I so badly want to give this 3 stars but I can't
Music fan | California United States | 01/16/2010
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I so badly want to give this 3 stars. This is very much a step backwards for Marillion. I have nothing against the "Less is More" concept and have nothing against acoustic versions of songs. I even have the Steve Rothery side project The Wishing Tree which is very acoustic (although those are acoustic to begin with).
To me, when one is going to do a release like this, it would be a good idea to not only make the song different but perhaps better? In this case, most of songs are not very enjoyable when compared to their original. The album doesn't start good by butchering one of favorites, Go. I figured it could only get better. It did not. To me, there are only 3 good songs on here and that is Hard as Love, If My Heart Were a Ball, and the "hidden track", Cannibal Surf Babe. The bonus songs of Runaway and the cover of Fake Plastic Trees add nothing as does the one new track "It's not your fault" - what I think is actually the worst track.
I've been a fan of Marillion since BEFORE their first release (1982) - that is not a common thing for a U.S. resident. They have certainly had their share of ups and downs but this was very much a misfire. It hurts to have to give my favorite band 2 stars."