Mike Scott, the creative force behind The Waterboys, has continued to make interesting music and evolve their sound – here incorporating more contemporary pop sounds. It’s a double album, with a third record of “blue variations.” Some of the tracks have lots of instrumentation (strings, brass, overdubs) and some seem to be recorded on the fly with just guitar or piano and drum machine with Scott singing solo.

Among guests, there some fiddle via Steve Wickham (who played the violin on “Sunday Bloody Sunday”), brass and string arrangements by Trey Pollard, and bass from Patterson Hood’s dad David Hood.

It’s a big sprawling three record collection but I love it. Still so much talent!

My copy is the 3xLP Deluxe edition, via Crossroads Records in Portland OR.