HOLIDAYS IN EDEN

Holidays In Eden marked the band's transition into the '90s which generally was considered a difficult task for any popular '80s band to achieve. Even artists like Michael Jackson couldn't please the new generation of audience who instead seeked their kicks in the rising new genres of Alternative Rock och Grunge. A revision was definitely in order especially considering that no band can push on in one and same direction forever.

I think that most people have a difficulty of accepting the results featured on this album because of how well Marillion managed to show all the '70s progressive rock giants that their music could actually find an audience in the generally prog forsaken decade that was the '80s. Still once they themselves had to cross into a new decade Marillion went through the same sound re-inventing phase as Genesis, Yes, ELP etc. I guess that history repeats itself after all!

I can empathize with fans who bought this record when it came out and felt completely disappointed. But I personally didn't start exploring Marillion until 2001 and so once I heard Holidays In Eden back in 2005 my first reaction was related to how well this album had actually aged over the years. It's difficult to compare this release to any of the previous Marillion records but if I really had to then the closest comparison would be that of Fugazi. Just listen to the first side of that album, compare it to Holidays In Eden and tell me that you can't see any similarity between composition styles. Quality-wise this album comes closer to Seasons End but on completely different grounds. While that album was a a mixed bag of strong Marillion compositions shuffled in with some completely forgettable works, Holidays In Eden managed to keep a pretty solid quality straight through. That doesn't necessarily mean that the solid material here is nearly as good as those high points on Seasons End but the track listings basically balances each other out and marks another excellent release from the band. The low points for me here are the not so cheerful The Party that I feel is trying too hard to create an atmosphere that would be perfected on the band's next release both instrumentally and lyrically. This Town, on the other hand, is a just an average rocker that would probably have worked well in the live setting although I've rarely heard Marillion perform it at concerts so it kind of looses its sense and purpose. Previously I had the difficulty of telling the difference between Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven) and Hooks In You, but after seeing the hideous video for the latter, the former has really grown in my appreciation of it.

Holidays In Eden might not be a favorite among the fans that have followed the band since their glory days in the '80s but it doesn't necessarily mean that new fans should overlook another solid Marillion release that actually gets better with each passing year.

***** star songs: Splintering Heart (6:54) Dry Land (4:43)

**** star songs: Cover My Eyes (Pain And Heaven) (3:54) No One Can (4:41) Holidays In Eden (5:38) Waiting To Happen (5:01) The Rakes Progress (1:54) 100 Nights (6:41)

*** star songs: The Party (5:36) This Town (3:18)

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