13th Star

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Customer reviews

review by: colrfc1 date: 2008-07-31 rating:
Fish - well done man!
Absolutely brilliant effort from Fish. Been a fan since Marillion days and I have to admit I think this album is one of the best I have ever heard. 'Arc of the Curve' is something else, whilst 'Square Go' gets you going big style. Having seen Fish perform live in my home town of Elgin on a couple of occasions, this album has all the guttso to blow you away in a live setting.

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review by: davidhenderson8 date: 2008-07-09 rating:
A superior talent.
I've followed Fish's music for ages and think of him as one of the most underrated musicians and performers in the UK. This album is hugely enjoyable and has much to recommend it. It reinstates his status as the poet of frustration, forever chasing his dreams and learning to love his failures as much as his successes. The imagery of the first track 'Circle Line' is superb communicating the imprisonment of a life lacking real meaning. The guitar at the end manages to be both mournful and beautiful, complimenting his voice well. In other tracks, such as Square-Go, he conjures up a rocky, hard beat- the lyric suggests a major movie. His voice moves from the angry to the warm and expressive tones used in songs such as Miles De Bessos and Where in the World. His skill as a lyricist is always apparent and the resulting album is a fine piece of work.
Yet, I do find myself after many listenings, trying to remember a melody, a hook and perhaps the album lacks one great track. It has many good ones though.

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review by: date: 2008-06-13 rating:
Lyrically, very moving and personal.
As with one of the other reviewist's, and have to confess I was extremely interested in Marillion's music when Fish was still vocalist. His first solo album, Vigil In a Wilderness of Mirrors was excellent !!, then Internal Exile, then Songs from the Mirrors, which I have to say, 5 years gave me goosepimples, then Suits of which I personally found only a couple of songs I enjoyed. I did not purchase the next few, and then I purchased Fellini Days. Again, only a few songs stood out.

I went to see Mr Fish on the Field of Crows tour and was very disappointed. So............. I have been VERY apprehensive on purchasing his recent album, 13th Star, after reading certain reviews.

Well, I played it yesterday evening.............. and what I have heard is Mr Fish back on GOOD FORM !! Wow !! what power lyrically and musically. It is like listening to a little of Vigil and Straws....

I agree with some of the other reviewists, when he sings about his personal struggles in life, what you get is an outstanding portrayl from one of the greatist artist's in Scotland and U.K alone. When he sings about war, politics etc...... there does not seem to much energy or personal affect on the listener. Admitedly, Fish has had to change the style of his singing, toll over the years of his smoking. Okay, so he can not sustain and get to those credendos of the past i.e: Credo, Assasin, Grendle, MSHeros etc... But what we have now is a gravelly tone that actually works extremely well with, at times, rises of `power' Dark Star and the haunting of the title song itself, 13th Star.

Sadly, what we have here, is that I have missed the U.K Tour....... and I keep punching myself, metaphoricaly !!, and am upset that I did not get the chance to see Fish perform this outstanding album. Also, I was so excited when I slid the cardboard cover off to notice an amazing design

Welcome back Mr Fish, although sadly through the wrong reasons. We are all there for you

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review by: date: 2008-03-23 rating:
I'd give it 13 stars if I could !!
Its all been said already, this is the best album FISH has ever released. I have seen him live 4 times this year and in his own words "I'm not dead yet", how true !!!


review by: date: 2008-03-12 rating:
Shining Brightly!
Fish has been part of some truly fantastic records over the years. His work with Marillion was remarkable and immensely successful, allowing the band to gain a whopping great fan base, that has enabled them to survive and endure to this day.

As a solo artist, his work has been patchy at times but his 1990 debut 'Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors' and 1997's 'Sunsets On Empire' remain high points both musically and lyrically.

'The 13th Star' is a record that sits neatly beside Fish's finest efforts. Vocally, a combination of cigarettes, alcohol and all round mileage has taken it's toll slightly on his voice. The menace so prevalent on albums like Marillion's 1984 classic 'Fugazi' is sadly missing now, but his voice still has lots of character and emotion with a bit of power to spare.

Lyrically, Fish has used his bitter breakup with Mostly Autumn's Heather Findlay as a template for a huge chunk of the material on here and his bitterness is so evident, you almost feel like you're invading his privacy. Having said that, although you sympathise with the big man's obvious emotional plight, there's no doubt that Fish always writes his best material when he's gone through a bad patch in his personal life.
As ever though, he still finds room for his unique perspectives on politics and social commentary. There's no doubt that even in 2008, Fish remains one of the finest and most underrated lyricists Britain has ever produced.

Musically, Fish's backing band has a freshness and an energy not heard in many a year. The combination of electric and acoustic guitars is top shelf, the keyboards are lush and the rhythm section fluctuates between groovy throbbing and almost pounding metal.

'Circle Line', 'Square Go' and 'Manchmal' are big, powerful and aggressive riffy rockers.

'Miles de Besos', 'Zoe 25' and the quite brilliant 'Arc Of The Curve' have great radio/chart appeal and catchy choruses.

'Open Water' and 'Dark Star' are great dramatic efforts that hark back to Fish's Marillion heyday and the last two tracks 'Where In The World' and the title track are excellent ballads with an epic feel.

It's hard to find a negative with this record. Every song shimmers, and the personal nature of the lyrics really draw you in as a listener. The singing and playing is excellent and performed with genuine passion. Even regular collaborator Mark Wilkinson's cover artwork (inner sleeve especially) is first rate and is a perfect visual companion to the music on offer. The only worry is how on Earth Fish can possibly follow this one. 'The 13th Star' will be amongst 2008's best albums by any artist, and with Marillion's next album 'Happiness Is The Road' due out in September, it looks like a good year.
Nice one Derek.

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