Name: A Rock in the Weary Land
SKU: 918002
Price: 16.94 USD
Availability: InStock

Tracks

1. Let It Happen

2. My Love Is My Rock In The Weary Land

3. It's All Gone

4. Is She Conscious?

5. We Are Jonah

6. Malediction

7. Dumbing Down The World

8. His Word Is Not His Bond

9. Night Falls On London

10. The Charlatan's Lament

11. The Wind In The Wires

12. Crown

Performer Notes

Personnel: Mike Scott (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, piano, organ, keyboards, synthesizer, bass); Anthony Thistlewaite (electric mandolin); Gilad Atzmon (saxophone); Richard Naiff (piano, organ); Thighpaulsandra (Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizers); Tresmegistus (harmonium, hand drum, effects); Nick Wollage (keyboards); Livingston Brown, Mark Smith, Cameron Miller (bass); Jeremy Stacey, Paul Beavis, Chris Taggart, Kevin Wilkinson (drums); Jody Linscott (ocean drum); David Ruffy (tambourine, programming); Rowan Stigner (programming); Robin Scott, Claire Nicholson, H, London Community Gospel Choir (background vocals).
Engineers include: Steve Orchard, Nick Wollage, Ben Darlow.
Recorded in London, England between 1998 & 2000.
Personnel: Mike Scott (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, organ, synthesizer); Robin Scott (vocals, background vocals); Anthony Thistlethwaite (mandolin); Gilad Atzmon (saxophone); Thighpaulsandra (trumpet, Mellotron, keyboards, synthesizer); Richard Naiff (piano); Jeremy Stacey, Kevin Wilkinson, Paul Beavis, Jody Linscott (drums); Dave Ruffy (tambourine, drum programming); Rowan Stigner (drum programming).
Audio Mixers: Mike Scott ; Nick Wollage; Steve Orchard.
Recording information: London, England (1998-2000).
Photographer: Steve Gullick .
Unknown Contributor Role: London Community Gospel Choir.
Through the years, the Waterboys have adopted whatever persona or fancy Mike Scott held at a given point in time. Hence, this band has fluctuated from the pop/rock of the early- to mid-'80s to the ensuing folk period to the aimless early '90s, which yielded Dream Harder. That was their swan song, which alienated Waterboys fans who grew to cherish the previous two releases, Room to Roam and Fisherman's Blues. That apparently didn't concern Scott too much, since he equates the individual (himself) with the band in no uncertain terms: "[T]o me there's no difference between Mike Scott and the Waterboys; they both mean the same thing. They mean myself and whoever are my current travelling musical companions." Appropriately, A Rock in the Weary Land fuses the complexity, grandeur, and simplicity that have characterized Scott's music in the past. This is the recording that the homogenous Dream Harder failed to become. It's ambitious, moody, surreal, and relevant. Scott terms the renewed sound of the Waterboys as "sonic rock," in which he incorporates all of the elements and possibilities of modern rock (which he finds compatible) into a uniform, technically updated body of work. Various distorted and synthesized effects are utilized throughout this album, but typically so are the psychedelic tendencies that Scott has always held dear. John Lennon influences seem to surface frequently, both vocally and compositionally, most notably on "Is She Conscious." And, as virtually all Mike Scott projects (both solo and group) will reveal, much of the content revolves around the struggle, confusion, and inspiration that his growing faith elicits. ~ Dave Sleger

Professional Reviews

Uncut (10/00, p.84) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Several of the songs on this album rank alongside his finest work..."

Album: A Rock in the Weary Land
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Let It Happen
2)	My Love Is My Rock in the Weary Land
3)	It's All Gone
4)	Is She Conscious?
5)	We Are Jonah
6)	Malediction
7)	Dumbing Down the World
8)	His Word Is Not His Bond
9)	Night Falls on London
10)	Charalatan's Lament, The
11)	Wind in the Wires, The
12)	Crown

Album: A Rock in the Weary Land
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Let It Happen
2)	My Love Is My Rock in the Weary Land
3)	It's All Gone
4)	Is She Conscious?
5)	We Are Jonah
6)	Malediction
7)	Dumbing Down the World
8)	His Word Is Not His Bond
9)	Night Falls on London
10)	Charalatan's Lament, The
11)	Wind in the Wires, The
12)	Crown