Tag: Marillion

Thank you, Racket Records

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock2 Comments
Photo on 5-30-17 at 1.27 PM
Happy Birzer.

As with most proggers, I love what I love to be overthetop.  And, I especially love overthetop excellence.  As such, I must offer a huge thanks to Simon of Marillion’s Racket Records.

Excellence, to be sure.

A few weeks ago, I ordered copies of FUGAZI, SEASON’S END, and HOLIDAYS IN EDEN from Racket Records.  While Racket mailed them immediately, the package arrived in Michigan without any CDs!  That’s right.  The package was totally empty.  Someone had removed the CDs.

Some lucky (and not so honest) Marillion postal worker out there?

When I contacted sales and help at Racket Records, Simon not only responded with a much needed laugh, but he sent me three new replacements.  They arrived this afternoon in perfect condition, making an already gorgeous spring day even better.

I imagine that Racket is tucked away somewhere in the northeastern part of the Shire, and I, living in Gondor, have just received a King’s Ransom of the Old Toby.

Thank you, Simon!

Yours, Brad

 

“We Come Together”: An excellent review of a Marillion Weekend

On By Gianna EIn progressive rock1 Comment

I came across this wonderful review of what attending a Marillion Weekend is like, when the band plays 3 nights in a row, each with a different setlist and theme.  It perfectly captures what it means to be a fan, and what a privilege it is to be at a Marillion live show (or three, if you’re lucky).  I wish I had written it myself.

“We Come Together”: Marillion Weekend in Łódż a Complete Triumph

This Strange Engine: Happy 20th, Marillion!

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments
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Originally released, March 1997.

Twenty years ago, this month, Marillion released its album, THIS STRANGE ENGINE.  It should be remembered that this is the fifth album to feature the voice and lyrics of Steve Hogarth.  As such, reviewers still (not that the debate has eneded, even in 2017) had to compare the Marillion of Fish to the Marillion of Hogarth.  While THIS STRANGE ENGINE earned its just share of good reviews, it also had reviewers crying that while Fish had innovated, Hogarth rested.  AllMusic went so far as to label THE STRANGE ENGINE “ordinary.”

If only.

Granted, Marillion had just come off two of its most powerful and unrelentingly intense albums–BRAVE and AFRAID OF SUNLIGHT–but this should not lessen the power of THIS STRANGE ENGINE.  Rather, it should add context.

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Marillion: OUT OF THE BOX

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment
out of the box
3 Blu-ray Disks

I often believe that Marillion is as much a mood or a state of mind as it is a band. I try hard to keep up with band, but, frankly, it’s hard at times. The band does so much and so often that I sometimes realize months later that they’ve released this or that DVD, blu-ray, CD, or download. Clearly, this is a first-world problem, and it’s a joyous one.

Only about a month or so ago did I realize that the band had released a blu-ray set of its three nights playing in the Netherlands in March, 2015. One disk per night.

Disk one: “Waves and Numbers,” March 20, 2015
Disk two: “Marbles in the Park,” March 21, 2015
Disk three: “Singles Night,” March 22, 2015

A mood, a state of being. The essence of Marillion?

I have few regrets in life, even after 49 years, but I do regret that I have yet to see the band live. I hope the Good Lord grants me the time still to make this a reality.

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2016 – A Year of Joy and Sadness

On By Erik HeterIn progressive rockLeave a comment

To say 2016 was a turbulent year would be an understatement.  For good and bad, the events of 2016 are going to ripple for years, if not decades to come.

Fortunately, one area in which 2016 was not a turning point was in the trend of excellent prog releases, which kept coming without any letup from 2015 … or 2014 … or 2013 … you get the picture.  Like those years, 2016 saw a bumper crop of excellent releases, and in a few cases, saw bands hitting new highs.  Truly, this was one area where we can be unequivocally thankful for what 2016 brought.

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Bryan’s Best of 2016

On By Bryan MoreyIn progressive rock4 Comments

2016 has been a pretty horrible year: terrorism, deaths of way too many musical heroes, the recent loss of Prog magazine and the total screwing of all Team Rock employees, personal inability to find a job… Yeah, this year has sucked.

Thankfully, despite these trials, progressive rock has continued to be the most creative and innovative genre in the music business. I always enjoy writing a “best of” list, mainly because it gives me a chance to look over the best music of the year. We prog fans really are spoiled.

Like last year, my 2016 list will be pretty big, and the order is completely arbitrary. I have a numbered top 4, but my top 3 picks for this year are essentially tied for first place. Without further ado, my favorite albums of 2016:

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Best Prog of 2016, Part II

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

continued from last night. . .

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAndy Tillison Diskdrive, MACHTE ES DURCH.  Sadly, this release has gotten very little press, and, yet, as with all things Tillison, it’s simply genius and extraordinary.  When thinking of Andy and The Tangent, think intensity and integrity.  When thinking of Andy Tillison Diskdrive, think of taste and integrity.  On his solo albums (at least this one and the previous one), Andy has been exploring–rather expertly–jazz-rock-fusion.  He is a natural and a master.

ghost communityGhost Community, CYCLE OF LIFE.  I’ve been rather joyously following the trajectory and art of Matt Cohen for almost a decade now.  The guy is simply put–the kind of guy you really, really, really want to support.  Whatever tragedies the man has experienced, he comes out on top and with an infectious joy.  Not only is his bass playing on this album gorgeous, but the album itself is just joy made manifest.  Imagine a truly progressive and non-cheesy Styx of 1975, and you have Ghost Community.  Probably more rock than prog, it’s what prog needs right now to keep some balance. (Notice, please, that I used some form of “joy” three times in this mini-review!)

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Marillion: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, October 2017

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rockLeave a comment

marillionoct2017

Some Random Prog Thoughts

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock1 Comment
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Press play.  Repeat.  Thank you, Glass Hammer.

My apologies for being so quiet for a bit now.  After the great visit by the Reverend John Simms and his beautiful bride, Jude, I’ve been working on tons of things not directly related to music or to progarchy.  Mostly classes and lecturing, but quite a bit of traveling as well.

Yet, at the back of everything, prog keeps reminding me what matters most in the world–hearth, home, kids, my students, beauty, truth, and goodness.

I’ve been rather obsessed with a few albums through the first third of this academic semester: Glass Hammer’s VALKYRIE; Marillion’s FEAR; and SAND’s SLEEPER.  If you’ve not gotten these yet, please do so.  They have  been in constant rotation.

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I Know What I Like: Fidelia and Marillion

On By bradbirzerIn progressive rock3 Comments
fear-marillion
Marillion Album No. 18, FEAR.

Well, it finally arrived.

At least officially.

At exactly 7:00 this evening, I received an email from PledgeMusic notifying me that the new Marillion album, FEAR, was ready for download.  Thanks to the very kind people at BWR PR (yes, Kim!), I’ve had a review copy for a bit.  And, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.  Unlike a number of my allies in the prog world, I actually prefer Hogarth-era Marillion to Fish-era Marillion, though I prefer either to most other music.

As to my Marillion street cred. . . I have friends who love the band more than I do, but not many.  I proudly own all studio albums (usually the special editions) and the live albums as well, and I even have Hogarth’s two diaries.  So, I guess I’m in kind of deep when it comes to my Marillion loyalty and devotion.  No corner shrine yet.  That is still reserved for St. Rose of Lima and St. Maximillian Kolbe.  St. Hogarth?   I’ve had the privilege of writing extensively about BRAVE, AFRAID OF SUNLIGHT, and MARBLES before, but I could definitely devote a bit more of my writing time to Marillion.

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