Marillion - Afraid of Sunlight

Digitally remastered reissue of the hit English prog rock outfit's 1995 album for EMI with a bonus CD featuring nine rare tracks & CD-ROM material. The main album contains eight tracks, including the title cut, plus 'Beautiful', 'CannibalSurf Babe' and 'King'. The bonus disc tracks are 'Icon', 'Live Forever', 'Second Chance (aka Beautiful)' (Previously Unreleased), 'Beyond You' (Previously Unreleased Demo), 'Cannibal Surf Babe' (Previously Unreleased Studio Outtake), 'Out Of This World' (Previously Unreleased Studio Outtake), 'Bass Frenzy' (Pre Album Description

Excellent album on the danger of too much fame

This is a concept album which manages succeeds as epic masterpiece. In my opinion, this is the best album that Marillion has done, and one of the best albums that I have ever heard.

I should admit that when I bought this, I bought it because this 2-CD version was a "limited" release, with "only 1 left in stock!" (and that was about four years ago, if I remember right!). This was the first album I had bought from Marillion, so basically it was just a shot in the dark. They had just released "Marbles" and I had heard good things about that album, but I hadn't even heard any songs from "Marbles". The only Marillion songs I knew were from the very early (Fish-era) albums.

And the first few times I listened to it, it didn't really strike me as all that great. There seemed to be too many different things going on, especially for a "concept" album where you expect one straightforward topic. One minute it's talking about boxing, and then suddenly it's something about a racing boat, and then we have a cannibal surf babe who mentions Brian Wilson (among other things). And then as background noise they're playing the actual news report where OJ is driving around in his bronco. And now it's back to the racing boat, and suddenly it seems to be talking about John Lennon. And now something about the boxer's ring being a band of gold. What, a boxing ring made of gold? What kind of crazy mixed-up concept album is this stupid thing?

But there was enough interesting about the music that I listened to it several times. And the more I listened, the more the pieces fell into place. Yes, it was a concept album, and the concept was much bigger than each of the little stories. It's about fame, and what happens in any walk of life (not just "rock stars") when your fame causes many others to latch on to you and your success. And everyone tells you how great you are, and somewhere along the line you start to believe them, at least half-the-time. And then the other half, you worry that you're just a complete fake, and you're terrified that everyone will find out how empty you are.

The last few songs are sung as a third person who is watching a friend climb the ladder of fame and success -- and heading for destruction through that fame. The album builds to a crescendo on the final song -- and then just ends abruptly. This is another thing which makes the album seem screwed up the first time you listen to it, but it's actually the best way to end it. The person's fame has built to an unsustainable height, and at the end of the album you know that it's all going to come crashing down around them. The album doesn't stick around for that crash, but you know there's no where to go but down. Down fast and down hard, and there's no way to avoid it.

Maybe this topic works better for older listeners, who look back on friends they have had who self-destructed for one reason or another. You can really feel the anguish of this 3rd-person friend, as Steve Hogarth sings ``And they call you a genius, because you're easy to sell. But the fire in your belly, that gave you the songs, is suddenly gone. And you feel like a fake, is that what you want? ... I hope for your sake, you've got what it takes, to be spoiled to death!''. And earlier in the song is the line: ``I hope for your sake, something gets in the way''.

This album was originally released back in 1995, but it fits perfectly for some of the stars in the headlines today. Every time I see some new story on some "star" with a seriously confused personal life, I think of the ending of this album. Another case of someone with too much fame and success at too young an age, and no one getting in the way. Why would they, when they can make millions by just hanging on to the star and saying whatever the star wants to hear? They're hanging on for their personal paycheck, and not for the star. I expect we'll have the same stories in another 12 years, with just the names changed to new stars.

Musically, the album is also top-notch. I'd give this 5-stars for the lyrics, and 5-stars for the music. Too bad this came out in the 1990's, when radio stations had lost all ability to recognize a good new song. Instead, they were all too busy racing after whatever the latest "new trend" was, and progressive rock wasn't a "new trend" at the time. I wonder how many other great works have been overlooked in the past 15 years.

The 2-CD re-mastered re-issue of this includes a few extra songs than had never been on the original album, but fit well with the concept. And it includes a few alternate versions of songs from the original album. Everything on the second CD is worth getting too, so if you liked the original single-CD version than this version is certainly worth getting. March 10, 2008

OK...maybe just 4.5 stars

I am having a Great time "discovering" this band! Wait...isn't this the band thats been putting out albums since the 80s? Once again I'm scratching my noggin' wondering how/why I was never exposed to this wonderful music(I did the same with other bands that I have really grown to like, e.g. Saga, Spock's Beard). Truthfully, a friend actually loaned me 'Misplaced Childhood' about 10 years ago and it did little to nothing for me then...Going thru a hard-core Fusion "fit", I decided after one spin of 'MC' that this band with the goofy name, was just too tame for me(actually,almost anything would sound "tame" after hearing 'Inner Mounting Flame' and 'Birds of Fire'). Anyway, on another one of my quests for non-radio music with gusto and passion (and on the recommendation of many Amazon reviewers), I decided to give Marillion a chance to "earn my business". All in one swoop I purchased 'MC', 'Clutching', 'Script', 'Brave' and this one and proceeded in listening to each one no less than four times each (this is "that" kind of music that rarely sticks until several spins later...the kind I like). I quickly realized that I very much liked 'Clutching' and to a slightly lesser degree 'MC', 'Script' and 'Brave'. But something about this album kept/keeps me coming back to it---maybe it was the less abrasive vocals of Hogarth (sorry Fish fans,but I do like Fish for his contributions), maybe its the "lush" soundscapes of tracks like Afraid of sunrise, Beyond You, Afraid of Sunlight, etc...Really I don't know what attracts me to this album, but when I find myself humming tunes hours, days or months later, that album usually becomes near and dear to me. Other than the "optional" Cannibal Surf Babe, this is a start to finish kind of album that will stay close to my stereo for awhile to come...strongly recommended along with 'Clutching' as a great place for the uninitiated to begin with...Enjoy!
P.S. After reading literally 100s of reviews on the band's
various albums, I decided to go for broke(literally) and recently ordered 'Anoraknophobia', 'Marbles', 'Marbles-Live DVD', 'Holiday's in Eden', 'Season's End' and 'This Strange Engine'...looking forward to "studying" each one! June 15, 2006

One of the best albums you've never heard

Afraid of Sunlight is generally considered to be one of the top 3 Marillion albums, and for good reason. Every track is a winner, from the opening cinematic thriller Gazpacho to the chilling end crescendo of King. In between, you will hear BEAUTIFUL, AFRAID OF SUNLIGHT, the haunting and chilling OUT OF THIS WORLD. The album is a complete experience and serves as a warning to those who seek fame. April 2, 2000

Nice one to start with....

I have not had very much exposure to Marillion with the exception of hearing Kayleigh on the radio in the '80s. After grunge and alternative took over the radio waves in the '90s, I found myself searching for music more by internet and word of mouth than by radio exposure. What I have found is where I once felt I enjoyed all types of rock, I have more become a fan of progressive rock. Having established that I thought I should give Marillion a try. I bought "6 of 1, 1/2 dozen of another" and wasn't too impressed. Then I got to experience "Easter" live on the latest Dream Theater video release done with Hogarth and Rothery. I decided to try Marillion another chance and buy a full length CD with Hogarth on vocals. I have to say I like this quite a bit better than the compilation CD. Hogarth's vocals are haunting and seem to captivate me. A couple of the vocalists that came to mind when I listened to this CD were Mark Hollis of "Talk Talk" and Chris Isaak. Anyways, the music is well written and arranged and easy to listen to. If you're looking for hard driving rock, this isn't it but it should please most progressive fans and pop fans for that matter. I would have to say that the highlight of the CD is the spooky "Out of this World". The bonus CD is also quite nice with great demos and unreleased material that won't disappoint you. February 17, 2000

Essential

Quite simply: the best album of the 90's and one of the greatest albums of the 20th century. Tragically overlooked. The last four tracks of the album are hypnotic, yearning and emotionally tormenting. One day this album will be realized for what it is. November 9, 1999

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