THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Marillion is the band that has been very special to me. As I followed through the band since its debut album "Script For A Jester's Tear" and then I stopped some years after the first vocalist Fish left the band in 1988 after releasing four great studio albums and one EP. For those of you who do not know the band, this might be a good introduction to the bad as it contains best songs of both eras: Fish era on Disc One and Hogarth era on Disc Two. Whenever possible I still recommend you to purchase the band's early albums first, starting with "Script For A Jester's Tear" (1983) and move forward with its follow-ups: "Fugazi" (1984), "Misplaced Childhood" (1985) and "Clutching at Straws" (1987). There are advantages to do so. First, you would have a complete picture of the band in historical manner. The remastered edition with two disc format would be better because you would get the band's EP "Market Square Heroes" prior to its debut album. Second, you would get a sense of how the band's music was in the early formation until it reached commercial success with hit single "Kayleigh" and "Lavender" from "Misplaced Childhood" album. Doing this way is worth investing, I think.

But in case you think that's too expensive, OK then, you can start with this album even though you might not get the true nuance of the band's history. This compilation serves sufficient in presenting these two worlds. On Disc One you get great tracks even though you miss the song position in its entire album and the impact would be different. For example is "Kayleigh" where you don't get the nice song that preceding it "Pseudo Silk Kimono" that has become a unity, I think. On Disc Two you miss also similar impact especially when you listen to "The Great Escape" which is part of the whole successful concept album "Brave".

Overall, I consider this box set as a good one even though it contains some great tracks like "Forgotten Sons" (my truly favorite Marillion song) which is taken from "Script For A Jester's Tear" album. From here onwards, you might choose which "world" satisfies your need and buy each individual album. Why? Marillion is not the kind of bands that suitable to make "The Best of" kind of compilation. Purchase of individual album is recommended. I have reviewed all Marillion albums here at this site that might be useful as a purchasing guide or making priority. Keep on proggin' ..!

"Freedom is the right to be wrong, not the right to do wrong."