Reviews (page 4 of 9)
The absolute nerve it takes to think you can cover Van Morrison's "Sweet Thing" - one of the most beautiful songs ever written - then actually do it, and then at the end have the balls to improv a little Paul McCartney on top, and for it to all work beautifully? Unbelievable.
This was alright but it wasn’t super memorable
Higher end of average. I like the change of having some fiddle in there and the guys voice is nice.
Nice Irish folk. Nothing extraordinary.
I really liked the instrumentals but the vocals didn't do too much for me. Sounds like other bands I've enjoyed before, but I enjoyed the other bands more
pretty nice
One of my all time favourites. Maybe a joint #1. Every song resonates and I never get tired of listening to this album.
Lovely music, will need to listen to it again, I really love the traditional sound and instruments
A delightful little folk album. It has some very good songs on it and I love the warm sound of folk instrumentation. 4/5
Love this band after a roommate turned me on to them.
Hard to believe this came out in 1988—the record feels practically era-less. If you told me it was recorded sometime in the last decade, I wouldn’t blink. This is my first real dive into The Waterboys, and what jumps out is how fluid their identity is. They’re pulling from folk, rock, Celtic traditions, and a bit of loose, jangly Americana in a way that never reads as “retro” or trapped in its era. It’s one of those albums where the songwriting, the playing, and the overall vibe feel completely unmoored from the timestamp—like it could’ve been made at any point after the electric guitar became a standard tool. The band sounds locked-in and confident, but also relaxed and exploratory. It’s a tight record, but not stiff; it feels lived-in. A surprisingly timeless introduction to a band that seems to exist slightly outside of musical chronology.
Ziemlich gut
It didn't really sound like rock; not a fan.
Waaaaay too long for it's own good. Provides some melodies that are pleasant here and there but my goodness how did we not leave a bit more on the cutting room floor??
Some good noises, but mostly aimless jams
Loving this! The Waterboys are a new discovery for me. Definitely a discography I want to continue to explore.
I quite like. Didn't really expect to after the first song. Was thinking this was just going to be a retro folk album. But I do love some Scottish music when it's not simply leaning into traditional bits. His voice is Ok, never annoying or bad, but not quite polished or controlled enough, I feel. Favorite song is "We Will Not Be Lovers". Good vibe and his gravel works here as emotion. Second would be "When Will We Be Married" (Isn't that a juxtaposition?) "And a Bang on the Ear" is both good and annoying. I like a lot of it, but something sets me off. I'll put a few of these on playlists, but doubt I'd listen to it in its entirety again. Generously throwing it a 4.
While I prefer other Waterboys albums to this one, particularly the one with "The Whole of the Moon" on it, I still enjoyed this throwback album of folk rock, blues, and country. Not entirely convinced it is essential listening to anyone's catalog, particularly if you are familiar with the original genres and the original songs/poems they are covering, but it was enjoyable diversion during this Thanksgiving week.
Fisherman’s Blues was a staple of my dad’s album collection and therefore holds a fair bit of sentimentality to it. Regardless of this it is a good album and the song that gives the album itself is a fun jointy affair. It’s one of those songs that i’m always happy to hear. Mike Scott manages to incorporate traditional elements such as the fiddle etc without the songs feeling dated or too folky. Has anybody seen Hank? Sounds almost like Bob Dylan has been transported in to front the Waterboys. Yes this means the tempo is slower than the first half of the album, but it still works. By the end of the album there’s just a bit too much fiddle for me but still an enjoyable listen
The result of The Waterboys moving heavily into Celtic-rooted music is a fabulous album. Everyone might have heard of “The Whole of the Moon”, but this album is the masterpiece in their repertoire. Could I have done without the segue way into The Beatles at the end of the cover of “Sweet Thing”? Absolutely. Did some of the songs need to go on for 8mins? No. Could we maybe have dropped the last handful of tracks? Definitely. However, none of that ruined my enjoyment of this album, some of which got a second play.
I went into this really wanting to like it due to a continuing love of Whole Of The Moon (which isn't on this album, and therefore doesn't make it onto the 1001 album list). However... ...the fiddle on We Will Not Be Lovers might be the single instrument that has caused me the most annoyance in the 212 albums I have heard so far. It started off mildly irritating, but by the time it had got to the 7th minute of doing the same thing, I was just angry. Well angry and thinking how bored the violinist must be playing this live. I liked World Party a lot. And I enjoyed the Van Morrison cover. The Waterboys apparently really like an extremely long fade out, as it appears on multiple tracks and just makes the album longer than it needs to be. Overall, there were parts of this I liked, parts I was pretty indifferent to, and a violin I hated with a firey passion. I think in a half star world this would get a 2.5, but it's not a 2, so a 3 is where I'm sticking. 3/5
Day 102 To paraphrase a football cliche, I’d say this was very much an album of 2 halves. Starts out extremely strongly but sags quite a lot towards the end. Averages out to a 3 Highlights Fisherman’s Blues We will not be Lovers World Party
This just isnt something I'll ever like in any universe or any timeline. The music is really fun but I just cannot get into the lyrics or vocalist at all. I don't often stop these albums but "And a Bang on the Ear" was my out.
I have a soft spot for Irish rock - but I have always struggled a bit with the Waterboys. I find them lacking joy and a bit po faced and the vocals overwrought.
Fisherman’s Blues I liked this, combining the drums and bass of their expansive 80s rock with traditional British folk songs and sounds, making an enjoyable celtic-rock album, albeit one that doesn’t stick really too long in the memory. It’s a bit like The Pogues but with all the edge and chaos sanded off into smooth child-safe corners, and even with the cover of Sweet Thing it also eschews any pretence at cosmic Irish mysticism, falling safely in the middle, existing on its own plane of pleasantness. I’ll go 3, it's perfectly fine and I’d be happy to listen again, even if I’m not completely enthused by it and it does drag a little by the end. 🎣🎣🎣 Playlist submission: We Will Not Be Lovers
The quality continues unabated from the lilting melodies of 'Strange Boat' (almost touching on Kenny Rogers pop), the surprisingly great Van Morrison cover of 'Sweet Thing'. 'Jimmy Hickey's Waltz' is recorded like it's in a pub in the Olde Country; it's a great romantic touch, whilst retaining that cheeky pub feel, like a Blur instrumental. 'And a Bang on the Ear' at nine minutes flies by. Interesting to hear about all the girls he's biffed too. These songs lend themselves to be played and infinitum, without getting dull, despite the fact the album run time approaches an hour. 'Stolen Child' is based on Yeats but avoids pretension but being so captivatingly melancholic. The album undulates from Celtic pub rockers to lilting waltzes ('Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?' which feels classic country) to footappers in between ('When Ye Go Away'). Derivative no doubt, but these tunes feel authentic to me, as a non-Irish.
Neutral
Solid little listen. I enjoyed the first half more than the second. The second half got a bit too into the folk sound, and it felt a bit less unique. I thought I didn’t know this band until I remembered they’re the band that did The Whole of the Moon, which is a fantastic song.
The most hardcore folk album, that isn't an obvious folk alternative, I've probably ever heard. There's a lot of talent and a lot of passion, and sometimes there's some really cool instrumental bits, it's an easy listen. Inclines heavy on the traditional folk that eventually turns into straight country beginnings.The story-telling, decent as I might find it on a superficial listen, is not enough to bring me back. I don't love it but I respect it. 2.9/5
A band I didn't know bit I liked a lot. Folk, blues, and lots of Irish vibes
Not bad, a couple of familiar tunes. Very Scottish folk music.
I’ve never heard anything like this
I liked the mix of styles, but the covers were the worst part, it felt like they just did popular songs and jammed random style into them.
Nice blend of folk, rock, blues.
Is this country or Irish music? I guess I’m not the intended audience.
🎣 “Reel ’er in!
mmhh
i really liked this album! what a lovely surprise!
There are plenty of interesting ideas across this, and some really unique problems too. In short, this kind of has Dexys Midnight Runners Don't Stand Me Down syndrome to my ears. To clarify, I thought that album was very ambitious, very messy, and pretty interesting, but it was no where near interesting or out-there enough to justify how messy it was (I honestly had quite a few problems with that album, and I do think this one was a little better, but the point stands). The Waterboys were a London based-band fronted and formed by a Scottish man. And, if what I'm reading is true, Fisherman's Blues was inspired by a stint living in Ireland. Prior to this, they had some commercial success releasing a few new wavier albums. However, it seems that contemporarily, Fisherman's Blues was a little too big and weird for the public, and the critics were mixed. It re-centered their sound on Celtic folk, dense, traditional arrangements, and some pub rock influences. But, there are also 9 minute long songs, fiddle-dissonance solos, and a brief Woody Guthrie cover. It *is* messy, and it *is* ambitious, and it *is*, at least cursorily, interesting. I think a lot of the best ideas here are towards the front. The title track puts their best foot forward, with a compelling, original Celtic folk-rock song. And We Will Not Be Lovers is the most successful experiment with what I'm going to dub, "Jam-Folk". It's 7 minutes long, and it has no real chorus, but it *does* have several fiddle solos and the kind of meandering, interesting, song-long half-verse thing going on that reminds me of early Modest Mouse. And, miraculously, it works: mostly due to the song keeping up some really steady momentum. It is always going *somewhere*, even if you don't exactly know where. This also sort of works on World Party, but after this point, things fall apart a little. Sweet Thing is another 7 minute long song, but I don't think it keeps it together nearly as well, even though it has cool moments. And, unfortunately, And A Bang On The Ear is one of the low points of the album to me. It's 9 minutes long, and it feels like a war of attrition. The fiddle melody feels cheesy, and the song doesn't feel like it's going anywhere. And after this, The Waterboys can never capture the promise seen in the first couple of songs. When Will We Be Married is a neat interpretation of a folk tune, but aside from that, there's little else that does much for me (although The Stolen Child also has a couple of moments). I'm also notably not into their attempts to veer into Americana, of which there are a good few. This all together leaves me cold to a pretty substantial part of this album. I will say, there's enough here that I'm not going to write off The Waterboys fully, I get the sense they have other cool stuff. But the interesting to messy to spotty ratio on Fisherman's Blues is all off.
Some good tracks on this, but always found it a bit too folky for my taste. Title track is still brilliant and A bang on the ear is good too. IMHO The Levellers took this style and did it much better as did The Wonder Stuff went they went a bit folky on Hup and Never Loved Elvis
Fine. 3.5
Have on CD, gets better the more you listen to it.
Nice sounding but really long album
I really enjoyed their eclectic mix of genres. The violins aka fiddles were great!
And a half
Couple of great tracks that really hit, but a lot of filler in between. ★★½
I'm pretty sure my mum told me I'm conceived to this album which is maybe why I have a soft spot for it. Title track, we will not be lovers, world party. All class. I like the sweet thing cover aswell. 3 1/2
The title track is overrated, some goodies on here though but plenty of filler too
It was ok…nothing spectacular here
Not what I expected! I enjoyed the covers.
Rather enjoyed this one!
An album full of songs you'd hear in a pub, shop or friends house and will cut through all other noise
Didn't know what to expect, having never heard of this band. It was okay. A lot of the songs made me think of pub songs to sing (or shout) along too. Occasionally Irish jig feel
The further it gets from rock and roll the more interesting it becomes. Songs could use some editing in the front half. 3/ 5
beetje veel van het zelfde.. maar toch niet slecht
Great little folk rock album. I feel like it blended some of my favorite things about both genres really well, but also didn't sound a lot like other folk rock groups. 3.5/5
Was surprised how much I liked this. It seems like it shouldn't be for me based on description, but it does a lot of interesting things and ultimately won me over. Good stuff. 3.75/5
Can't believe I've never heard The Waterboys before, as this is exactly my shit. This album starts off incredibly strong, then sort of tapers off. But the start is SO strong that I'm violating my round-down policy and pushing this up from 4.5 stars, which is close to accurate.
what starts out as a promising album, especially listening to the grand "We Will Not Be Lovers", slowly but steadily turns into an mediocre folk album. at the beginning of disc 2, the allergic reaction kicks in and i had to stop. sad!
A great surprise, a new band for me.
Must have listened to Fisherman Blues over 1000 times in my life. One of life greatest pep up songs. Adore. Did not realise there is 1 hour 42 minutes of the 2 disk album to follow! Can’t knock some Irish folk though, all feel good.
I can tell I’m going to listen to this album 1000 more times now that I know this album exists.
Super fun and wonderful!
Pleasant, accessible folk pop. Doesn't hit any soaring highs, but never grates. A bit like Dexy's Midnight Runners with a less annoying singer. 3.5/5.
I am very excited about this new discovery for me. Had never heard of them but was absolutely sold in the first track. Infectious celtic folk rock with a killer fiddle throughout. Some more modern stuff and some traditional songs. Really great throughout. Possible 5 I will adjust down the road if I need to
Lively but struggles to maintain my interest over the course of the full album.
This was a shocker. I loved it when it came out, played it all the time. Now a lot of it just seems screechy.
I bought this when it came out and I have quite a large Irish music collection, but to be honest I think it's a pretty boring album and not anywhere close to the best of the genre. The only really great song is When Will We Be Married...LOVE that one. I would probably only give it a 2.5 overall.
Celtic roots music, why not
Competent, but not for me.
Expected rock. Got fiddles. Stayed for the soul. Fisherman's Blues is like stumbling into a pub session in rural Ireland and realizing you never want to leave. Who knew Celtic folk rock could be this good? Apparently, I do now.
I don’t like Irish music or country, so this did not do much for me.
Not a bad album if blues/country is your thing.
Better than I judged it for by appearance. Expected something hokey or bluegrass, and some of it was, but there was a lot of Irish folk to it as well which I really enjoyed.
eh
Really dug the vibe of this, but it felt like the longest album in the world
Ah. I would say the first half of this album is in real danger of a five star, culminating in the superb cover of Van the Man's Sweet Thing. It really goes downhill after there, and ends up clinging onto the fours. Still, I would say that's a sequencing issue. The actual music is a lovely Celtic mix of folk and rock, and the band are tight.
Fair
Fisherman's Blues
Good album.
It's quite green
Ugh, I hate celtic type sounds. But the 2nd song wasn't bad. And country sounding ones, and anytime a fiddle gets involved are ugh to me too...
oh good old blues, the genre i love the most. The violin on the second track "We will not be lovers" is just perfect and the lyrics, it remind me of my failed situationship which we both put ourselves into this deep hopeless romance melancholy which is sad.
Did not enjoy this album much, not many blues tunes there either.
This really should be a one, but the dudes at least know how to play instruments, so let's go for two. There's truly no reason to include this album on a list like this. Nothing these guys do have not been done better by other artists.
Like a mashup of Springsteen, Dylan and Lindisfarne. The title track, bang on the ear and when will we be married are the standout tracks here. I had to look up the latter as it sounded like a traditional folk song to me. Great stuff. Nothing close to Whole Of The Moon but an enjoyable album of a bit long. Would give it 3.5 if I could so rounded up
Better than I expected, but this fell off quickly.
The irish folk rock sound is pretty rad. I love the hints of classic 80s production in there as well. I really liked the fiddle. Not sure I'd listen on my own but it was an enjoyable listen.
Brilliant. I think the red thread of my taste in music is a deep love of folk roots music. I had never heard this record and I was pretty blown away. I love the contemporary take on an age old tradition. It never feels over done or trite, but they take sounds of other similar acts (Van Morrison, The Beatles, Hank Williams) and blend it into this well crafted record. It feels very “late 80s” while also feeling old and classic. I love music that takes me places and makes me feel things. Having spent a lot of time in Ireland and the British Isles, this record takes me back. I had a blast with this one.
Like it 3/5
Some songs I really liked, especially the start. Didn't feel like it was worth the length though
This one took me off guard. Usually I wouldn't consider this more folk fiddle music to be my cup of tea, but wow this album was pretty solid. Especially the earlier songs on the album were really great. Glad I heard it, I've never heard of these guys before, but I will definitely be listening to some of these songs again. Awesome vibe.
I find it funny when bands completely switch styles to something more traditional. It does take a little something away from the end product but this is still pretty good. I like his voice and there’s a lot of emotion. A bit repetitive after a while.
This runs the gamut from traditional Irish folk to rock over folk to pure rock music. Definitely hear the influence that Irish folk music had on country music that came out of Appalachia too. Some if it reminds me of The Seeger Sessions album and the Dropkick Murphy's. Very good record.
I liked this. Its blend of Irish folk with more modern rock sounds kept my interest and I could see myself listening to this again.
Solid Irish rock
I very much liked the blackbird cover on Sweet Thing. Woah. What a new voice on The Stolen Child. When will we be married has me bouncing in my chair. This album rocks.
Initially I thought I was going to like this album, but every song just got too busy to enjoy.
I've been a fan of The Waterboys since the mid-80s. My first listen to this album, shortly after its release in '88, I wasn't sure what to make of it. I already liked some Celtic folk music, but it was a huge departure for the band whose previous releases were far more typical alt-rock. Over the next bit of time, and several more listens, it quickly became a favorite and has remained one of those always-go-back-to albums in constant rotation. I could go on about each and every classic song, but I'll stop at "an easy 5 stars from me."
Another band that was never on my radar back in the day. Only discovered them through a good friend who is a big fan. He will hate me for giving them 3 stars, but as I say a lot for my 3 star albums, it was good, I didn't love it, didn't hate it.
Folkrock, 1988 -> 2
Pas mon style de base et j’ai préféré la première partie de l’album, la seconde m’a paru un poil redondante et j’ai skip quelques titres mais une découverte sympathique !
I really like folk rock, and this one's no exception.
4/5 sounds folky but still with high energy. Fun listen.
pretty lame, not going to lie. The first song was cool, but it devolved from there. Also the new album that's coming out here in late 2025 looks to have AI art. Lame!
Perfect timing for a double album. Never heard this before. Loved it from beginning to end.
Cool album
Intéressant. Je n’avais jamais entendu parler de ce band. La musique ici est intéressante, des mélanges intrigants qui fonctionnent bien, mais, à part quelques exceptions ici et là, ça ne me rejoint pas vraiment.
Decent music but it’s hurt by being overlong
Nothing grabbed my attention. Didn't hate it, but won't remember anything about it at all.
73/100. A pretty good Celtic folk record that brings a warm, earthy charm to the table. The string playing is a real highlight, rich and expressive.
So you start this and you don't see The Whole of the Moon and you go 'This'll be shit, this.' Turns out you're absolutely wrong and should feel bad about it. Absolutely wonderful album. Five stars.
Sometimes it felt like Bob Dylan, other times it was country as heck. Quite enjoyable
Fun, bouncy Celtic Rock. It sounds like it could be an influence for quite a few bands that can't after it. Favorite track: Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?
Really enjoyed the varied instrumentation on this album. Some songs kind of lost me and just ended up feeling like Bob Dylan songs, but it really grew on me as the album progressed. Favorite Songs: Jimmy Hickey's Waltz, We Will Not Be Lovers, When Will We Be Married
A nice mix in the music, 80s celt crossover was not something I've heard too much of. Their rendition of Sweet Thing did the song justice too. Good listen.
Interesting blend of feeling "old-timey" and celtic, but still had aspects of 80s.
Another favorite from my high school days. This album always just makes me smile and want to fish... Just finished Bodkin on Netflix, which somehow fits for enjoying this album. Good show, btw, if you haven't seen it.
#140/1001. I don't know how many days it took to finish this album. It was a busy week, and I tried to sqeeze in a bit of waterboys every now and then. Still it seemed like ages when I finally had time to sit down and listen it to the end. Perhaps the music didn't really inspire either. Some quite basic celtic rock and some quite beautiful numbers. But I could have lived the rest of my life happily without listening to this.
Who told these guys they can include multiple 7+ minute songs?!
Not for me, but found myself getting immersed in it at times. "U2 but folk" is a pretty apt description, and I'm not a fan of U2, but I can appreciate the talent and the fact that some people are really into this kind of thing. The most memorable thing for me about this album is the realization that Carolan's Welcome is the source of the Game of Throne's theme song.
4/10
Some interesting songs but most turned into jam band drivel.
I always have a weakness for this type of music, even if I don't wish I was a fisherman.
Not bad
Loved this album! Loved the Scottish/Irish folk music and Can Morrison vibes. Their Sweet Thing cover is my new favorite. Only complaint is that it’s the length of a feature film and not very conducive to this experiment.
Really liked a couple of songs - We will not be lovers and The stolen girl
Super cool.
I'll be going on about this at length. The people who selected this album know nothing about the Waterboys. The first three albums are miles better and considerably more distinctive. This was the point when they went all Irish twiddly-dee-dee and I was so upset about it that I wrote to the record company and got a lovely letter from a PR lady called Mary. What I didn't know at the time was that Karl Wallinger had left and the glory days were over.
Álbum doce com instrumental muito interessante. Tangzu Wan'er SG (OG).
Never heard of this band before, I actually enjoyed the album
Right, it's ok. It's very middling and twee, and if its time. I can't say I'm enjoying it but I don't hate it.
Title track great. Dunsford's Fancy is nice. The rest is either like The Pogues but boring or worse (Sweet Thing, and especially The Stolen Child). Didn't enjoy it once the first track was over.
Fínt
Starts off with a bang, which gave me high hopes. Unfortunately I don't dig the vocals and while the music is often great on the first half, it eventually starts to sort of blend in and drag as the album goes on.
Blind album and artist. Had some cool parts here and there but nothing stuck out to me aside from that.
First song was good, as was 'you in the sky'. It gets real Irish in the middle. 3/5
Warm and well-played, but overrated, not the first album I've thought made this list as it was their best seller. While it has moments like the title track, the Celtic folk-rock vibe wears thin and the tracklist feels bloated, especially with the extra filler. It feels less cohesive than This Is The Sea and lacks the magic of "The Whole Of The Moon" An honest listen, but not the band's masterpiece.
3.5/5
Really enjoyed both sides. The first side felt like a great mix of folk, soft rock, hair metal and others. Then the more traditional folk on the second was strong also. Only quibble is how long some of the first half songs were.
Really liked most of this, the cover of sweet thing with the blackbird lyrics at the end seemed maybe a little self indulgent but in the whole the album flowed nicely in a clear two parts. Low 4
Fisherman’s Blues was great. The kind of album you can just let wash over you. I didn’t even mind Stolen Child, as earnest as it was, my cynicism didn’t take over (no tears shed though). High 4/5
Waterboys at their best
What a phenomenal record, and one of such variety. The cathartic first half has a string of high octane, propulsive hits, including We Will Not Be Lovers which now stands as not just my favourite Waterboys song, but one of my favourite songs full stop. The power and aggression from that repeating violin line is quite something, and blows the lid off of anything you could possibly imagine holding the genre title “celtic rock.” All of that aggression leaves the room in the friendlier second half, but none of the energy or momentum is lost. What you have instead are emotionally mature, very smart folk rock songs which, for this listener, tugs at the heartstrings. It's a wonderful one-two which shows a band with multiple sides to them. I am partial to traditional folk, so a highly sincere offering like The Stolen Child which might get a sideways glance from a more cynical listener genuinely brought a tear to my eye.
It’s getting a 4 from me too, loved side A, side B not quite to my taste
Started off great. Got repetitive
Album was good. Liked the fiddle. 3/5 Might listen again
Good background noise 2 star
It's folk and country music, doesn't do much for me.
Fisherman’s Blues // We Will Not Be Lovers // The Stolen Child // 2.5/5
The music is great. It's so fun and upbeat. The singer has a very unique, raw voice that just works with this style. The first 6 or so songs were better than the rest
A bit safe. Not bad. Meh.
Some of the more rocking songs at the beginning are kinda cool but it loses steam for me halfway through.
Good Irish sound. Recommended to a few people.
Good. Just moody and way too long. Like an amazing bar band.
Solid folk-rock.
Folk rock, favourite songs: "We Will Not Be Lovers" & "Meet Me At The Station"
if it’s not Scottish, it’s crap! This was like an ultimate pup band experience! The energy was amazing
Fiddly diddly music. Cool if you are a hobbit in a tavern. But nothing I'd listen to on a daily.
I'm not familiar with The Waterboys but I really enjoyed this album. Great mix of Scotch/Irish traditionalism and country. Not my favorite in the folk-adjacent sphere but still a really great album I'm likely to revisit. 3/5
Started strong but got worse and worse
The best songs on this are great, but the average is just ok. I do love the sound of a fiddle. It sounds like the band had a lot of fun in the studio, which is always something I like to think when listening (having no idea whether it's really true or not)
Fine album, has some good songs, but no bangers
Fun and groovy, guitar and strings jams
Kind of nice but drags a lot
First disc pretty good second disc kinda meh Double albums rarely work for me cause they either become repetitive or just decline in quality
Pretty cool album. Sounds kinda like the Pogues but with some martimer and southern influences. I want to spend some time with it, the lyrics were interesting but need a couple more listens to it understand what he’s talking about.
3.7 I really thought this was going to be one of the unbearable author entries from some GB/Irish band that no one has ever heard of, and a double album (at least on Spotify) to boot. Gotta say the first few songs really hooked me in and were better than expected. E Street Band, but with a violin instead of a saxophone. I will check out some of their other records
Great opener. Driving violin. Driving rhythm too for epic Lovers. These long tunes are great. I imagine myself at a concert just swaying away lost. Maybe not two cds worth and not sure essential. 4 verging toward 3 but the good feelings push to 4. By the way, if you haven't looked it up, a "bang on the ear" is a fond greeting. Laid back driving--make sense?
Magnificent! I’ve loved every Waterboys album. The music has the ability to bypass all intellectual reasoning and pierce my soul. Mike Scott’s voice is heavy with emotion and affects me with every track. Fisherman’s blues and we will not be lovers are such heavy hitters. Those violins are magical and the rest is just as rich.
I remember this one from long ago, and while I never returned to it, this is a powerful and engaging record. Unfortunately I wasn't able to really sit and listen in one go, I caught a few songs here and there, but I made sure to get through the whole thing. Excellent stuff.
Just when I thought I was done with Dylan for the week, the algorithm sends me this. I was familiar with their hit, and I like it OK. I was kind of getting into the slower Irish stuff, but then the album never seemed to end. Also, I didn't care for their cover of Sweet Thing. I feel like my ability to appreciate new music isn't quite up to snuff this week so I'm giving it an extra star.
This album is as joyful as a pint of Guinness in a pub in Doolin when the crack kicks in. I love this album. I love the Waterboys' new take on traditional Irish music while still feeling very much like an album from the 1980s. Best version of Yeats’ classic!
Fully expected to despise this album due to me mostly avoiding anything folk tinged like the plague. But it was...fine? A bit more on the rock side of folk rock, which helps. Yes, it is way too long. Yes, it becomes quite repetitive. But the first half of the first disc did not offend me. I am quite surprised. "We Will Not Be Lovers" and "World Party" are my standouts. 2/5
Surprisingly good listen. Kind of like a more Irish-sounding Band of Heathens…? Again, wish I could give a 3.5.
Those first two tunes are chef’s kiss.
This violin is so good
Enjoyable
Frábært stöff. Mjög smooth og skemmtilegt.
Yndisleg plata, gæti hlustað á hana endalaust.
Decent listen, but overall just ok.
Enjoyed this!
22 songs is a bit much. why so many 7-9 minute long songs. got some good songs, majority are kinda boring ish but its not that bad.
Загалом не дуже моє, але пісня we will not be lovers дуже сильно мене зачепила. Неймовірна атмосфера та емоційність. За пісню 5, за альбом скоріш 2(?), загалом 3.
Not bad, the “irishness” of the album wasn’t too overwhelming so that kept it listenable. Nothing stood out though and unlikely to go back to any of it.
It’s an album that’s incredibly difficult to dislike, although I’m not likely to ever feel the strong urge to listen to it again.
This record hits a lot of points for me as a fan of Irish and Celtic folk and the like. Not great but a good listen.
It was good rainy day album.
I quite enjoyed this on. It's probably a 3.5 for me, but I'll round up, feeling good today.
Well this was different. Very old-timey and what I would think of if someone mentioned folk music from the UK. There were some parts that really caught my ear (more than I thought they would). I'd say this is definitely a solid listen, but I wouldn't go out of my to listen to it.
Great combination of traditional instruments and folk/rock songs. Van Morrison is a clear influence.
This album was exceptionally good. My internet was down the whole day but I listened to it whenever I could. “We Will Not Be Lovers” might’ve been the best track I’ve gotten on this project. So close to a 5 for me.
One review I read said that this is Dave Matthews meets Celtic rock...I can see that on the track We Will Not Be Lovers, it's got that DMB early galloping violin action going. I hear a lot of different things going on in this album, some Bowie influences, some wannabe Springsteen, the aforementioned DMB. It all works really well, mostly, until the Blackbird breakdown in the middle of Sweet Thing. It's not awful, it's just not necessary...there's no one other than The Waterboys who thought "Hey, know what? This song of ours totally calls for us to inject a classic Beatles song right in the middle." I'm giving this a 4. I feel like a 3 is too harsh, and a 5 is me saying "I can't believe I haven't heard this before and it's now it's an essential part of my music collection." I'm only listening to the first side only as I'm not a collector and I don't feel the need to keep listening to whatever outtakes/alternate versions/live versions are on side 2. 4 sits right in the middle. 4 is, hey, this is pretty cool, I'm glad I listened to it, I might come back to it...and I can also recommend this to a friend who might appreciate it more than I do. 4 sits right in there.
Felt like a community band you’d see at a small fair. Aided by slipping in blackbird and this land is your land. Cute (2.5/5)
The length of both an album and its individual songs is something I’ve always made out to be really important when it comes to how cohesive and enjoyable an album is… When an album has too many songs, it can start to feel repetitive or drawn out and when a song is too long, it feels the same way Sometimes a song can justify itself being long, but there’s also a point where it can just be too long. There’s no exact length that’s used as a benchmark, as sometimes a 5 minute song can become boring while a 7 minute song keeps you hooked, but the longer the song is, the more you have to do to keep the listener interested All that being said, this album really pushed the limit for me When I listened to “Physical Graffiti” (Led Zeppelin), some of the longer tracks like “Trampled Under Foot” and “Kashmir” were interesting enough to justify being 5 and a half and 8 and a half minutes respectively But when this album throws songs at you that are that long (including one that is over 9 minutes!), I got tired of it quick Okay, rant over… “Fisherman’s Blues” is one of the most unique albums I’ve heard so far and I had a good time listening to some of its songs (especially “World Party”), but by the time I got through “And a Bang on the Ear”, I felt like I had enough I had a decent enough experience to where I don’t think it deserves one star but anything more than two feels like too much Favorites: None Honorable Mentions: World Party
First song, I'm into this vibe. Then I saw the album length and this is going to have to be really special to keep my attention for that long. I do like Strange Boat, but it reminds me of another song. It's good but it overstays its welcome.
I get that’s it’s a bit lazy comparing any Irish band to the biggest one (surely U know who I’m alluding 2), but there’s a healthy dose of Rattle And Hum in the first half of this record, and the back half is comprised of compelling tavern tales that would make their country and inspirations proud.
Cooles Album
I didn’t hate it, but I also didn’t finish it. It had no need to be that long.
Very lovely!!
This was kinda fun for a listen - do I love it? Eh. But a little fiddle never hurt anyone.
I cant place why i didnt like this, but i didnt On the plus side they seem to have an ear for a tune, the playing was good and there is a lot of ideas here However, it seemed like a pastiche of too many things thrown together that didnt have much authenticity, the lyrics were not great and the vocal was a sub-springsteen drawl that grated.
Forgettable. Just a bit of rambling along with a fiddle.
Irish jam band
I enjoyed some songs, but it was mostly just OK. Kind of an underwhelming pick to be part of the 1001 best albums ever. 3/5
I'm an east coaster so this obviously landed well.
I absolutely love "We Will Not Be Lovers." I love the bassline combined with the folk instruments, especially that fiddle, and the momentum it carries throughout. Like much of the first half of this album, it expertly mixes Celtic folk into rock songs. When they're not as tight as that one, they're loose and free, like the "Sweet Thing" cover. There's real longing and emotion in the title track and "Strange Boat," which recalls The Pogues' "Thousands are Sailing." The second half is much more straightforward folk, and for a stretch of three or four songs loses what made the first half interesting. "The Stolen Child" recovers things at the end though, bringing back the lush sound and emotional atmosphere. While there are a few songs that could be trimmed, the range of folk sounds really helps to sell this as an homage to a land's traditions.
Good Irish band. Good traditional Irish music/songs.
I don’t know man. Not particularly enjoyable.
Like seeing your hometown band down the local pub, and they're your dad and your dad's mates, and they're crammed together on the smallest stage you've ever seen, and half of them are pissed and playing instruments you've never seen, and you're drinking a guinness, and sharing a dance with the local lass you fancy, and sharing a laugh with your mates, and life is good. 5 Stars. And This Is The Sea should be on this list as well.
The Waterboys make a great pub-band. The opening track is terrific, while the remaining songs are not at the same level, but good nonetheless.
This is pretty damn good! Surprised I’ve never heard of it, as it sounds like Wilco - drawing on Bob Dylan, Springsteen and the Pogues.
It's there. It's not making me scream turn it off. It's not making me want to turn it up. I don't think I'd seek it out. Nothing goes to the playlist. 2.5, rounded to 3.
Gick inte hem hos mig, och alldeles för lång :(
Lite långt men en del bra vibes!
I’m typically a fan of mixing rock with folk roots music, but this feels just a bit too shambolic to work. After listening to a little bit of their earlier music I feel like they should’ve stuck with where they were in a beautiful swirling pagan rock vibe. That’s not to say this is all bad; it’s coherent and sounds fantastic, especially for 1988. But it brings to mind too many bands that did this sound better: The Pogues, Big Country, The Mekons, and on and on.
doesn't sound enough like jethro tull
Love this one! #musicsky #albumsky 4/5
Not for me. The biases of the individuals who contributed to this list are pretty evident here. My biases go in a different direction.
I knew the name, but not much else. In fact, I was mixing them up with The Wallflowers. I was listening, enjoying the mix of traditional folk, strongly influenced by and including Celtic sounds, when I decided to read up a bit - I had no idea of the connections between The Waterboys and other artists I enjoy, namely Karl Wallinger and, most of all, Kevin Wilkinson of China Crisis. This album was a little all over the place stylistically, but a good listen. Strong Van the Man vibes at multiple points. I’m going with my gut and landing on 4 stars for this one.
Not bad. Not really my style, but I liked a good amount of things from it. Just way too much of it
I don't know much about The Waterboys and their apparent genre shift with this album. What I hear sounds very nice and is a solid, approachable folk sound with slight rock elements.
Have to admit to being a big Waterboys fan for many years. So I find it a little hard to believe that this album made the top 1001 list. Their first three albums were magnificent and portrayed The Big Music sound that Mike Scott was always talking about and seeking to find. Looking on back on those three albums, I still view them as works of art. This album, their fourth, marked a turning point in the history of the band. To be fair, the first few songs (up to and including World Party), could have made it onto previous albums. However, after that, things shift into an Irish folk phase which was later followed by a “just found God” phase. While I still have fond memories of buying this album and listening to it over and over, it always seemed to be the end of the beginning of the band and they never again reached the level of their earlier work. So overall, enjoyable for a few of the songs, but if you want to hear the real Waterboys then listen to the first three albums. Wonder if any of them made the list….
Very, I mean, VERY folky. Way more melancholic (and less diddlydeediddlydoo) than The Pogues. Still not for me
I wish I liked this more. But I also like that I wished that.
Decent songs and the singer stands out for me.
5.5/10
World Party was pretty solid, but otherwise this sounds like a top notch band at an Irish bar. Fun, but not remarkable.
Nice mix of British isles folk and 80s British indies rock, like it. 3.75 sStar
One really good song. Not much I haven’t heard done better on other folk records.
I was already starting to suspect that I liked British and Irish folk music, and this album helped confirm that suspicion. For whatever reason, I enjoy it. Add that into a mixture with rock and we're definitely cooking. I enjoyed the majority of this album as a result. However, it started to lose me toward the end. The album ran over 54 minutes and had 13 songs, some of which were very long. A number of them sounded similar due to the style. I think they could've cut it down a tad and it would've been better for it. As it is, the length caused it to drag on me, especially since some of the later songs were slower/melancholy. I was thinking I would give this album 4 stars at about the halfway point, but the way it dragged and the end made me knock it a little bit. I think this would've been a very strong 10-song album. Unfortunately, instead it's just a decently good 13 song album. Overall: 3.3/5
I like it. Did not expect such fire music
Flinke folk, men blir for kjedelig
This has some definite highlights especially in the first couple of tracks. After this, I think the songs are more arbitrary and not so interesting.
This was a completely new artist for me, so no real explanations going into to it. That said I liked this quite a bit, sometimes it had a stripped down Flogging Molly feel to it. I would definitely listen to this album again and after reading the artist’s profile I’m intrigued enough to want to hear some other albums. Sounds like they are all pretty varied stylistically which is always interesting. 3 plus stars, not quite enough to round up to 4 on the first listen, but it’s close.
It’s fine, but wasn’t in the mood. Feels like an album the folks from Flogging Molly listened to a lot.
SO much fun, those strings are incredible
I just realised why I (often) like folk/country songs. The violin. The violins!!! How they are used in those types of music!! I freaking LOVE it! It's just so cool and fun. And here, it didn't miss. This album is pretty cool. I don't often listen to this kind of music, but maybe I should do it more often. It's a perfect album if you're driving, I guess (I don't know, I don't have my licence actually). At the same time, it's really great but is there really something... new? But I don't mean it in a bad way (for once)! It's cool, it works, so why should we need more, really? Again, I'm not really familiar with the genre but I really liked it. This music really screams to me: USA! (I live in Europe, so it's not... common?). This is really how I expect The US to be (well, at least Texas). The only 'bad' thing I can say is that I'm not a big fan of the singer's voice. As often, I have a problem with voices, I guess. But I don't hate it either! There are also songs I liked less but I mean, don't we all? Not a big fan of 'The Stolen Child'... I think I'll need to relisten to Fisherman's Blues to enjoy it even more. I might do that in the future!
Like an extraordinarily pleasant road trip this album covers a lot of territory.
Seemed like they wanted to go in lots of different directions. Terrible vocal on “Blackbird.”
Not a bad singer, but I still got sick of him about half way through. Sounds better on some songs than others. Music's interesting. 3.5*
Some great hits but some are so long and boring. The traditional covers are interesting but not something I would listen to all the time. Decent 3.
Not sure if I disliked being bored by the long tracks or suffering the shorter tracks more.
Interesting mix of Classic Rock, Country, Punk, and Irish/Scottish Folk
I saw comparisons to The Pogues and Bob Dylan so I figured I was gonna hate this. But actually I like this more than I like both of them. Celtic folk Dave Matthews Band but actually pretty good? Sure why not.
Frenetic and fun throughout. Rockfolk at its finest
Irish folk rock that presents some traditional sounding folky tales (mostly back half) and ballads as well as extended jauntier jams with a rock influence (more front half). The longer song have fun bouts of musicianship and while the more standard songs are fine, they’re less unique and attention grabbing. Violin is the star here, always seeming to add a critical flavor and unique melodies to the song. The album is cohesive and sets a clear setting to absorb what they’re making.
Ihan kiva, vähän ehkä yksitoikkoinen
A lot of this was quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the blues vibe whilst getting the feeling of sitting on a boat off the new england coast fishing. Am I crazy for thinking they tried sounding like Mr. Dylan at times?
Well hot damn. I'd never heard of The Waterboys before, but I rather enjoyed this Irish folk stuff. 4.1
The second Fisherman's Blues started I felt warm. This is very genuine feeling and I love the strings on this. I don't know if it's a masterpiece but I really enjoyed listening to it and it was consistent. Could this go somewhere more? I hope it did and I hear more from them someday. I'm not going to look for it - I'm just going to keep living and see if we find each other.
Having the blood of fisherman in my veins and a love of the Blues, this has caught my interest. The opening track has my expectations up. Some pretty solid music for the 1980s. We Will Not Be Lovers didn't bother me being 7 minutes. The Sweet Thing cover with the Blackbird cover stuck in it had some interesting bits but over stayed it's welcome. Same with Bang on the Ear. I'm a fan of Hank Williams not so much of this tribute song. The instrumentals are fine but the vocals ain't it. I appreciate the inclusion of the traditional folk song When Will We Be Married? Dunford's Fancy, *chefs kiss* The Stolen Child is a cool concept, could grow on me but has some 1980s stank on it. I liked the overall vibe but could be tightened up for a more kitchen party energy. Snappy danceable drinking songs.
Je me sens pris dans un vortex d'album bland depuis une semaine, je me sens pu inspiré d'écrire une review, je devrais peut-être répondre à Cyril... Salut Cyril! Je suis content d'apprendre que tu ne te cache pas derrière la génération des albums des Sonics Youth, je commençais à trouver ça un peu forceur de ta part Bref, le capitalisme sauvage aura eu raison de Geoguessr, ça fait un bout que j'y ai moi même été, ça me redonne pas trop envie d'y retourner. Au moins google map est gratuit... pour l'instant Effectivement, Corridor est pas super populaire ici, à part quelques-unes de leurs chansons les plus connus qui roule à la radio. Concernant KGATLW, je suis 100% de ton avis, Nonagon Infinity est selon moi le meilleurs albums rock du 21e siècle, suivi de très près par Polygondwanaland, Crumbling Castle étant ma chanson préféré du groupe. Je suis aussi un gros fan de Fishing for Fishies, Mind Fuzz, Ominum Gatherum et Flying Microtonal Banana. J'ai plus de misère avec leur albums de Heavy Metal Rats' Nest et PetroDragonic, j'aime pas assez le scream pour vraiment embarquer à fond. C'est vrai que leurs trois derniers albums ont été assez décevant (même si Flight b741 était plutôt sympa), j'ai l'impression qu'à force d'essayer trop de genres ils perdent l'identité et l'énergie qui animait le band. Par contre, Dead Stick et Le Risque sont des turbo bangers, j'espère qu'on s'accorde là-dessus Bon, je dois retourner travailler, sinon ont va me taper dessus, je continuerais mes réponses dans les prochains jours
I really, really enjoyed this album. This is an album my dad and I would've listened to together while drinking beers and playing cribbage. Great stuff.
Reason No. 1,076 why this list sucks.
I actually kinda liked this. I wasn't expecting to, but the mix of Irish folk and rock worked in a way that made this fun and interesting. 4/5
Great album!
Ok, not great but I understand why they had a career.
1988 album, hopefully it has a unique sound. By this point im just looking for some uniqueness. Very good, would relisten if it wasn't like 2 hours long. Not generic sound, unique sound throughout it, very well made. Lots of differences between tracks, seems to be multiple genres, some songs definitely better than other.
pretty good for never heard of
Easy to to listen to but didn't really appeal to me.
Sort of an Irish “Darkness On The Edge of Town”, this album combines anthemic rock with traditional Irish music touches, merging the two in some places but also adeptly drifting between the two styles from track to track. Remarkably, it all works and is aided by strong songwriting and fantastic and emotionally rich performances that pop off the record. The album and many of its tracks are overly long - 57 minutes overall and a few individual tracks in the 7-9 minute range. That overindulgence aside, this is a remarkably affecting and well-crafted record.
Groupe inconnu. Aucun intérêt. Trop folk et pas assez rock. Et terriblement long ... je n'ai pas pu aller au bout. =>1/5
literally never heard of the Waterboys before today, but I think they're great! I'm a big fan of folk rock so this hit with me. I gave it 3 stars because I feel like song-to-song the quality is inconsistent and the double disc album is waaay too long. they could've given us a tight 10-12 and it would've been much better. best song is We Will Not Be Lovers
Doesn't have Whole of the Moon, minus 3 stars
It’s pretty good, but I can only enjoy it in small doses. I paused after the first 8 tracks, returned and stopped after the first 13 tracks from the original release, but listening to those 13 tracks were a nice experience. I just know that I would need a few breaks in between listening.
What banger the album opens up with, the title track really starts things off with a rollicking bang of Celtic folk rock. It almost starts off too hot since no other track really lives up to the same standard. Nonetheless, it’s still a very solid record with true to form Irish/Scottish traditional music. Now I’m not sure I’ll ever return to this, aside from the title track, I’m almost certain I won’t but for today, I enjoyed it for what it is. 4 stars
Generic
maybe it's just a genre I'm not used to but this is the longest, most repetitive album I've ever heard. But still decent
Dexy's Midnight Runners' cousins. 8.5/10
Finely crafted folk no doubt, just didn’t find anything particularly special about it.
It's ok
This is silly to me but it’s fun. Low 4
It was pretty good. Kinda reminded me of the Pogues or something (Alex correct me if that’s wrong). Nice cover of sweet thing
That was good shit. Like celtic folk rock. Some great dissonant fiddle playing. Side 1, and especially the first couple tracks, were the best. But I enjoyed all of it.
Well, this is better than the Pogues at least. Despite myself, I kind of like this. Definitely prefer the rockier songs though. The varied instrumentation is quite interesting. But, like others have said, the second half is substantially worse than the first.
Nothing inherently bad about this, although I had some “the band” vibes getting into this (must be the cover picture). I like all instrumentals used in this thigmng but the irish folk/rock/country blend just doesn’t do it for me. Making this thing almost two hours doesn’t help
A ok
This was a bit of a surprise to me, after the first song I thought I was going to be asleep at my desk but by the end I found a new artist that I look forward to diving deeper into their catalog. This album was definitely too long, with several song being over 7 minutes. It can be a bit to folksy for me at times (which it seems that the contributors to this list love folk music). Overall I enjoyed and glad I heard it. 6.5/10 89/1001
Pretty average pub folk, the album loses steam as it goes on
the first few tracks are really strong, but this album long overstays its welcome and becomes derivative
All over the place and way too long. Was did they start singing "this land is your land" and "blackbird?" I do have to admit that the second disc was a lot better
A good solid album of resistance and folkloric lovesongs. Good for a hootenanny or two
# 505 : Fisherman's Blues I liked this more than I thought I would. They've done a pretty decent job, not great, but good enough. gets a bit old towards the end and it was way to long (Collectors Edition) to just throw on in the afternoon. Solid sound, even if it does sound just like every other Irish band out there. Listened : 18/06/2025
LIstenable.
not really my genre at this point in my life. maybe 10 years ago.
Fisherman’s Blues is the sound of a band cracking their knuckles and throwing out the rulebook, for better and for occasionally worse. It’s a sprawling, shambling blend of folk, rock, and Celtic soul that sometimes feels like a drunken jam session in a pub at closing time—and I don’t mean that as an insult. When it works, it really works. The title track and “And a Bang on the Ear” are joyous and rich, full of fiddles, longing, and big open-hearted energy. I do think the looseness of the record works both for and against it. There are moments of real magic, but also patches that drift or feel like they belong on a different record entirely. It’s like a treasure hunt, but some of the gold turns out to be just pretty convincing brass. Still, it never fully loses its charm. For me, this album lives in that middle zone of being great company, even if it’s not always sharp. It’s a grower, not a showstopper, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want.
Probably 4/5 seems pretty good
Lots of fiddle, honestly sounds like it could have been 2000s-2010s alternative. Enjoyed it, especially the more instrumental pieces 4*
Starts super strong but is then a bit too trad
Weak effort
Hadn’t heard this one before. Solid album.
In my all time top 20.
First thing I’ve been served I had never heard of before. I really enjoyed it! I’d I could do half stars it would be a 4.5
I had high hopes that this might be up there with the Pogues when I saw it was Irish! Alas, it was just ok.
I bought this album when it came out — not sure if I ever listened to it, which is a shame because this was pretty solid from start to finish.
Meh
Unlike what I would normally listen to for sure. Good instrumentals. I think you have to be in a specific mood to listen.
i appreciate the more traditional (?) instruments, they work well in the songs. the songs drag out a bit too much. overall it's alright.
It didn't blow me away, first half was better than second half