Script For A Jester's Tear

More than any other progressive rock band, Marillion has been often ridiculed as a derivative of the many bands that came before them, most ballyhooed for being an eighties version of the great early seventies version of Genesis. That said, Marillion, had some similarities towards Genesis, like the lead singer/lyricist Fish, whom could pass for a young Peter Gabriel. But after that very few similarities were between both bands, as Marillion had a more harder edge. Guitarist Steve Rothery had more of a lead presence than Steve Hackett ever was afforded in his tenure with Genesis. Mark Kelly's ambient keyboarding was more of a cross between Peter Bardens and Rick Wright. Peter Trewavas musically is very similar to Mike Rutherford, as for Pete deploys all the tricks of the trade that Mike used, sans the 12 String guitar. Mick Pointer's (who has gotten supremely better since then) awful drumming, well umm, was one of the reasons he only lasted one album with the band.

With all of that out of the way, "Script For A Jester's Tear", while far from their best, was the first in a trilogy of albums that had lyricist/singer Fish focusing on his main character obsession with self destruction. The subject matters are more descriptive and darker than anything Peter Gabriel has ever written, sadly while being highly original, drawing comparisons to prog's master of doom, Peter Hammill.

The original version of "Script For A Jester's Tear" only feature six songs. U.K. singles chart "Garden Party", but the band's live show was another thing of legend as the band was carving their niche with then non-album tracks. U.K. single "Market Square Heroes" which has a brief showing as a radio bit before the phenomenal "Forgotten Sons" track, and the great live anthem "Grendel" which has a curious sounding "Apocalypse 9/8" like ending, that ticks off many of Genesis fans.

Although this is not Marillion's greatest album, due some growing pains, the band triumphs throughout, and along with other acts of the time: Pendragon, Pallas, Twelfth Night and IQ, the new British neo-progressive rock boon has begun, and "Script For A Jester's Tear" is where Mariillion begins to spawn a legion of imitators and find their own style along the way

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