Slainte Mhath
Fuck U2. This is the second week in a row of Krude
Experience blogs that I make that statement. And for good cause. U2 is
currently on a Joshua Tree album 30 year anniversary tour. Like who the fuck
with half a brain really cares about that lame album made by even lamer mullet
jockeys? Not me. But when Krude thinks back to many moons ago about all of the
great music that was created in 1987,U2 isn't a part of my personal list. Not
by a longshot. A band called Mariilion is. Very deservingly so for an album called Clutching at
Straws. Possibly the greatest album Mariilion has ever released (they are still
around as of 2017).
Clutching at Straws is a
concept album that deals with a main character:Torch (as in tortured artist),who
is majorly strung out on booze and almost dead. So over the course of 11 tracks
on the album you will hear tunes about how Torch has chosen his drunken path
and fucked everyone over,including himself. With drinking alcohol as the main
focus.
Damn. use Ron Simmons voice here
This is the drinking persons poetic rock soundtrack to self
pity.The songwriting is perfect atmospheric,melodic,keyboard driven,hard rock.
The lyrics will elevate a common rock fans' vernacular while extolling the pros
and cons of overt boozing. The flow of the album is what makes it so special.
The peaks and valleys to the straight line rock. Marillion nailed it on this album.
And Krude thanks the sky lords for it.
Marillion
Fish- lead vocals
Steven Rothery- Guitars
Pete Trewavas- Bass guitar
Mark Kelly- Keyboards
Ian Mosely- Drums
I cut a day in high school in October 1987 to drive to
Poughkeepsie,NY to a club called The Chance to meet Marillion. Fanboy shit indeed,I
admit. I waited by the club in my car for a few hours until the band showed up
for soundcheck. Myself and a few other fans stood by the back of the club
listening to the band rip through about 5 songs. After the soundcheck the band
came outside and hung out with us for a few minutes before heading to their
hotel. Meeting lead singer Fish (all 6'6" of him) was a huge thrill. He
couldn't have been nicer to all of us. He signed my Misplaced Childhood album
jacket and shook my hand. Cool fucking guy. I still buy his solo albums and
catch his shows. He is a Legend.
Get a good look at the Clutching at Straws album cover. The
Torch character at the front of the bar looks exactly like Alex Lifeson from
Rush (I saw Mariilion open for Rush three times). And if you're really on the
ball,name all the other dudes sitting at the bar in the picture. All time
classic Drunkards.
For all the vinyl junkies out there-here is some good news.
The original vinyl album for Clutching at Straws still sounds the best. I
currently have the 1998 remastered cd and it is mixed too loud for my liking.
Plus,the cd adds a track Going Under that wasn't part of the original
release. That track is cool,but it interrupts the flow of the original track
order.
Clutching at Straws. Krude approved.
Drinking. Krude approved.
Like duh.
Sweating out a happy hour...
KK
@kapn_krude
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krude experience