MARILLION – Crash Course – An Introduction to Marillion (2001 Racket Records, first edition)
Here is an interesting gimmick. Starting in 2001, Marillion began compiling “Crash Course” CDs, offering them for minimal cost on their website. The idea was that you could buy this CD for next to nothing, and send it off with to someone else with the intention of getting them into Marillion. After the original discs were gone, they revamped the tracklisting in 2002, and again in 2006, 2008 and 2017 with new songs. Let’s have a listen and see what Marillion thought their most immediately appealing material was 20 years ago!
Since their new album was the crowd-funded Anoraknophobia (a new idea at the time), one of those songs leads the pack. They chose “This is the 21st Century” which I recall them really pushing at the time. I still am not sure why that was one of the songs chosen to push. It’s 11 minutes long and not very commercial. It’s also quite slow and mellow and takes some time to absorb. You’d think they would have gone with one of the singles — “Map of the World” is the track I personally put on my mix tapes when trying to get someone into this band. That’s not to say “This is the 21st Century” is an inferior track. It’s complex and demonstrates Marillion’s recent fascination with loops. Instead of making them cheesy, Marillion made them trippy. This one song is a lot to digest and new fans might be baffled by lyrics like “A wise man once said a flower is only a sexual organ, beauty is cruelty and evolution.” And some macho dude in camo pants is absolutely going to be triggered by the line “He had denied his feminine side,” but I don’t think that guy was ever going to be into Marillion anyway.
The far more obvious song “Rich” from marillion.com is an underrated gem. “Dot Com” as they call it is an overlooked album. Marillion really dove into a commercial deep end with some songs, while going full acid trip on others. “Rich” is pure pop, with a bangin’ chorus. “No tears, no lies, no pain, no doubt, no darkness, no confusion!” That’s how modern Marillion makes me feel. “Rich” is an uplifting song. “So talk about failing, to fall is not to fail.” Get rich right now, says Marillion. Mark Kelly has a hefty keyboard hook that anchors the song, while the verses slowly sway with a 2000s groove.
The oldest track is “Afraid of Sunlight” from 1995. They were trying to stay away from things that sounded too dated. No worries of that with “Afraid of Sunlight”, a timeless song if Marillion ever had one. It is so basic, with one little melody that runs through, but then it absolutely explodes on the dramatic chorus. If this track doesn’t win ’em over, nothing will.
Back to Dot Com and “A Legacy”, the song that opened the album. Once you get past the slow opening, this song punches hard. The distorted vocals are so 90s, but that’s nothing…wait until you hear “Under the Sun” from 1998’s Radiation. That album was all about noise; everything banging and cranked up loud. It’s also my favourite song on this disc. From the haunting keys to the crashing chords, “Under the Sun” kicks all the asses.
Would this disc have appealed to newbies in 2001? Some, certainly. But like anyone, I think I could have done better! There is no point rating a CD like this so we’ll just call it:
I have the third issue, with eight tracks:
Tracklist
1 The Damage 4:37
2 Neverland 10:57
3 Between You And Me (Live) 5:59
4 This Is The 21st Century 11:07
5 Man Of A Thousand Faces 7:32
6 Out Of This World 7:54
7 Afraid Of Sunlight 6:51
8 The Great Escape 6:12
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The dam-dam-damage is such a bloody amazing song. This looks to be Marbles era.
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*Holen clenches his butthole as LeBrain loses 95% of his readers at the mere mention of Marillion.*
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As expected! It happened. I shall have to think about what to post tomorrow.
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I don’t even get that. People have to come to the site first to see it’s Marillion in order to avoid it. I guess they don’t click on the post then after seeing it on the home screen? The see Marillion and then exit out as fast as they can like they’ve got a virus?
Full disclosure, that’s exactly what I did. Saw Marillion and just abandoned ship without a second thought, until I came back to comment on how they’re hit kryptonite.
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LOL I don’t get it either. Just that the hits go down on Marillion days!
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I read everything, no matter what it is. And then i refresh the page multiple times throughout the day until Holen comments. I’m a good boy.
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It must crush you when I don’t comment.
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My disappointment varies on depending on the subject matter of the post
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I could use some Orange Crush.
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It’s the chip working.
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Here you go, Mike. It’s Orange Crush.
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You gave me one of these! It’s awesome. In fact, it’s only because of your influence that I now have a wee Marillion collection here at the house. This disc you gave me is from 2012 (10 tracks):
The Sky Above The Rain
Power
Neverland
Fantastic Place
Hard As Love
This Train Is My Life
Real Tears For Sale
Somewhere Else
Afraid Of Sunlight
Estonia
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The Sounds That Can’t Be Made era! They realkly loaded that with songs I love. This Train Is My Life is particularly amazing.
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It sure is! Yeah, the albums they list on the back for this one are: Sounds That Can’t Be Made (2 songs), Marbles (2), Less Is More (1), Happiness Is The Road (2), Somewhere Else (1), Afraid Of Sunlight (1), and This Strange Engine (1).
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All post 1996. They really like to focus on those years when winning over new fans.
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I need to go on to Apple Music and listen to the Essentials Playlist and judge from there.
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No don’t do that. Listen to an album, that would be my advice. Clutching At Straws.
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Got it.
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I concur. Clutching or Afraid of Sunlight.
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Or both! To get a taste of both eras.
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Absolutely. Thats why I added it. Wasn’t going to say Fugazi or anything. Lol.
Certainly wasn’t going to say Holidays In Eden. That was the first Hogarth cd I got and was the second one I owned. Bought it when it came out. I know its not a bad album, there are some dire moments. Its like their own version of Roll the Bones. ;) Its actually better.
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Would I be amiss in adding Misplaced Childhood to the list? I really liked that one, and it seems to be a bigger album for them. If not only for Kayleigh…
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Not remiss at all. I don’t find it to be as immediate as Clutching, but it WAS my first one!
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I’d also throw in ‘Marbles’ as a must-listen to album.
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Great. I will add that one as well.
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It is my favourite Hogarth. But I don’t think it’s one I recommend often since it’s dense with songs in the 10 minute range.
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Hmmm yes good point. It’s tough because I think the “hit” rate of the song quality is so high on marbles. But it’s not something you pop into the stereo for background music…..
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The Invisible Man kills me and I think it’s like 15 minutes long. I just love that album. From day one.
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Neat idea!
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They’ve had more than a few! They were crowdfunding pioneers back in 1997.
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I’d have opted for “If My Heart….” instead of “21st Century”!
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That is one hell of a dramatic song! I played it a couple weeks ago. Just mental.
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It’s my fav from the album. It’s an amazing audio interpretation of a dream!
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I find myself drawn to Map of the World, every time. It’s perfect. It’s a perfect song.
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I love the idea of this. Should leave them in hotel rooms along with the Gideon’s bible.
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