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The latest album release from Marillion comes three years after the masterpiece "Marbles," and the band knows well that it won't be easy to replicate the success achieved in 2004. But one thing Marillion's career has taught us is that this group has no intention of resting on their laurels but always seeks new paths, even if it means disappointing some of their fans.
For this reason, if "Marbles" could be described even with just a single word, that is "progressive," the same certainly cannot be said for "Somewhere Else." The long compositions lasting over 10 minutes disappear, the solos by Rothery and Kelly are significantly reduced in both complexity and length, resulting in much simpler and more direct tracks, yet still unmistakably labeled "Marillion". This change in direction has led to much criticism for the band, but they are largely undeserved. Most of the tracks are very beautiful, and it matters little if they don't always match the band's previous standards; what truly matters is the ability of Marillion to always move with their music.
Almost all the tracks are imbued with a more or less evident note of melancholy, emphasized by Hogarth's excellent vocal performance, as in the opening track "The Other Half" (especially in the concluding part) and in the splendid pearl "Thankyou Whoever You Are." There's also room for a track that at a superficial listen might seem almost pop, "See It Like A Baby," but which in reality is anything but a simple composition; and for one of the most driven tracks of their career, "Most Toys." However, in some parts, the five also remember to be the best progressive rock band of the last 20 years, and this characteristic emerges in the wonderful title track, with a spine-tingling middle section, and in "The Wound." Also very beautiful is "A Voice From The Past," guided by an evocative piano and sealed by a splendid guitar solo.
Those who listen to Marillion only for their progressive rock compositions should stay away from this album, as they will be disappointed, but those who love them unconditionally can't help but love this latest work from the band.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Thankyou Whoever You Are (04:51)
What a time this is
Everything changing
Faster than the eye can blink
Faster than we can stop and think
What will the future hold?
Well whatever...
I won't ask you to care
But say you'll be there
If you can't love me tonight
Just remember the light
Remember the light
Thankyou whoever you are
Thankyou whoever you are
Thankyou
If we get half of half a chance
We'll party til dawn. We'll run
and dance
Sleep on a train and rent a car
We'll gamble in the South of France
We'll be a friend to this mad world
Happy together
I won't ask you to sign
On some cold dotted line
But if you can love me tonight
I'll remember the light
Only the light
Thankyou whoever you are
Thankyou whoever you are
Thankyou
06 A Voice From the Past (06:21)
A voice from the past
Entered my head today
Fresh and alive. Full of life, passion and pain.
A voice now past.
A beautiful soul. Gone, gone, gone.
Speaking clearly - clearer than the living
Talking perfect sense
Used to not being understood
While talking perfect sense to the next generation
Have we caught up yet?
Is it time?
I think it is.
Enough is enough
Enough is enough
A voice from the past
Entered my head today
Tiny child sighed in my ear.
Giving up breathing in
Over and out
Over and out
Taken by bad luck and the ill fortune of geography.
Common cold. Dirty water. HIV.
Common apathy. Common crime.
Perfect nonsense to the next generation
Dead yet alive
Dead yet alive
Gone but shouting anger
Gone but talking perfect sense
Have we caught up yet?
Is it time? Well I say it is. I say it is.
Deaf and dumbed-down
Enough is enough
Give me a smile. Hold out your hand.
I don’t want your money
I don’t want your land
Gimme a smile. Hold out your hand.
I don’t want your money
I don’t want your land
I want you to wake up and do
something strange
I want you to listen
I want you to feel someone else’s pain
Someone else’s pain
Someone else’s pain
Someone else’s pain.
Deaf and dumbed-down
Deaf and dumbed-down
A tap with clean water
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By mrbluesky
The album is beautiful, one of those that you love right away, it merges with the night and thoughts.
Somewhere Else still remains an album capable of giving wonderful sensations.
