Best Ever Albums

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

rkm — Sat, 2 Dec 2017 08:12:09 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 12/02/2017 13:12

I've listened to the new album 4 or 5 times now. As with their other albums from the 2000's on, I'm not really a fan of the big singles that are designed to get attention. I like U2 best when they begin with vulnerability, and then illuminate those emotions on a big canvas. When they bypass the vulnerability, they come off as preachy, and their platitudes are hollow.

With that in mind, I decided to weed out the tracks that I deemed to be naff, and found an album I really like inside an album I didn't like. If you have the patience, check it out. Within these tracks are themes that intertwine, and it really does add up to something greater than the sum of the parts. The only bit I don't like here is the end of Lights of Home, but I really like the song otherwise.

https://imgur.com/a/l3pLE

https://itunes.apple.com/au/playlist/songs-of-experience-ii/pl.u-XkD04ERHDDg0y1[/url]

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Sat, 2 Dec 2017 00:44:08 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 12/02/2017 05:44

I haven't done one of those types of trips in a while (Discography of a great band from debut until last album). Enjoy 😄 Look forward to how you feel out their discography, as I stated before, learning when someone thinks U2 started to suck... haha. (If ever?)

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

AAL2014 — Fri, 1 Dec 2017 01:36:55 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 12/01/2017 06:36

U2 Fandom update.

I began my chronological journey through the U2 discography today, which will include the records I've already listened to just to see how the band grew and to revisit them in general. It will all culminate with hearing Songs of Experience hopefully sometime before Christmas. With my current curiosity for the band, I'm going to ride that wave of fresh interest and see if I'm a bit more hyped for the new album by the end of it. Either way, no better time to get into the band I suppose.

So today, for the first time ever, I listened to U2's debut, Boy. Some highlights I took away were I Will Follow, Twilight, Stories For Boys, and the Electric Co. Some slightly diverse writing here even if it wasn't anywhere near developed like on later albums I've heard. Probably the most I've been able to enjoy the Edge and his enigmatic style as well. Overall a positive impression of the debut, but what the fuck is up with A Day Without Me. What an out of character attempt at trying something different. U2 and shuffle grooves just don't go together for me.

One other thing I can point out about Boy is that even from the beginning, U2 knew how to make an album flow and they made sure the beginning was strong and memorable and the end was strong but able to leave the listener wanting more.

Looking forward to hearing October for the first time next.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

rkm — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 02:29:15 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 11/30/2017 07:29

Songs of Experience reviews:

A Positive One
http://www.jonathanmartinwords.com/blog/2017/11/29/a-review-of-u2s-songs-of-experience

A Negative One
http://www.nme.com/reviews/album/u2-songs-experience-album-review

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 02:15:01 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/30/2017 07:15

sethmadsen wrote:

Yann wrote:

For all music lovers.. favourite video ever

Link

Forgot about this one! Decent pop song. I remember really liking it when it first came out, but less interesting now (musically).

The video though, yeah, some great samples of great artists. Reminds me of these as well (sorry for the small side track):

Link

Link

thanks for the videos, sethmadsen. "Windows in the Skies" is just a decent pop song, I agree, but matched with the video, I find it incredible.. Filled with love from start to finish. And part of the magic is of course that (wikipedia) "the clips were selected and edited together so that either the lip movements or the finger movements of the musicians, who actually were performing other songs, match up with either the lyrics or the music of the U2 song"

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:53:36 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/30/2017 05:53

craola wrote:

rkm wrote:

Reasons not to dismiss Rattle & Hum:

- All I Want Is You (watch the video. Great song. Great performance, and evidence of how well U2 can build a song. Enhanced by that beautifully eerie string arrangement by Van Dyke Parks).
- Hawkmoon 269 (another slow burn. Bono goes off at the 4:00 minute mark.)
- Heartland (Unforgettable Fire era beauty)
- Desire (the lead single successfully captured early rock and roll energy, imo)
- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (exposes the gospel that already existed beneath the surface)

But yeah, it is a mixed bag. It was the soundtrack to a documentary film. Watch the film.
Critics who disliked it saw U2 as trying to place themselves in the company of music royalty unjustly, or prematurely. I think the film shows them to be fans of American music. And, in the passage of time, I think U2 deservedly belong in the company of music royalty.

all i want is you is gorgeous - one of u2's greatest songs. desire is a lot of fun. i dig when love comes to town quite a bit. i'm not fond of that version of ishfwilf though, and i thought it was pretty unnecessary. but to each his own. i dig silver and gold.

50 Helen's Agree.

My favorite original tracks include: (sometimes I don't care for the covers and sometimes they are alright)
Van Diemen's Land (mostly for the lyrics and sincerity)
Desire (agree it captures the rock n' roll essence well)
Silver and Gold
Angel of Harlem
Love Rescue Me (I have the single of it live with Ziggy Marley and it's great)
God Part II
All I want Is You

I second also that watch the film... the album makes more sense after that.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

craola — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:27:45 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 11/30/2017 05:27

rkm wrote:

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:34:42 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/30/2017 03:34

rkm wrote:

A friend of mine is a big fan of the first three albums. His opinion is that "The Unforgettable Fire" is the moment they traded performance for production (to their detriment in his opinion). I've argued with him that performance/production is a false dichotomy. There are plenty of songs where their performance (particularly Bono's vocal performance) is exciting, and the song is only enhanced by a broader production aesthetic. But, I think I understand what he's saying. It's exciting when music will succeed or fail purely on the energy that's in the room, and the first three albums sound more like four guys in a room.

You can apply this to a lot of music.

Interesting discussion.

For me Coldplay actually became a "real" band when they did Death and All His Friends (Viva la Vida?) because it showed their palate beyond 4 guys in a room. Idk... interesting on both sides for sure. Sometimes it is simplicity and rawness that gets it and sometimes it is the sophistication and overthinking that's the masterpiece.

What's nice is U2 did both? And then tried to revisit it, and probably less cool... Almost like a Get Back moment (Beatles) but stuck in a moment they can't get out of ....hahahahaha.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

rkm — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:28:05 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 11/30/2017 03:28

Reasons not to dismiss Rattle & Hum:

- All I Want Is You (watch the video. Great song. Great performance, and evidence of how well U2 can build a song. Enhanced by that beautifully eerie string arrangement by Van Dyke Parks).
- Hawkmoon 269 (another slow burn. Bono goes off at the 4:00 minute mark.)
- Heartland (Unforgettable Fire era beauty)
- Desire (the lead single successfully captured early rock and roll energy, imo)
- I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (exposes the gospel that already existed beneath the surface)

But yeah, it is a mixed bag. It was the soundtrack to a documentary film. Watch the film.
Critics who disliked it saw U2 as trying to place themselves in the company of music royalty unjustly, or prematurely. I think the film shows them to be fans of American music. And, in the passage of time, I think U2 deservedly belong in the company of music royalty.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 22:03:51 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/30/2017 03:03

Yann wrote:

For all music lovers.. favourite video ever

Link

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:56:37 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/30/2017 02:56

AAL2014 wrote:

Although I've heard him say "irregardless".

hehe
🤣

I have a work buddy who purposely uses the Bushism, Strategery. It's awesome.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

rkm — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 21:51:01 GMT

Author: rkm

Posted: 11/30/2017 02:51

A friend of mine is a big fan of the first three albums. His opinion is that "The Unforgettable Fire" is the moment they traded performance for production (to their detriment in his opinion). I've argued with him that performance/production is a false dichotomy. There are plenty of songs where their performance (particularly Bono's vocal performance) is exciting, and the song is only enhanced by a broader production aesthetic. But, I think I understand what he's saying. It's exciting when music will succeed or fail purely on the energy that's in the room, and the first three albums sound more like four guys in a room.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

dihansse — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 15:51:23 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 11/29/2017 20:51

StreetSpirit wrote:

@AAL2014

I feel we've had similar U2 experiences. I grew up during the time of How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and No Line on the Horizon, a time when it was in vogue to dislike U2. The radio singles from those albums weren't very good. I wasn't a big fan of U2's early singles from what I heard on the radio. Plus Bono seems very snobbish and conceited when it comes to his music. Thus I also considered myself impervious to them and I put off listening to their albums for many years. But then I listened to Boy. I heard a youthful innocence in their music and I loved it. It's their best (or at least, the best I've listened to so far). Since then, I've been listening to their albums in chronological order, and I've heard their music grow more mature and sophisticated. I like what I've heard but nothing equals Boy (although War comes close). I've never seen U2 in concert but maybe some day.

With me it's the other way round but about the same conclusion: I grew up with Boy and War and still think these are their best albums because of that boyish enthusiasm in these albums they lost underway.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

CA Dreamin — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 13:53:16 GMT

Author: CA Dreamin

Posted: 11/29/2017 18:53

@AAL2014

I feel we've had similar U2 experiences. I grew up during the time of How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and No Line on the Horizon, a time when it was in vogue to dislike U2. The radio singles from those albums weren't very good. I wasn't a big fan of U2's early singles from what I heard on the radio. Plus Bono seems very snobbish and conceited when it comes to his music. Thus I also considered myself impervious to them and I put off listening to their albums for many years. But then I listened to Boy. I heard a youthful innocence in their music and I loved it. It's their best (or at least, the best I've listened to so far). Since then, I've been listening to their albums in chronological order, and I've heard their music grow more mature and sophisticated. I like what I've heard but nothing equals Boy (although War comes close). I've never seen U2 in concert but maybe some day.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

AAL2014 — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 12:49:59 GMT

Author: AAL2014

Posted: 11/29/2017 17:49

sethmadsen wrote:

Promenade is great for me because it has that essence of U2 which pulls you in intimately. Bono is mumbling basically. It's a heart song. It's emotional and near nostalgia. I love the bass and guitar parts. Very U2. But I totally get why one wouldn't like it. It's a bit of an atypical song and perhaps on the edge of a unlikable performance.

I almost posted this yesterday, but deleted it. But since you bring up post Achtung Baby catalog (Zooropa and Pop are a must imo)...

I didn't cause he's kind of a rockist and stuff, but I actually thought his commentary was pretty applicable:

Link

For what it's worth, I quite like TJR's content on Youtube. Very rockist, a somewhat limited pool of artists to draw from in his videos, but he's very intelligent and has thought about the music he loves in many layers. Although I've heard him say "irregardless".

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 02:15:20 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 11/29/2017 07:15

For all music lovers.. favourite video ever

Link

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 22:04:06 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/29/2017 03:04

AAL2014 wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

@ RKM

Promenade is easily my favorite U2 song.

Here's their cut of it:

Link

Loved all the comments so far from everyone, good to know a bit more about the post Achtung Baby catalog. Good to see why you guys like them.

The Unforgettable Fire was the first U2 album I ever heard. I thought it was a good album and I was pretty pleased overall with hearing more than a couple of their songs at once for the first time. However, Promenade wasn't a standout to me. In fact it was one of my least favorites from that album. I suppose I should revisit that track because I've heard from a number of U2 fans now that Promenade is one of their favorites.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

RoundTheBend — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:57:06 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 11/29/2017 02:57

rkm wrote:

Taking Seth to Church...

This intro. Goosebumps every time.

Link

Seriously.

That was my first concert too (that's from the Elevation Tour).

On another note, even though U2 shows are nearly always affordable if you can get tickets (and again, I haven't wanted to see them for 8 years now), they have a live concert recorded for every tour from War onwards.

When I was about 15, my sister and I binge watched them on VHS (so everything up until the Popmart Tour).

Such a trip to go from Rattle and Hum to ZooTV. And then Popmart to Elevation Tour.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

911Turbo — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 20:38:17 GMT

Author: 911Turbo

Posted: 11/29/2017 01:38

Congradulations, you have been "willingly" transformed into a U2 disciple.
Is this a bad thing? I don't think so; they have plenty of good music and I agree that their live concerts are incredible.
I'm sure your concert experience was over-the-top.

I was also a disciple of U2 for many years ( i have seen them a hand full of times), until i realized that the concert is a well produced, well thought out calculated concert that works very well with their music.
There is no more youthfullness or spontaneity. Its a well-oiled rock and roll show similar to the rolling stones or roger waters, etc..

U2's music has a grandiose sound long before its lyrics had anything especially grand to say.
Despite the occansional eloquence of songs like "sunday bloody sunday" or "pride in the name of love", most U2 emphasize the sound of the band over the sense of the lyrics.
an approach that at its best, gives the band a certain majesty to the albums.

For Joshua Tree- its the music that carries the songs, from the itchy throb of "bullet the blue sky' to the racing pulse of 'where the streets have no name"
they had a political song 'mothers of the disappeared', but more important was the quest for love 'with or without you' or 'still havent found what im looking for".
The band was always looking for a certain sound.

My favourite album, achtung baby. Thanks to the sound shaping technology applied to the edge's guitar and larry mullens drums, the bands sound is more intricate and articulate than ever. the album seems more stylistic. you have a techno grunge "zoo station', a hip hop groove of "mysterious ways', the amazing upbeat of "the fly".
Bono's delivery often says more than the words themselves, proving once again that the sound is invariably more eloquent than its lyrics.

if you have a chance watch this youtube video of the creation of joshua tree. in it adam clayton and the edge explain how they approach each song.
they want a certain sound and then have Bono fabricate the lyrics to the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ippvudsphlg

Off topic: Have you ever seen "Live-Aid" in 1985? It had all the best musicians in the world playing in london and philadelphia.
At the time,U2 was an up and coming rebellious band (whatever that means),
creating 2 excellent albums in the last few years(war and unforgettable fire). EVERYONE thought U2 would be the best performance.
Well, Freddy Mercury showed up with Queen and laid to rest any doubts who was the best front man and band. Check it out on youtube, its worth watching.

Also, a while back on this site, some members were comparing REM vs Smiths vs U2. I found it very very interesting.
And i have to agree, U2's music hasn't aged well except joshua tree and achtung baby, and their album rankings is continually dropping.
Hard to imagine that this would have occured so quickly. It appears, that their approach to creating music doesn't hold up.

Re: Tell Me More About/Best U2 Album

glynspsa — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 08:51:29 GMT

Author: glynspsa

Posted: 11/28/2017 13:51

It should be in the discussion for best first 3 tracks, but I prefer the first three tracks of several others including let's dance by David bowie and madman across the water by Elton John but it is in the discussion.