SCRIPT FOR A JESTER'S TEAR

There was a lot of work for this album and some of the songs remember 1980. Band needed three years to complete this release but the effect is truly excellent. I won't say there's any bad song on this album cos every song has a true quality but some of them are simply better than the others. In 1983 Marillion's line -up was complete however Mick Pointer was sacked soon before tour promoting Script. This is the only band's release we can hear his work and he didn't fail really. Guess there were other problems but Fish said in one interview that he didn't want Pointer in the band from the very beginning. I the other hand EMI thought Pointer isn't good enough and wanted to hire session drummer. I didn't happen. Mick played his parts. First song is really excellent. If you're looking for something that describes band in 100% here you have. Proportions of instruments are balanced very precisely and you won't hear a single note that doesn't fit well. So the title song has many guitar solos where Steve uses lots of tremolo effect and we have also Genesis-like keyboard work plus o course Fish tribute to Peter Gabriel. In fact there's also a manner in his voice that is similar to what Peter Hammill did in Van Der Graaf Generator. That nostaligic quiet part somewhere in the middle is just like taken from some Genesis album. Anyway, great song, great solos. He Knows You Know isn't such brilliant as previous one but still pretty good. It was released as a single. Good choice cos it's the shortest track in the set. The Web is much better still not excellent as title song. Mark Kelly playes his awesome parts in that. Mythological lyrics tell the story of a bored rock star but I think Fish wanted to expose some of his poetic skills. Garden Party was another single from this album and I don't know why band decided to release this average track as a single. Maybe because after He Knows You Know it's the shortest piece on Script? Anyway maybe this song isn't good but the video to this one is excellent. I won't tell ya, see it. So it's time for brilliant finish. First Chelsea Monday, maybe the best song on the album but in the end is hard to say. This is slow and rather hypnotic track (especially when you listen to these bass parts) and the guitar solo is the best on this album and probably the best in whole Steve's career (although there's a similar one in Jigsaw on next album just a bit shorter). This solo cracks me up everytime I listen to it. Lots of emotions in one single guitar solo. I think Steve should thank his tremolo cos without that he wouldn't play it that way. And great lyrics as well, lonely girl in Chelsea dreaming of fairy tale prince, touching. Forgotten Sons is final epic. This song is more brutal than previous one but no wonder cos it's song about war in fact. I think in many moments it sounds like something from Fugazi and band drifted in that direction on next album. Fish showing class of Peter Hammill is the best thing in this song but Steve gives us a lesson in prog as well. Violent vocals, beautiful music and in the end very touching. True epis. If band wanted to do something that could repeat mastery of VDGG songs they did it with that particular song. And what can I say in the end? Excellent album. Maybe not the best Marillion release but simply one of the best and one of the best 80s albums. Must have.