This Is The Sea
by The Waterboys

From TheDude85 08/11/2021 12:35 | #272446 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

It has to be one of the all-time best albums ever in my book. The anthemic quality of the songs from start to finish might be derivative of U2, but that is where the similarity ends. The imagery of Mike Scott's lyrics, particularly on "The Whole Of The Moon" and the title cut, are completely captivating. How many times did I repeatedly listen to this album for nearly twenty years? Innumerable. I was somewhat disappointed with the slight change of direction on their follow-up album "Fisherman's Blues" which veered away from the stadium pleasing tunes featured here. GET THIS ALBUM! (Edited)

The opening two songs on this record are just perfection and they captivate me every time I press play. The rest of the album follows along in this sense and it really gives you an energetic ride for the full run time. From the layers of instrumentation to the brilliant vocal, this release really has everything a music lover is looking for. There is so much to explore and get your teeth into that it is hard to know where to start which isn't helped by the vast array of instruments you are treated to. All of which are played to such a high quality that it creates this wall of sound which is so overpowering and it completely stuns you as you listen through. This makes it so easy to fall into the atmosphere of this record and really get lost in it. Furthermore, the song writing is phenomenal and well worthy of deeper inspection. However, it does have a couple of weaker tracks but none that really damage the quality of the music too much. Overall, the record closes on the brilliant Title Track which truly demonstrates just how spectacular this album is lyrically and musically and shows that it is a must listen for everyone. (Edited)

From Timhop 12/17/2014 19:26 | #129544 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

This album really was a vindication for me. It took all that bland 80s junk and blew it right out the water. Listening to it was an intense, cathartic, almost spiritual experience. Its banks of layered acoustic guitars, violins, pianos and brass set it apart from anything else in 1985. It remains one of my all-time favourites, and I think Mike Scott and Karl Wallinger were one of Britain’s all-time great song-writing teams, even though their partnership was all-too brief. Just listening to it now and realise I really have to bump it up my chart a bit...

From jhuik TOP 100 COMMENTER 01/02/2012 22:20 | #34250 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

An artistic genius is at work here. This album is so much better than the rather light, radio-friendly single Whole of the Moon (as much as that surpasses so much radio). There is some rich music here, including Trumpets, Old England, the Pan Within and the title track closer. A great mix of poetry and orchestration that is so underrated by history. ...Close your eyes, breathe slow and we will begin...

From timtooky 04/24/2014 21:19 | #109982 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

is this one underrated? hmmm...
ok. it's the big sound with the ebulliant violins, the energetic singing, the opulent and tuneful sounds. but it's also a bit boastful and pixilated. imho it's exactly correct rated: a good album - but not one of the best.