HAPPINESS IS THE ROAD

There is a certain unfinished feeling that pervades this album, its songwriting being repetative, unambitious, and performed in such a way that it becomes introverted. The persistent sombre feel makes it difficult to make an impression, and even more difficult for the listener to connect with the lyrics. Even the band seems uninterested in these songs, since they lack literal and figurative depth in their sound and timbre.

Rothery pretty much phones this one in, his rare solos bouncing right off the listener, while the rhythm section feels lost-- like they're going through the motions without knowing what direction the album is suppossed to be going. The song's laid-back, wishy-washy feel makes it sound like they're playing time in many sections.

While song writing remains the largest problem, Hogarth's usually stellar performance does nothing to turn the tide. He sounds very tired, detatched-- off in his own world crooning out half-finished lyrics without caring about the listener. After his amazing singing in Marbles and the only slightly less amazing Somewhere Else, this is a big let-down for me.

A few highlights don't make up for two-discs of filler, which unfortunetly puts the sombre Happiness is the Road near the bottom of Marillion's offerings.

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