CLUTCHING AT STRAWS

1. "Hotel Hobbies" (3:35) the opening sound like the band is struggling between going the direction of FLOCK OF SEAGULLS and BON JOVI, but then the Peter Gabriel vocal approach starts, over some pure 80s music. (Fine Young Cannibals? ABC?) Nice guitar and drums passage in the middle of the third minute. Weird, sudden end. (8.75/10)

2. "Warm Wet Circles" (4:25) despite Steve Rothery's continued adherance to Steve Hackett's guitar sounds and stylings, this song is rather their own (despite the Nektar guitar arpeggio that the opening section is founded upon). The band is establishing their own independent sound. (8.5/10)

3. "That Time Of The Night (The Short Straw)" (6:00) Now I know where Mirek Gil got his guitar sound! Another song that seems to indicate that the band is ready to throw off the Genesis mantle and establish themselves for their own sound and style. Fish is still stuck in the PG style of theatric singer-songtelling, but this is my first exposure to Steve Rothery finally establishing his own sound. The keys, bass, and drums are solid, more reflective of the 80s than late 70s Genesis, so, the band is caught on a fence: the majority moving toward establishing their own sound and style while Fish is still firmly entrenched in imitation of a bygone era. Still, this is one of my favorite Marillion songs of the 1980s. (9/10)

4. "Going Under" (Not included on LP releases) (2:47) nice original melody lines established by arpeggiating guitar and Fish. Now this is the NeoProg sound that IQ has been dragging along for the past 35 years. (5/5)

5. "Just For The Record" (3:09) like solo PG! A reworked "Moribund the Burgermeister" with some Cagey Tony Banks synth work and early 1980s Phil drumming. (8.5/10)

6. "White Russian" (6:27) Some of the best, most confident drumming I've ever heard from Ian Mosley! The rest of the song is forgettable (even the Genesis-imitative delicate part after 3:54), but, you go, Ian! (8/10)

7. "Incommunicado" (5:16) The Who! Full on! The only Genesis here is a bit in the keyboard department, otherwise, the band have finally chosen another superband to copy. And they do it pretty well. (8/10)

8. "Torch Song" (4:04) lyrics sounding half PG, half Rickie Lee Jones (lyrically). Rhythm guitar sound is so 1980s. (We all used this sound!) (8.5/10)

9. "Slàinte Mhath" (4:45) Simple Minds! "Don't You (Forget About Me)" Nice performances by Fish and Ian Mosley. (8.5/10)

10. "Sugar Mice" (5:46) Roxy Music! "More Than This"! Turns into guitar-oriented classic rock during the heavy, instrumental section--and then there's no going back. (8/10)

11. "The Last Straw" (5:58) Whitesnake! Pure classic hair band rock song construct. Poor Fish! This is just not a good fit for him! Despite a cool middle section, this song has nothing to help me remember it. (8/10)

Total Time: 52:18

Never thought I'd like a Marillion song much less album--especially from the Fish-era--but here we have one. I guess anything is possible.

C/three stars; the best Marillion effort yet--though they are definitely going through an identity crisis. Who will they become?

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