Seasons End [Original recording remastered, Import]

Marillion, Andrew Fc Bayern & White, Andrew White | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 25, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Caroline Records/Emi
• ASIN: B000005RPT
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,416 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The King of Sunset Town

2. Easter

3. The Uninvited Guest

4. Seasons End

5. Holloway Girl

6. Berlin

7. After Me

8. Hooks in You

9. The Space...

Disc: 2

1. The Uninvited Guest (12' Version)

2. The Bell in the Sea

3. The Release

4. The King of Sunset Town

5. Holloway Girl

6. Seasons End

7. The Uninvited Guest

8. Berlin

9. The Bell in the Sea

Editorial Reviews

Limited 180gm vinyl LP repressing (in gatefold sleeve) of this 1989 album from the British Prog Rock band, their first album with vocalist Steve Hogarth. Features the singles "Hooks In You", "The Uninvited Guest" and "Easter". --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginning and end of eras, July 11, 2003

By 

John Dunphy (Red Bank, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seasons End (Audio CD)

For many longtime fans, the departure of vocalist Fish (Derek W. Dick) and the introduction of current vocalist Steve Hogarth in 1989 marked the end of Marillion as they knew it. In many ways, they were right. Unfortunately, too many of them believed that the end of Marillion as they knew it was also the end of Marillion. However, for those that have hung on for the ride to this day, we know it was not. Marillion have been able to advance and progress in such ways that we are amazed and delighted with each successive release. They have been able to combine their early Progressive Rock leanings with Rock and Roll, Hard Rock, Jazz, even Dub, while never abandoning the distinctive sound that makes them unmistakably Marillion. But, for as far as they have come, they needed to start somewhere; at the beginning.

Season's End is truly the beginning and end of eras. It marked Hogarth's first appearance with the band and yet, it still had the feeling of a Fish-era release. From the original logo appearing (for the last time), to the music (which was primarily written prior to Fish's departure), it was still concretely within the older sound. However, Hogarth (along with co-lyricist John Helmer) brought something new to the table.

Never being one that was entrenched deeply in the Fish camp, I have always considered many of Hogarth's (and often enough, Helmer's) lyrics to be sheer brilliance, and many of the band's finest appear on Season's End. "Easter" is without a doubt a classic, with it's soft acoustic base that leads into a triumphant extended solo and Hogarth's passionate, beautiful lyrics, it's enough to make a person cry.

"The Uninvited Guest" recalls some of the earlier Marillion, "Incommunicado" specifically, as its a little more upbeat, a little more goofy, but no less poingant.

The title track is still one of my all-time favorite Marillion tracks. Being an environmentally conscious person, I understand what is happening to our world, and Marillion does too. They later on went in another direction on this issue with their bitingly sarcastic "Under the Sun" from Radiation in 1998.

"The Space..." ends the album. The feeling on this one is truly as the lyrics represent it: a dark world, a car, a life spinning out of control. Here again does the band as a whole figure out how to effectively blend words and music to create such a solid and convincing image.

Season's End is still high on my list of all-time favorite Marillion releases. It has a little of the old and a little of the new that allowed for many of the fans to stay on board. Unfortunately, a lot of them left when the band went the way of something bordering commercialization (for only one album) with Holiday's In Eden in 1991. But, this should be a wake up call for those new and old to the band: they are still here and they are still amazing. If you aren't convinced, pick up at least one album, maybe Anoraknophobia in 2001, This Strange Engine in 1997, or this one, they are all fine examples as to why Marillion really is one of the greatest bands in the world.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Much Better Than I'd Expected, March 22, 2006

By 

Michael Askounes (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Season's End (Audio CD)

I remember picking up this CD before knowing that Fish had been replaced (Marillion info in the states was hard to come by back then...). "Who the heck is that singing?!?!" was my first reaction, but after I got past the shock I realized that most of the songs on this CD are very good indeed.

"King of Sunset Town" is a nice opener - nothing terribly overwhelming, but a promising start. I like the long intro...

"Easter" is a Marillion classic - Hogarth's voice suits the music style perfectly. Rothery plays beautiful 12-string guitar, and Mark Kelly adds some delicate piano to top things off. The outro is vintage Marillion, with some great backing vocals adding to the richness of the song and its message.

"The Uninvited Guest" is a throwaway in my opinion, the lyrics are sort of silly and Hogarth shows (not for the last time) that he's sort of out of his element singing a rocker. A lesson that is unfortunately reinforced later in the CD.

"Season's End" is almost the mirror of "The Uninvited Guest" - everything that is wrong with Hogarth there is right with Hogarth here. This song and "The Space" showcases H's vocals best on this CD, and the chorus is just beautiful - great chord changes that make your hair stand on end. I LOOVVE the cool outro as well.

"Holloway Girl" falls into the "mediocre" pile. Nice bass bit by Pete to start things off, but the emotion that Marillion tries to pull of just doesn't work. And for a band that thrives on emotion in both its vocal delivery and its musical structure that's not a good thing. They tried to swing for the fences here, but didn't make contact.

"Berlin" gets a lot of bad press, but I think it's a great song. Really nice melody, and a chorus that just jumps up and punches you right in the heart. Another great outing for Hogart on the vox, and some classic Marillion delayed guitar from Rothery. I'm not terribly sold on the sax in the song, but I generally don't like horn sections in my rock music anyhow. Besides, the arpeggiated guitar behind the sax solo is amazing and is where my attention goes during the middle eight.

"After Me"... well, they could've left this one off, couldn't they have? Just sort of THERE. Marillion by numbers... and Hogarth gets a little too melodramatic for my tastes (which is something I've felt he does often).

"Hooks in you" is just 80's rock rubbish. Everything that was wrong with "The Uninvited Guest" is doubled here... Hogarth just can't rock out. This also begins a disturbing thread in Marillion's history - the desperation of Marillion to deliver singles that will get airplay. This ain't what Marillion does best.

"The Space" serves as a great comeback and the near KO that "Hook In you" almost brings. GREAT keys from Kelly, and some of the most subtle and understated (and I mean that in a good way) guitar that Rothery's delivered as a member of the band. Marillion saves the best for last on this CD, and the fantastic outro leaves you wanting more.

I understand that some of the songs on this CD were born when Fish was still in the band, and some of his stylings are apparent. "Seasons End" sort of straddles the line between Marillion Past and Marillion Future, and - despite a few missteps - delivers what for the most part is a very solid album.

That said, this also marks the CD where Marillion changed from a "great band" to just a "very good band", and they've never quite reclaimed that level after Fish departed. As is apparent with their efforts after the break, Fish and Marillion needed each other...

For post-Fish Marillion, I'd say this is a good place to start. I'd also pick up "Radiation" (GREAT guitar work, even though I know I'm in the minority) and "Anoraknophobia" (the "new" Marillion really hits stride here with some great songs).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To lose, to gain..., March 19, 2001

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Season's End (Audio CD)

Marillion fans must have been freaked out when the band brought in Steve Hogarth to replace the idiosyncratic Fish. It seemed that the band was toast when Fish took off, taking his uniquely expressive voice and his amazing poetic faculty with him.

But Hogarth's first outing with the band collectively removed most fans' apprehensions. Although Hogarth lacked Fish's poetic abilities, he suited the band perfectly with his fine vocal abilities and remarkable emotional expression. The music is the classic neo-progressive stuff that the band does so well, and the band retains its ability to touch the listener in myriad ways. Hogarth-Marillion's lyrical subjects are less personal than Fish's, and tackle social issues (like "Easter," which implores for peace in Ireland, or the title track, which explores environmental spoliation in a pretty way), but they are emotionally intuitive nonetheless. The album is perfect if one disregards the retch-inducingly bad "Hooks In You," which just plain sucks (fortunately it's less than three minutes long). Rothery's solos are as elegant and emotive as ever, and Kelly's keyboards add an important layer of beauty to the songs.

There's song highlights aplenty. If you make a CDR without "Hooks In You," you get one of Marillion's best albums, from either era.