Search - Waterboys :: Fisherman's Blues, Part 2

ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE SEA: CODA

o dubhthaigh | north rustico, pei, canada | 07/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Entirely mistitled, this. It has musically a lot less to do with "Fisherman's Blues" than it does with essaying the transition from "This is The Sea". Themes, lyrics and instrumentation are a lot less organic and rootsier than they would be on "Fisherman's" and "Room to Roam." In fact, the songs are less layered sonically than on previous Waterboys' rocords, but still, there is something that has not yet happened to push Scott into that place where his Irish sojourn would have its most profound impact. There are bootlegs out there that chronicle the next steps in the transitions as Scott, Anto, Blennerhasset, Hutchinson, Wickham and company moved out of the studio and into the pubs and the Gaeltacht that dramatically altered what was Scott's direction in every respect. Perhaps he has better quality tapes than what is out there and so perhaps that will be the next "Fisherman's" Installment.Nonetheless it is a great record. The songs are terrific, played with fire and commitment. This is definitely a band in a period of transition, but not quite ready to cut their moorings. That was still to come. Scott suggests there are hundreds of hours of music still to be distilled, and so perhaps that ragile threshold will be revealed, the faery door uncovered. For the meantime, both in the live sets and the studio work, this is a great addition to the Waterboys cannon. I'd heartily recommend it, but don't expect what would turn out to be one of the great folk/roots albums ever. It is a coda to what was a brilliantly inspired rock band."

Fisherman's Blues - Part Two

Ernest Gonzales | Los Angeles, CA | 07/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What is amazing about this disc is that it works both as a compilation of unreleased recordings covering their range of music during their most productive period and as a cohesive work that embodies a common feeling and spirit. The first half is almost gospel and the second half supports the disc's title. These songs were recorded in the mid to late 80's during the This Is The Sea and Fisherman's Blues sessions, with instrumental and vocal overdubs added in 2001. The songwriting, playing, and production quality are stellar throughout. Standout tracks include Too Close To Heaven (all twelve minutes), Good Man Gone, and Blues For Your Baby. You also get a bonus disc with three more songs, an alternate version of Higher In Time and a live version of Too Close To Heaven. In the liner notes Scott describes the sessions as collaborative and spontaneous. This is clearly a band at its peak, a band whose music often conveys more emotion in a song than most bands do on an entire CD. This is a special release that should not be missed."

Not exactly Fisherman's Blues part 2

E. D. Kayser | Los Angeles, CA USA | 09/16/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"My favorite Waterboys album is Fisherman's Blues. If you haven't bought that yet go immediately to that page and pick it up. I was a Waterboys fan since I bought This Is The Sea in 1986. So much so that I bought their first album and Pagan Place (also really good). Fisherman's Blues was a revelation though. One of "those" timeless records that seem to get better with each listen. It was a real departure for Mike Scott and company and his last truly great album.



It was with great anticipation then that I bought Fisherman's Blues Part Two. Having read up on it I was aware that it was exactly the same as the 2002 album Too Close To Heaven but with a 5-track bonus disc. It would have been interesting to hear this record when it was recorded. In style it sounds more like This Is The Sea than Fisherman's Blues. The main difference may be the instrumentation. Anthony Thistlethwaite's saxophone is all over this record and frankly it makes it sound dated. It may not have in the 80s but it does today. That's why it's really gratifying to hear the live version of the song "Too Close To Heaven" on the bonus disc without the saxophone. The track is undeniably strong and the centerpiece to the album. It's just so much better in the live version. As for the rest of the album there are moments of greatness and he definitley covers many styles ("On My Way To Heaven" is his gospel track for instance). You really can't tell from this record, however, that he's about to achieve SUCH greatness in the coming months that produced Fisherman's Blues. If you have the other records I've mentioned then pick this up. I'm glad it found its way from the vaults. Much like Prefab Sprout's lost album Protest Songs (recorded between 1985's absolute masterpiece Two Wheels Good/Steve McQueen and 1988's less interesting From Langley Park To Memphis) this record probably should have come out at the time but we're glad to have it anytime."