Out of All This Blue
# Out of All This Blue

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.

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."

"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".

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| The Express | |
| The Independent | |
| Mojo | |
| PopMatters | |
| Q | |
| Record Collector | |

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." 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."

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."

## Charts

| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
| - | - |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 27 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 67 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 107 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 68 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA) | 5 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 37 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 78 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 8 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 3 |
