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Post by matt on Dec 6, 2017 15:37:36 GMT -5
U2 are at their best when they're not trying to stave off obsolescence. See the singles from the new album Vs songs like "Little Things". On a side note GOOYOW has really grown on me, there's a really good guitar riff and solo in there. I quite like 'Get Out of Your Own Way' too. It's totally U2 on autopilot but it's enjoyable. The riff is cool. Nice to see The Edge playing a Rickenbacker 12-string again, that's a very unique-sounding guitar. I do wish The Edge would stop using that headpiece microphone. I'm half expecting him to show us a demonstration on how to use the new Black & Decker power tools. |
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Post by Lennon2217 on Dec 9, 2017 1:32:13 GMT -5
U2 are set to debut #1 in America with sales of 170,000+. Their 8th USA #1.
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Post by The Invisible Sun on Dec 13, 2017 12:50:50 GMT -5
Such a strong album. I've been listening to it everyday since its release.
Highlights:
Landlady
Lights Of Home (Along with the remix)
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Little Things That Give You Away (WOW!)
13 (There Is A Light)
Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way (Shit title though)
Ordinary Love
You're The Best Thing About Me (I think I prefer the remix)
Skips:
American Soul
The Showman
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Post by batfink30 on Dec 16, 2017 17:38:42 GMT -5
Lights of Home sounds great on the BBC live clip with the full orchestra. Looking forward to this on Tuesday evening.
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Post by matt on Dec 17, 2017 11:05:14 GMT -5
Lights of Home sounds great on the BBC live clip with the full orchestra. Looking forward to this on Tuesday evening. This has turned out to be one of my favourites from the album. I like the interpretation of 'lights of home' between death in the first verse and birth in the second verses. Aside from that one, I adore The Little Things That Give You Away - I think it's their best song of the 21st century, beating Moment of Surrender. It's fascinating from a hardcore fans point of view and particularly Bono as a human being - U2 are one of the rare acts where you see the development from a bunch of teenagers to fully grown men (who are now getting on a bit). From my perspective, this song is absolutely the same young grief stricken angst ridden primal singer of the first couple of U2 albums, but a much more introspective and contemplative figure with age. It's by far the most personal Bono has been lyrically since Pop. That's my perceptions of Bono right there - a much more fragile, vulnerable and insecure character that goes against the public perception. For sure, it may be 'earnest' (a rather cheap criticism considering many more revered artists have the same characteristic) but I don't doubt it's sincerity when it moves me considerably. It's when you find evidence of that human element and soul in him that I find it hard to agree with the bandwagon perception that he is a c*nt, and for me it is clear it is not a simple case of black and white. Too often people are quick to throw out a binary definition, often coming down on the most negative while never taking into account the complexities of the individual. I don't think he's perfect - most ego ridden singers (99% all frontmen) are extremely flawed people - and I switch off from him completely when it comes to the tax affairs with U2 corp and his philanthropy. But when he discusses elements of spirituality or his music (e.g. Zane Lowe interview), particularly the ideas and motives behind U2's best work, then I find him a fascinating and articulate man. It's difficult to call any frontman or artist a 'hero' considering just how complex they are as human beings. And the complexities take in the flaws as much as the favourable characteristics. In fact, it would almost go against the grain of 'art' if they were saints. Bono once said that frontmen were so ego driven because they are chasing something to fill a massive hole in their lives. And that impulse often leads to character defects. Are his defects as bad as other frontmen though? I've had a good few years of disappointments with some of the downright nasty comments from Morrissey, Johnny Rotten similarly pissing his reputation up against the wall, while we've just seen the revered Josh Homme kick a female photographer in the head. When you put in in that context, then Bono doesn't stand out as much of a c*nt as first thought in my opinion. On a personal, more human level, I just wish his music would show more of that side to him again - the exposition of a more complex singer than he's portrayed for the last 17 years. Maybe retain some of the surreal lyrics from the 90s to deviate, but to avoid the wide eyed cliched platitudes from much of the lyrics would be a start in order to have a creative resurgence. |
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Post by lahaine on Dec 19, 2017 13:38:30 GMT -5
That album deserves a reappraisal, a brave move from a big band that doesn't quite pay off but damn it comes pretty close. Love me some Discotheque, Staring At The Sun is one of the more underrated U2 singles as is Last Night on Earth. I think Zooropa is the same, has probably my favourite U2 song ever in Stay. In my opinion, I never thought U2 have every made a truly awful album, Even Rattle And Hum, has Angel of Harlem, Desire and All I Want is You on it. Even their last two or three albums might not be peak U2, but they still have a few belters on it. For all of Bono's shenanigans and trying to act like he's the second coming of Jesus Christ, U2 I still think are massively underrated when it comes to their back catalogue. Probably one of their most underrated songs (although some say it's not a U2 song) |
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Post by Headmaster on Dec 19, 2017 16:03:47 GMT -5
I've been listening to the album for some days and I must say it's better than I expected
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Post by fenderlender on Dec 19, 2017 16:28:36 GMT -5
Watching 'U2 at the BBC', there's a short clip of Noel and Matthew Mcconaughey at that São Paulo after party. 20 minutes in.
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Post by batfink30 on Dec 19, 2017 17:06:50 GMT -5
Love Is Bigger with the orchestra at the BBC, Wow! It's sugary sweet but it's absolutely cracking. So many little incredible melodies running through it. Lights of Home was great also.
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Post by carlober on Dec 20, 2017 10:47:37 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2017 9:49:06 GMT -5
This record keeps getting better and better for me. Only skip American Soul.
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Post by janedoe on Dec 28, 2017 7:41:07 GMT -5
Bono is trending on Twitter. Apparently he provided some"Dad" quotes in an interview
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Post by World71R on Jan 1, 2018 18:15:05 GMT -5
This record keeps getting better and better for me. Only skip American Soul. Totally agreed. The quality is very consistent, and at a pretty high level compared to other post-Pop U2 albums. It's not front-loaded like ATYCLB, not less than the sum of its parts like Atomic Bomb, doesn't have three clunkers in the middle like NLOTH, and not over-produced and sterile like SOI is in some parts. With that said, however, I wish the drums were a little more punchier, but the songs are very good and come together to tell a beautiful story when you look at the album in a broader sense. |
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Post by World71R on Jan 3, 2018 0:09:45 GMT -5
Summer of Love is a gorgeous song. I love the interplay between all of the instruments, the string arrangement on it towards the end (wish the latter of those would go on longer), and Lady Gaga's backing vocals. If the song was a little longer and built just a little more, it would've been one of U2's best songs of this century, but it's still very good and is reminiscent of Drowning Man, except moreso with some Middle Eastern influences as opposed to Irish influences.
With that said, I'd rank that song as the fourth-best on the album, right behind The Little Things, Lights of Home, and 13 like this:
Tier 1: The Little Things That Give You Away, Lights of Home, 13 (There is a Light), Summer of Love, Love is All We Have Left
Tier 2: Red Flag Day, Get Out of Your Own Way, The Blackout
Tier 3: Love is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way, Landlady, The Showman, You're the Best Thing About Me
Tier 4: American Soul (if the chorus was like the verses, then it'd be higher)
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Post by matt on Jan 4, 2018 12:17:06 GMT -5
Summer of Love is a gorgeous song. I love the interplay between all of the instruments, the string arrangement on it towards the end (wish the latter of those would go on longer), and Lady Gaga's backing vocals. If the song was a little longer and built just a little more, it would've been one of U2's best songs of this century, but it's still very good and is reminiscent of Drowning Man, except moreso with some Middle Eastern influences as opposed to Irish influences. With that said, I'd rank that song as the fourth-best on the album, right behind The Little Things, Lights of Home, and 13 like this: Tier 1: The Little Things That Give You Away, Lights of Home, 13 (There is a Light), Summer of Love, Love is All We Have Left Tier 2: Red Flag Day, Get Out of Your Own Way, The Blackout Tier 3: Love is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way, Landlady, The Showman, You're the Best Thing About Me Tier 4: American Soul (if the chorus was like the verses, then it'd be higher) Album gets better for me - complete opposite of Songs Of Innocence that, like Lennon2217 bubblegum analogy, wore thin really quick. I’m very pleasantly surprised by this - I thought anything less than an experimental vibe album would make me bored, and while there is no musical inventiveness on the album, the songs have a lot of heart and soul to them, and not in a contrived manner either like the previous album. It helps that the ‘meh’ tracks Best Thing and American Soul are quite early on in the album (Get Out Your Own Way has grown on me to the ‘decent’ standard). Everything else I really really dig. In terms of album rankings, this is my preference: ( Bonafide Classics) 1. Achtung Baby2. The Unforgettable Fire3. The Joshua Tree4. Zooropa5. War6. Pop7. Boy( Very Good) 8. All That You Can’t Leave Behind9. Songs of Experience( Good) 10. October( Okay) 11. Rattle & Hum( Bog standard ruined by a handful of abject tracks on each album) 12. No Line On The Horizon13. Songs of Innocence14. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2018 13:03:56 GMT -5
snowed in and have today and tomorrow off, so i'm going to give this album an honest, proper spin all the way thru, based on everyone's positive reviews.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2018 15:07:04 GMT -5
snowed in and have today and tomorrow off, so i'm going to give this album an honest, proper spin all the way thru, based on everyone's positive reviews. got it on now, thru track 2- 'lights of home'... i have to be honest and must say i'm liking what i hear so far!  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2018 15:13:45 GMT -5
'get out of your own way' = 'beautiful day' 2.0 .
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Post by batfink30 on Jan 5, 2018 17:11:17 GMT -5
'get out of your own way' = 'beautiful day' 2.0 . That song has grown on me massively, thought it was so avarage at first but live it now! |
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Post by World71R on Jan 9, 2018 14:26:20 GMT -5
'get out of your own way' = 'beautiful day' 2.0 . I agree. It does sound like an ATYCLB outtake, or like a version of Beautiful Day they thought of at first but scrapped. However, it has enough of its own identity and fits within the context of the album well to be its own song without falling too much under being just another re-hash. I do wish that there had been acoustic drums all the way through, though, but it's a grower, and a good one too. |
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Post by glider on Jan 10, 2018 16:15:35 GMT -5
1. Love Is All We Have Left
2. Lights Of Home
3. Every Breaking Wave
4. Get Out Of Your Own Way
5. Song For Someone
6. Red Flag Day
7. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
8. Cedarwood Road
9. The Little Things That Give You Away
10. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight
11. The Troubles
12. 13 (There Is A Light)
Thought this was a good mashup of the two albums.
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Post by matt on Feb 11, 2018 10:09:13 GMT -5
Experience is a very good, if unspectacular and pretty safe U2 album. But so so much better than the predecessor. Not actually much I'd take from Songs of Innocence if I was to mash up the two albums. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight for definite, and, at a push, maybe The Troubles and Every Breaking Wave. After the conceptual mess that was No Line On The Horizon, it struck me how direct the tunes and melodies were at first, and it was certainly instantaneous. But it's actually all so superficial melodically and rubbed off quickly, and lyrically really poor and uninteresting ((ironic considering it's meant to be autobiographical so you'd expect greater intimacy surely?), not to mention the production is woeful with the album being pro-tooled to buggery - everything sounding so fake and contrived (even the standout tune Sleep Like A Baby sounds like a demo scrubbed off with pro-tools). Worst U2 album along with Atomic Bomb. The worst? Not sure as I can barely recall most of the songs on Atomic Bomb which struck me as extremely dull so I can't be bothered to listen to it.
Anyway as an aside, and defender of Pop, saw this article on the BBC about seven acclaimed albums nobody listens to anymore, featuring that U2 album (along with, unsurprisingly, Be Here Now).
Concerning Discotheque, maybe I'm completely wrong on this but I get the impression that US publications slated that song, compared to European publications that loved it (read Alan McGee in The Guardian saying it was U2's 'greatest song'). Yet Spin Magazine said this about it: "the nadir single of U2's nadir period sums up why the band's mid-to-late-'90s mirror-ball dalliance flopped so hard: They equated electronic music with irony and the dance floor with superficiality." Were the US audiences really less predisposed to dance music, hence why that album and subsequent tour bombed?
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Post by Lennon2217 on Feb 11, 2018 12:30:42 GMT -5
Experience is a very good, if unspectacular and pretty safe U2 album. But so so much better than the predecessor. Not actually much I'd take from Songs of Innocence if I was to mash up the two albums. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight for definite, and, at a push, maybe The Troubles and Every Breaking Wave. After the conceptual mess that was No Line On The Horizon, it struck me how direct the tunes and melodies were at first, and it was certainly instantaneous. But it's actually all so superficial melodically and rubbed off quickly, and lyrically really poor and uninteresting ((ironic considering it's meant to be autobiographical so you'd expect greater intimacy surely?), not to mention the production is woeful with the album being pro-tooled to buggery - everything sounding so fake and contrived (even the standout tune Sleep Like A Baby sounds like a demo scrubbed off with pro-tools). Worst U2 album along with Atomic Bomb. The worst? Not sure as I can barely recall most of the songs on Atomic Bomb which struck me as extremely dull so I can't be bothered to listen to it. Anyway as an aside, and defender of Pop, saw this article on the BBC about seven acclaimed albums nobody listens to anymore, featuring that U2 album (along with, unsurprisingly, Be Here Now). Concerning Discotheque, maybe I'm completely wrong on this but I get the impression that US publications slated that song, compared to European publications that loved it (read Alan McGee in The Guardian saying it was U2's 'greatest song'). Yet Spin Magazine said this about it: " the nadir single of U2's nadir period sums up why the band's mid-to-late-'90s mirror-ball dalliance flopped so hard: They equated electronic music with irony and the dance floor with superficiality." Were the US audiences really less predisposed to dance music, hence why that album and subsequent tour bombed? Was Spin wrong? No doubt the icy cold reception to POP in America had immense ripple effects on U2 for the next 20 years. They went back to safer and safer pop rock to maintain sales and perceived relevance. It worked wonders in 2000 but sadly Atomic, No Line and Innocence came off as a parody band. * I write this as a huge fan of POP by the way. |
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Post by carlober on Mar 10, 2018 7:15:57 GMT -5
This is gorgeous.
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Post by The Invisible Sun on Mar 10, 2018 10:19:20 GMT -5
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Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5
Nov 4, 2024 5:04:30 GMT -5