Search - Waterboys :: This Is the Sea

Flight manual

thatwardgirl | Rattlesnake Ridge, TN | 09/21/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You know that part of you that thinks you can fly? That same part that makes it hard to look at the sky when it's full of stars, or makes you feel the depth of everything when you are watching a huge storm down by the ocean? This is the album to speak to that part of you. WARNING, though - after listening, you might just find yourself a little discontent with the office and may even be tempted to run away to Ireland where melancholy and passion are just little more normal."

Landmark stuff - dig in!

Sean E. Judge | 11/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Mike Scott's big music is at its biggest and best on this album. After this he went Celtic with "Fisherman's Blues", and I didn't quite go along for that ride. However, I am still digging this 20 years later. An indelible memory from my college years is being pressed up against the stage at the Roxy when the Waterboys took the stage on this tour, and hearing the count off on "Don't Bang The Drum". Unforgettable.



"Don't Bang The Drum" combines a trumpet intro worthy of Arturo Sandoval, and kicks into a ripping overdriven Les Paul hard rock tune that punctuates itself with mandolins and violins. "The Whole of the Moon" is a mid tempo rocker (with the requisite dueling trumpet solo amid a prominent piano motif that would definitely show up prominently in future World Party music) that is still fresh.



I could go through every song on the album, but others have already done so. I also urge you to listen to the mp3s and decide for yourself. This album is all about layered music, from a simple percussion, piano, bass, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, that gets more interesting with violin, mandolin, trumpets, percussion. Each part is interwoven and takes a few listens to get it all. From Dylan, post-punk, and Celtic influences comes something original and enduring. The songs are beautifully written, arranged and performed. Enjoy it! It's a great album."

One of the best albums ever

stateless | mexico | 04/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this is the sea, the first album i ever heard back in 80's

from this great band, i was blown away from the opening track till the last song ,poetry,rock,soul,performance everything is there.

mike scott is without a doubt one of the best song writters ever.

i recommend all of their albums along with the mike scott solo albums.

except for universal hall ...something happen in that album that is not quite up to the same level as all the others"