Customer Reviews

Room to Roam

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I'll admit I haven't heard "Fisherman's Blues" yet, but wow, what a weird mix of traditional Irish music and, and, .....weirdness? some form of rock I guess. I like this album because it exhibits such a great deal of creativity in blending different genres of music, while keeping the traditional Irish sound throughout. It is musically capitivating, and the lyrics are quite good as well. Probably I wider variety of musical instruments are used here than in any other album I have heard......mandolin, bagpipes, didjeridu, trombone.....sounds dreadful I know but they are all integrated together beautifully.

It's a shame that Room to Roam isn't better appreciated. Even many Waterboys fans look past this wonderful tour de force, a rich and dazzling pastiche of styles and moods--a kind of electro-Celtic Sgt. Pepper for the 90s. Some fans who were attracted by the somewhat more traditional and stripped-down sound of Fisherman's Blues (perhaps the closest Mike Scott ever got to making a Pogues album) have failed to appreciate Room to Roam's greater experimentation. But as far as whole albums go, for richness and variety of musical styles, as well as sheer poetry and exuberance, I think Room To Roam has a slight edge over Fisherman's Blues.

In fact, Room to Roam is a solid tie for my favorite Waterboys album, along with This is the Sea. There's not a note of RTR that isn't blessed by the goddess, and a number of these songs are among Mike Scott's finest moments, including "Something That is Gone," "How Long Will I Love You," "A Man is in Love," "Bigger Picture" and "Raggle Taggle Gypsy." "Raggle Taggle" in particular is one of Mike's most joyful and electrifying performances on record--it never fails to send me through the roof.

What I love about Room To Roam is that it's wonderfully true to both the traditional folk AND the experimental, electronic impulses in Mike's work. That may be the very thing that alienates some of the folks who were attracted by the more "pure" sound of FB, but for me it's that amazing blend of styles that puts Room to Roam at the top of the Waterboys' canon. Any album that encompasses well-executed traditional Celtic folk like "Raggle Taggle Gypsy," or "Kaliope House," as well as the heartbreaking eloquence of songs like "A Man Is In Love" or "Something That Is Gone" (complete with that stunning backwards saxophone break)--not to mention the Abbey-Road rapture of "Bigger Picture"--well, let me just say that Room To Roam is still one of those rare albums that makes me glad to be alive each and every time I hear it.

One of the most boring Waterboys albums. Way too far in the Irish direction for my tastes. Doesn't rock at all; it's for those who love Irish folk music and slow songs only. If you like the Big Music sound of early Waterboys or the killer rock songs of Mike Scott's Still Burning, avoid this one.

This is the first Waterboys album I have heard, over 20 years ago. I appreciate this album more today than the first time I heard it. Nothing compares to shear genius of lyrics, sweet rythms, and variety of musical styles and instruments. You need to listen more closely each time you hear it to really appreciate the talent hear. I cannot recommend this album more. I own both Fishermans Blues and This is the Sea but when it comes to sheer imaginative genius, this album tops all.

The Waterboys in their heyday, between the anthem rock period and the breakup of the band. Mike Scott returns to his roots and some of the most endearing modern Celtic folk rock ever recorded.

Songs about the joys of love and life are found throughout this CD. "A Man is in Love" is simply one of the sweetest songs about that state of being you'll find anywhere, and it's a rare occurrence to hear a man sing about love so simply without an accompaniment of pain and anguish. The CD is filled with many such little delights. Sometimes a bit too light-hearted for its own good, Room to Roam lacks the depth to be a great CD but it's still a great deal of fun.

I enjoy traveling around the world (musically) and seeing just how other countries interpret American popular music. Please take my word, the Japanese and the Germans completely slaughter even the simplest songs. My favorite American popular music from someplace other than the North American continent is Ireland. After all, we have several commonalities: a shared language and a stolen heritage. The Waterboys' Roam To Roam makes good use of many seldom heard instruments: mandolin, whistle, flute, fiddle and standup bass. This CD is a charming and infectious marriage of jigs, folk (American), reels and rock.

The Waterboys are also quite crafty lyricists. You'll discover poetic and provoking lines such as `I'll savoir the softness of summer' (In Search Of A Rose), `I'm starting to see a bigger picture. I'm beginning to colour it' (Bigger Picture) and `I dreamed the wind came to my house' (The Trip To Bradford). `A Man Is In Love' and `How Long Will I Love You' are joyous musical celebrations of life. It's that very joy and honesty which make the Waterboys so compelling. Name one artist who has the integrity to write `America (Ireland) is my heart' (Islandman).

Instead of manufacturing music for dollars, the Waterboys proclaim a zest for life through music. Start each day with `A Man Is In Love,' and you'll step a bit lighter. Go ahead. Allow yourself some Room To Roam.

This is one you will listen to over and over for many years and always find something new and meaningful to appreciate. "Never in a life of Sundays" is truly brilliant and underscores the miracle of this human existence. The album flows and moves like the most beautiful of human creations. I wish I could give it a million stars.

First of all I like to say that two of the reviewers of this album actually missed the whole point. One used the word Garbage to describe the album and the other too cool for school downsizing the impact this album has over a lot of great people. Room to Roam is better than Dream Harder in my opinion. Dream Harder has some awesome songs (the new life!) but it not as consistent. How I been wishing The Waterboys release one more album with the kind of music to be found in Room to Roam.
"In Search of a Rose" how much more beatiful can a song get!?
"Song from the End of the World", is that a real beauty or what!?
"A Man is in Love" for the romantic in everyone, not my favorite tune, but have to admire it.
"Bigger Picture" Oh Man, Oh Man, "I'm starting to see a bigger picture..I'm starting to colour it in.." Priceless Wise Song!
Really I could go on song by song but I do admit it is not a perfect album in every sense of the word. "Islandman" is something, and then of course, "How Long Will I Love You?"-my favorite!. Yes, songs in this album are short and sweet and all the great and melodic instrumentation side of the Waterboys is displayed in this album. If anything, this is a very cheerful album and one you can play and play. I just love it and would urge Mike Scott to seriously make a sequence to this album but I have noticed that after releasing Room to Roam Mike kind of lost the touch and went heavy with electric guitars and left behind that country sound from his neck of the woods. I give it a 4.5 but since criticism has been so rough I hope my 5 stars add to the overall score. Room to Roam with its short and sweet songs (how about a Life of Sundays!-another beauty) make for a fine addition to anyone's with a heart collection!! Garbage? You Wish!!!

After the brilliance of the spiritual Celtic/rock fusion of "Fisherman's Blues" it might be understandable that some might this follow-up a bit disappointing. But with time, patience, and an open mind and ear the merits of "Room to Roam" begin to assert themselves. With tin whistles and fiddles the Celtic feel is more overt and with a top heavy 18 tracks it lacks the former's cohesion.

But what is here is still magnificent. "In Search of a Rose," "Bigger Picture," "A Life of Sundays," "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy," "How Long Will I Love You," and "Further Up, Further In" all quickly demand repeated listens. You may not play this quite as much as "Fisherman's Blues," but boy will you ever be glad it is on your shelf.