To record Modern Blues, Mike Scott, the only constant member of The Waterboys' line-up, went to Memphis. Fans of the old work of The Waterboys need not worry that Scott will now come up with a country record. Modern Blues is an ordinary artisan rock album. The Celtic influences have been pushed into the background a bit, but instead Scott comes up with a few original finds. Take the Mexican-sounding
… trumpets that make up the -like opener Destinies Entwined. The Girl Who Slept For Scotland has an enigmatic text, but a chorus that gets stuck in the listener's ears. The Waterboys keep the powder dry until the end, as witnessed by the epic, ten-minute long, Long Strange Golden Road. (PdK)more
