Customer Reviews

Internal Exile

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

 

 

Fish's self-proclaimed "collection of songs" second solo release is just that, but it's a collection of songs worth giving a few listens. It contains perhaps his strongest post Marillion song in "Credo" and perhaps his weakest: "Favourite Stranger." At the time, Fish was struggling with his old record company (EMI), trying to retrace some of his musical roots and rediscovering "Scottish Nationalism." All of these themes surface somewhere on this record. It is probably the most ecclectic (and easiest to get into) selection that the scaled-one has ever put out. A remaster exists out there as a European import, and the two bonus tracks ("Carnival Man" & "Poet's Moon") are worth the extra $7 to $10 you may have to spend on it. They are both excellent tracks. While IE could heve benefited from a more focused thematic approach and less whining about record deals and executives (stuff that most average listeners won't relate to or care about), it has some very fine lyrics, musicianship, production and songwriting scattered all over it. Recommended.

All through high school and college I was a huge fan of Marillion, so I was crushed when Fish left the band. I love his lyrics and storytelling ability. At that time it was difficult to get Marillion releases due to where I live, so Fish albums were scarce. Internal Exile was the first Fish album I got - I missed Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors and only got it years later. Personally, I like this album more than "Vigil". That may be because Internal Exile has two of my favorite Fish songs, Shadowplay and Just Good Friends. Also, the album as a whole reminds me of Clutching At Straws(my favorite Marillion album). As others have mentioned, the playing on the album is very strong and while not quite being the guys from Marillion - they are very good.

Song Highlights include: Shadowplay, Credo, Just Good Friends, Lucky and Internal Exile.

Internal Exile continues Fish's tradition of great storytelling and is simply a great piece of progressive rock.

The best thing for Marillion fans who are sick of the new and "improved" version of the band. Fish returns with his best work since Misplaced Childhood and offers up some real ear candy.

"Exile" was a bit of a letdown for me. After his strong solo debut album Fish gets some heavyweight musicians to help him out on this one including Robin Boult (Robert Plant), and David Paton (Alan Parsons Project) along with his main writing partner from the first album Mickey Simmonds, but overall I found this album to be a significant step down from his first one. The songs are a bit more straightforward here seeming to move away from progressive rock into a more commercial direction. This is not necessarily a bad thing in and of itself, but there is just something lacking in a lot of these tracks that is hard to put one's finger on. "Shadowplay", "Just Good Friends", "Credo" "Favorite Stranger", "Tongues", and a cover of Thunderclap Numan's "Something In The Air" are all decent songs I guess, but are not up to material Fish has released previously. There are some highlights on the disc however. "Lucky" has some of Fish's most biting lyrics and social commentary. "Dear Friend" is an interesting tune which finds Fish composing a letter to his younger self back in the early days of Marillion. It sounds a bit corny, but it works as the "mature" Fish looks back at the immature Fish of his youth. The title track "Internal Exile" is probably the best track on the disc both lyrically and musically. The song turns into a full Celtic romp at the end and has been a highlight of Fish's live shows for years. Overall "Exile" is a decent enough album, but I think he has done significantly better ones over the course of his solo career.

you either Love FISH or you don't. it's that simple. those of us here in the United States who have been lucky enough to catch this underpromoted musical genius doing his thing have been rewarded.

Internal Exile was Fish's second solo album, and it is a bit more mature then it's predecesser. He strteches out on the excellent opening track SHADOWPLAY and takes the listener on a good ride for the next 50 or so minutes.

I love FISH as a performer. He doesn't care about the trappings of the music biz. He does his own thing in his own time. Support this much maligned and underappreciated artist while serving yourself to an enjoyable musical experience.

After he left Marillion when they are the best modern prog band, he gave us a great solo album: Vigil. Internal Exile is his second solo album and is too great, maybe not as Vigil, but contains as always, great words and music. All Marillion fans must have Fish's solo albums, he is the modern prog greatest talent.

A wonderful album with engaging lyrics and great music. This is the kind of recording you can listen to over and over without tiring of it. All of you Marillion fans out there, if you havent already found this, you must do so. You will be very pleasently surprised. The title track is a thought-provoking commentary on the state of Scotland today that you cant help but sing along with. A must-have for any Marillion and Fish fan.

"A lion sleeps in a tenement close, in a country that is tired and deaf to its roar."