Listening to Fish: Sunsets On Empire, Part 1

[@Finatic13]

My favorite Fish album. Its criminal that this record didn't get the exposure it deserves.

[@theturtleproject]

the money ran out making it and he didnt have enough for promotion, this could have been such a huge success if that wasn't the case

[@JimNewstead]

Gutting!

[@katierootham]

Goldfish & Clowns is one of my favourite Fish songs. Just gorgeous 😍

[@franckbizouard3357]

Masterpiece, produced by Steven Wilson. Heavier sound than usual.

[@bretttiesmaki981]

Wilson also performed most of the guitar parts.

[@JimNewstead]

Interesting info.... I didn't pick up on that on my first listen! Should have read the sleeve notes....

[@cpteurope]

@@bretttiesmaki981His soloing is awesome 👏

[@majnun3]

One of Fish's best. I played this album to death back when it came out. First time I got to see him on tour here in the states, was a great show. They had equipment issues halfway through so Fish just had a chat with the audience for about half an hour. He sat on the edge of the stage and just told jokes and stories and talked to everyone. You could've heard a pin drop in the audience, he had everyone's complete attention. I've never seen someone with stage charisma quite like he has.

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

Hey Jim. Great choice of album. Not listened to any Fish stuff for years but this is really good. Nicely presented as ever. Very enjoyable. All the best. Dave✅✅

[@daneng3641]

I wish I had gotten out of my classic rock bubble in the 90s. Finally discovering "new" stuff. Thank God (whatever color she be) for streaming!

[@delorangeade]

I lost interest in Fish after Vigil, but I thought I would give this a listen, without much expectation. I have to say I'm very favourably impressed so far. It's much more riffy and bluesy than I anticipated, and thankfully less rooted in 1970's prog. Some great guitar work. The weakest point is probably the vocals, but it is what it is when it comes to Fish. As long as he can generate sufficient venom and anger it works for me. It's not really the kind of thing I listen to any more, but perhaps I should have been paying more attention at the time. I'm sure someone knows better than I do, but my impression was that Fish's career suffered by relocating to Scotland and no longer playing the celebrity game. That said, if music didn't go in and out of fashion, there wouldn't be any room for innovation and our kids would be listening to the same music as our parents.

[@rikgay857]

I remember buying sunsets shortly after it was released. Brilliant album and the first to really hook me into his solo material...I'm now a complete fishhead lol! Up there with his best material including marillion.

[@MattLathrum]

For this tour I got to see Fish two days after Marillion in Los Angeles in 1997, was a great coincidence and a very special time. Also the only time I got to see Fish live. He hung out with fans outside beforehand I believe, I remember him towering over me 😁

[@thomgibbons5043]

I was 18, travelling around Kenya for 3 months, I took 3 albums on cassette with me for my walkman, this one, OK Computer & Everything Must Go. It's amazing when I hear any of it back now I am transported in my mind to a hot and dusty part of East Africa. Still my favourite of his solo albums, maybe only 1 "skip track" for me on the whole album and I love the heavier sound after the keyboard-heavy years that preceded it.

[@kenl2091]

Quite the best thing you've played in a while, Jim. All are good songs with excellent backing, thoughtful lyrics and plenty Fishisms (that's a new word that I've just copyrighted) though he did lift the 'I was thinking about thinking' line from Peter Hammill - always steal from the best! Oh, and Pink Floyd answered the Big Question on Dark Side of the Moon - any colour you like.

[@JimNewstead]

That's saying something from you, Ken! I don't think you've actively disliked anything I've played in a long time!

[@kenl2091]

@@JimNewstead tbh, I try to find the best in everything on this channel, and if I can't then I don't comment. I'll do a rant next time you've got a stinker!

[@malcolmdaniel4462]

Love Fish. Love that album. And it was an amazing tour to support it. Brilliant times!!!!😃

[@palantir135]

Good evening Jim, Another great Fish album. Perhaps my most favorite album by Fish. I’m a big fan of Fish. Suits is great too. Raingods with Zippos is worthwhile listening too. Live he’s great too. Don’t ask me about god or gods or their colors; as far as I can remember I never ever believed in those things. But I like the song very much 😇

[@theturtleproject]

oh yes , the masterpiece , love this so much

[@lazarus550]

Seen him plenty times love all his albums especially this one Raingods and 13 star followed by Feast of Consequences. Only recently discovered you through one of your Yes podcasts, ( greatest band ever ) imo.

[@JimNewstead]

Thanks so much! And hello and welcome :)

[@martinspiess7497]

❤

[@rudolfbecker4313]

my comment of yesterday was deleted ... so I started to comment to part 2 and 3, but I want to say thank you to James 👍 great music and one less of my long list 🤘

[@jpwwilson430]

Glad you enjoyed the album 😊

[@rudolfbecker4313]

@@jpwwilson430 did you have time to check my newest mixtape ? All Songs of 2023

[@jpwwilson430]

​@@rudolfbecker4313I've just noticed this reply and I will check out this mixtape 👍

[@theturtleproject]

do raingods with zippos too Jim, great album

[@JimNewstead]

I've got it..... maybe soonish!

[@shamrockfreeze806]

I am impressed. The first verse of the first Trackball has different lyrics as my copy. I own the remix Version on there it is much more explicit. Cool to hear this other Version.

[@JimNewstead]

Apparently as this is a US version, it was changed to suit the American market....

[@eugeneshadwell6596]

Fish's solo albums can be a bit variable in quality but this one's a classic, certainly one of my top five from this fine gentleman. I hear that the dates from his final tour are going to be announced this Friday on his Fish On Friday broadcast, gotta grab a ticket for one of those shows, seen him about a dozen times over the years and he's always great!

[@jpwwilson430]

Did you notice that Johnny punter had the alternative American friendly lyrics at the start of the song Jim.

[@JimNewstead]

Actually James, I did not, but that’s probably because I haven’t listened to it again since that first time. I should have checked it out before doing this video! Oops! I did check the track listing, and you’re right this is an American edition. Thanks for asking for this album, Suits still to come!!!!!!

[@jpwwilson430]

Hopefully there's not too much Fish on the channel for everyone 😉. I'm looking forward to your response to "Feast of Consequences" at some point Jim hopefully you brought the LP record?

[@theturtleproject]

@@jpwwilson430 there is never too much fish

[@threestringsomg]

Now as a recentish Marillion convert and having watched a Fish era Marillion concert video and interview or two with the guy as a now aged gent....I'm really interested in listening to my first Fish solo record......que the Jim.... 321 Bosch!....oh no it's a Go this time....😅🎧🤪 This first track sounds like.....excellent tasty groovy rock! Oh yeah 👍 check out the guitar work.....ok it's on my wishlist for sure....elements of Thin Lizzy and Peter Gabriel in the style and check out these Zeppelin grooves 🎸🎸🎸🎸...hoping the rest is as great now 🤞

[@JimNewstead]

Was it?

[@threestringsomg]

@@JimNewstead absolutely brilliant! Cheered me up. I've had deteriorated health recently Jim but at least I can listen music again without much pain in ear recently. The first sign in my condition that I can enjoy music again is of course..... I'm buying CDs!! Bought almost complete collection of Clannad in recent weeks. Always loved them but never heard whole discography. Til now and found some more gems. I also purchased more Marillion. Anyway will do request with you soon Jim as I'm off work for while. I'm currently stuck between one of my old recordings I did as music creator or something from my all time faves you might not have heard.....or both.....will have a think when but mote clear minded....sry im rambling dude...im blaming the medicine ☺️👨‍🎤👍

[@drumvc8060]

Love this album, but please Mr Fish - give us a vinyl issue sometime 🙂

[@JimNewstead]

Oh wouldn't that be nice!

[@tanis7050]

By the way Steven Wilson wrote most of the music too.

[@MarcusRump-xi5gh]

Jonny punter, It's about bosnia during the 90's

[@JimNewstead]

Yup, I recall that from the first time I heard it last year.

[@nathanaelpeace9550]

I'm surprised it's the censored version

[@JimNewstead]

@@nathanaelpeace9550 apparently I’ve got the US edition which has been changed to make it more palatable for an American audience! I didn’t realise when I bought the CD.

[@nathanaelpeace9550]

@@JimNewstead Makes sense. We don't like our naughty words here! Love the channel Jim, been watching for years. I always look forward to what you're checking out next.

[@Franznaider]

Weltschmerz

[@LGBTQ71]

I like the heavy bits so much. I stopped listening to FISH after Suits Suits is his 4th album as he had Wilderness, no.1 internal exile, no.2 songs from the mirror no 3 then suits no 4 when I left I was not enjoying where his was going. I have to May well have to another look me thinks!

[@theturtleproject]

yeah he has many great stuff after suits, this one, 13th star, welscmerz , feast of consequences , raingods with zippos, all fantastic albums

[@BrianMccooley]

I saw Fish on that tour (three weeks after Marillion's This Strange Engine show), but I always felt this album was a letdown after the first three.