Season's End - Marillion

For many longtime fans, the departure of Fish and the introduction of current vocalist Steve Hogarth in 1989 marked the end of Marillion as they knew it. In many ways they were right, and Seasons End was supposed to be a way of introducing them to Hogarth. To their credit, Marillion have been able to advance and progress on, combing their early Progressive Rock leanings with Rock and Roll, Hard Rock and even Jazz. Even so, I still have been unable to get into them even in the slightest and despite the sound quality being very impressive in this live release, which isn't to its credit as bad as some of the studio stuff, still isn't something I'd rush out and ...  Read the complete review

After the departure of that big fat fishy bloke to pursue a solo career, the rest of the band struck gold. The replacement they found, Steve Hogarth, has the greatest voice in the known universe as far as I'm concerned. (Hogarth had previously been in a band called the Europeans, as well as singing backing vocals on Julian Cope's Saint Julian, and playing the piano on the The The top thirty hit "Heartland".) And this was the album that turned me into a Marillion addict... I don't have a clue what the opening track - THE KING OF SUNSET TOWN - is all about. Slowly fading in, and starting with a familiar Marillion guitar solo from ...  Read the complete review