"Relocating to New York, Mike Scott left behind his bog standard infatuation with Irish music and returned with this cracker that pushes a barrage of rock guitars and life affirming songs to the fore. Opener, 'The New Life', epitomised his new approach, whilst the wide-eyed rush of 'Glastonbury Song' and the mystical goofiness of 'Spiritual City', hinted at a new found spirituality. There's variety aplenty here, whether it be the country waltz of 'Corn Circles' or the feverish psychedelia of 'The Return of Jimi Hendrix'. Scott's an endearingly eccentric character with a vivid imagination. Keep on dreaming."
Lighter, brighter, and packed with energy.
A. C. Walter | Lynnwood, WA USA | 06/11/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Dream Harder is a transition for Mike Scott and The Waterboys, a move beyond their heavy celtic phase and into something sounding a little more like pop. The hit single, The Glastonbury Song, is the heart of the album. Bursting with creativity and imagination, the song can only look forward. The New Life in a Spiritual City is clearly in sight here for The Waterboys. Their creative influences come to them in visions, and the "boys" introduce us to C.S. Lewis, Jimi Hendrix, and the pagan god Pan. Their music soars and, as always, the lyrics are poetry."
The Return Of Pan
Oliver Towne | Riverside, CA United States | 04/16/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Pop music: what a fickle, bizarre universe. Just think of all the beautiful songs you have loved and forgotten. They lived for a moment in your excited consciousness, and then faded away.How many bands must come and go before the perfect song is written? Well, we all have a few candidates.I think Mike Scott captured it in "The Return Of Pan." It is elemental, rambunctious, Druidic, Bacchanalian, headbanging, and just plain cool. How many rock songs compare Greek legend with Christianity? Yeah, go ahead, start counting.I am reluctant to put on this music. "The Return Of Pan" always gets me amped up and dancing like some stupid hippie. Okay, maybe I am a stupid hippie.Thank you, Mike, for reminding me of what I knew before."
Another change in direction
Althaea35 | Australia | 04/26/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is now several years since I first purchased this disk - and with the perspective of histroy it is easier to put into some kind of context.It was a few years between "Room-to-Roam" and this album and thus when it first appeared it was grabbed at with some delight -Mike Scott had actually put out another album! The first few listens were hugely disappointing - after his definitive "Big Music" and journey into fun "Irish Folk/Pop" this turn in the road was, at first, a disappointment. It was relegated to the unlistened to pile for a few weeks. Then out of curiosity I put it on again one day - suddenly it grabbed me and I really began to like it. Skip track one - and just relax into the rest of it - it is simply fun tuneful pop - don't even bother thinking about it! Who wants to get intellectual about the Waterboys anyhow!A stand-alone Waterboys' album - but certainly one that should be in the collection."
Still as uplifting and melodic as ever.
Althaea35 | 04/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Dream Harder" simply put,is a metaphysical masterpeice of soaring highs juxtaposed to an often pensive,thoughtful lyrical bank.The first time I heard the waterboys(song"The hole of the moon")they sounded superficially like a New Wave Simon and Garfunkel,an interesting marriage to say the least.So I went out and purchased"This is the Sea",more than just plesantly suprised I loved the bands unity of Irish folk rock set to intelligent well written verse.That's exactly what you get hear,this time the vacilating subject matter involves anything from Jimi Hendrix to the ancient Celtic pagan god(I presume)Pan.Hey,these guys even did a song sung to one of W.B.Y old poems!"