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Marillion - Script for a Jester's Tear CD (album) cover

SCRIPT FOR A JESTER'S TEAR

Marillion

 

Neo-Prog

4.25 | 2217 ratings

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AliKz
5 stars Script for a Jester's Tear needs to be understood in the context of its time. The late '70s Punk explosion was meant to have blown away all the old Prog dinosaurs by the early '80s. They were either extinct or on hiatus (like Pink Floyd) or re-inventing themselves as rock-pop acts (such as Yes and Genesis). New Wave and the New Romantics were on the rise amidst the usual froth of chart music. Progressive rock, especially in its long-form, was regarded as 'yesterday's news'. Nevertheless, there were still fans out there listening to that music, gazing in reverence at their old Prog rock albums, poring over the lyrics and sleeve notes, yearning for their old heroes to return or play a more progressive style of music ? both forlorn hopes. Then along came Marillion in 1982 with a game-changing BBC Radio 1 session, with songs honed through a multitude of gigs, which helped secure a major record deal. In October they announced themselves with the anthemic Market Square Heroes 12" single, which for many contained the 'Holy Grail' B-side of the epic 17-minute Grendel! This whetted the appetite of a subculture of adolescents wanting Prog heroes for their own generation, and older rock fans wanting someone to return to those 'Golden Days' of the '70s. That ambitious EP was virtually a mini-album in itself, and having stirred the ashes of Prog, Marillion swiftly fanned the flames with their assured debut album in March 1983, reaching an impressive Number Seven in the UK album charts ? these releases were a remarkable statement of intent for a band driven to achieving success.
AliKz | 5/5 |

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