What comes next? Maybe bands will be paying potential listeners to give their discs a spin.

Calling Marillion the poor man's Genesis is like calling the Rolling Stones the poor man's Beatles.

I'm pretty sure Fish isn't with Marillion anymore so that headline is just plain wrong!

HeadbangerSmurf: I'm pretty sure Fish isn't with Marillion anymore so that headline is just plain wrong!

subby was looking for a shortcut to somewhere.

Sounds totally fugazi to me.

As we've learned from the FOSS movement those with a product that sucks give it away.

For you old farts (like me), that can't remember their sound, here's the video Kayleigh.

dj_bigbird: For you old farts (like me), that can't remember their sound, here's the video Kayleigh.

When I think of Marillion, Punch and Judy is what comes to mind.

Only the first two albums sounded like Genesis. After that they branched out into different styles, though not necessarily for the better. I'll probably give it a listen since its for free.

I've always liked Cannibal Surf Babes ^ myself.

The poor man's Genesis? More like prog rock without the posing.

Do you remember...downloading albums all day long..

Do you remember...can't wait to hear all the new songs.

Marillion rocks. And yes, that headline is wrong since Fish isn't with the band anymore (to my knowledge).

Tabatha Static: Sounds totally fugazi to me.

I think it's mighty Brave of them.

/At least Marillion didn't devolve into a Top-40 chasing pop band after their lead singer quit.

csi_yellowknife:
/At least Marillion didn't devolve into a Top-40 chasing pop band after their lead singer quit.

Actually, that's pretty much exactly what happened. Once Fish left, they put out two very radio friendly albums with cheesy love songs. I have no idea what they've done since.

Over the past 10-15 years Marillion tried to turn from the new Genesis into the new Radiohead. I don't care for the change. I do like their cover of "Fake Plastic Trees" though.

dj_bigbird: For you old farts (like me), that can't remember their sound, here's the video Kayleigh.

Holy cats, I didn't even know there was a video for Kayleigh.

Whee! Free Marillion! I actually was just (half an hour ago) listening to Made Again.

I'll have to pick this one up, then. I have most everything up until Radiation, though I lost interest after I heard a friend's copy of that anorak one. Hopefully they're getting back to an earlier sound, as they were getting a little poppy.

Then again, I'm surprised they have anything left in them after so freakin' long.

/Heck, I'm due a free album
//I've started about forty people on Marillion and Fish, so I've probably gotten them an extra album or so worth of profit.
///Though Fish would probably be annoyed with me-- one of the guys I started likes collecting Fish bootlegs. Everyone needs a hobby, after all.

Want to make 25 people laugh? Go to a party and tell everyone you like Marillion.


/Likes Marillion

Ah, back to the old days when bands used to put out albums to promote the live show. Now they play live shows to promote album sales.

I would rather have the former.

dj_bigbird: For you old farts (like me), that can't remember their sound, here's the video Kayleigh.

One of my favorite songs of all time.

"Dancing stilettos in the snow"

OldManDownDRoad: The poor man's Genesis? More like prog rock without the posing.

This. And no, Fish hasn't been with the band since '88. Steve Hogarth ('h') has been the frontman since then.
The've been an incredibly innovative band as far as distribution goes. Their last 3 albums have been fan-financed (pre-sold). They run their own label and put out fanclub-only releases. They have a great fan outreach operation. They managed to use their considerable fanbase to get 2 singles to the UK Top 10. They have a yearly Marillion Weekend where fans can get up close & personal with the band (Marillion Weekend 2009 in Montreal! w00t!)
/Don't hate me, but all my favourite albums are post-Fish
//Brave, Afraid of Sunlight, Marbles FTW

Flan:
Holy cats, I didn't even know there was a video for Kayleigh.

That video is how I found Marillion, back in the day when MTV did nothing but play videos (and a concert or 2).

CheddarPants
Calling Marillion the poor man's Genesis is like calling the Rolling Stones the poor man's Beatles.

I'm sorry, your point?

/To hell with Marillion, I want a new Kino album!

CheddarPants Calling Marillion the poor man's Genesis is like calling the Rolling Stones the poor man's Beatles.


Sorry but I think that is a poor analogy.

Stones and Beatles were nearly simultaneous. (Beatles pre-date a little)

Marillion stole Gabriel era Genesis schtick several years later.
Marillion was basically a 70s "prog" band in the 80s.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

Pray for Marillion.

Just couldn't get into them post-Fish. The first two Hogarth albums were, as has been said, radio friendly. Sure, there were some good songs hidden in there that weren't radio friendly (The Party, for one), but all in all it was an attempt to gain a pop audience. They then evolved into a Radiohead clone, and since I hate Radiohead I hated Marillion's new turn. I've heard that they've since abandoned that sound also, but I haven't given their new stuff a listen.

I was sorely disappointed in them when they turned down Fish's request for a joint show to celebrate the anniversary of Misplaced Childhood.

craigdamage: Marillion stole Gabriel era Genesis schtick several years later.
Marillion was basically a 70s "prog" band in the 80s.

Operative word "was". And that's debatable.
h-era Marillion is as different from Fish-era Marillion as 'I Can't Dance'-era Genesis is from Gabriel-era Genesis. But that's where the comparison ends. Their last album left me a little flat, but Marbles (the 2-Disc version anyways, if you buy it be sure to get this version) is teh awesomeness. Every album has a couple tracks I don't care fore, but is balanced out by ridiculously good tracks like
Living with the Big Lie
Brave
The Great Escape
Out of This World
Afraid of Sunlight
King
Estonia
Memory of Water
This Strange Engine
Interior Lulu
The Answering Machine
This is the 21st Century
Invisible Man
The Only Unforgivable Thing
Ocean Cloud
Don't Hurt Yourself

CheddarPants: Calling Marillion the poor man's Genesis is like calling the Rolling Stones the poor man's Beatles.

the stones couldnt even rate as a poor mans beatles. they were just a poor mans bottle of strawberry hill maybe if that. that being said, marillion has always been gayer than gay and sucks bawls.

I really have given them a chance but mahavishnunj is right.

dj_bigbird: For you old farts (like me), that can't remember their sound, here's the video Kayleigh.

I can remember hearing this on a college station a number of times but, like most college stations, the DJs seemed to have some aversion to giving out band names. Curiously, I didn't know this was a Marillion tune until today.

Same thing happened with Little Feat's "Easy to Slip." WDBS at Duke (sucks) played this all the time in the late 70s but never once mentioned the band. Wasn't until a couple years later when I saw the Feats live and they played the song that I had any idea it was an early Lowell George tune. And, sadly, by then George was RIP.

I have two of their records: the "childhood" one, and the "clutching at straws" one...
i think they're good/ok...

i saw their live 80's record in a record store the other day, but didn't listen to it... anybody know if it's anygood?

to me, at least Marillion equals:
1. Peter Gabriel era Genesis song structures [on some songs] and time signatures
2. a vocalist [Fish] with vocals somewhere between Collins and Gabriel
3. an injection of 80's ballads / pop [ie. "Lavender", "Kayleigh"]
4. clean, cyclical guitar riffs, ala "discipline" era King Crimson

Third_Uncle_Eno: to me, at least Marillion equals:
1. Peter Gabriel era Genesis song structures [on some songs] and time signatures
2. a vocalist [Fish] with vocals somewhere between Collins and Gabriel
3. an injection of 80's ballads / pop [ie. "Lavender", "Kayleigh"]
4. clean, cyclical guitar riffs, ala "discipline" era King Crimson

sorry, but 1 and 4 makes you fail beyond all belief. maybe listen to more real music so you wont think this way ever again.

mahavishnunj: Third_Uncle_Eno: to me, at least Marillion equals:
1. Peter Gabriel era Genesis song structures [on some songs] and time signatures
2. a vocalist [Fish] with vocals somewhere between Collins and Gabriel
3. an injection of 80's ballads / pop [ie. "Lavender", "Kayleigh"]
4. clean, cyclical guitar riffs, ala "discipline" era King Crimson

sorry, but 1 and 4 makes you fail beyond all belief. maybe listen to more real music so you wont think this way ever again.

He's right, maybe you should quit being a douchebag, and get back to your subjective taste in 'real' music.

huh?
what's wrong with 1 and 4?
and how the bloody hell am i being a douchebag?!

i don't get it.

/ btw, i think i forgot a comma or brackets or something...
it should've read:
"to me (at least), Marillion equals:"

Marillion: mullets a'plenty!

This is an interesting move. Their albums get leaked anyway, might as well leak it themselves. As has been mentioned, they've been using the internet to promote their music in very interesting and innovative ways for years now. Kudos to them.

I look forward to hearing it.

Third_Uncle_Eno: huh?
what's wrong with 1 and 4?
and how the bloody hell am i being a douchebag?!

because marillion is worse than....sorry. i cant think anything marillion is worse than. their post fish period is even more hilarious.

The fact that the band sucks aside, if they have the ability to sell out shows, rather than their style, this is a good move for them, ask any touring band, you make all of your money on tour, record sales don't mean dick when it comes to money for the band, record sales just indicate how many fans you have and how many fans you can hope show up at your concert.

Wow. Marillion. That brings back memories. I know I've got 'Clutching At Straws' on cassette around here somewhere.

mahavishnunj: Third_Uncle_Eno: huh?
what's wrong with 1 and 4?
and how the bloody hell am i being a douchebag?!

because marillion is worse than....sorry. i cant think anything marillion is worse than. their post fish period is even more hilarious.

I see. He's a douchebag for daring to like a band you apparently have undisguised contempt for.
That makes you, um, what's the word I'm looking for... anyone?
/This is my first music-related plonk into the ignore bin
//surprised it's taken this long

Never heard of Marillion, but Peter Gabriel is one of the greatest musicians/artists of all time.

Love "Script for a Jester's Tear"----'Garden Party' is a great song. Never got into the post-Fish stuff.

mahavishnunj: Third_Uncle_Eno: huh?
what's wrong with 1 and 4?
and how the bloody hell am i being a douchebag?!

because marillion is worse than....sorry. i cant think anything marillion is worse than. their post fish period is even more hilarious.

I disagree nothing is worse than Clutching at Straws. Marillion was never a masculine band, but Fish manages to make The Smiths seem like Van Halen in comparison on that album.

My band is not at all famous, but we are giving away our first recording, and hopefully all those to come as well.

/www dot therotorsband dot com
//sorry for the plug, but it seemed relevant to the discussion
///no one made you actually visit the site

I'll bet Neil's happy! Now how about some Hawkwind?

At least after Fish left Marillion, he kept sounding like Fish. Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors and Internal Exile are still two of my all-time favorite albums. Add Script for a Jester's Tear, and that's 3 of my top 10.

Misplaced Childhood

/OH THE HUGE MAN TITTIES

Cletus from Canuckistan: mahavishnunj: Third_Uncle_Eno: huh?
what's wrong with 1 and 4?
and how the bloody hell am i being a douchebag?!

because marillion is worse than....sorry. i cant think anything marillion is worse than. their post fish period is even more hilarious.

I see. He's a douchebag for daring to like a band you apparently have undisguised contempt for.
That makes you, um, what's the word I'm looking for... anyone?
/This is my first music-related plonk into the ignore bin
//surprised it's taken this long

good, i dont want anybody who likes marillion to read my brilliant posts. thank you!

rpl: CheddarPants
/To hell with Marillion, I want a new Kino album!

This.
/John Beck is a great guy and a great deal of fun to party with backstage.

if you really want to hear about it,
i mean, I'm no real FAN of them...
a casual listener, is more like it.
i bought the records for $1 each... No kidding.
who cares if they're crummy for that kind of price, right?
i only really bought them because I heard they were kind of like Genesis in a way... slightly proggy, yet poppy.
I don't really listen to them that often, at all,
I mean the band's ok... their music/technical ability is pretty good, their songwriting is fair/ok... sometimes good...
Fish is an alright/good singer i guess.