what Frank is listening to #95 – THE WATERBOYS – This is the Sea – (Island) – 1985
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I remember "The Waterboys" from the 80s though I didn't have a clue about their music.
As it turns out its "celtic rock" – main man Mike Scott is Scottish and after this album he relocated to Ireland. The band today is mainly made of Irish musicians.
from wikipedia, "The Waterboys are a band formed in 1983 ( some sources say 1981) by Mike Scott (in London). The band's membership, past and present, has been composed mainly of musicians from Scotland, Ireland and England. London, Dublin, Spiddal, New York and Findhorn have all served as homes for the group. The band has played in a number of different styles, but their music is a mix of Celtic folk music with rock and roll, or folk rock. After ten years of recording and touring, they dissolved in 1993 and Scott pursued a solo career. They reformed in 2000, and continue to release albums and tour worldwide. Scott emphasizes a continuity between The Waterboys and his solo work, saying that "To me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions."
As an aside I am surprised by Spiddal as a residence – I stayed there – its a one horse town (but pretty) on the west coast of Ireland.
Much like Simple Minds, Big Country, World Party (the keyboardist for the Waterboys became the lead singer of World Party) and the The Alarm I find a lot of this hard to listen to now as it has that awful overproduced 80s sound. I find myself wishing it was recorded acoustically. The band is partially to blame as the sound is described as "big music" so I assume this was their intention but to me it just sounds like a more literate, regional type of "arena rock".
Which is a pity as there are some good tunes in there … but there is more than enough self indulgence, literary aspirations, and pomposity in there also. Bono from U2 is a fan apparently … 'nuff said?
On a couple of tracks Scott's phrasing sounds like Ian Astbury before he went "Electric".
Best Tracks
- The Whole of the Moon – the single – it went #26 UK 1985 and then #3 UK when re-issued in 1991 and #12 in Australia. I have no idea what the lyrics are about.
- Old England – cant pass up a song that bags England – just kidding. The song has a sense of immediacy and is obviously aimed at Thatcher's England:
Man looks up on a yellow sky
And the rain turns to rust in his eye
Rumours of his health are lies
Old england is dying
And the rain turns to rust in his eye
Rumours of his health are lies
Old england is dying
His clothes are dirty shade of blue
And his ancient shoes worn through
He steals from me and he lies to you
Old england is dying
And his ancient shoes worn through
He steals from me and he lies to you
Old england is dying
Still he sings an empires song
And he keeps his navy strong
And he sticks his flag where it ill belongs
Old england is dying
And he keeps his navy strong
And he sticks his flag where it ill belongs
Old england is dying
You’re asking what makes me sigh now
What it is makes me shudder so
Well
I just freeze in the wind
And I’m numb from the pummeling of the snow
That falls from high in yellow skies
Where the time stained of england flies
Where the homes are warm and the mothers sigh
Where comedians laugh and babies cry
Where criminals are televised politicians fraternize
Journalists are dignified and everyone is civilised
And children stare with heroin eyes
Old england!
What it is makes me shudder so
Well
I just freeze in the wind
And I’m numb from the pummeling of the snow
That falls from high in yellow skies
Where the time stained of england flies
Where the homes are warm and the mothers sigh
Where comedians laugh and babies cry
Where criminals are televised politicians fraternize
Journalists are dignified and everyone is civilised
And children stare with heroin eyes
Old england!
Evening has fallen
The swans are singing
The last of sundays bells is ringing
The wind in the trees is sighing
And old england is dying
The swans are singing
The last of sundays bells is ringing
The wind in the trees is sighing
And old england is dying
- Be My Enemy – a "Tombstone Blues" rip off.
And …
Tape a couple and sell.
Chart Action
The album went to #37 in the UK. No charting (single or album) in the US.
Sounds
The Whole of the Moon
Old England
Be My Enemy
Bio
Other:
Website
(originally posted:03/10/2009)
