Script For A Jester's Tear (vinyl)

"So here I am once more, in the playground of the broken hearts."

So let it be written, the first words on the first full length album by the singer Fish and the band Marillion. Indeed, early Marillion is so heavily associated with their original singer that it is futile to try to separate them. Early Marillion, meaning the first four crucial albums, are revered for their lyrics as much or more than their music. Layers upon layers of meanings, unusual words, symbols galore, it's all here for the poetry lover in you. I especially like Fish's use of homophones for that extra touch of wonder.

Musically, early Marillion were very much in Genesis worship mode, even if they don't like to talk about it. "Grendel" (appearing here in an awesome alternate take) is essentially "Supper's Ready". Many people have confused Fish's voice for Peter Gabriel's and even Phil Collins' from time to time. This is progressive rock for rockers. Do you like 8 minute songs with time changes, and ample keyboard & guitar solos? Marillion is the band for you.

Highlights on this album include the broken-hearted and angry title track, and of course the drug-induced "He Knows You Know". Part of the appeal of Fish's lyrics is how he alternately caresses them and then spits them out at appropriate moments. "He Knows You Know" is a great example of this. From high pitched emphasis to mid-range melody, Fish knew how he wanted to express his words.

"Garden Party" is, of course, a wry stab at the English class system. These lyrics could only have come from the man known as Fish, and this is one of his most sarcastic and humourous achievments. It is also one of Marillion's bounciest songs, one that still causes euphoria in audiences today.

The bonus disc here is loaded with greatness. Their first single "Market Square Heroes" is present in alternate versions. One of which is the "Battle Priest" version. Fish was forced to change the lyrics from "I am your antichrist," to "I am your battle priest" and that version is available here. Fear not, collectors, as the original is availble on the singles box set and other compilations as well. "Grendel", all 20 minutes of it, is also present in an alternate take. It is simply stunning that an alternate take of a 20 minute song even exists. Again, the original is available on the box set as well as the album B'Sides Ourselves. The original take of "Three Boats Down From The Candy" is here, slightly different from the version that would turn up later. Here there is a reggae vibe in the final verses. Fill out the bonus disc with some well fleshed out demos, and you have a very solid listening experience.

Liner notes, by Fish and others, are of course essential, brilliant, and engrossing. Ample photos and artwork from Mark Wilkinson are also included.

Script For a Jester's Tear is an essential Marillion album, but it is not for beginners. Beginners may find such progressive fare as "Forgotten Sons" or "Chelsea Monday" to be a bit inpenetrable on first listen. They would be advised to pick up the magnum opus Misplaced Childhood first. Once you are addicted to that music, come back here and feast of the bones of "Grendel".

5 stars. A near-masterpiece for this band.

Thanks again for the great price and service, guys. Everything was on time and in perfect order. Everything was first class!

This could be the best album of the 80's. However, it happens that "The Final Cut" by Pink Floyd was released in the same year - 1983 - a magical year because of this two albums.

Anyway, this is one of the best debut albums I have ever heard, comparable to Tindersticks' first album, dEUS' "Worst Case Scenario" or Puressence's debut.

When this album was released, Marillion had a relative success in the UK, due to the single "Market Square Heroes" (which can be briefly spotted during the radio station tuning in the introduction of the last track - "Forgotten Sons").

The magic starts with the cover - a marvellous painting of a jester's trying to play "Yesterday" (The Beatles) in a violin. Like most progressive rock bands, the cover served as an introduction to the band's own world and took advantage of the vynil format (the back cover and the front cover form a single image).

The start is tremendous. For me, "Script For A Jester's Tear" is still Marillion's best song. The begginning of the song recalls "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" from the Genesis album "Selling England By The Pound" with the first phrase sung without music (the music starts immediately after the first phrase). The song is divided into four parts. The first is mysterious and mellodramatic and ends with "...the game is over". The second section is very rythmical and the lyrical content is just the repetition of phrases sung in the first part. The third part starts with "I act the role in a classic style" and returns a soft and mysterious mood. The beautiful and unforgettable fourth part is very grandiloquent and starts with "the fool escaped from paradise...". The end is "can you still say you love me?" sung several times, recalling, in a certain way, the ending of another Genesis song: "The Musical Box" (from the album "Nursery Cryme") when Gabriel sings/begs "why don't you touch me?" lots of times.

"He Knows, You Knows" is also a great song. It was the first single of this album and is a shorter and balanced track, more suitable for radio listeners (if all the songs on the radio sounded so good...).

"The Web" is the longest theme and it is also fascinant with lots of different parts and great keyboards by Mark Kelly.

"Garden Party" was the second single. This is Marillion, particulary Fish, showing their sense of humour. It's a joyful melody, very different from most Marillion songs.

"Chelsea Monday" is the album's second best song. The bass (played by Peter Trewavas) is remarkable. It's a slow and subtle song.

"Forgotten Sons" is my least favourite although highly considered by the fans. Nevertheless, it has the Marillion's unique sound.

If you like the "Peter Gabiel Genesis era" you will surely love this album. Yet, Marillion have their personality and are something more than a Genesis copy. Trust me: hear it several times and feel addicted.