Best Ever Albums

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

RoundTheBend — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:38:13 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 01/14/2013 02:38

ButterThumbz wrote:

I think there's a bit more to it than just Bono being a twat. You'll have to accept that some people really really don't like U2 and they are one of those bands where it's difficult to separate the band from the music, if you know what I mean.

As for Bono's twattery, he does get quite a bit more airtime than most front men. He always seems to be riding along on the crest of some campaign or another. I'm not knocking his charity work (although, if the most successfully bands in the business weren't all tax exiles maybe some of us would be a little less needy) but I don't think that precludes someone from being a twat.

Billy Corgon may well be just as much of a twat but as I rarely get to hear him expressing himself outside the confines of a song I'm able to judge his musical output on it's own merits.

Thanks!

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

RoundTheBend — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:37:35 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 01/14/2013 02:37

lethalnezzle wrote:

For a start, I think it's over-produced. Probably my biggest quibble with pop music (not just Top 40 Chart music, but all popular music in the wider sense) is that when it's too over-produced I just think it sounds soulless (1), and for me that word sums up U2's music completely. I understand if others disagree, but they just sound devoid of humanity to me. I just think it's too safe, it sound like it's focus group tested music. As I said earlier in this thread, I've heard both of these albums and I actually dislike them both. That said, I prefer Zooropa to The Joshua Tree, but I find it very difficult tolerating any U2 album bar the first three. Now, don't mistake me for a fan of the first three, I'm not. But those three albums have a bit more vulnerability about them, they don't have the same epic sound and seemingly impregnable stadium sheen. There are still the seeds of the Joshua Tree band being sown, but they weren't yet this behemoth who'd decided (realised?) that they had to try and make their music appeal the largest amount of people, as opposed to just being happy with it being touching and personal to a dedicated minority. And that mass-appeal epic sound is something that turns me off - it's the reason I don't like Coldplay either. And these two albums just don't do anything for me - the electronic sounds weren't really innovative enough to say, "well, I might not like the huge pop songs, but at least it sounds interesting" (2), whilst the pop songs were still the same self-serving pop songs except not even as catchy as they had been in the years running up to these albums. Neither of these albums has a 'The Fly' or 'Mysterious Ways' (which, despite my hatred of them, are huge pop songs). Hopefully all that makes some sort of sense anyway. I just hate U2, and very little of it has to do with Bono being a cunt. Although that doesn't help.

(1) I understand the hypocrisy of railing against supposedly "overproduced" music whilst having the likes of Sade and Diana Ross and Prince (etc.) in my chart. I don't know what it is about the likes of U2 or Coldplay or Muse or prog rock bands being overproduced that irks me more than other types of bands. The just do.

(2) I tend to think this about Kid A too, but I think the strength of the songs on Kid A is superior, and there's something about Radiohead that I'm far more sympathetic towards than U2. Actually, I just think Kid A is superior in nearly every way to Achtung Baby. It might seem a strange comparison, but I think it's a fair one given how two white guitar groups were almost universally praised for incorporating electronic sounds.

Thanks!

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 14:10:51 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 19:10

i think both albums would be good if bono was a better vocalist, that is the reason i don't ever want to listen to them, he just isn't really that good in my mind

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:54:56 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 18:54

It's a shame what this thread degenerated to. I would like to have a discussion on the original topic but don't feel in the mood any more after reading through all this.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:42:57 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 18:42

yes, i am sorry,

i didn't think of it earlier but a better example would be pantera's lead singer. i really don't like him at all but it doesn't have an effect on how much i like the band and how much i listen to them.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

19loveless91 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 13:30:05 GMT

Author: 19loveless91

Posted: 01/13/2013 18:30

lethalnezzle, mind your language.
kidamnesiac, mind your homophobia. You realize it's a miracle you still haven't been banned?

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:58:22 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:58

ok you win

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:50:28 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:50

sysyphus69 wrote:

there is no reason to get upset i believe all non violent people deserve the same treatment as anyone else, it doesn't mean i can't say "wtf"

It does, however, mean that you're a fucking idiot. To reiterate, fuck you.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:48:33 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:48

lethalnezzle wrote:

You are a fucking idiot. Fuck you.

there is no reason to get upset i believe all non violent people deserve the same treatment as anyone else, it doesn't mean i can't say "wtf"

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:44:19 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:44

sysyphus69 wrote:

i am all for gay rights but i just happen to find the practice when it comes to males, a little sickening.

You are a fucking idiot. Fuck you.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:43:11 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:43

thejoj96 wrote:

*couldn't

oops

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:42:52 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:42

lethalnezzle wrote:

:?

Why should that have any effect?

i am all for gay rights but i just happen to find the practice when it comes to males, a little sickening.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:36:45 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:36

sysyphus69 wrote:

the singer for sigur ros is gay and it has no effect on what i think of them musically

😕

Why should that have any effect?

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:35:27 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:35

sysyphus69 wrote:

i could care less how someone acts or thinks

*couldn't

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

sysyphus69 — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:34:35 GMT

Author: sysyphus69

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:34

it is possible and most likely truth with certain people, i could care less how someone acts or thinks. the singer for sigur ros is gay and it has no effect on what i think of them musically.

they are my second favorite band

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:24:20 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:24

tekin wrote:

I think that's not remotely possible, because whatever the quality of music you will think of it as hypocrisy rather than an effort to make oneself heard.

I don't think it's possible either, for what it's worth. Whilst I agree with joj's sentiment (that we should, indeed, try to ignore outside factors and judge an artist solely on the music they create), it's a pipe dream.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:20:38 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:20

lethalnezzle wrote:

If you think that you are able to entirely ignore, subconsciously, an artist's actions when listening to their music, then that's your answer to the question: it doesn't affect your listening experience.

I think that's not remotely possible, because whatever the quality of music you will think of it as hypocrisy rather than an effort to make oneself heard.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:17:35 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:17

thejoj96 wrote:

I think that we should judge the music by how much we like it and not by how much of a trapezoid the artist is.

If you'd read what I wrote you'd see I agree entirely, it was more a question of whether we are subconsciously influenced by an artist's personality and/or behaviour outside of the music. I did mention, with regards to The Libertines, that my musical tastes have progressed since I was a big fan, but that the behaviour of Pete Doherty made me question the sincerity of the music. I also stated that I hate U2 primarily for the music, and would do so regardless of Bono's actions. If you think that you are able to entirely ignore, subconsciously, an artist's actions when listening to their music, then that's your answer to the question: it doesn't affect your listening experience. I just think it's an interesting issue.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:07:15 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 16:07

lethalnezzle wrote:

does an artist's douchebaggery negate the quality of their music?

I think that we should judge the music by how much we like it and not by how much of a trapezoid the artist is.

Re: U2 Pop and Zooropa

Anonymous — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 10:41:52 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 01/13/2013 15:41

ButterThumbz wrote:

Perhaps we just have to accept the fact that it usually takes a special kind of cock-hole to front bands like these.

Nary a truer word spoken on these pages.