[direwolf74]

I love Little Things and Love is Bigger. Red Flag Day is also really great, I wish that was a single.

I really like Love is Bigger as well. After absorbing this album all weekend I'm even coming around on You're the Best Thing About Me. I thought this song was pretty average the first few times I heard it, but it's grown on me. Is it up there with their best work? No. But it's a decent, smartly written pop song nonetheless. Overall this is a very good U2 record, and my initial worries about it have been put to rest. I'm still not sure I like the idea of them re-using musical parts from other songs, but I have to admit it kinda works for this album, and I can see what they were going for with the companion album concept.

The reviews from critics are somewhat mixed (it currently has a 65% rating on Metacritic). Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, and Q are praising it as an excellent return to form and their best album since 2000. While predictably, the elitist snobs at Pitchfork, AV Club, and Consequence of Sound are joyously ripping it to shreds, calling them "dad rock" or dismissing them as a dinosaur act still coasting on their 80s/90s success. To me there seems to be an irrational hate for U2 these days, and often for silly reasons like Bono's activism, the iTunes incident (the ultimate 1st world problem), or the fact that they're so wealthy, or that they're still the biggest rock band on the planet after 30+ years. The curse of longevity I guess.

Solid performance on SNL this weekend. American Soul sounds better live, and Bono's use of the megaphone was pretty cool. I liked the video backdrop as well. I wish they had picked something different for the 2nd song though, as Get Out of Your Own Way is one of the weaker tracks on the record in my opinion. A song like Little Things or Red Flag Day would have killed in that setting.

[potsie]

I've been through the album a few times now and I'm enjoying most of it. Then again my brain is wired to release dopamine every time Bono opens his mouth to sing and The Edge plays delayed arpeggios.

There was talk of the album being held back in 2016 to re-contextualize it for the current political climate. I haven't had a look at the lyrics yet but nothing on the album struck me as being overtly political. I'm not sure what they might have re-written or added to it.

The reviews from critics are somewhat mixed (it currently has a 65% rating on Metacritic). Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, and Q are praising it as an excellent return to form and their best album since 2000. While predictably, the elitist snobs at Pitchfork, AV Club, and Consequence of Sound are joyously ripping it to shreds, calling them "dad rock" or dismissing them as a dinosaur act still coasting on their 80s/90s success. To me there seems to be an irrational hate for U2 these days, and often for silly reasons like Bono's activism, the iTunes incident (the ultimate 1st world problem), or the fact that they're so wealthy, or that they're still the biggest rock band on the planet after 30+ years. The curse of longevity I guess.

There are three bands that Rolling Stone can't be trusted to give an unbiased review for: Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and U2. David Fricke is a wordsmith, but he is seemingly incapable of writing anything less than a 4-5 star review for these bands and his review for Songs of Experience is exactly the slobbering review I'd expect it to be.

Agree that there is an irrational hate for U2, but I think most of that is actually a hate for Bono (which then translates into a hate of the band). Despite all his humanitarian work, he seems to be viewed as a self-righteous, sanctimonious asshole. This is probably some truth to him having these qualities, but unfortunately it detracts from people's ability to be able to judge the music on it's own merits.

Solid performance on SNL this weekend. American Soul sounds better live, and Bono's use of the megaphone was pretty cool. I liked the video backdrop as well. I wish they had picked something different for the 2nd song though, as Get Out of Your Own Way is one of the weaker tracks on the record in my opinion. A song like Little Things or Red Flag Day would have killed in that setting.

I like "Get Out of Your Own Way". It's the type of track that gets stuck in your head. However, like you, I would have preferred "Red Flag Day" as well.

[direwolf74]

Agree that there is an irrational hate for U2, but I think most of that is actually a hate for Bono (which then translates into a hate of the band). Despite all his humanitarian work, he seems to be viewed as a self-righteous, sanctimonious asshole. This is probably some truth to him having these qualities, but unfortunately it detracts from people's ability to be able to judge the music on it's own merits.

A friend of mine met and chatted with Bono at a Pub in Dublin a few years ago, and said he was a very polite, down-to-earth guy. And my buddy has never been a big U2 fan. Bono even bought him and his wife a round of drinks as well before he left. Take that for what it's worth. I've never met the guy myself, but from what I've heard from various fan encounters, he seems like a good dude.

[potsie]

Agree that there is an irrational hate for U2, but I think most of that is actually a hate for Bono (which then translates into a hate of the band). Despite all his humanitarian work, he seems to be viewed as a self-righteous, sanctimonious asshole. This is probably some truth to him having these qualities, but unfortunately it detracts from people's ability to be able to judge the music on it's own merits.

A friend of mine met and chatted with Bono at a Pub in Dublin a few years ago, and said he was a very polite, down-to-earth guy. And my buddy has never been a big U2 fan. Bono even bought him and his wife a round of drinks as well before he left. Take that for what it's worth. I've never met the guy myself, but from what I've heard from various fan encounters, he seems like a good dude.

There is that age old question: "If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be?" My answer would be Bono. He seems exactly like the kind of guy I'd love to have a beer with. He's charismatic, engaging, knowledgeable, and funny. He's never dull. He has a healthy ego, which can rub some people the wrong way, but "asshole" was probably an unfair characterization. Your friend is a lucky guy.

[senrab]

I love Little Things and Love is Bigger. Red Flag Day is also really great, I wish that was a single.

I really like Love is Bigger as well. After absorbing this album all weekend I'm even coming around on You're the Best Thing About Me. I thought this song was pretty average the first few times I heard it, but it's grown on me. Is it up there with their best work? No. But it's a decent, smartly written pop song nonetheless. Overall this is a very good U2 record, and my initial worries about it have been put to rest. I'm still not sure I like the idea of them re-using musical parts from other songs, but I have to admit it kinda works for this album, and I can see what they were going for with the companion album concept.

The reviews from critics are somewhat mixed (it currently has a 65% rating on Metacritic). Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Mojo, and Q are praising it as an excellent return to form and their best album since 2000. While predictably, the elitist snobs at Pitchfork, AV Club, and Consequence of Sound are joyously ripping it to shreds, calling them "dad rock" or dismissing them as a dinosaur act still coasting on their 80s/90s success. To me there seems to be an irrational hate for U2 these days, and often for silly reasons like Bono's activism, the iTunes incident (the ultimate 1st world problem), or the fact that they're so wealthy, or that they're still the biggest rock band on the planet after 30+ years. The curse of longevity I guess.

Solid performance on SNL this weekend. American Soul sounds better live, and Bono's use of the megaphone was pretty cool. I liked the video backdrop as well. I wish they had picked something different for the 2nd song though, as Get Out of Your Own Way is one of the weaker tracks on the record in my opinion. A song like Little Things or Red Flag Day would have killed in that setting.

The Lights of Home is becoming one of my favorites now.

[direwolf74]

The Lights of Home is becoming one of my favorites now.

Interesting thing about this song that I just discovered: the opening guitar riff is actually borrowed from a Haim song (skip to 1:09):

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF4FcTcWcDE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF4FcTcWcDE</a><!-- m -->


But before anyone accuses U2 of ripping them off, the Haim sisters received a co-writing credit in the liner notes. They also sing backup vocals on the track.

[senrab]

The Lights of Home is becoming one of my favorites now.

Interesting thing about this song that I just discovered: the opening guitar riff is actually borrowed from a Haim song (skip to 1:09):

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF4FcTcWcDE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF4FcTcWcDE</a><!-- m -->


But before anyone accuses U2 of ripping them off, the Haim sisters received a co-writing credit in the liner notes. They also sing backup vocals on the track.

Yep, that's right. They were given full credit in all of the liner notes. Whatever works! Quite a compliment to those girls.

[direwolf74]

Just came across this video version of the liner notes from the album. Kind of a collage of images, music, and gorgeous cinematography with Bono narrating. Pretty cool stuff.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOvB7gHErBU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOvB7gHErBU</a><!-- m -->

[direwolf74]

The word on various U2 fan forums is that the band has been rehearsing "Acrobat" for the upcoming tour. If it does actually make it into the setlist, I believe it'll be the first time that song has ever been played live.

Other notable song rehearsals, according to the website U2start.com:

The Ocean
Gloria
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Staring At the Sun

[Escape@Hand]

The word on various U2 fan forums is that the band has been rehearsing "Acrobat" for the upcoming tour. If it does actually make it into the setlist, I believe it'll be the first time that song has ever been played live.

Other notable song rehearsals, according to the website U2start.com:

The Ocean
Gloria
Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Staring At the Sun

That would be awesome...now they need to announce a Vancouver date or 2!

[potsie]

The word on various U2 fan forums is that the band has been rehearsing "Acrobat" for the upcoming tour. If it does actually make it into the setlist, I believe it'll be the first time that song has ever been played live.

Acrobat is top 3 U2 in my book. Great punch on the drums from Larry Mullen, fantastic riff from The Edge with a kick-ass squealing solo. It's a song I could never tire of. I caught them on the Joshua Tree tour and have no plans to see them this time around but if I knew Acrobat was going to be played at every show, I'd buy my ticket right now!

[direwolf74]

The word on various U2 fan forums is that the band has been rehearsing "Acrobat" for the upcoming tour. If it does actually make it into the setlist, I believe it'll be the first time that song has ever been played live.

Acrobat is top 3 U2 in my book. Great punch on the drums from Larry Mullen, fantastic riff from The Edge with a kick-ass squealing solo. It's a song I could never tire of. I caught them on the Joshua Tree tour and have no plans to see them this time around but if I knew Acrobat was going to be played at every show, I'd buy my ticket right now!

I wonder why that song has never been played before. Maybe it was more of a studio creation, and therefore difficult to pull off live with all the crazy guitar effects and layers? I'm looking forward to hearing the boys dust it off. That tune is easily in my top 10 favorite U2 songs of all time. It would be great to finally hear a definitive live version.

[potsie]

The word on various U2 fan forums is that the band has been rehearsing "Acrobat" for the upcoming tour. If it does actually make it into the setlist, I believe it'll be the first time that song has ever been played live.

Acrobat is top 3 U2 in my book. Great punch on the drums from Larry Mullen, fantastic riff from The Edge with a kick-ass squealing solo. It's a song I could never tire of. I caught them on the Joshua Tree tour and have no plans to see them this time around but if I knew Acrobat was going to be played at every show, I'd buy my ticket right now!

I wonder why that song has never been played before. Maybe it was more of a studio creation, and therefore difficult to pull off live with all the crazy guitar effects and layers? I'm looking forward to hearing the boys dust it off. That tune is easily in my top 10 favorite U2 songs of all time. It would be great to finally hear a definitive live version.

I've heard both Bono and Edge speak fondly of the song so it's a bit of a mystery as to why they've never chosen to play it live. If anyone can pull off crazy guitar effects in the live environment, it's the Edge. You'd need an engineering degree to be his guitar tech with all the gear he's got on stage. It also seems to be in a key that Bono's mid 50's voice could still pull off so I don't think physical limitations would be a reason. Lyrically, I've wondered if they found it difficult to fit into a live show in that it might somehow disrupt pacing or mood of a show. Thematically it is a darker and moodier song. However, it ends with the light of hope breaking through ("And I can love, And I know that the tide is turning 'round, So don't let the bastards grind you down") so there isn't an unrelenting bleakness to it that would make it feel like a downer at a show.

I can't wait to hear the crowd reaction the first time it gets played live. Hardcore U2 fans will lose their s**t!

I don't know if you've seen it, but there is a fan-made video for the song that is fantastic. It captures the essence of U2 in the early 1990's and gives a glimpse into what fame must have been like for them around that time period.

[youtube]NHa1ThS9avA[/youtube]

[direwolf74]

I wonder why that song has never been played before. Maybe it was more of a studio creation, and therefore difficult to pull off live with all the crazy guitar effects and layers? I'm looking forward to hearing the boys dust it off. That tune is easily in my top 10 favorite U2 songs of all time. It would be great to finally hear a definitive live version.

I've heard both Bono and Edge speak fondly of the song so it's a bit of a mystery as to why they've never chosen to play it live. If anyone can pull off crazy guitar effects in the live environment, it's the Edge. You'd need an engineering degree to be his guitar tech with all the gear he's got on stage. It also seems to be in a key that Bono's mid 50's voice could still pull off so I don't think physical limitations would be a reason. Lyrically, I've wondered if they found it difficult to fit into a live show in that it might somehow disrupt pacing or mood of a show. Thematically it is a darker and moodier song. However, it ends with the light of hope breaking through ("And I can love, And I know that the tide is turning 'round, So don't let the bastards grind you down") so there isn't an unrelenting bleakness to it that would make it feel like a downer at a show.

I can't wait to hear the crowd reaction the first time it gets played live. Hardcore U2 fans will lose their s**t!

I don't know if you've seen it, but there is a fan-made video for the song that is fantastic. It captures the essence of U2 in the early 1990's and gives a glimpse into what fame must have been like for them around that time period.

[youtube]NHa1ThS9avA[/youtube]

Cool video! That song is just so f'n badass. I'll never tire of hearing it.

[direwolf74]

Holy shit, they did it! The first ever live performance of Acrobat, introduced by Mr. Macphisto. Bono's voice is a little rough during the first chorus, but he seems to get stronger and more confident as the song progresses. The band sounds great and the Edge absolutely nails the solo. Not bad for opening night.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc04bSw53rk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc04bSw53rk</a><!-- m --> (skip to 2:03)

Setlist:

Love Is All We Have Left
The Blackout
Lights of Home
Beautiful Day
All Because Of You
I Will Follow
The Ocean
Iris (Hold Me Close)
Cedarwood Road
Song for Someone
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Raised by Wolves / Psalm 23 (snippet)
Until The End Of The World
Elevation
Vertigo
Desire
Acrobat
You're The Best Thing About Me
Staring At The Sun
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Get Out Of Your Own Way
American Soul
City Of Blinding Lights
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
One
Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
13 (There Is A Light)