Yeah, they started making more, as you say, catchy music when Fish left. I mean, I LOVE the Fish-era stuff to a track, but "Incommunicado" aside, I can't really say there's anything on those four albums that plays well on radio (before you say it, everyone's sick of "Kayleigh" and it was never that great a song anyway: this from a Marillion fanboy!). However when Hogarth joined, although they retained a mostly progressive style, they did branch out into "poppier", sometimes AOR style tunes, the likes of "No-one can", "Beautiful" and even "Three minute boy".

Other than my alltime favourite as already detailed though, I consider "Brave" to be the pinnacle of their post-fish creative output, and it still ranks as one of their darkest albums. Definitely my second favourite (nothing will ever dethrone "Script" I believe).

I make no secret of my love for Fish era Marillion and I personally find them streets ahead of their obvious influence - Genesis , quite simply because of Fish. His persona, lyrics and vocals were much personal and I could relate to him even when I first heard the band aged 14.

I recently got the 2 disc version of Clutching At Straws and was absolutely delighted to have a second disc full of demo tracks I never knew existed and this is a standout for me:


I have tried on numerous occasions to get into Marillion post Fish but it just doesn't work for me at all. He was the centre of the band and always will be.

Interestingly enough Jack, that's "Story from a thin wall", which became "Berlin" on their next album, "Seasons end". You really should hear it, it's quite amazing how they changed the song and yet kept it the same.

I ran a feature on it in my "Run for cover!" section in the journal: have a look here http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ml#post1123976

Have you listened to Fish's solo material? As it happens, the above song also used lyrics (but not melody) that ended up being in one of his own songs on his debut, one called "Family business".

Lee, I completely sympathize with your inability to get into post-Fish Marillion, but you really should, at the very least, give both Seasons End and Afraid Of Sunlight some time...especially the former.

I have tried to listen to Seasons End many times but nope I cannot get into their post Fish output. Musically good but Fish was 75% of that band and I'm not shifting!