By first hand accounts, The Waterboys played with such emotional resonance that their live shows brought tears to the eye. Shedding virtual tears myself, I lament not ever seeing them in concert and The Live Adventures of The Waterboys further fuels my profound regret. Sadly, The Waterboys are no more, but you don't have to pine any longer. These two discs will take you back home and their aggressive mix of edgy, jazzy, Celtic folk rock has a timeless appeal that warrants repeated return visits. This collection holds powerful renditions of their earlier hits, not to mention such wonderfully fun covers as Prince's "Purple Rain" and the traditional "Meet Me at the Station." The packaging is superb, including great liner notes and photos. For my money, however, these two discs could have been a bit longer. The Waterboys had plenty of other songs, like "Don't Bang the Drum" and "Church Not Made with Hands," that would have made excellent inclusions. Regardless, what is presented is amply satisfying. All true fans of the band owe it to themselves to pick this one up--another testimony that The Waterboys were simply one of the best bands of the eighties and early nineties. I don't often enjoy live discs--this is one of the rare exceptions. A joyful trip down a lane worth remembering.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by James StewartAt risk of sounding trite, the British Isles have a very rich musical heritage, and it often surprises me that more bands don't draw on it when formulating their own sound. I don't recommend that bands simply retread already traveled folk and folk-rock roads, but those artists who take the time to explore their musical heritage often find themselves the better for it. One band that certainly did…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydA folk-rock band headed by Scottish singer/songwriter and guitarist Mike Scott, The Waterboys were at their peak musically when this was recorded, and it is amazing how well this music has held up. Proving its timeless quality, it sounds like it was recorded only months ago instead of twelve and a half years. In fact, this album contains tracks taken from their best shows back in '86, including…More from The Waterboys
1998The Whole of the Moon: The Music of Mike Scott & The Waterboys
2003Universal Hall
2000A Rock in the Weary Land
