SCRIPT FOR A JESTER'S TEAR

After gigging almost non stop for 2 years Marillion finally got into a studio and recorded. You can tell that this material was honed to perfection from the moment the title track starts. As far as debut albums go this sits at the top table.

Script is just mesmerizing. A poignant plea for lost love and one of fishs' finest lyrics. Rotherys heartfelt guitar work backed by kellys deft keyboard swirls leave an almost dreamlike landscape for fishs tale of the jester who showed you tears.

He Knows - the drug song is, for me, the weakest song on the album. Musically its a little bland but it does allow the Lyric to shine through. "slashed wrist, scarlet fever..... pumping arteries ooze their problems through the gap that the razor tore" Bleak stuff.

Just as bleak is the bedsit hell of "the Web". Another sublime piece of rothery guitar on this track coupled again by kellys jagged keyboard riffs.

Garden Party - Bouncing along at the start of side 2 this is still a live favourite. The upper classes in all their grubbery.

Chelsea Monday - Heartbreaking tale of the aspiring actress who commits suicide for her 15 mins of fame. A beautiful and moving piece.

The album closes with forgotten sons. This song of british forces in the then troubled Northern Ireland is an incredibly powerful piece.

A band who , at the time, were labelled as a genesis rip off. I've never understood that sentiment as although musically very similar i always found marillion to be superior songwriters, musicians and in Fish a far superior frontman and lyricist. I've never subscribed to the idea that who does it first does it best.

In closing, this is arguably the finest debut album ever. Essential listening.