FUGAZI

Review by ProgKidJoel

Marillion's FUGAZI album was their second studio release, and it is also my favourite. Although very 80's oriented, this album delivers on every front, from lyrics, to technical virtuosity to dynamics and recording. All of the tracks were excellent, particularly "Incubus" and the title track.

Tracks:

1. Assassing

One of Marillion's most solid album openers, the Anthemic ASSASSING opens with an odd mixture of Eastern music and keyboard effects. Flowing into a heavily 80's guitar riff, it never failed to fill a dance floor in '83. A great lyric carried this song, as did the great 80's sound. This was released as a single, although significantly shortened. This is one of my all time favourite Marillion songs.

[5 Stars out of 5]

2. Punch and Judy

The shortest track on the album, PUNCH AND JUDY was released as the other single on this album. Also very 80's, this song delivers an amusing lyric about a marriage gone wrong, aswell as a heavy rhythmic section under a tight keyboard riff. Also a great track, it's length and repetitiveness made this track a bit less attractive to me, truth be told. Still a great song, though.

[4.5 Stars out of 5]

3. Jigsaw

JIGSAW is a fan favourite from FUGAZI - A great guitar solo, bleedin' heart lyrics and an all round good track help this track to be one of the most memorable on the entire FUGAZI album. Rothery's guitar work on this track in particular were fantastic. The same can be said for the keyboard work and the vocals.

[4 Stars out of 5]

4. Emerald Lies

Another great track on this album, EMERALD LIES has an awesome bassline and a great guitar melody. Vocal dynamics were fantastic on this track, especially when listened to overly loud. The lyrics to this track were particularly clever. For example "Looking in shades of green through shades of blue". Shades of green meaning Green with envy, and Blue meaning sadness, this track is fantastic.

[4.5 Stars out of 5]

5. She Chameleon

A rather depressing track, this would be my least favourite from the album. A fairly simple organ track and a depressing lyric brought this track down, in my honest opinion. It's still a decent track, just not great in my opinion.

[3 Stars out of 5]

6. Incubus

A great track, albeit a little repetitive at the start. After 3:51, this track bursts into some of the best prog Marillion have ever played. A brilliant guitar solo follows, aswell as an inspiring outro, and help shapes this track into one of the best. One of the great things about this song was the use of a mass of different sounds - Very proggy rock, then slowish rock, a great guitar solo, then slow again, then fast. It's hard to keep up with, but give it attention, and it will play excellently.

[5 Stars out of 5]

7. FUGAZI

The title track from this album, and boy, did it deliver! Also crossing several types of rock, it opens with a great piano riff, and closes with a great 60's feeling hippie guitar riff and lyrics. This one has to be heard to be believed, and it really is fantastic if you believe in it. Once again, very 80's oriented for the most part. That being said, I love the 80's sound of FISH era Marillion, and this was some of their best. A solid range of dynamics and great guitar and keyboard work round this album out to create my favourite (And in my Opinion, the most solid) FISH era Marillion album. I can't more than reccomend this brilliant track.

[5 Stars out of 5]

Closing comments:

FUGAZI was, is, and may very well remain my favourite FISH era Marillion album. I'd highly reccomend this album, if only for ASSASSING and FUGAZI. I have the 2CD REMASTER edition, although if you already own B'SIDES THEMSELVES, I wouldn't bother with it. The demos were interesting, although at the core, just unrehearsed versions of otherwise brilliant songs.

Rating: [5 OUT OF 5 STARS] NOT AN AVERAGE.

I highly reccomend you pick this up, as soon as possible. Keep proggin'

-Joel

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