Marillion-Clutching At Straws (1987)

Marillion's fourth album, and ultimately the last with their frontman and singer Fish, is undoubtedly their masterpiece, though it's somewhat overshadowed by the commercial success of its predecessor, "Misplaced Childhood". For this album, the band or rather, Fish returned to the concept album format, this time focusing on drugs and alcohol, substances Fish himself was struggling with at the time. Unlike "Misplaced Childhood", this new release lacks a strong musical cohesion. The connection lies more in the mature and coherent lyrics, which emphasize emotional states like sadness and resignation. All of this is captivatingly sung by a compelling Fish who seems to be crying out for help, and this recording appears to be the breaking point for his health (in fact, after recording it, Fish himself checked into a detox and rehabilitation center for a period of time). Musically, it's the perfect balance between progressive rock and more accessible sounds. There's more subtlety, with many emotional and atmospheric moments, where no single instrument overshadows another. The soft keyboards fit in perfectly, and the guitars are delightful, featuring excellent, melodic, and catchy solos. Another highlight is the unusual and significant cover, which, like the previous albums, was created by Mark Wilkinson. He subtly incorporated a different logo and a revealing image of the interior of the British pub Baker's Arms, with famous figures recreated by Wilkinson in the pub's interior scene. They all share a common denominator: serious problems with substance abuse, which they defended as an aid to their later creativity, or in other words, as a crutch to protect themselves from the surreal nature of fame. They are Robert Burns (Scottish national poet), who died at 37 from alcohol poisoning; Dylan Thomas (Welsh national poet), who died at 39 from the same cause; Truman Capote (writer and journalist, famous for his novel "Breakfast at Tiffany's"), who died at 59 from a fatal combination of alcohol, drugs, and pills (probably suicide); and Lenny Bruce (comedian and social satirist), who died at 40 from a heroin overdose. In addition to these, three more figures appear: John Lennon, James Dean, and Jack Kerouac (the first murdered, the second killed in a car accident, and the third from cirrhosis). All three shared the same philosophy of life: living almost on the edge. The stimulating and energetic "Hotel Hobbies" begins this journey through the experiences of Torch (a character portrayed by Fish himself in the third person), in the melodic "Warm Wet Cycle", where the dangers are narrated. From being trapped in the pub after work, all bathed in gentle guitar fills. The more pop-oriented and melancholic "That Time Of the Night" gives way to the atmospheric "Going Under", the energetic "Just For The Record", and the dynamic and politically charged "White Russian". Meanwhile, "Incommunicado" represents the album's most commercial moment, a powerful track with a devilishly addictive rhythm. The irresistible and melancholic "Torch Song", the forceful "Slainte Mhath", the enchanting "Sugar Mice", and the powerful and progressive "The Last Straw/Happy Ending" bring to a close an extraordinary album and a fitting end to Marillion's golden age.