Happiness is the Road
Discussion
At last!! My pre-ordered new Marillion album has finally arrived. 
http://www.marillion.com/music/albums/happiness.ht...
http://www.marillion.com/music/albums/happiness.ht...
What do you think of it ?
The second disc is quite good, but the 1st disc is a lot weaker. Also the production is awful! It has the same problems as Somewhere Else and it seems to have been carried forward, such a pity. I may grab a FRC of a live concert after the tour as I think the songs could sound a LOT better live.
The problem is the vocals just sound muffled and in the background of the mix, I keep wanting to turn it up louder but it makes it worse! In some songs the vocals are just incomprehensible, it's not helped by Hogarths almost mumbling some songs. Listening to CD1 (Essence), Hogarth could be singing in Klingon on "This Train is my Life", it would make no difference. The vocals are garbled and completely lost in the mix. Musically it's great though, just ignore the singer and make it 30 seconds shorter.
Happiness is the Road, the title track, is a bit rubbish as is Essence. Woke up is a bit repetitive and dreamy street is a bit dreary.
The Man from Planet Marzipan, Real Tears for Sale, Liquidity and Asylum Satellite are fantastic. As a whole though the album isn't a touch on Marbles, Anoraknophobia or Afraid of Sunlight, but a big improvement over Somewhere Else.
The packaging and artwork though are sublime!
Some random thoughts on the songs:
CD1 - Essence
Dreamy Street - Filler. Nothing more, nothing less but seeing as it's just a couple of mins intro it doesn't really matter.
This train is my life - Goes on a bit too much, and that's coming from someone who loves their epic tracks. Hogarth could be singing in Klingon it would make no difference the vocals are completely lost in the mix. 4/10
Essence - Again, vocals are completely lost, musically it's a bit flat as well. Along with the title track, one of the worst songs the band has ever done. Too repetitive as well, Hogarth spends almost a minute just singing the word essence over and over again (at least that's what I think he's singing
) 1/10
Wrapped Up In Time - It's fine, Marillion can do so much better though, again the vocals are wasted though, more incomprehensible lyrics and mumbling. 4/10
Liquidity - This is fantastic little piece of music. Too short 10/10.
Nothing Fills the Hole - I like the first half of this song, the second half starts to feel a bit forced though. Again, it goes on a bit too much. - 5/10
Woke Up - Quiet intro to this, then turns into a more generic rock song. Reminds me of Map of the World from Anoraknophobia. Catchy tune, nothing the band hasn't done before and it's not the type of song where they are at their strongest. 7/10 The last 30 seconds could be chopped off.
Trap the Spark - Right, a strange one this. My main complaint about the album is where the vocals sit in the mix, but strangely it suits the first part of this song! Good track with a great chorus. The lyrics in the second half of the song are a waste of time though after the last chorus, they just become noise with the song. Pity. 6/10
A State of Mind - Don't like the lyrics in this. "State of mind is a contagious thing, spread it around you never know what the future brings". Sounds a bit too high-school philosophy student for my liking. Musically it's decent though. 5/10
Happiness is the Road - Reading the latest Web Mag, Hogarth took inspiration from some "hippie" self-help style book. It shows, I just can't gel with this song at all, don't like the music, concept or lyrics. 1/10.
CD2 - Hard Shoulder
Firefly - I didn't like this at first, but it's a decent little rock track, a bit generic but I don't think it tries to be anything more.
The Man from Planet Marzipan - Brilliant, if only let down by poor production. 9/10.
Asylum Satellite - This is great, 9/10.
Threw Me Out - Think this could be good acoustic. 7/10.
Half the World - Another rockier track. Filler 5/10
Whatever is wrong with you - Cheese'tastic. Which is a pity seeing as it's being splattered all Youtube, not representative of the band at all and a poor choice of song to advertise them with. 3/10
She's older than Me - Marillion do ballad, it's pretty good though. 7/10
Especially True - Good track, during the main verses the lyrics are good but again there are parts of the songs where the vocals just disappear into a noise, it's throughout the whole album but it really grates at points. Just as you are getting into a song it kills it. In this song from the lines "America, House of Blues" onwards if you didn't have the lyrics booklet you would have no idea what the lyrics were at all. 6/10.
Real Tears for Sale - Brilliant, 9/10
I'm a fan of Hogarth, both his solo and his Marillion stuff, but his singing style, and it's placement in the mix is the only let down on this album.
If you are new to the band and want a first Marillion CD, I still have to say buy Marbles or Afraid of Sunlight or Anorak.
-
Stuart
The second disc is quite good, but the 1st disc is a lot weaker. Also the production is awful! It has the same problems as Somewhere Else and it seems to have been carried forward, such a pity. I may grab a FRC of a live concert after the tour as I think the songs could sound a LOT better live.
The problem is the vocals just sound muffled and in the background of the mix, I keep wanting to turn it up louder but it makes it worse! In some songs the vocals are just incomprehensible, it's not helped by Hogarths almost mumbling some songs. Listening to CD1 (Essence), Hogarth could be singing in Klingon on "This Train is my Life", it would make no difference. The vocals are garbled and completely lost in the mix. Musically it's great though, just ignore the singer and make it 30 seconds shorter.
Happiness is the Road, the title track, is a bit rubbish as is Essence. Woke up is a bit repetitive and dreamy street is a bit dreary.
The Man from Planet Marzipan, Real Tears for Sale, Liquidity and Asylum Satellite are fantastic. As a whole though the album isn't a touch on Marbles, Anoraknophobia or Afraid of Sunlight, but a big improvement over Somewhere Else.
The packaging and artwork though are sublime!
Some random thoughts on the songs:
CD1 - Essence
Dreamy Street - Filler. Nothing more, nothing less but seeing as it's just a couple of mins intro it doesn't really matter.
This train is my life - Goes on a bit too much, and that's coming from someone who loves their epic tracks. Hogarth could be singing in Klingon it would make no difference the vocals are completely lost in the mix. 4/10
Essence - Again, vocals are completely lost, musically it's a bit flat as well. Along with the title track, one of the worst songs the band has ever done. Too repetitive as well, Hogarth spends almost a minute just singing the word essence over and over again (at least that's what I think he's singing
) 1/10Wrapped Up In Time - It's fine, Marillion can do so much better though, again the vocals are wasted though, more incomprehensible lyrics and mumbling. 4/10
Liquidity - This is fantastic little piece of music. Too short 10/10.
Nothing Fills the Hole - I like the first half of this song, the second half starts to feel a bit forced though. Again, it goes on a bit too much. - 5/10
Woke Up - Quiet intro to this, then turns into a more generic rock song. Reminds me of Map of the World from Anoraknophobia. Catchy tune, nothing the band hasn't done before and it's not the type of song where they are at their strongest. 7/10 The last 30 seconds could be chopped off.
Trap the Spark - Right, a strange one this. My main complaint about the album is where the vocals sit in the mix, but strangely it suits the first part of this song! Good track with a great chorus. The lyrics in the second half of the song are a waste of time though after the last chorus, they just become noise with the song. Pity. 6/10
A State of Mind - Don't like the lyrics in this. "State of mind is a contagious thing, spread it around you never know what the future brings". Sounds a bit too high-school philosophy student for my liking. Musically it's decent though. 5/10
Happiness is the Road - Reading the latest Web Mag, Hogarth took inspiration from some "hippie" self-help style book. It shows, I just can't gel with this song at all, don't like the music, concept or lyrics. 1/10.
CD2 - Hard Shoulder
Firefly - I didn't like this at first, but it's a decent little rock track, a bit generic but I don't think it tries to be anything more.
The Man from Planet Marzipan - Brilliant, if only let down by poor production. 9/10.
Asylum Satellite - This is great, 9/10.
Threw Me Out - Think this could be good acoustic. 7/10.
Half the World - Another rockier track. Filler 5/10
Whatever is wrong with you - Cheese'tastic. Which is a pity seeing as it's being splattered all Youtube, not representative of the band at all and a poor choice of song to advertise them with. 3/10
She's older than Me - Marillion do ballad, it's pretty good though. 7/10
Especially True - Good track, during the main verses the lyrics are good but again there are parts of the songs where the vocals just disappear into a noise, it's throughout the whole album but it really grates at points. Just as you are getting into a song it kills it. In this song from the lines "America, House of Blues" onwards if you didn't have the lyrics booklet you would have no idea what the lyrics were at all. 6/10.
Real Tears for Sale - Brilliant, 9/10
I'm a fan of Hogarth, both his solo and his Marillion stuff, but his singing style, and it's placement in the mix is the only let down on this album.
If you are new to the band and want a first Marillion CD, I still have to say buy Marbles or Afraid of Sunlight or Anorak.
-
Stuart
Edited by sstein on Saturday 18th October 18:56
Blimey Stuart, you've given this a good listen already!!
I've been a fan ever since Misplaced Childhood came out when I was still in short trousers. I've got every studio album they've done and they are still my favourite band. I've seen them live with Steve Hogarth a few times and I've really enjoyed the gigs, despite having to drag along people who don't really know the band and obviously weren't as 'into it' as everyone else. I haven't really followed Fish with his solo career, but what I have heard has been quite good. I bought the Yin and Yang albums, partly to hear his reworked Marillion classics and partly for his solo material.
Right then... I've listened to HITR once. I used the smiley in my original post purely on the basis of months of anticipation and the absolutely delicious packaging, images, and books, one of which has both our names in.
I have to say, it didn't really do a great deal for me on the first listen. All the tracks seemed a bit the same, all over-emotional, trying-to-be-'epic' soundscapes. I really hope it grows on me - it probably will - but I'm not convinced I'll enjoy these tracks played live... I'll get back to you when I've given it more time.
I've been a fan ever since Misplaced Childhood came out when I was still in short trousers. I've got every studio album they've done and they are still my favourite band. I've seen them live with Steve Hogarth a few times and I've really enjoyed the gigs, despite having to drag along people who don't really know the band and obviously weren't as 'into it' as everyone else. I haven't really followed Fish with his solo career, but what I have heard has been quite good. I bought the Yin and Yang albums, partly to hear his reworked Marillion classics and partly for his solo material.
Right then... I've listened to HITR once. I used the
smiley in my original post purely on the basis of months of anticipation and the absolutely delicious packaging, images, and books, one of which has both our names in.I have to say, it didn't really do a great deal for me on the first listen. All the tracks seemed a bit the same, all over-emotional, trying-to-be-'epic' soundscapes. I really hope it grows on me - it probably will - but I'm not convinced I'll enjoy these tracks played live... I'll get back to you when I've given it more time.
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