5 ALBUM SET

"5 Album Set" is a compilation album of Marillion that was released in 2013. It's a special compilation, an economic package that has only albums that belong to Fish's era. It includes their debut studio album "Script For A Jester's Tear" from 1983, their second studio album "Fugazi" from 1984, their debut live album "Real To Reel" also from 1984, their third studio album "Misplaced Childhood" from 1985 and their fourth studio album "Clutching At Straws" from 1987.

"Script For A Jester's Tear": "Script For A Jester's Tear" and "Misplaced Childhood" are probably the two best studio albums of Marillion in Fish's era. Nobody can't deny the importance of "Script For A Jester's Tear", in those times, for progressive rock. In a certain way "Script For A Jester's Tear" was as important as "In The Court Of The Crimson King" was for the progressive rock music in the 70's. In the summer of 1982 the punk explosion was gone but remained some echoes, a parade of a new romantic musical movement. So, when the music world seemed to be at the mercy of the new romantics, "Script For A Jester's Tear" was a landmark and a breath of fresh air that progressive music so needed at the time. With "Script For A Jester's Tear" the world of progressive rock has raised again and no longer was the same.

"Fugazi": Perhaps "Fugazi" is the weakest album of Marillion in Fish's era. But saying this, it seems like a sacrilege. In reality, Marillion has no weak albums in that period of time, and so, "Fugazi" is still a great piece of music. As I wrote before when I reviewed that album, the album has two songs with musical quality below of the others, "Emerald Lies" and "She Chameleon". So, for that motif, "Fugazi" can't be considered a masterpiece, as happened with their preceding album "Script For A Jester's Tear" and their following album "Misplaced Childhood". But, "Fugazi" remains without any doubt a great album. "Fugazi" is an excellent album that can be recommended to all progressive rock fans. Just simply we mustn't compare it too much to the previous one, because there's music here for every progressive rock fan to love.

"Real To Reel": "Real To Reel" is a great debut live album. They were careful with the inclusion of two songs from their debut studio album, two songs from their second studio album, three on the CD version, a song from their historical debut EP and a song only released as a single. However, some of their best and most representative material of their beginning aren't present here, like "Script For A Jester's Tear", "The Web", "Fugazi" and especially "Grendel". By the other hand, despite the live performance be very competent, very few things distinguish the live tracks from the studio versions. Nevertheless, "Real To Reel" still is a great album with a magnificent live performance of some of their best and most representative songs comprising their earlier musical period, played with a fantastic and convicted energy.

"Misplaced Childhood": Besides be their most commercially successful album, "Misplaced Childhood" is one of the best studio albums in the progressive music. Even the former drummer of Dream Theater, Mike Portnoy said this was the best Marillion's album of all time. With "Misplaced Childhood", Marillion proved they weren't a clone of Genesis and with it they reached the status of be considered one of the best progressive rock bands ever. "Misplaced Childhood", put Marillion on the same quality level of Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Van Der Graaf Generator, Camel, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Rush and Dream Theater. It put them as one of the greatest and most influential prog bands of ever too. If you don't know the band yet and want to buy a Marillion's albums, this is the best.

"Clutching At Straws": "Clutching At Straws" is an excellent album, perhaps more mature than the other three previous studio albums. The lyrics and compositions are more emotional and dramatic as ever, in Fish's era. They found their identity and balance. It was the last definitive break out with Genesis' influences. But, somehow, "Clutching At Straws" isn't, in a certain way, a Marillion's album, but it's more a solo effort of Fish. Lyrically, the character was inspired by Fish. It has all to do with his personal life, his problems of the excess of alcohol and the abuse of drugs. Musically, it's also much close to the music that Fish would make on his solo works. It's a great addition to any prog collection and is a last amazing contribution of a great artist to a great band, too. With this album Fish left the band by the front door.

Conclusion: As I initially mentioned, "5 Album Set" is a compilation album that only covers albums that belong to the time when Fish was still in the band. It has the four studio albums released by Marillion with Fish, plus the debut live album of the band. As almost all we know, this four studio albums are all great and represent some of the best albums released by Marillion in their entire long career. But, I really think we can especially highlight two of them, "Script For A Jester's Tear" and "Misplaced Childhood". Both albums are masterpieces, two of the best albums ever released in the progressive music. Even the live album, "Real To Reel" is great too. I'm convinced that in Fish's era, Marillion don't have any weak work. So, "5 Album Set" is an excellent starting point and a cheapest way to have all these great works.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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