What makes This Is the Sea by The Waterboys notable?

The album includes the widely acclaimed track 'The Whole of the Moon', which became a significant hit and has been covered by numerous artists. Additionally, This Is the Sea solidified The Waterboys' status within the Celtic music movement and received positive reviews for its ambitious arrangements, helping to influence subsequent folk rock acts. This Is the Sea is The Waterboys' fifth studio album, released after their commercial peak in the late 1980s. By this point, they had evolved from their earlier folk rock sound into a more expansive, eclectic blend that incorporated various musical styles. This album came as a reflective moment in their career, showcasing Mike Scott's lyrical depth during a time of personal and artistic exploration.

Who is This Is the Sea for?

This Is the Sea works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, sweeping soundscapes for reflection and wave-like pacing for deep listening.

How many songs are on This Is the Sea?

This Is the Sea has 9 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

This Is the Sea

The Waterboys · 2004

42 min · 9 tracks · folk rock

A rich tapestry of Celtic influences woven with soaring melodies and introspective lyrics that evoke a sense of longing and adventure.

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Top tracks — play these first

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The Whole of the Moon — This track exemplifies the band's lyrical prowess with its vivid imagery and anthemic quality, making it a defining moment in their catalog.
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Don't Bang the Drum — Opening with powerful instrumentation, this song showcases the band's ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds while delivering an urgent message about life.
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This Is the Sea — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of reflection and yearning, featuring layered instrumentation that builds to an emotional climax.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

The album blends Celtic influences with strong melodies, showcasing both lyrical depth and rich arrangements.

What we noticed

The album opens with a driving rhythm in 'Don’t Bang the Drum', immediately establishing an energetic tone that persists through the first half.
Tracks like 'The Whole of the Moon' feature layered instrumentation, with strings and horns complementing the lead vocals to create a rich soundscape.
The final track, 'This Is the Sea', features a gradual build-up, culminating in a powerful climax that echoes themes from earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

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 journey with emotional peaks
sweeping soundscapes for reflection
wave-like pacing for deep listening
evocative themes of vastness
immersive experience for solitude

Maybe skip if you

prefer instant gratification tracks
seek standalone singles only

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified The Waterboys' reputation with the hit 'The Whole of the Moon'.
Career context: This Is the Sea is The Waterboys' fifth studio album, released after their commercial peak in the late 1980s. By this point, they had evolved from their earlier folk rock sound into a more expansive, eclectic blend that incorporated various musical styles. This album came as a reflective moment in their career, showcasing Mike Scott's lyrical depth during a time of personal and artistic exploration.
Stylistic neighbors: The Pogues· Fairport Convention· Clannad