MUSIC REVIEW: Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight

"My favorite Marillion album."


This is Marillion's stunning album about the trials and tribulations of a life in the camera's eye and the price of fame. Lots of variety, but it never drifts away from the classic Hogarth-Marillion sound - that is, lush and atmospheric arrangements, swells of emotion, and of course, awesome guitar solos from Rothery. The band's command of its vast, ever-expanding musical vocabulary is so complete, and its sense of purpose so clear, that I've come to realize that Marillion is able to realize practically any direction it wishes to go.

Afraid of Sunlight is nothing like the to the grand, emotionally wrenching big-hearted rock of which mastered with Brave, and nothing like the pop-inflected Holidays In Eden. Afraid of Sunlight is minimalistic, heavy with keyboards, and relatively hookless. The album and introspective, atmospheric, moody, with progressions that are hard to grasp. But at the same time, it's instantly enjoyable. The album encapsulates the sensitivity and the beauty of Marillion better than ever. If I had to complain, it would be that the album is mostly lugubrious through and through, with no uplifting finale. Even Brave seemed to have a happy ending!

But whatever, right? This is Hogarth-Marillion's crowning achievement in terms of songwriting and musicality.