Marillion's Brave: A Classic or Overblown Mess?

iluvmarillion wrote: Since everybody wants to talk about Marbles as well, in my opinion both are classics. Elevator music is an insult to Marbles. I come from a different angle because I first bought the Marbles single disc. As good as people rave about Ocean Cloud I much prefer the single disc to the double album. Not a weak spot anywhere. Masterpiece in my view. Brave doesn't quite reach the same heights as Marbles. Some flat spots although it's difficult to say what if any songs detract from the album. Perhaps lyrically their best album and fantastic concept if you're into concepts. The Great Escape is up there with their best songs.

So I had another listen to it a few days ago to see if my opinion had changed in 15 years (it really has been that long!) . First of all its 71 minutes long . Wow that did surprise me and they did play the whole thing at the St Davids Hall gig back in the 90's. My issue is still the same - no real memorable songs. However I'm missing the point as usual as its basically one very long song and that was the point. It flows perfectly and Hogarth sings as well as any time in his career and has a truly beautiful voice. It definitely has a reason for existing and will permanently divide opinion , but that's nothing against it. However I would prefer to listen to 5 other Marillion H era albums before it and it probably would scrape into my personal Marillion Top Ten. Different folks different strokes. BTW I wish people would just give opinions rather than snipe at other people for not saying what they want to hear , oh well okay it is Progarchives 

Edited by richardh - January 30 2021 at 01:22

Sean Trane wrote: SteveG wrote: There's many pro and con opinions. Please state yours and why. when I first heard it, I was "underwhelming blown away". I had hated everything Steve H  prior to it (not that I was a huge fan of all the Fish era either >> I only really liked Script), but this was musically very strong. Soooo, I spinned Brave (borrowed never bought) quite a few times and even managed to see the movie once (hardly any internet back then), and thought it was quite good - which was quite a feat as I didn't like neo-prog or plaintive/whinny vocals. I don't think I could spin it nowadays without cringing f-heavily and would probably pop it out after one or two tracks.

I still haven't seen the movie. I was always afraid that it would resemble a 70 minute long video.

I can honestly say I've completely forgotten Brave. No one track stood out for me. I'll have to give it another go. I just remember thinking it was unnecessarily long, and quite depressing.

Let me put it this way:

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Brave is decent album, maybe 3.5 stars. It's got good moments. It's neither a classic nor a mess.I used to listen to it much more (say 15 years ago) than now. I hardly ever listen to it now, or only listen to a few songs. Of all the albums from the first to Radiation, I'd put this in the lower third of the ranked albums. It's as overrated in the Hogarth catalog as Misplaced Childhood is (to me) in the Fish catalog.


Edited by Boojieboy - January 19 2024 at 17:28

Hi,

Edited by moshkito - February 16 2024 at 03:35

richardh wrote: there is a certain 'fascism' and snobbery about classical music that I hate anyway. Admittedly this can translate to 'progressive rock' as well (no name no pack drill )

Oh yes! I agree! Especially progressive electronic! The hardcore progressive electronic snobs will defend even the biggest smelly turd shat out by the almighty Klaus Schmaltze and glorify that pointless early Tangerine Dream racket (the Phaedra, Rubycon, Stratosphear etc. era stuff) no matter how cringeworthy and bland sounding. I mean, yeah. I'm not the target listener for progressive electronic. You got it! ;)

essexboyinwales wrote: For me it’s a classic, and sits in my top 3 Marillion albums with MC and CAS. I love a concept album and this is a great one - it’s moody, it’s dark, it’s atmospheric….and it has The Great Escape, one of Marillion’s very finest moments😎😎😎