MUSIC REVIEW: Marillion - Holidays in Eden

"Marillion goes pop and does it well."

Call me crazy, but I sincerely enjoy Holidays In Eden. I won't deny that it's commercially directed, a bit streamlined, but when the quality of the music is this good, who cares? This may be one of the few glowing reviews from a Marillion fan, but it deserves it. It is still characterized by good old Marillion attributes (awesome guitar solos, ambient arrangements, and lots of emotion), but it's diluted a bit by the pop endeavor.

Highlights include hook-laden "Cover My Eyes," with Hogarth showing off his deft vocal acrobatics, "Splintering Heart," a dramatic piece of classic Hogarth-Marillion (it's even a bit "Fishy"), the peppy title cut, and the radio friendly triad "No One Can," "Dry Land," and "Waiting To Happen." My favorite song would be "The Party," the moving story of a young girl who attends her first party (of the drugs, drinking, and promiscuous variety), and loses an element of her innocence as a result. A generic little idea that's made markedly compelling thanks to interesting lyrics and sad, atmospheric music. The final song, "100 Nights," also proves absorbing when given the attention ('cause it doesn't grab you right away). Under-appreciated, but many great things are.