Listening to Marillion: Clutching At Straws, Part 2
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- Massive thank you to Paul Haycroft for requesting this Fish era classic. Brilliant!
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The Last Straw was basically Fish's resignation letter. Tessa Niles' backing vocals on that are simply fantastic!
Tessa was great on this but the band had a different back up singer on the tour who was as good but I can’t remember her name
"Doctor says my liver looks like leaving with my lover" - what a great line.
This is a phenomenal album! Absolutely brilliant. Like the crown of a series of great prog rock albums of this magic "Fish-era". I still listen to this album after 35 odd years or so. It's especially great for a long car drive when I can listen to the whole album through, as is the intention.
This is my favorite Fish era album….. but they are ALL brilliant!
Agree!
I haven’t listened to this in a good long while after listening to it for about a million times between 87 and 95. It’s still moves me to the core.
I got hooked on Marillion with Misplaced Childhood, and went and listened top all their previous albums. Then Clutching at Straws came out and my mind was blown away with how good this was. I thought this was the beginning of a massive era for Marillion, and then we learned taht Fish and the guys broke up. From that heartache blossomed, fortunately, a new Marillion with h, and Fish's solo career. So glad you've listebned to this one, one of my dearests albums of my life.
My experience was exactly as you said, Misplaced Childhood followed by entire back catalogue, Straws came out, then I'd read the newly released Marillion book that was all "Fish would never leave Marillion, we all love each other and no one would ever leave"... Everything really was hunky-dory in Marillion World as we knew it. Then the news came out... I felt I'd been lied to in that book.
"Torch" the character he based the album about was really a look inwardly and as painful as it was it came across with a shocking honesty and well crafted album.
This was my first Marillion album I heard. I then entered a world in which I am still stuck. And I am happy with it.
over the years this has become my favourite of the Fish era lps - thanks for the great content Jim!
Underrated Masterpiece!
IMHO the first four albums with Fish are the most solid pillars of the neo-progressive movement.
I was deep into them at this point.
Fish wrote two songs, that represented my relationships with my parents...Sugar Mice very much my dad and Gentlemen's Excuse Me about my Mom....
He has been my man since and always....
With the shock news of the break up of the band, and the gradual acceptance that there was no more Marillion with Fish, there was always the what have we missed, what could have been the next album ..... ?
We will never know the answer to that one.
35 years later we are thankful that they all continued to produce music albeit as separate entities.
What a way to go out fish was at his best here
Marillion with fish was my first exposure to them. I heard this 1st and went backwards. I love this band.
A classic. Period.
Clutching At Straws is up there as one of my top 5 Marillion albums.
If you want to feel the proper energy of it, take a listen to the 'Live From Loreley' CD. Most of the album is played live.
Fish's high water mark, both with Marillion, and as a vocalist and as a lyricist.
Obra maestra.
You are right Jim, Torch song is good, in fact it’s very flaming good indeed. One of Lars from Metallica’s favourite albums and you can see why.
Read that about Lars on another comment - that is crazy, but so fun to know!
happy ending is just the guy laughing at the end of the album, the last straw is the last song with the female vocals , masterpiece
Fantastic album! Even with Incommunicado as the weakest track, all the others - oh my god!!
And again - must mention as often as I can - Pete Trawavas is such an underrated bass player! Genious!!
Lars Ulrich Metalica favourite album.
Yes this is true 👍
That's blown my mind a bit!
@@JimNewstead he loved the lyrics. You can see it on you tube
Just about my fav from them. Fish at his prime
It's interesting, my ex boss who's based in the USA is well into his music. I introduced him to Marillion this summer, initially I sent him a link to An Hour Before it's Dark. He was totally honest and said it was OK but needed to listen to their entire back catalogue. After several weeks he came back with "my favourite has to be Clutching at Straws." I've been a fan since A Script......I have grown up with them, I love this album but would say mine is most certainly Brave.
I was fortunate enough to see this live at I believe the Hollywood Palladium. It was an incredible show that actually remember to this day. I'm 59 so that's a feat in itself. When "Happy Ending came up a TINY red haired beautiful woman standing a top a sideways playing card ,started ,soft at first, then building to this incredible ending. What an amazing voice she had. It rivals the backing vocals on Dark side of the Moon. In my opinion. A very personal album for Fish who was battling some demons at the time. This album personally helped me slay my own demons at the time.
Torch Song and Slainte Mhath are my personal Marillion high-points, simply magical compositions, song-writing, production,, and feel. It was a joy to see your reaction Jim, similar to mine when this one was first released. Thanks for the year, really enjoy the streams, thanks for the music, and education. Have a great Christmas and New Year.
Thanks for listening, and happy Christmas back to you!
this record has been with me for the last ~35 years - and I never get tired of it - from the 2nd side - sugar mice is my favorite followed by torch song
"I've got an allergy to Perrier, daylight and responsibility."
Steve Rothery's guitar on this album was some of his most "aggressive" and I love it! This was definitely a must listen for you Jim. I knew you would love it. I really enjoyed watching you experience it for the first time.
If you want SR at his most aggressive, the track for me is “Gaza” on STCBM
@@briang4589 Yes. Verging on metal actually. He uses whatever style speaks the best for the music.
I go back and forth as this album and Misplaced Childhood as my favorite Marillion album. I’ve only really dove into their discography a few months ago, and I haven’t been so enamored with a band like I have become with Marillion in a very long time.
Much of the music criticism that massacred Marillion in the 80s and 90s has now died, become senile or fallen into irrelevance. I'm happy to see that the new generations - free from prejudice and the hateful opinions of unhappy journalists - are appreciating Marillion's music more and more.
I was 15 so this was burned deep in my bones. Listened to it a million times. Thanks for bringing this one out to a new public.
Same here dude!
To me the highlight of the Fish era. Have all the vinyl, but this one has it all.
Jim, I have to admit, I looked for this video like a child running down to see what's under the tree on Christmas morning. Great reaction. For what it's worth, this album, Afraid of Sunlight and An Hour Before It's Dark are my personal favorite top 3 of the band and stand tall against any albums by any band. So, my recommendation is Afraid of Sunlight next!
Glad you enjoyed it
Much as I love the H stuff, none of it compares to the power, the lyrics, the intricate, layered instrumentation of this nearly-perfect gut-punch of an album. I wish they'd never split and love a lot of the H material, but this was a swan song for the ages.
The production is similar to the ELPowell album, plus the obligatory Simple Minds and Tears for Fears comparisons do work. It's not surprising that in the uber-digital 80's a producer working with a band like this might use that as your template, considering the success those bands had with that sound.
My favorite Marillion album. Fish takes you through rock star aspirations to drunken perfection of his personal life and its effects on him. IMO the most complete Marillion album. You can hear the beginning shift from early 80’s keyboard heavy material to songs where Rothery is given a chance to let loose.
Pete Trewavis; the bassist. Loved watching you loving an album I love. Torch's song will be played at my funeral!
so if you want my address its number one at the end of the bar, where i sit with the broken angels clutching at straws and nursing our scars - poetry indeed. Wonderful album from the best band.
I wrote it in part 1, and i'll write it again.- their best album.
Great show Jim. Incommunicado reminds very much of Pete Townsend especially on Empty Glass of 1980.
Absolutely almost identical!
Oooo! I don't know it.
I was too young to remember Marillion back then, I would have been 11 and your dependent on what music your parents play. It was when I met my partner, 29 years ago, he introduced me properly to Marillion and OMG, what had I missed out on! I came accustomed to H, but have listened to the earlier Fish albums and I love this album, Torch Song and Slainte Mhath, are just gorgeous. Glad you like it too Jim, Marillion are just something special and hope you enjoy your listening journey to get to know the music better. 😎😍👍
I was 13 years old when this album was released and i knew then, as i still know now, that music does not get better than Marillion. Even now with "An hour before it's dark" they make music which still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up and sends shivers down my spine!
Favourite album
Enjoyed your review, Jim. This remains one of my favourite Marillion albums, and one of the fav albums overall.
I did enjoy listening to it with you Jim. Thank you! Clutching At Straws is my favourite Fish era album, but I would be fascinated now to see what you think of Misplaced Childhood. And then Seadons End! Great reaction!
I'll get there!
Saw them in December 1987 on the CAS tour, supported by…..It Bites….magnificent concert !
We're still drowning......
Just listen to Pete Trewavas’ bass work throughout this album. Impeccable taste, technically brilliant, yet understated. The man’s a genius
I totally agree!
This is my favorite Marillion Fish album. My older brother was into them and I didnt get into this era until later. I also went to Sixth form in 86. I then started getting into Hogarth Marillion at Uni in Liverpool. I had already missed Seasons end. I met my wife to be, listened to Holidays in Eden on my wedding day and saw them on the Brave tour for the first time with my wife. Nostalgia.
Clutching at Sraws (1987) is considered as the darkest album from Fish era. But its above all a fantastic album!
Hotel Hobbies is perfect inasmuch as archetype Progressive Rock
Sugar Mice is an excellent ballad song
The Last Straws concludes the album in a fantastic explosive Guitar Solo by Steve Rothery, and Fish voice explodes by emotionional screams and also singing! Tessa Niles backing vocals is fantastic!
Marillion is the Simply Best is Progressive Rock!!!!
2nd Marillion album I ever bought, after Script for a Jester’s Tear. I’ve always thought this was the most underrated of the Fish era. Great tracks from top to bottom, and Tessa Niles just blows you away at the end. Glad you liked it, Jim!
So good!
It's great watching your first reaction to this album but believe me the more times you listen to it the greater it is
The magpie appears on all 4 covers of the first albums and on the first album with Hogarth (Seasons End)....which should be the next one...to listen to the "bridge" to the new era...
Love this album. My favorite of the Fish period. As a person who struggles with drinking, this one hits pretty hard.
You cant just listen to one track....its such a captivating album.....an incredible piece of music. Fish is a genius.....his solo albums are pretty much a continuation of this.......👏👏...great reaction....Julian Cope!!!!! " Shut your Mouth"😊
Stick your head back in the clouds and shut your mouth!
A beautifully well crafted album musically and lyrically there isn't a bad track on this album.
I prefer the cd as it has the track "Going under " which is missing from the LP.
Maybe one day you will give it a listen to Jim to complete the full album.
Hot Suff🎹👌🎸👍
An Apex Album. Take a bow Fish and Marillion. Simple Minds couldn't lace.. Great Review!
Great reaction, try also the extended single "Grendel". One of their early songs, it's a fantastic early stab at marking their place in prog rock.
Great review, as always Jim. This is such a fantastic album, I remember going out to buy it as a teenager.
I prefer Misplaced Childhood of the Fish era, but still love this.
Yesssss part 2 !
Incommunicado reminds me of The Who.
Thanks so much for covering this, you did a top job.
My pleasure!
Incommunicado is my least favourite track in the album. It's too firmly rooted in the past for me, but the irony of it is that it describes a longing for the very lifestyle Fish was to turn his back on when he left Marillion. Torch Song is Marillion plays the blues. My own wake-up moment came face down on the floor if the British Museum toilets some time past the age of thirty. Slainte Mhath was the most overtly nationalistic thing Fish had written up to this point, which I think put him at odds with some of the band. Sugar Mice is all about Rothery, the solo is transcendental. The Last Straw is possibly the most powerful rock song Marillion had done, and the vitriol of the lyrics and Fish's delivery still stings. A great way to close the album.
Slainte Mhath is straight up my favourite song ever. The lyrics are simply divine and live it has even more power.
Fish was on Fire on this album the Whole Band were in very fine Fettle !! belted this album out on the way from Inverness to Fife Scotland on many an occasion
great video for Sugar Mice🙏
❤😍
Beautiful sounding album from beginning to end, stilll love Fugazi more 😬
Slainte when new year comes Jim 🍻
Thank you! You too
Thank you for this!!!
I think it is Cori Josias singing backup vocals starting @27:46... she's been in my head singing this part for almost 40 years.
Good afternoon Jim,
Great you like this (the best with Fish) album too.
You also should hear the live album: The thieving magpie.
Yes
Hallo Will, I received your message, when I tried to answer it was gone😮 have you received my Email?
@@rudolfbecker4313 yes I did. Thank you. I already answered it.
I deleted the comment because you already found me.
@@rudolfbecker4313 hi Rudi,
Yes, found it.
Did you recieve mine?
@@palantir135 Hallo Will, I received it. I'm on my way home from the goodbye-party of my Boss and will answer tomorrow. Good night 😉
Seeing Fish in Cambridge on his farewell tour in 03/25. So looking forward to it!
Best part of the album!
I’m not holding much hope for this side it’s been a while since I heard it so it will be awesome to hear it again and despite not liking the Fish era. This is my fave Fish Era Album. And when I say “Not Liking” that’s not really the case as a New Marillion Super fan of course I Love all Marillion albums/songs and singers. NONE OF IT IS BAD ! So let’s see how this goes and I’ll give you my opinion at the end🤟
INCOMMUNICADO This song is a heater. I’ve always liked this song yes a Fish song I really like. I like this for its drive and I love it when Marillion break the 5mph speed limit. It does sound like Phil Collins stuff though I don’t know Genesis only covers by bands like Disturbed. To me this is Fish’s version of COVER MY EYES(PAIN and HEAVEN) and Vice Versa
TORCH SONG to me this sounds like fish’s first material on his first two solo albums (obviously there was a cross over of similar material during those two albums) love the atmospheric middle passage. I find Fish a little grating in his aggressive vocal tone but the song is not bad.
The transition piece is one of my favorite interludes that goes into
SLAINTE MHATH This sounds like a Scottish March into war vibe song. His Scottish’ness is that a word ? Really comes into it presence not sure who simple minds is btw? I like the military role call drum beat and the muted picking (pizzicato) This is very Misplaced Childhood like To me this is one of the highlights of the Album I do listen to this song now and again and I love hearing H singing this live.
SUGAR MICE IN THE RAIN when I first heard this I thought it was a An American band. This is saccharin dripping in sugary soppyness is that a word ? It is now. So it’s a Rom Com Ballad and has no right being on a Marillion Album- which makes it perfect for a Marillion album and it’s perfectly fine for me. It’s Misplaced Childhoods Kayleigh/Lavender and F.E.A.R.’s The leavers - One Tonight (which is my favorite Marillion suite and song of their career) Steve’s ability to make your heart weep is just as present and as with every Marillion track if you listen closely in the background you can hear how Pete sets up the mood of every song he’s given the chance to. Pete may not be that well known to the world but he is one of the most important inspirational bass players we have. This is one my fave Fish songs It’s the first song I ever heard true emotion in his voice and I believed every word of the story he had to tell… But it was a clever cliched pop ballad to rope in the audience song and I’m good with that and don’t he sing great on this! ? On a side note the solo makes me go back to Prince’s Purple Rain - has that same vibe and tone.
THE LAST SRAW a bit of a nothing song for me not an album closer on my first ever listen. Coming back to it now this song clearly manifests in Fish’s solo albums and Marillion’s Seasons end @around 25:00 of your video remember that interlude with the running Bass the refrained picking and that atmospheric feel. It Oooooooozes pure SEASONS END Adrenaline which y’all hear in songs such as BERLIN. Yes I’m writing glowingly over a song I didn’t like. But on this song I stopped listening to it as a Marillion song and started listening to it as a Fish song from his “Internal Exile” album and I liked it better. Btw way Steve’s solos appear to be a collection of ideas they didn’t know how to fit into a song so threw them together and stuck in here. It’s an odd arrangement and passage of play but I find it to be so much better than I originally thought of. Oh yep that was Tessa Niles singing at the end.
So on the whole loved every second of this video, album and songs. I still rate this as Fish’s best album but my 4th worst Marillion album (guess what the first 3 are ?)
And yet I still think this album is great! Anyways the point of watching this video is not about my views (which I never shy from holding back) The point of this video is to watch you fall in love with one of the greatest bands I’ve heard and unlike others I’m not wanting to keep them privately, selfishly, something only I want to love and listen to. This is a band I’d like the world to share and a band I’d like you to continuously share with the world
Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment so thoroughly. I'm glad you are enjoying my journey! Be well, and happy Christmas!
They did a live album La Gazza Ladra, listen to the intro to that…….
Sounds more like Pete Townshend and the WHO!
Slàinte Mhath is Gaelic and translates as good health, so a drinking toast.
`jim, You must listen to their Thieving Magpie live tour.. Gazza Ladra entry to the gig... As ever, always a pleasure sharing your first listening in this case, to the best Marilion album You can also always judge a great album by the quality of the last track... Script of a Jesters Tear is fantastic.too... Great keyboard work on Garden Party...
So so good
You often mention Simple Minds, maybe but much better in my opinion
🎵🎶👍👍👍✌️😁
Listening to this album for the first time in years I realize, that it's much more melodic than the first 2 ones, which to me are more edgy and heavy and that's why I like them a bit better. When it comes to Marillion I have a very clear opinion : the Fish-era is the better era, Marillion without Fish is almost a different band (.... now we can start a discussion 😆 ... but why ... everybody can have his own opinion and I won't change mine, you can tell me what you want or play to me what you want 🤣)
And of the Fish-era albums I have also a clear ranking : Fugazi, Script, Clutching and Misplaced Childhood at the end ... I know, also there a many different opinions, but with only 4 albums you cannot make to many different rankings ...🤘
Another positive thing, I can say about Clutching is, that back in the 80s/90s when I listened to it, you easily could hear the whole album without feeling you want to stop👍
Slàinte Mhath is actually pronounced "slanj-a-va"
This is still probably my least favourite Fish era Marillion although Fugazi runs it close. Individual tracks on CAS are great but to me it just doesn't gel as an album. However the segues are great and set up something that the band were to follow which is exemplified in An Hour Before It's Dark which I absolutely adore.
Agree totally, my least favourite Fish album, along with Fugazi.
Script and Misplaced Childhood are both very special.
AHBID is my favourite album of all time, by anyone.
It makes me very uncomfortable, that the label on the record is not centered.
Slainte mhath is a good song to compare fish and H as they have both sang it..
First
tbh when fish left so did I just cant enjoy h;s voice the bands music and songs are strong but followed fishes journey after this. nice xmas present thanks
Fair enough, happy Christmas, and thanks for the gift of Ren!
😍👍🏻
Its time for „Misplaced Childhood”?🥹