MARKET SQUARE HEROES

Marillion's debut EP is a very strong precursor to the genious of Script for a Jester's Tear. The three songs presented here are very strong pieces that are filled with melody, superb musicianship, and outstanding lyrics from vocalist Derek Dick AKA Fish.

The opening track is very upbeat, and live was a highlight of the group. With a groovy melody and a marching beat to, the song rarely feels repetetive. Market Square heroes has a celtic feel to it, and it's a great sing-along tune. 4/5

Three boats down from the candy begins with a swaying melody that goes from high to low. The rest of the song is pretty forgettable. It's a good track, but nothing spectacular. The weakest on the EP. 3/5

Then comes the monster of the album... literally. Grendel has often been tagged as a Supper's Ready clone. Sure, the Genesis influence is there, but I get no feeling of them ripping off Supper's Ready. The lyrics are clear and concise, and are full of literary ties to the novel of the same name. The song begins slowly, with Rothery leading the way on the guitar. Soon Fish's voice picks up, and the rest of the band kicks in. At the 5 minute mark, Rothery unleashes an emotional Gilmour-esque guitar solo that quickly becomes intertwining keyboard and guitar runs. The two instruments then being their own respective solos while the bass and drums keep the rigid beat. The only part that has any similarity to Supper's Ready is the beat that comes around the 13th minute, it really reminds me of Apocalypse in 9/8. Other than that, the song is a fantastic representation of the literally character. The song ends in a rather epic fashion, and then it is over.

Overall, this is a fantastic work. For a first outing in recorded tracks, Marillion hit the ball out of the park with this one. My only complaint is Three Boats Down from the candy, which really seems to be filler, but good filler. 12/15 for the tracks which results in a 4/5 rating.