Fisherman's Blues
The Waterboys · 1988
54 min · 13 tracks · folk rock
A vibrant tapestry of folk rock and Celtic influences, merging heartfelt lyrics with rich instrumentation and lively rhythms.
Top tracks — play these first
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Fisherman’s Blues — The title track encapsulates the album's spirit with its infectious melody and vivid imagery of longing and connection to nature.
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We Will Not Be Lovers — This track showcases a more introspective side of the album, with layered instrumentation that enhances the emotional weight of its narrative.
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Strange Boat — With its haunting melody and reflective lyrics, this song represents the thematic depth found throughout the album, exploring themes of identity and belonging.
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Sweet Thing — A beautifully arranged piece that combines romance and nostalgia, highlighting the band's ability to evoke strong emotions through music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends folk and rock with varied instrumentation, creating a distinct sound that resonates over time.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a prominent fiddle and accordion, establishing its folk roots immediately.
- Several tracks incorporate call-and-response vocals, enhancing the communal feel typical of folk music.
- The instrumentation varies significantly across tracks, with some featuring full band arrangements while others focus on solo acoustic elements.
- The final track is a cover of 'This Land Is Your Land', which shifts the tone to a more reflective and anthemic conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. 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
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long immersive listening sessions
- storytelling through rich melodies
- wave-like pacing and flow
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Marked a significant shift in sound and brought wider recognition for the band.
- Career context
- Released in 1988, 'Fisherman's Blues' marked a significant turning point for The Waterboys as their fifth studio album. The band shifted towards a more traditional sound, blending folk and rock elements that set this record apart from their earlier work. This album also coincided with frontman Mike Scott's personal journey, reflecting a newfound appreciation for the simpler, more spiritual aspects of music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Pogues· Fairport Convention· Clannad
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Fisherman’s Blues 4:26
- 2 We Will Not Be Lovers 7:03
- 3 Strange Boat 3:06
- 4 World Party 4:01
- 5 Sweet Thing 7:14
- 6 Jimmy Hickey’s Waltz 2:06
- 7 And a Bang on the Ear 7:32
- 8 Has Anybody Here Seen Hank? 3:20
- 9 When Will We Be Married? 3:01
- 10 When Ye Go Away 3:45
- 11 Dunford’s Fancy 1:04
- 12 The Stolen Child 6:55
- 13 This Land Is Your Land 0:58
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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