Script For A Jester's Tear#25 & Lamb Lies Down #80

Clark Ashton wrote: Tony R wrote: I think that "The Lamb" polarises opinion amongst Genesis fans and therefore has received some less than favourable reviews. The Top 100 is based on reviews and on average "Script" has received more favourable reviews. I think that the "Marillion plagiarise Genesis" argument is overplayed. For starters Fish is supposed to imitate Peter Gabriel whereas any prog fan with the most basic knowledge and powers of hearing can hear a far stronger Hammill influence. VDGG appear to me to be a far bigger influence on Marillion overall than Genesis. I think that Script is a far better album than "The Lamb" and this is coming from someone who prefers Genesis to Marillion.   Thank you Tony for your pov, but  VDGG is in my top 3 of all time, and I never saw a PH influence on Fish. Maybe he is, but it sounds to me like he's going for Gabriel.

Fish is a big Hammill fan; it is not for nothing that the covers of 2 Hammil albums ("Fools Mate" and "Over") appear on the cover of "Fugazi". Fish also was Hammill's first choice for the role of Montresor  in his opera "The Fall of the House of Usher"; however, he dropped that choice when auditions showed that their voices were too similar.
as to comparing "Script" to "Lamb" my vote definitely goes to "Lamb". and this is coming from someone who is NOT a big Genesis fan. but "Lamb" was their best album, in my opinion. but I can see why fans of Genesis are not the biggest fans of "Lamb"; especially sides 3 and 4, or disc 2 in the CD version, are too experimental for their fans. these experiments, however, make the album interesting for me


Edited by BaldJean - March 25 2008 at 14:17

i love Fish as a singer,songwriter and lyricist.' Script' was a fine album.A major announcement after 4 or 5 years of the dreadful punk invasion that prog was still alive.I have no time for these silly tags like neo prog etc.To compare it with the sweeping brilliance of The Lamb is unfair.For me it was Gabriel's Genesis at the peak of their powers.ScrIpt as good as it is, cannot compare, nor should it.It stands up in it's own right as a refreshingly crafted album inspired by the Prog gems that had gone before.The painted face, the similarity to Gabriel albeit a watered down version is understandable.The one with Hammill is not.Whilst i love Fish his voice lacks the quality that seperates great singers from good singers.Fish is a good singer with a Gabriel inflection.Hammill on the other hand has a God given voice that no other can attain.His range,his galvanic roars,the dexterity in power to lullaby softness sets him out as unique.I saw Fish as recently as last November and his voice was much stronger and better than it has been for years.His latest album the 13 Star is a gem.We should rejoice that we still have people like them in prog today.Gabriel will always be one of my favourite vocalists.Hammill  just has something in his voice that sets him apart.Then there is Jon Anderson my favourite singer of them all.

ghost_of_morphy wrote: Clark Ashton wrote: I don't post very much on the forum because I have no interest in arguing with people over personel opinion. But, really, wtf is wrong here? Lamb is one of the greatest works ever, and Script is wanabe material at best.   You've got that a bit wrong.   The Lamb is a major work, not one of the greatest works ever, and Script is wannabe material at worst, not best.   Still, The Lamb should be ahead of Script.

Xanadu3737 wrote: I don't see the problem here, I'd say Script is the better record.

explain yourself a little bit more.

Look, there is something you Marillion fans need to understand. Eventhough Sleep and Witchfinder General brought back doom-metal in the 80s; to me, they will never be Black Sabbath. So stop preaching about how great Script is. To me it is wannabe. Nothing else. It's on my playlist but far from the top. Everything under the sun has it's fanboys.

cacho wrote: Xanadu3737 wrote: I don't see the problem here, I'd say Script is the better record.     explain yourself a little bit more.

Like most Genesis I find Lamb to be a very good album, but nothing spectacular or overly special. On the other hand Script was ground-breaking, fresh, and one of the best debut's in my collection. Fish delivers on the album better than Peter does on Lamb (Flame shield on), and in general the music on Script is simply better than that on Lamb. I will give Lamb credit as being much more epic as an entire unified piece, however the better music remains on Script.   

cacho wrote: Xanadu3737 wrote: cacho wrote: Xanadu3737 wrote: I don't see the problem here, I'd say Script is the better record.     explain yourself a little bit more. Like most Genesis I find Lamb to be a very good album, but nothing spectacular or overly special. On the other hand Script was ground-breaking, fresh, and one of the best debut's in my collection. Fish delivers on the album better than Peter does on Lamb (Flame shield on), and in general the music on Script is simply better than that on Lamb. I will give Lamb credit as being much more epic as an entire unified piece, however the better music remains on Script.      Ha good explanation...Although I don't like Marillion, just cause a fact of taste, I must admit what you've just said is true, Script is much more groundbreaking than Lamb, and of course a splendid debut no doubt of that. Some clappies

As usual we are talking about this subject, 34 to 25 years removed from when the music came out. How does this color our perception? What other factors color our perception such as do we like one band more than the other.  Since I like Genesis more than Marillion, I think you've got to throw my opinion out, even though Marillion are one of my favs.  I'd be interested in hearing for someone who likes these bands equally and preferably was around when each album came out.  Also we are comparing a debut to the last album before the lead singer left. Maybe a more appropreate comparision would be The Lamb to Clutching at Straws or From Genesis to Revelation to Script.

I'll say this, The Lamb has a much more earthy feel and a sensual tone to it Script lacks. Script has more energy and power, and a higher concentration of good songs. For an album I'd want to hunker down and listen to on vinyl, The Lamb wins.

Xanadu3737 wrote: I can't speak for the debut match-up, as I've never heard From Genesis to Revelation, however Clutching at Straws hands down destroys Lamb. In my opinion CaS is not only Marillion's best album, it is their masterpiece.

Edited by kenmartree - March 31 2008 at 23:46