Mon Jan 18 2021
2
Like attending a celidah at the village hall and watching her dance while I eat a scotch egg. She will never love me.
This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys
1988
- Album Summary
Fisherman's Blues is a 1988 album by The Waterboys. The album marked a change in the band's sound, with them abandoning their earlier grandiose rock sound for a mixture of traditional Irish music, traditional Scottish music, country music, and rock and roll. Critics were divided on its release with some disappointed at the change of direction and others ranking it among The Waterboys' best work. The album was the Waterboys' best selling album, reaching a number 13 placing on the U.K. charts on release, and 76 on the Billboard 200.
Reviews
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Mon Mar 08 2021
3
This is pretty cool, just Irish kinda rock. Only criticism is that it gets a bit old towards the end, like most other stuff in this genre I've heard before. I think the Irish pub rock scene could do with restraint - there's no need to add 60 renditions of folk songs onto the second half of every album. 3/5 all the same.
Wed Feb 10 2021
1
Think of the Pogues, but not cool.
Wed Jan 20 2021
1
What is this? Who is this? 22 tracks?!?! Why are they just singing “Blackbird” in the middle of one song? Why is every album suggested so far overflowing with folk instruments? How many dudes are in this band?? Etc.
Mon Sep 28 2020
4
This is two days in a row I've been served a Scottish band (last one was Orange Juice) but this is a completely different experience. The songwriting is excellent. Lyrical, nuanced, and nostalgic while remaining modern (for 1988) and relevant. Shades of Dylan meets Springsteen but with an undeniable celtic energy. Overall, a really intriguing and engaging album. It came out in '88 but holds up really well overall.
Mon May 23 2022
2
Jesus that's a of of fiddle.
Tue Jan 19 2021
5
So loving this album. 4 songs in and I think I've added 3 to playlists. Great sounds: piano, strings, driving base, catchy guitar. Vocals are solid aswell. Driving, ensemble rock with lots of instruments/variety of sounds with folk roots - but more rock than anything else. Piano theme, and horns in 'World Party' are incredible. Strings create a great feel to the song. Every song has so much great feel. this is likely going to be my first 5 star. some nice authentic feeling songs on the second disk. The final song, 12 min long, Soon As I Get Home builds to the most pumping crescendo in the second half of the song. definition of a full on jam session. yes a 5 star album.
Sat Apr 23 2022
5
Dylan meets Dave Matthews
Sat Apr 02 2022
2
2.6 - This record reminds me of a pack of bourbon flavored gummy bears I was once gifted. I like bourbon on its own and gummy bears on their own as well. Merging the two, though it might seem like a good idea, proved underwhelming. Similarly, this album is an underwhelming combo of Irish/Scottish folk and adult contemporary rock. Listening to it seems utterly pointless to me. The only place I could ever imagine hearing this would be at an Irish pub or a St. Paddy’s day parade or an Irish pride event or some other Irish-themed venue. “Sweet Thing” is one cool track - the fiddle actually works on this and doesn’t feel like a distraction as it does for much of the rest.
Sat Jan 30 2021
5
Emotive, impactful and uplifting
Fri Mar 26 2021
5
I’ve never heard of them, but I like the description on Wikipedia of folk-rock. I tend to like that, so I anticipate that I will like this one. I really like this one. I would buy their albums.
Mon Jan 18 2021
5
Fantastic well crafted music! From relaxing and almost soothing to absolute foot stompers.
Wed Jul 21 2021
5
boss
Sun Apr 18 2021
4
I really enjoyed this! Like a precursor to Arcade Fire or a lot of other indie rock of the late aughts
Thu May 20 2021
4
- fucking long - nice balence of trad / modern - strong themes, emotive. - some overly trad songs - odd flow of the album --> meet me at the station into soon as I get home. - good variety of styles and vibes
Tue Feb 08 2022
4
I love this album. Side 1 is by far the best moment of The Waterboys career. From the epic opening track to the dissonant fiddle that dominates We Will Not Be Lovers, to the beautiful accoustic turn of Strange Boat, the start of this album is as good as it gets. The band then rocks out with danceable World Party and closes side one with a gorgeous take on the Van Morrison classic Sweet Thing. Unfortunately side 2 pales in comparison (how could it not?) With the only standout track being And a Bang on the Ear. The underwhelming second half keeps this from being a 5 🌟 classic. 4.5 🌟
Mon Apr 11 2022
4
Love the folksy feel and Irish sounds. Like a Bob Dylan that can sing.
Tue Apr 26 2022
4
If this album was totally crap except for We Will Not Be Lovers, probably the best breakup song I've ever heard and a couple of decades ahead of its time, it would still be a 3 star. The rest of the album isn't totally crap.
Tue Sep 27 2022
4
Not every song on this album really takes me. But the way Mike Scott is into the music takes me always.
Sat Apr 01 2023
4
Today’s artist is another that I hadn’t heard of before. The album title has me wondering if it might be shanty music which would be interesting. I’m going in with an open mind, and am hopeful to hear a great band! Songs I already knew: This Land Is Your Land (although I don’t think I’d heard this version) Favourites: Sweet Thing, And A Bang On The Ear I was wrong with my genre expectations here. We’ve all heard Mumford & Sons, right? Well this sounds like it could be Mumford & Parents. It has a very folky, Celtic style throughout. I was surprised to reas online that the singer was Scottish, as he sounded very Irish to my ears. I did consider rating this album higher than I did, because there are genuinely no bad songs at all on this album. However, I didn’t find every song to be amazing, so I felt it would be overly kind to go higher. Regardless, it was still a very pleasant album that is easy to recommend.
Wed Jan 20 2021
2
A weird melange of Simple Minds stadium rock and Celtic folk sensibilities. Unfortunately, there are many better stadium rock acts, and many better folkies, and this falls between the cracks.
Sun Mar 28 2021
2
Never got around to listening to the Waterboys before, so I was looking forward to hearing what I've missed. Sadly, I found the album very uneven. Some amazing tracks like "Sweet Thing", which turns into a weird Beatles cover (and itself received an odd hardcore punk cover by Comadre, which sadly isn't on the site). Some tracks that are at least memorable, if not my cup of tea, like "We Will Not be Lovers". However, from track 6 on it's mostly generic Irish folk-rock that any pub rockers in Ireland could probably play equally forgettably. I'm not a huge folk-rock fan (or a big listener of Irish music), but I don't think I'm being biased in saying the album falls drastically short of the standards set by its own high points. Edit: also a shit album title, since there's nothing nautical or bluesy here. 2.5
Sat Apr 23 2022
2
Not anything that I'd likely play again, honestly. I did like some of the songs styled in a traditional Celtic way with their instrumentation, but beyond that, not a fit for me. The songs I did like were Fisherman's Blues, We Will Not Be Lovers, World Party, Sweet Thing, and When Ye Go Away.
Fri Nov 06 2020
5
Just a fantastic piece of folk rock history.... it’s a classic!
Sat Jan 09 2021
5
ши.кар.дос. интересный фолк с элементами народных инструментов из Великобритании и окружающих островов. звучит красиво.
Fri Mar 26 2021
5
Wonderful
Tue Jan 26 2021
5
Really enjoyed this!
Tue Feb 16 2021
5
Banging
Fri Jan 15 2021
5
Sjefe greier
Sun Jan 17 2021
5
An absolutely fantastic album. Love the strings
Wed Feb 10 2021
5
I really enjoyed this album, exactly my type of thing. From what I understand, this album is a departure from the band's usual post-punk stuff so I'll have to check that out too.
Wed Jul 07 2021
5
Me gustó tanto este álbum que hasta me atreví a escuchar toda la versión extendida. Fue una buena decisión, siento que conocía a los Waterboys de nombre, pero nunca los había escuchado. Joyas. Eso de meter sonidos escoceses (espero que sí lo sean) resulta muy acertado, pensé en una onda medio Nick Cave, pero también Belle and Sebastian y gente más rockera. Hubo una canción que me encantó: "We Will Not Be Lovers". Las otras favs fueron: "Sweet Thing", claro "Fisherman's Blues", "You in the Sky" y "When Will Be Married". <3 10/10
Tue Mar 16 2021
5
Loved it, surprising good
Sun Jan 17 2021
5
Canción versionada por Celtas Cortos. Ya la conocía y estaba entre mis favoritos.
Sat Feb 20 2021
5
Muy folk y con mucha melodía. A mantener en el tiempo.
Wed Jul 07 2021
5
Una grata sorpresa. Me gustó mucho todo el disco. Las instrumentaciones son variadas, conmovedoras y llenas de textura, uno se imagina que es otro disco folk y ya, pero es como si pidieras unas papas chicas y te dan unas extra grandes. Favs: The stolen child, el interludio celta Dunfords Fancy, We will not be lovers y Carolans welcome. Mood: grito sad de banshee
Sun Jul 18 2021
5
Leuke muziek met veel vrolijk fiddle-deuntjes! Zeer mooie verrassing!
Thu May 20 2021
5
Didn't hate it, but I wavered between 'this is great' and 'this is annoying' regularly throughout. Appreciated the blending of genres, but didn't necessarily love any of them. Some pretty catchy tunes in there though. I feel like it's one I'd love after several listens. Edit: I ended up listening three times and by the end I really loved it. Think it took me a while to get into what they were doing, but by the end I even enjoyed the more twee folky ones like Carolan's Welcome (felt like the soundtrack to a really great playstation game). Agree with Stef, Fisherman's Blues and And a Bang on the Ear were highlights.
Sat Jul 24 2021
5
This is pretty cool. Really interesting instrumentation, bright clear production, good lyrics & vocals.
Sat Jul 24 2021
5
So good 4.5
Sat Oct 02 2021
5
Great folk-rock with sounds of traditional Irish and Scotish music. Waterboys' best selling album. Must be listened!
Fri Nov 19 2021
5
really fun!
Wed Feb 02 2022
5
This was surprisingly great, really reminded me of early dropkick murphys
Mon Mar 28 2022
5
I honestly don't know how I've gone 30 years in this earth without hearing this album. Love the fusion of folk and rock. It's awesome.
Wed Apr 06 2022
5
Folk rock. Me ha gustado. Vinilo.
Wed Jun 08 2022
5
beautiful. 10/10 mystisch, feenhaft, gibt ein feeling für den kommenden sommer. hat mich sehr bewegt.
Wed Aug 17 2022
5
Listened to te Collectors Edition a few times today, but will give a vote for the original album from 1988, which I had listened to a lot in the past: one of the best albums of The Waterboys and a clear 5* album. The Waterboys should appear a few more times in the list - again an example of a band whose music was more than the sum of its parts (also illustrated by the extra songs on the Collectors Edition, which are great too).
Sun Aug 21 2022
5
Like it. Very listenable.
Wed Aug 31 2022
5
The blend of 80s music with traditional Celtic sounds and instruments is well done. Really fun listen.
Mon Sep 19 2022
5
Excellent
Sat Oct 01 2022
5
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Fisherman’s blues, We will not be lovers, Strange boat, World party, And a bang on the ear, When will we be married, The stolen child
Mon Oct 10 2022
5
круто, что слышно этнические мотивы - что-то от ирландских баллад (группа ирландская, собственно) любимое: stolen child
Wed Oct 12 2022
5
I didn't have time to listen much, but from what I heard, this is why this website exists! Awesome music that I would never have heard otherwise!
Tue Oct 18 2022
5
ah, how much do i love this album... let me count the ways. I remember saving up my pocket money and buying the tape in Golden Discs on Grafton Street after seeing them on TOTP.
Mon Oct 24 2022
5
Mencanta.
Thu Nov 24 2022
5
I can't provide an unbiased review of this album because it was formative to my musical development. I was obsessed with it from at least the early 90s and listened to it regularly for 10+ years. Hearing it again for the first time in 20 years, it holds up well! I had forgotten how long the album is, there is definitely some filler in there, but also some great tracks mixed in right up to the end. I love the diversion into Yeats towards the end. I still have a soft spot for folksy rock. A beautiful, rich, complex album that formed my tastes. 5/5
Sun Dec 11 2022
5
Never heard of The Waterboys before but I instantly was very interested in the prominence of the squeezebox and the fiddle. I really loved this! The bonus disk is also really great too!
Sun Jan 08 2023
5
Прекраснейший кантри-альбом, один из лучших в мире. По больше части выделяется он засчёт своего уникального звучания - начиная от чувственного пения и глубоких текстов, заканчивая нетипичным для жанра инструментала, в котором очень часто используется электрогитара и невероятная скрипка, которая определённо придаёт больше эмоциональности каждому треку. На самом деле трудно как-то ещё описать этот альбом, здесь очень много моментов, которые хочется хвалить до бесконечности, но все эти мысли не умещаются у меня в голове, поэтому я просто советую вам послушать и самим прочувствовать этот альбом. (9 - 9.5)
Wed Feb 08 2023
5
Fajne
Thu Feb 09 2023
5
What a jewel. Every song was a joy. The fiddle playing - outstanding
Mon Feb 20 2023
5
Near flawless album.
Wed Mar 01 2023
5
This is an amazing album. It's blend of rock and roots, especially Celtic, was common at the time but also superior to other albums. Only the Pogues were really comparable but their Punk leaning made them very different. The songwriting is superb. I bought this in 1988 and still listen to it with regularity.
Fri Mar 03 2023
5
I'm not against bonus tracks but here's a little hint for those of you who get this album assigned and balk at the length, check Wikipedia and just review the original album, in this case it's just the first 13 tracks, that's the Fisherman's Blues I know and it's amazing. This is one of those albums that I've listened to enough in my life that I would feel comfortable giving it a (five star) rating without first relistening, but I love this album so much that I'm putting it on as I cook dinner. My favorites are the opening/title track (which has been used in 63% of movie trailers that either take place in Ireland or feature Irish people,) a great cover of Sweet Thing (which I actually heard long before Van Morrison's original,) Strange Boat, World Party and one of my favorite songs ever: And A Bang On The Ear.
Tue Mar 14 2023
5
Vanvittig!
Mon Apr 10 2023
5
Excellent Album when in the mood
Thu May 11 2023
5
I don't know how I missed this band in the 80's !! Awesome LP !!!!
Wed May 17 2023
5
Canción versionada por Celtas Cortos. Ya la conocía y estaba entre mis favoritos.
Wed Jun 07 2023
5
I liked this way more than I thought I would.
Wed Jun 21 2023
5
Today's album is a Celtic rock/folk album, which is right in my wheelhouse! The Waterboys are from the UK. This is their fourth studio album, and the first of their albums to feature Celtic folk. Prior to this album, they were just a rock band. With this album, they introduced the Celtic influences, which I love! The rock side of this band reminds me of the Canadian band Headstones, while the Celtic side reminds me of Irish Rovers. Just like you would hear guitar solos in traditional rock music, you hear fiddle/mandolin solos on this record, which is awesome! This Land Is Your Land is a snippet of a Woody Guthrie song, Has Anybody Here Seen Hank is a tribute to Hank Williams, The Stolen Child is a William Butler Yeats poem that the band put to music, and Sweet Thing is a cover of a Van Morrison song (the band breaks into a rendition of The Beatles song Blackbird right in the middle). Fisherman's Blues was used in the TV Series Lights Out, as well as movies: Good Will Hunting, and Waking Ned Devine. They get super experimental with the fiddle on this record, pushing it to its absolute limit to extract sounds out of it that were never heard before. The 7-9 minute songs on this record are really special, because that's where the band is just dabbling with their instruments, and some really cool moments occur (they feel like a jam band during these songs). The Spotify link for this album connected me with the Collectors Edition of this record, which is 1 hour, 42 minutes, and I listened to every second! There are some really fantastic songs in this extended version of the album, like: Rattle My Bones and Shiver My Soul, And Meet Me At The Station. Overall, this was an amazing album today, from a band I'd never heard before. I will definately revisit this album, along with the rest of their discography. Albums like this is why I love this generator! Favourite songs: Meet Me At The Station, Fisherman's Blues, Dunford's Fancy, Carolan's Welcome, When Will We Be Married, Rattle My Bones and Shiver My Soul, And A Bang On The Ear, Jimmy Hickey's Waltz, We Will Not Be Lovers, Killing My Heart, World Party, You In The Sky, Sweet Thing, Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?, Strange Boat, Let Me Feel Holy Again, When Ye Go Away, The Stolen Child Least favourite songs: if forced to pick, Soon As I Get Home 5/5
Fri Aug 11 2023
5
Enjoyed the Waterboys! After listening to Sinead O’Connor’s “I Do Not Want…” album, a Waterboys song played next as Spotify often chooses a related artist’s song. Well, they are Irish. And British. And Welsh. And Scots so… This album is a great amalgam of Irish folk tinged rock and roll. Favorite songs with “Fisherman’s Blues” (including the alternative version) "And a Bang on the Ear". Despite being awfully long, it’s a great album.
Sun Aug 27 2023
5
This album is one of the reasons people drink. It's a fun-filled exploration of hanging with your friends at a bar, living your live to the fullest, and singing at the top of your lungs. I forgot how good this album is.
Mon Sep 04 2023
5
loved them ever since I saw them at glasto
Sun Sep 17 2023
5
Nice bluesy
Wed Sep 02 2020
4
Listened to this all the time in college.
Wed Jun 02 2021
4
The country/folk fusion here is cute, and exactly my bag. I felt that the more rocking numbers were the more forgettable, and that the tropier material was the most fun. I admit that fiddles are a huge weak spot in my taste, but I enjoyed them immensely. I wish that the closing track were longer, and I'm delighted that this thing was produced at all.
Fri Sep 25 2020
4
Really solid and really honest folk album, I'm impressed. Great atmosphere, almost like I just stepped into a pub after a long day's work of harvesting vegetables or something. Fiddles and mandolins are both top tier instruments in my opinion. Best song: When Ye Go Away. It has just the right blend of jangly acoustic rock and trad Celtic folk.
Thu Sep 24 2020
4
Really good folksy celtic vibes with great production values.
Mon Mar 29 2021
4
Feels right at home!
Thu Feb 11 2021
4
This is actually pretty cool!
Wed Feb 10 2021
4
This is like a more roots based Drive By Truckers which naturally means I love it.
Fri Jan 15 2021
4
Very surprised by this one! I almost wrote this one off before listening for some reason but I was hooked by the first two songs! Love the fiddle? Violin? Not sure but it's great and love the lead singers voice. Wasn't able to listen to the whole thing will have to listen again soon!
Wed Feb 03 2021
4
Super Fun album. This is not the first time, I've heard this!
Sat Feb 06 2021
4
Folky and easy to listen to
Thu Apr 01 2021
4
Brilliant. The title track is a classic, stolen child, bang on the ear, their version of sweet thing all brilliant. Overall enjoyed it a lot
Fri Jan 15 2021
4
Good stuff. Bit too sombre for a dark January mind.
Fri Jan 22 2021
4
Klinkt zoals de naam
Thu Jun 24 2021
4
This was a blast. Plus I knew the first song from “Waking Ned Devine”
Thu Jan 14 2021
4
Folksy? Whatever it is I dig it. Remind me to look into The Waterboys in the future.
Thu Jan 14 2021
4
Irish springsteen/dylan
Fri May 14 2021
4
I had no expectations. It blew me out of the water. Who are these people?
Wed Mar 10 2021
4
Damn i LOVE that title track. okay, stolen child is really bad. rest of the album is actually pretty enjoyable.
Wed Mar 17 2021
4
This album was surprisingly good for me. Very good songs with a nice vibe.
Sun Feb 28 2021
4
Enjoyable
Thu Mar 18 2021
4
Fond memories
Thu Jun 17 2021
4
Mooie stem, mooie violen, weer eens iets anders.
Mon May 17 2021
4
I really got into this. There were some great riffs and the tracks were quite variable. Consequently a rare ****
Mon Feb 15 2021
4
Interesting. I had never heard of them or their story
Fri Feb 26 2021
4
Irish folk
Wed May 26 2021
4
So good! Had to find out what a “Bang on the Ear” was from my east coast friend - one of my favourites on the album
Thu May 13 2021
4
Really great, like Fairport and Flogging Molly made an album. (I know, this predates that, just sayin'...)