An Appointment with Mr Yeats
The Waterboys · 2011
56 min · 14 tracks · folk rock
A vibrant fusion of Celtic folk and rock that breathes new life into the timeless poetry of W.B. Yeats.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Song of Wandering Aengus — This track captures the haunting beauty of Yeats' imagery, marrying ethereal instrumentation with poignant vocals that reflect themes of yearning and transformation.
-
→
September 1913 — The powerful critique of societal values in this song is enhanced by Scott's emotive delivery, making it resonate deeply within both historical and modern contexts.
-
→
The Lake Isle of Innisfree — This rendition highlights the tranquil longing present in Yeats' poem, with a melodic arrangement that evokes a sense of peace and escape from the chaos of life.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively merges Yeats' poetry with vibrant music, showcasing strong composition and craft.
What we noticed
- Each track is built around a specific poem by W.B. Yeats, with melodies crafted to reflect the themes and emotions of the texts.
- Several tracks incorporate shifts in tempo and mood, often transitioning from reflective passages to more energetic sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- haunting melodies for introspective moments
- evocative storytelling through poetry
- wave-like pacing with emotional peaks
- reflective listening on quiet evenings
- captivating instrumentation for focused sessions
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party tracks
- prefering standalone singles over cohesion
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — This album departs from typical song structures to set poetry to music.
- Career context
- Released in 2011, An Appointment with Mr Yeats is The Waterboys' eleventh studio album and marks a profound artistic venture for frontman Mike Scott as he interprets the poetry of W.B. Yeats. This project follows the band's previous album, Modern Blues (2015), showcasing Scott's commitment to blending literature with music during a phase of creative exploration.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Pogues· Fairport Convention· Clannad
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Hosting of the Shee 4:29
- 2 Song of Wandering Aengus 5:26
- 3 News for the Delphic Oracle 4:30
- 4 A Full Moon in March 2:08
- 5 Sweet Dancer 3:26
- 6 White Birds 5:07
- 7 The Lake Isle of Innisfree 2:23
- 8 Mad as the Mist and Snow 4:06
- 9 Before the World Was Made 1:46
- 10 September 1913 7:20
- 11 An Irish Airman Forsees His Death 2:34
- 12 Politics 3:50
- 13 Let the Earth Bear Witness 3:37
- 14 The Faery's Last Song 5:53
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.