FUGAZI

I have a soft spot for this album. It is true that it has a much harder edge in it's sound than the other albums with Fish does, but i think that most of the fans of Script won't find it hard to get accustomed with anyway, as they share many similarities. Besides the new drummer and the somewhat metallic sound, the only real difference between the two first releases by Marillion is that... well, the first was better, actually.

To compare the songs off each album, "He knows you know" was a lot better than the, although catchy, rather stupid "Punch and Judy" while the longer, more ambitious songs are about the same, With "Fugazi" and "Incubus" being very worthy musical follow-ups to "Script for a Jester's tear" and "Forgotten sons". Lyrically, they are of a slightly lower quality than the ones on Script, but Incubus contains one of Steve Rothery's most intense and emotional guitar solos (which is saying alot), while the second half of "Fugazi" is a grand outro to the album.

Personally, i happen to rather like the 80's sound of much Neo Prog, but if you are a purist, then you really have nothing to get here. Overall, i like Script a bit better, especially winde it contained no weak song at all, while i have yet to come to grips with "She Chameleon". However, the slightly cheesy but totally emotional ballad "Jigsaw" and the two closing song make it definitely worth a purchase for Neo-fans. Plus, Assassing, the other single, is a very catchy and up-temop album opener, sure to leave you wanting more after it is over.

But the best was yet to come, one year later..