Out of All This Blue explained

Out of All This Blue
Type:studio
Artist:the Waterboys
Cover:The Waterboys Out of All This Blue 2017 Album Cover.jpg
Released:8 September 2017[1]
Length:96:17
Label:BMG
Producer:Mike Scott, Paul Brown
Prev Title:Modern Blues
Prev Year:2015
Next Title:Where the Action Is
Next Year:2019

Out of All This Blue is the twelfth studio album by the Waterboys, released by BMG in 2017 and produced by Mike Scott. The album reached No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart and No. 3 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[2] [3]

In a press release for the album, Scott commented: "Out Of All This Blue is 2/3 love and romance, 1/3 stories and observations. I knew from the beginning I wanted to make a double album, and lucky for me – and I hope the listener – the songs just kept coming, and in pop colours."[4]

"If The Answer Is Yeah" was released as the album's first single in July 2017. A music video was filmed for the track, directed by Yoni Weisberg and starring Clive Russell and Sharon Elder. Videos were also made for "Payo Payo Chin" and "Mister Charisma".[5]

Critical reception

Upon release, Mark Deming of AllMusic stated: "There's an eclectic variety of sounds and genres here, but the majority of the album finds Scott and company belatedly embracing dance rhythms, and he takes to the funk more comfortably than one might expect. Out of All This Blue is a bold experiment that succeeds, and once again demonstrates the depth and breadth of Mike Scott's talent."[1] Terry Staunton of Record Collector wrote: "The ambition and scope of these songs is undeniably impressive. This is Scott the melting pot throwing everything into the mix, with no restrictions or boundaries as to what pours out of his brightly shining brain. And that's very big of him."[6]

Andy Gill of The Independent considered the album to "continue the funkier direction taken on 2015's Modern Blues". Martin Townsend of The Express described Out of All This Blue as having "an edge and funkiness to proceedings with barely a weak track". Ian Rushbury of PopMatters praised the album's lyrical content but was critical of the number of tracks and "Celtic-Hip-Hop-Indie-Dance" production. He wrote: "The idea of Scott working with hip-hop production techniques is really interesting and there still could be a brilliant Waterboys album using this approach. Unfortunately Out of All This Blue isn't it."

Personnel

Production

Other

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)8
UK Independent Albums (OCC)3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mark Deming . Out of All This Blue - The Waterboys | Songs, Reviews, Credits . AllMusic . 2017-09-08 . 2019-05-29.
  2. Web site: WATERBOYS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company . . 2019-05-29.
  3. Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company . Official Charts Company . 2019-05-29.
  4. Web site: Bonner . Michael . The Waterboys announce new album, Out Of All This Blue . . 29 June 2017 . 5 December 2021.
  5. Web site: The Waterboys . Mikescottwaterboys.com . 2019-05-29.
  6. Web site: Out Of All This Blue - Record Collector Magazine . Recordcollectormag.com . 2019-05-29.