THE WATERBOYS MARATHON to Don't Bang the Drum/The Whole of the Moon/The Pan Within/This Is the Sea

[@lesscarmel5527]

I listened to “This Is The Sea” standing on top of the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland and it is still one of the transcendent moments of my life. The Waterboys were vital to me in the 80s-probably saved me.

[@chrisb.2178]

Hey Nick. Thank you for reacting to the Waterboys. Whole of the Moon is still one of my all time favourites and on the playlist of my life

[@NicknLex]

So happy I could please some people with this cool request!!! Thank you!!

[@mattleppard1970]

I’ll never tire of that song ❤

[@PhilipModest]

"Old England" by the Waterboys is still the most pertinent song about the state of the UK almost forty years after it was written.

[@jeffputnam3582]

"Fisherman's Blues" is a great cut along with "And a Bang on the Ear" from those early years. Thanks for reacting to The Waterboys. Yes, they are definitely original!

[@AndyB59]

And a Bang on the Ear is a regular on my Spotify yearly playlists. Glastonbury Song also well worth a listen

[@daneng3641]

When I first started listening to the Waterboys, Bang on the Ear was the song that really got my attention.

[@numajoff]

Fisherman blues album it's their greatest album

[@JKonstage]

Thanks, Nick, great reaction! I was curious to see if the Waterboys had any fans besides me. Glad to see they’re out there!

[@davidrold9770]

Got to see them before the pandemic in a small venue that holds maybe 150. But they was fantastic. Great band, Mike Scott is amazing.

[@brianthornber3319]

@@davidrold9770 saw them open for U2 in 1985 at the Aragon Ballroom (capacity 5000) in Chicago. I'd pay a lot of money to see that again!

[@greenbluemonkey]

Great reaction! Please consider the album Private Revolution by World Party. Karl Wallinger of the Waterboys formed this "band" after he left Waterboys, where he wrote, performed, and sang on all the songs. With guest artists like Sinhead OConner and others. An amazing album that stands up to this day! One hit on it was "Ship of Fools"

[@michaelmalone3089]

Look out for Nick and Lex reacting to love Street my friend!! I can't wait !!

[@RGRG3232]

Yes (x 10)...the song "Ship of Fools" is soooo good.

[@pamelawatson2366]

I love World Party. Brings back memories of dancing around my student flat. How has time passed so quickly?

[@StratsRUs]

He also had his song covered by Robbie Williams

[@johnmcintosh5413]

@@StratsRUs What a bummer 😂

[@rickb.4168]

Too close to Heaven. An utterly exceptional song. Truly magnificent. A Waterboys masterpiece.

[@williamsherwin9492]

Just brilliant

[@rickb.4168]

@@williamsherwin9492 yep.

[@neildonley9626]

Your description of the music as "big" is spot on. Mike Scott, at least for a time, had a musical concept he wanted to achieve, and he called it "big music."

[@davidrold9770]

The Big Music is a great song to, off another great album.

[@Shabenn]

I have heard the Big Music and I'll never be the same. No truer words for me.

[@davidrold9770]

Great marathon Nick, big fan of the Waterboys. Really cool band & Mike Scott is the man. It's pretty much his band. He writes, sings, plays guitar, harmonica, & pain. But the rest of the band is always top notch to. I said this when you reacted to their song We Will Not Be Lovers in a marathon. You can't really just characterize them as a folk rock band because they play so many different styles of music on their albums. They definitely do the folk rock, but they'll play an Irish or keltic , new wave & punk, songs with feedback guitar, or a hippie classic rock style, all over the place from album to album. And Mike Scott's lyrics are cool to. Sometimes feels spiritual. I did get to see them live before the pandemic in a very small venue, infact the place is called Mister Smalls, only hold probably 150 or so. But they where fantastic, even better than I thought they was going to be. I hope they come back around again someday. Great marathon , those are the four songs I would have went with off that album to.

[@kylewoolsey6635]

This is the Sea is in my top ten of all time. I love everything on it. The big hit, the lesser tracks like "Trumpets" and "Be My Enemy" , all of it. There is no filler. Its been in my collection ever since the year it came out. I remember I bought it on the way to see INXS play on their Listen Like Thieves tour. Btw, "A Girl Called Johnny" would be a nice song to react to.

[@AntonyFleck]

Love this cd, but do you know 'World Party ' Karl Wallingers band after Waterboys? They're Sensational!!!...

[@pvv3868]

Must do “the pan within “. I ❤️ waterboys

[@grega8586]

As for a genre, all I can go by is the stations I have heard Whole Of The Moon on. Back in the 80's it was KROQ in the L.A. area, the New Wave/Alternative station. Now it's Sirius/XM channel 33, "First Wave". Hard to pidgeon-hole, tho. If you like the addition of horns to "new wave pop", you should check out Haircut 100. Definitely upbeat music 🙂

[@michaelmalone3089]

Nice surprise JK great song selections!!! Nick Mike Scott is one beautiful soul dear friend so pleased to see you delve into the waterboys. Dream Harder is my favourite waterboys album .There's a spiritual community up in the North of Scotland called the Findhorn foundation that Mike is a part of. I visited it myself after a friend gave me a book on the Findhorn foundation to read.The next day i went into work and told my boss I'm having a break!! The next day I was up there !!.anyway Mike sings about it on the deam Harder album. Carl Wallinger the keyboard player left the waterboys to form world party our friend. I'm really excited and looking forward to seeing you and Lex reacting to love Street by world party. Anyway time for sleep for Michael zzzzz Take care of yourself Nick thank you. JK once again nice one buddy many thanks.

[@Divedown_25]

The Waterboys, Hi Nick, Have not time to comment on all your upload but The Waterboys was and is one of my favorites. Such a powerful band

[@NicknLex]

I am happy you enjoy them!!! Don't worry about commenting!! Highly appreciate it!!

[@Divedown_25]

Mix, U2, Talking Heads, Van Morrisson, The Commitments, and a bit of Tear for Fears in a bowl, add some angst and even more feeling and you might get The Waterboys coming out from the oven

[@Divedown_25]

@@NicknLex I agree that he is more declamation the song rather than singing, repeating many sentences after each other but with different accentuation and phrasing. It is like he standing on a pall with a megaphone shouting out his message meanwhile people who' walking by turns their heads and stops while starting to listen to him and he talks to them by repeating the sentences but looking into the eyes of different people while repeating the words... it is pure magic

[@Divedown_25]

@@NicknLex btw, one of their best songs, The Fisherman Blues was not part of the Marathon

[@richardhague801]

long ago someone posed the question of 'what would be my first ten albums to buy if i lost my entire music collection for some reason' and i revisit that question every few years - this album is always my first pick. it's just consistently good - both over time (i first bought it on vinyl in 1986) and as a complete album

[@DavidSmith-wd4mx]

I just got in from work. It made my day. Thanks for playing these "Four stoaters" as we say in Scotland!

[@TheLummer66]

they are awesom live! came here for your Rush reactions and you happened to tap into my second nerdom with the Waterboys. Thank you

[@claverhouse1]

Mike Scott is a Scottish national treasure. I've seen The Waterboys many times over the years from my first show at university in 1987 to last year and they are always brilliant.

[@davidbarker77]

Agree with others that Fisherman’s Blues is worth a listen, but I first heard The Waterboys through their album, A Pagan Place. So A Church Not Made With Hands and A Pagan Place will always be two of my favs. Really enjoyed this, Nick! 🎉

[@pvv3868]

A pagan place its pure art

[@mikescriber1777]

This is the Sea is a truly wonderful Album. Thank you, Thank you for playing this. The variety in the taste of your music is incredible and greatly appreciated. I usually don’t recommend other bits of music, but you should listen to Red Army Blues. Other than the song This is the Sea, it is in my opinion one of their best. Again Thank you.

[@Gamirelman]

Pan Within breaches generations.. such an aural ecstacy. Haunting and deep. I can tell you enjoyed it as much as i..

[@raulgonzalezart6006]

Im a prog metal fan , but I love The Waterboys so much, went to see them before the pandemic's, awesome performance, I can tell the keyboard was a metal rock head, the way he was playing, for sure, so yeah, great to see this here , love yoir channel! thanks.

[@sengler67]

Great reaction, you really could have done the whole album. Whole of the moon is one of my favorite songs of all time. You almost said it, "big music". A kind of sub- genre in the eighties. This was their last big music album, after this they really dived into folk with fisherman blues. Another great example of big music would be "born of frustration" by James.

[@jimled50jl49]

Hi Nick, I have only heard the track "The Whole of the Moon", which has had plenty of airplay on the radio. This is otherwise new to me. Loved the 1st track best but it was all good stuff. Nice marathon. Great to hear other tracks. Thankyou. Byee Jim X

[@m.gideonhoyle409]

Love the Waterboys... I listened to them a lot in their earlier days. Fisherman's Blues is my favorite of their albums, and also one my favorite albums, period. I also really dig A Pagan Place.

[@pvv3868]

Saw them live in 18 july of 1989 in lisbon, Portugal. Love from Portugal!!!!

[@donneumann6546]

Bought their first album back in the 80's and now have several of them, including one from just a few years ago. Can't go wrong. Always several good songs on every album.

[@davidstreet4218]

Great reaction to a great band. I have seen the Waterboys many many times since discovering them as a support act for U2 in London at the tail end of them touring the A Pagan Place album, which proceeded This is the Sea. The height of there Big Music period. The changed direction a little after This is the Sea, with Fisherman’s Blues and Room To Roam, but for me the first 3 albums of Big Music are where they really shine.

[@AntonyFleck]

Have had this cd for decades Had forgotten just how amazing it is!! Have only rediscovered it in the last couple of days! Good stuff, powerful ,love the Trumpet!!! Karl Wallinger the bass and keyboards formed an incredible band after this! 'World Party ' people give yourselves a treat, if you've never heard them you will be delighted!! I'm not joking, check em out!!.. X

[@rickb.4168]

How did I miss this!!! Recently booked to see them next month!

[@mattperegrine873]

There's nothing like the Waterboys to make one feel like one with the isolation

[@mattleppard1970]

Wow. I was really into them around the time I was also into Yes, Floyd etc. Saw the Waterboys live at uni maybe in 1990. They were fabulous ❤🎉

[@mcolford]

The Whole of the Moon and This is the Sea bring tears to my eyes. I think i read somewhere that The Whole of the Moon anyway was recorded live in the studio for the album.Perhaps This is the Sea too.

[@MartinLear_CChem_MRSC]

Fantastic review. 🤩 Thanks for this. And, I must say, the soundstage clarity of the recording you use sounds superb 🤓

[@SMccrate01]

Fisherman's Blues from 1988 is one of my all-time favorite albums. Modern Blues from 2015 is excellent as well.

[@TheoZoffrok]

The first time I listened to this album was on CD. I brought it home from the shop, put it on the stereo, and as the stunning trumpet intro to Don't Bang The Drum played, I thought "this is great, bit quiet though," and whacked the volume up... and was almost deafened when the drums kicked in 😳 - incidentally, Mike Scott's phrase to describe the Waterboys' style was "The Big Music."

[@martin-vg7hf]

be my enemy is also a classic from this album, or savage earth heart from the first album,. dont bang the drum is talking about Spiddal in the west of ireland

[@briandevin1349]

Funny you mention U2, as the first time I ever saw The Waterboys (and certainly not the last) was when they supported U2 in Edinburgh during their Unforgettable Fire Tour. Didn't know them but really blew me away, great live act.

[@anneridge9800]

You might also appreciate “Hothouse Flowers”: Be Good, A Thing of Beauty, Your Nature.

[@alanstrom2221]

The Band members come from a few different countries of the U.K. and Ireland. In my opinion, they are one of the best Bands in music history. They are still in existence, I bought a recent new album of theirs a couple of years ago.

[@NICOPSG5]

Whole of thé moon ahh Nick thanku so much thank u!

[@nomadthriving1032]

Hey, Nick! Thanks for this. I wasnt familiar with The Waterboys. One of the great things about your channel is this opportunity to discover new things, as well. Stay well. Peace. ~Sonny

[@NicknLex]

Thank you Sonny!!

[@bryanforis1839]

Watch before the u2 before they go on stage they play the song great music

[@SMccrate01]

Man that was so good, thanks Nick! Their music really uplifts me. Read the Wikipedia section about their spiritual leanings. I'm pretty in tune with that so their whole vibe really speaks to me.

[@steveallen8131]

Mike was a massive sound of Springsteen, he edited a fanzine. He definitely took the rapture and the celtic to a new level on this though.

[@jamesharland5137]

This is the sea ...greatest album ever

[@avanoosterhout8397]

There is not a single bad, mediocre or even 'so-so' song on this album.

[@seansullivan7955]

A Girl Called Johnny, Fisherman’s Blues, and their cover of Sweet Thing are my faves. Don’t listen to them as often as I used to, but still enjoy them. For the life of me, don’t understand why The Whole of the Moon is their popular song. This Is the Sea has a similar sentiment but sounds much more true.

[@Rhialto-the-Marvellous]

For a fascinating musical journey, plotting the transformation of a very special talent, from A Pagan Place to Dream Harder and including the two Mike Scott solo albums - one cannot go wrong. For a very special immersive musical experience, every connoisseur of The Waterboys should listen to the boxed collection of recordings centered around the Fisherman's Blues/Room to Roam sessions.

[@daneng3641]

The Waterboys embraced a more Celtic sound on the next couple of albums. That's where I discovered them, but I do enjoy the earlier Big Music era as well. When Spring comes around I always think of the Pan Within. Great song for driving (or making love to). Mike Scott is still putting out albums. Been trying to catch up. I have yet to be disappointed.

[@neildonley9626]

Great choice. I don't think I've seen a reaction to Mike Scott and the Waterboys. 👍

[@rickb.4168]

Looking at the vinyl in the background, I never knew Peter Jackson made an album!

[@martinearl5913]

Whole of the moon is one of the best records ever made.....

[@falcongal63]

I really love the Waterboys’ early albums which have so much energy and to me a distinctive Irish sound. I hear similarities with early U2 and a Welsh band called The Alarm. I got to see them live in Berkeley CA in 1990 and they were awesome. And Karl Wallinger’s band World Party put out some great music too. Great marathon!

[@claverhouse1]

It was only with the fourth album Fisherman's Blues that an Irish theme became noticeable, given, you know, Mike Scott is as Scottish as they come! ;) He moved to Ireland in 1986 and recorded FB there

[@falcongal63]

@@claverhouse1 Yes I know Mike Scott is Scottish, I meant those first albums sound very similar to Irish bands like U2. Sorry I phrased it so poorly. I am familiar with the more Celtic folk sound of FB. Great band.

[@grega8586]

Was the Talking Heads song you were talking about "Burning Down The House"?

[@charleswagner2984]

Hi Nick, The best cover song I ever heard and is my favorite cover is The Whole Of The Moon by Mandy Moore. It is the longest song she ever recorded, and it is a wonderful version. She does it right.

[@mattperegrine873]

It was on one of my marathons the one with The Church, Big Country and Midnight Oil. You didn't like the song I chose "We will not be lovers"

[@DominiqueVanheusden]

I remember that.

[@jrgarciab]

Just discovered your channel. Good stuff. I really enjoyed the thoughtful analysis. It's been a long time since I've listened to The Waterboys and your observations were a great compliment. If I may... please try and minimize the lip smacking near the mic. It's murder on the ears and Broadcasting 101.

[@carlosjavierregidoriglesia3847]

Gracias por las reacciones. Fisherman’s Blues es otra gran canción. Gran banda.

[@rmac8008]

Great choice This is the music that I went for in the lame 80s Also world party and the pouges Funny I’m wearing my waterboys t shirt today Their 2017 release out of all this blue is an amazing album

[@AntonyFleck]

The Whole of the Moon Is a love song and Homage to Syd Barrett the founding member of Pink Floyd He could see the whole of the Moon! We just see the Cresent! Shine on you crazy Diamond!!!....

[@jamesmccallum209]

Fantastic album takes yer brain away

[@bitfenix90]

Karl died a week ago and I've been plugged into his World Party music instead, so now I can return to his 2-year stretch with the Waterboys and Mike Scott.

[@jamesmccallum209]

Have a listen to space orchestral by Biffy Clyro. Beautiful tune!!!

[@carlsmuck284]

The song DON'T BANG THE DRUM sounds closer to one of the songs by THE CULT.

[@brynleylee889]

❤

[@mattperegrine873]

World Party bump

[@richeaton7436]

👍 Try this one, Nick. Rocker. The Waterboys - Long Strange Golden Road kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXynd4mIi62Hgrc

[@donneumann6546]

Great song.

[@tinypurplefishesrunlaughin8052]

If ya need an angry Waterboys song that really rocks try “Suffer”

[@leons1434]

This songs make the good example about one thing : There's no way 2000's pop music can beat the 80-90's in composition, mood and soul inside the song. Today musicians were to much depending on computer to make the tunes. They've synthesized almost every sound & tune they made with DAW and other programs. Yes they were fast & easy to composed, yes they were nice to heard......but much of them sounded so robotic and plain. No pop up background melody No sudden improve of vocals or instruments No Soul and Mood in every chain of notes Just sounded like automaton everyday alarm clock... Nice but easy to forget I really miss the old days music, when composers really composed the music from their heart.....not from CPU & Microchips

[@bmac1205]

52.5k!!!👍🏻

[@mikemicrael5749]

Great reaction, Nick! I followed Karl Wallinger into his World Party and didn't stay as interested in Mike Scott's version of the Waterboys, but they are always a fun listen. I think World Party has more substance. A solid Waterboys fan turned me onto Joseph Arthur, whose music is lush like World Party with beautiful vocals. As a lyricist, Joseph Arthur is deep like Dylan, prolific like Neil Young and eclectic like his mentor, Peter Gabriel. I vociferously recommend the cool video of Joseph 's "All the Old Heroes" to all Waterboys fans.

[@williamsherwin9492]

You must listen to Too Close To Heaven . Also Church Not Made With Hands great songs

[@barringtongilbert9230]

The whole of the moon...t's about how aome people gat nothing despite trying while some have things handed to them on a plate....that's my interpretation, anyway. Just a wonderful song. Reply

[@numajoff]

I find his vocal style very similar to Dylan

[@BarryBCornerstoneCC]

It is called Big Music.

[@barringtongilbert9230]

Vrey Celtic....Irish/Scottish....just please DON'T put them with U"!!

[@robhaunui3343]

Brilliant band who should've stuck with this "Big Music" formula longer after this album (never forgive violinist Steve Wickham for convincing Mike Scott and Anthony Thistlewaite for convincing them to change this sound to the more folk oriented period and sound they would go to in the next few years). This "Big Music" period was named after their lead single from the second Waterboys album "A Pagan Place" in 1984,and there were several other bands who would fall into this category at the time like U2,Big Country,Simple Minds. But this was a great selection of songs chosen from "This Is The Sea" (that title track,and as you rightly pointed out with its simple chords,but the embellishments added,make it such a heavenly track). Apart from "The Whole Of The Moon" (one of the finest singles - no,songs of the 80s),the other 3 songs here,should've been singles off the album,instead of "Medicine Bow" (a great song,but failed as a single). Awesome upload...

[@Lightmane]

I sent you 2 a short video. Hope you watch it. Just wanna help Alexia heal her back : )

[@rickb.4168]

It’s by no way the best of. There isn’t a duff track on the album. No Old England, No Spirit or Trumpets. Awwwwwwwwww…..

[@willywonka7812]

First song was amazing. Kinda reminded me of another Waterboys song, Savage Earth Heart. The Whole Of The Moon is huge where I'm from. Sounds a bit like Deacon Blue, another Scottish band. The third song was also amazing. Kinda reminded me of the first song, with a little bit of The Stranglers, strangely enough. The last song wasn't my cup of tea. Sounded like every song released by Irish bands in the nineties. The Frank and Walters could have easily made that song. Imo, obviously

[@davidbarker77]

Yes, on its own, This Is The Sea seems overly simple. However as a closing song to a great album, it somehow works really well. But that’s me. 😊

[@macelven]

I've been saying for a while that it would be great to see some Deacon Blue on this channel. Great band.

[@stuarthastie6374]

Had to skip moxt of this coz i hate rhe drums.

[@marlew6629]

legendary and underrated band