sure what it is about this album, but for me it was a bit of a letdown after the band's stunning debut "Script For A Jesters Tear". "Fugazi" remains my least favorite album of the Fish years. Fish was (and still is) known for his incredibly complex yet poetic lyrics. On this album he seems to get a bit over the top and really go a bit too far at times. All that being said this is still a good album and well worth owning if you are a fan of the band. It is probably Marillion's heaviest album from a musical perspective with much of it hard driving and aggressive. The subject matter is mainly about relationships with Fish at his most cynical. Fish was obviously coming off of a failed relationship and some of the songs here "Punch And Judy", "Emerald Lies", "She Chameleon" and "Incubus" get downright nasty in spots. Women beware Fish was obviously in a bad mood when he wrote most of this stuff. The opening track "Assasing" and the closing track "Fugazi" find the band in rocking form, but neither song rank up with Marillion's best in my opinion. As mentioned earlier "Fugazi" is my least favorite of the Fish year, but there is still much to like here and I rate it a solid 4 star.