This week is the 20th anniversary of the release of Marbles by Marillion, what I consider to be the best progressive rock album of the 21st century.

Most of you American Avocadoans have probably never heard of Marillion, but in the 80s they were a hugely successful band in the UK and Europe, selling millions of records and charting number one hits.

After switching their lead singer and lyric writer, they spent much of the 90s struggling with record labels who wanted more hits, but the band’s highly emotional and expansive style fell out of fashion. But they never stopped touring and recording, even to this day, and they have a solid core fan base that will always support them.

So they had an idea: what if we sold an album to our fans before we even record it? This was years before “crowdfunding” was a thing, and the idea was bold but ultimately successful. They funded the recording of 2001’s Anoraknophobia based purely on pre-sales, which allowed them to bypass record company demands and do whatever they wanted. Based on that success, they did it again by funding the recording of what would become their double-album masterpiece, 2004’s Marbles.

While not a concept album, many of its songs are linked by lyrical and musical themes. The title track is broken up into four shorts parts that sit comfortably between the longer pieces and provide a sturdy framework. Marbles is in turns dark, majestic, bleak, raging, and triumphant.

I saw them live in 2004 and it’s still one of the top concert experiences of my life. I could recommend any tracks from this album, they are all brilliant, but if I had to choose one to highlight, it’s the tempestuous 18 minute epic centerpiece, “Ocean Cloud”.

Anyway, today is my birthday, which why I’m indulging myself by inflicting this on your Open Thread. Oh, and happy Wars with Stars day or whatever.