Marbles

Marillion | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dead Ringer
• ASIN: B0002Y4TM4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,503 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Invisible Man

2. Marbles I

3. You're Gone

4. Angelina

5. Marbles II

6. Don't Hurt Yourself

7. Fantastic Place

8. Marbles III

9. Drilling Holes

10. Marbles IV

11. Neverland

12. Don't Hurt Yourself [*][Multimedia Track]

Editorial Reviews

Marbles was originally released on the band's own Racket Records label and attracted a lot of attention when it was released as the album had been funded by donations from fans who had pre-ordered the album before they started recording in return for having their name printed within the album artwork (over 18,000 names). This new 2CD Madfish edition of the album is packed in a deluxe 36 page digibook re-worked by original designer Carl Glover. The book features unseen pictures not used in the original artwork. The tracks on the second disc have previously only been available through the band's own website. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Uncompromising, beautiful and truly progressive, March 22, 2006

By 

Rhett Redelings "R-Three music | r3music.com" (Kentfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marbles (Audio CD)

In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm a lifer when it comes to Marillion. I discovered them with Misplaced Childhood, and have been a fan ever since. I own some of Fish's solo albums and all of the Steve Hogarth-era Marillion albums and even a couple of non-Marillion Steve Hogarth albums. I've proudly pre-ordered Marillion's last two studio albums (Marbles and Anoraknophobia) and I own a few of their DVD's. Bottom line is: They change, they grow and somehow they keep making beatiful, honest and powerful music and I keep enjoying it. I don't love every album or embrace every song they put out, but I still count myself as one of their fans.

Marillion isn't a "progressive rock band" in the 1970's sense because unlike most "progressive" bands that (paradoxically) don't progress, Marillion actually has. They make pop songs, they make rock songs and they make long, epic songs that can take the listener on powerful emotional journeys. Every album is different, while still capturing some degree of that classic "Marillion sound". That "sound" is all over Marbles, but this album isn't a retrogressive "progressive" rock album.

Marbles is progressive rock in the sense that the band has evolved over the years, and the music itself, a kind of rock, progresses from moment to moment, often defying traditional song structures in favor of a more cinematic approach to composition. There are a few pop songs on this album, and they're quite good. But most Marillion fans aren't interested in the radio singles, they're interested in the big, epic songs and there are more than a few on Marbles.

But you don't need to be a music major to enjoy this music. All you really need is an open mind and a heart. There are no keyboard solos that make you think progressive rock should be an Olympic sport and there are few jarring turns or pretentious, self indulgient passages. In fact, part of what makes Marbles an amazing album is that while there is masterful musicianship going on, the music is so easy on the ears that what you notice is how lovely the songs are, not how skilled the musicians are.

If you're a Marillion fan who lost the thread at some point, Marbles has many classic Marillion sounding moments. It's as strong musically and emotionally as Brave, but the songs stand up better by themselves. Marbles combines the best elements of Misplaced Childhood, Afraid of Sunlight, Brave and Anoraknophobia into an album with no weak moments. I would say "Marillion is back", but really, they never left.

If you're a Fish devotee, give Marbles a try. Steve Hogarth is an honest and powerful singer and a strong lyricist. What he might lack (in comparison to Fish) in vocabulary or clever turns of phrase, he makes up for with a stronger melodic sense, and lyrics that are both specific enough to be true, but non-specific enough to allow room for other people to find themselves in them. Besides, the Fish vs. H argument is kind of done, isn't it?

If you're not a Marillion fan, but you enjoy Crowded House/Finn Brothers/Neil Finn or Tim Finn, you'll find something to love on Marbles. If you enjoy Coldplay, Peter Gabriel, Pink Floyd or even Radiohead, you'll likely find something to enjoy here too. In fact, if you like great music made by a real band with real musicians, go get yourself some Marbles. You won't be sorry.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another very good record from a great band, May 31, 2004

By 

Bubba-saur - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marbles (Audio CD)

Marbles is a sprawling 2 CD work of catchy melodies, ambient keyboards and intricate guitars that grows on the listener over time. Like other Marillion albums, it ranges from pop ditties (You're Gone, Don't Hurt Yourself) to intricate, extended 'head' pieces such as Invisible Man, Ocean Cloud, and Neverland. The 'glue' binding it are four short number (Marbles I, II, III & IV) strategically placed to segue the varied material together. This makes the whole thing sound and feel like a concept record. Fortunately, the typical concept record excess is absent.

Patient listeners will be rewarded with many high points. Invisible Man, Fantastic Place, Ocean Cloud, Marbles III, and Neverland are five of the finest songs they've put to CD in 10 years or more. Don't Hurt Yourself is about as catchy as they come and could pass for Oasis. However, I tend to skip over 'Damage' on disk 2 - it's chorus ('who let the Genie out of the box/ did you let the Genie out of the box?') is annoying and too reminiscent of 'Genie' from disk 1.

As to be expected the performances are top shelf. Steve Hogarth's ability to convey the emotions of his lyrics are tremendous. Steve Rothery's guitars echo Hogarths' emotions and are never overly flashy or excessive. The exceptional rhythm section of Ian Mosley and Pete Trewavas are extremely tight and criminally overlooked in rock circles.

Bonus material contained on the deluxe 2 CD set available through www.marilllion.com is worth the extra 8 Quid - the song 'Ocean Cloud' alone is worth the extra dough.

My only serious gripe with Marbles is the quality of the recording. While it is crisp, it lacks serious dynamics and seems somewhat over-compressed. Furthermore, high frequencies sound rolled-off. While these weakenesses may not be noticed by a casual listener, they're evident when compared to 'Afraid of Sunlight', a 10 year old recording.

Again, this is a very good record. Patient listeners will be rewarded with many spectacular moments.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a Marillion Masterwork, June 14, 2004

By 

PositiveLastAction (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marbles (Audio CD)

I pre-ordered the campaign edition directly from Racket Records with my expectations high, as the band touted this latest effort to be a "peach" of an album. When I recieved my copy, the CD box artwork was stunning to say the least but it paled in comparison to the music within: Marbles is probably the most clever Marillion work, with such diverse use of every band members talents. Like most Marillion albums, Marbles requires many listens to fully appreciate the complexity and beauty of their music. Favorite songs are replaced and then become favorites again, only to be replaced by other tracks. On 1st listen, I was struck by 'Geenie', then by 'Neverland'(beautiful anthematic final track) and now I find 'Don't Hurt Yourself' to be one of my favorites. Some tracks on Marbles are musical "worlds within themselves", such as "Invisable Man" (clever use of synths and organ near the end) and "Ocean Cloud"...this is signiture Marillion. Other songs venture into new ground such as the single "youre gone", having more of a U2 feel, however vastly better both musically and vocally. While I am trepidatious to call any one Marillion album my favorite, I consider this to be a masterwork. The cherry on top of all this is that Marillion have just announced a North American tour!!!