MISPLACED CHILDHOOD

Misplaced Childhood is Marillion's third studio album, released in 1985. It was by far their most commercially successful albums, and also one of their best musically, in my opinion second only to Script For a Jester's Tear. The album reached number one in the UK charts for awhile, and made Marillion a hell of a lot more famous. The album is a concept album about love, lost love, lost fame, and loving to love drugs with fame, then realizing drugs cause bad things. But mostly about lost love, as vocalist Fish is king of the prog Silly Romanticists (ok, and he got the idea during a 10-hour acid trip, so that probably influenced it too). The album is a concept album to be played all together, in fact, Fish claimed they originally only wanted two songs-Side 1 and Side 2.

The album starts with the haunting synth horns of "Pseudo Silk Kimono", mesmerizing you with talks of safety before completely shattering your dreams and playing on your hearts strings (at least mine, but I'm a silly romanticist too). "Kayleigh" was the best single the band ever had, reaching number two in the UK charts at one point. It is a pretty straightforward (but heartfelt) song of losing the one you love. The title comes from Fish's former girlfriend, whose first name was Kay, and her middle name Lee. "Lavender" is a short, sweet song playing off of, and using most of the words to, the children's song Lavender's Blue. It stresses the innocence of children, and through it, the innocence of love.

From here on, every song has multiple names to it, but I will just refer to them by their first title, to save room, and possible save your mind. The "Bitter Suite" starts with a poetic, almost just reading of the lyrics, but climaxes later with "The sky was Bible black in Lyon, when I meet the Magdalene." A really full song that changes melody, time, and key often. "Heart of Lothian" is faster paced than the rest of the album up to this point, and stands out, an excellent song to place in the middle, as a sort of transition bridge. "Waterhole (Expresso Bongo)" shows off a little percussion action and sets a tone for some more to come. "Lords of the Backstage" has a nice rhythm to it, and keeps it upbeat. "Blind Curve" starts stressing the longing for childhood back, and not as much of lost love, it is a longing, a desperate, yet reserved plea. "Childhood End?" finally makes us happy again, it says "there is no childhood's end" and is the revelation of the album. The last track brings some finality, but truthfully doesn't fit with the rest of the album, "White Feather" is more a peace, let's-all-get-along song than a love song, even with the "owning your own heart" thing they try to wrap the album up with.

Overall, a very excellent album that shows off Fish's vocals, with a superb but not over-played background and atmosphere.

Share this MARILLION review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Scapler
• Report this review (#105734)
• Buy MARILLION music online with PA partners
• Show all MARILLION MP3/Stream
• Go to MARILLION page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Misplaced Childhood page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for MARILLION related discussions