U2 Songs of Innocence

Been listening to it for most of it this evening and I have to say I am disappointed.There are only two or three good songs on it in my opinion.
It's certainly not in the same class as All That You Can't Leave Behind or How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
I think U2's creative juices have dried up.It happens to every band eventually,we shouldn't be surprised.
I can see them becoming like the Rolling Stones;releasing a new album every five or so years that doesn't sell well and touring on their back catalogue.

Its alright.

poundhound wrote: »

Interesting how opinions differ.

I disliked "All that you cant leave behind" and regarded "No line on the horizon" as average.

"How to dismantle an atomic bomb" is one of my favourite U2 albums.

The previous posts dont reflect my opinion, but thats what makes the world go round.

Where "Songs of Innocence" stands amongst their body of work will only become apparent in due course.

The other thing for me anyway is that the way we listen to albums has changed.

When I bought say Pop I'd have listened to it dozens of times even though I never really warmed to it.

On the other hand, the last album I listened to once or twice at most, and after that I'd play the one or two songs that I liked.

Have given it a few listens now, and I gives it the thumbs up!

I'm a hardcore Pop / Zooropa / Passengers fan, so anything that sounds like trad-U2 normally gets the thumbs down from me, though ATYCLB won out due to the quality of the songs.

I think the new album really kicks in by song 6, as someone else pointed out. The songs get more interesting and the production is amazing - I'm so glad there is barely any trademark Edge guitar - in fact, the guitars are the grungiest they've been since the 90s. I couldn't give a flying f**k about soaring anthems, I prefer the smaller, more intimate U2 songs, and there's touches of that here. There's isn't anything as outre as "Velvet Dress" or "Your Blue Room" of course, but I'm glad they went for a second half of more experimental (for them) material.

Favourite songs so far would be Volcano, California, This Is Where You Can Reach Me, and Cedarwood Road. Raised By Wolves is slightly ridiculous but I really like it - the chorus reminds me of something like 30 Seconds To Mars.

It'll be interesting to hear "Songs of Experience", if it does come out next year - perhaps they'll release both before the tour?

Nunu wrote: »

Dave Fanning playing U2s new album right now on 2FM.
I nearly crashed the car when it came on!

Suicide is never the answer

eviltimeban wrote: »

Have given it a few listens now, and I gives it the thumbs up!

I'm a hardcore Pop / Zooropa / Passengers fan, so anything that sounds like trad-U2 normally gets the thumbs down from me, though ATYCLB won out due to the quality of the songs.

I think the new album really kicks in by song 6, as someone else pointed out. The songs get more interesting and the production is amazing - I'm so glad there is barely any trademark Edge guitar - in fact, the guitars are the grungiest they've been since the 90s. I couldn't give a flying f**k about soaring anthems, I prefer the smaller, more intimate U2 songs, and there's touches of that here. There's isn't anything as outre as "Velvet Dress" or "Your Blue Room" of course, but I'm glad they went for a second half of more experimental (for them) material.

Favourite songs so far would be Volcano, California, This Is Where You Can Reach Me, and Cedarwood Road. Raised By Wolves is slightly ridiculous but I really like it - the chorus reminds me of something like 30 Seconds To Mars.

It'll be interesting to hear "Songs of Experience", if it does come out next year - perhaps they'll release both before the tour?

Good post. I'm also in the Pop/Passengers/Zooropa/Achtung Baby camp, as it's where the band pushed themselves the most and were rewarded superbly in my opinion. Songs like the title track of Zooropa, Dirty Day, Miss Sarajevo and Your Blue Room are as good as anything they've ever done. Interesting to hear what songs of Songs of Innocence are appealing to you. I'd say California and This Is Where You Can Reach Me are my two favourites so far. But I need to give the album a few more listens before I can pass any real judgement on it.

But a few things really bug me about U2 in general. The first is that Bono's voice is letting the band down big time. I know he was technically never the best singer but he got the message across. Nowadays, he's reaching for notes that he can't hit anymore and the songs are suffering. On the live version of Miss Sarajevo from the Vertigo tour he sings the operatic section stunningly (similar to the one in Hands That Built America) and I thought he was going to go down this path a lot more. I really wish he had.

And the lyrics. Oh lord. There's no sublety there anymore, everything is so clunky and awkward. I'm talking Dolores O'Riordan awkward. Look at that line in Cedarwood Road. 'Northside just across the river to Southside, That’s a long way here'.....christ almighty, that's a horrible line. From Every Breaking Wave...'Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy'
I think the trend started with Peace On Earth from ATYCLB, which contains some of the worst lyrics from any U2 song. It's a shame because Bono used to write some amazing lyrics.

Lastly, they seem to be trying way too hard to prove themselves as relevant. All these producers and collaborators. I don't care if they're relevant. I just want them to make the music that comes from their heart, the music they want to make for themselves. I just don't believe they're really doing that anymore. Maybe we'll get that on the next one, I hope so.

stevieob wrote: »

"Zooropa", mehhh maybe not a lot more than Achtung outtakes

"Pop" basically drivel

"ATYCLB" up there with Joshua and Achtung.

Seriously?! Do you know the recording process behind Zooropa, how it was put together? Writing Pop off as drivel is laughable. And ATYCLB is simply not in the same league as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.

foxtrot101 wrote: »

I totally agree about the lyics, but I think the rot started as far back as POP with gems like...

Ha, spot on. Such a shame too, as it's a great little tune.

thegreengoblin wrote: »

And the lyrics. Oh lord. There's no sublety there anymore, everything is so clunky and awkward. I'm talking Dolores O'Riordan awkward. Look at that line in Cedarwood Road. 'Northside just across the river to Southside, That’s a long way here'.....christ almighty, that's a horrible line. From Every Breaking Wave...'Every sailor knows that the sea
Is a friend made enemy'
I think the trend started with Peace On Earth from ATYCLB, which contains some of the worst lyrics from any U2 song. It's a shame because Bono used to write some amazing lyrics.

I think, lyrically, the nadir was NLOTH... the one about a "cockatoo" and helping an old lady across the road and sticking her tongue in my ear and 5am blah blah blah (Breathe). They just didn't scan.

I'll defend Pop with all my might, I think even the dodgiest lyrics work in context ("I got two new suits... Miami... pink and blue"). I'll take Wake Up Dead Man any day over anything off HTDAAB.

As for Bono's voice, lets face it, he's an excellent, powerful singer, but I agree that he spends most of the album at a higher register. My personal preference would be for his low singing (eg Your Blue Room, Velvet Dress etc) but there's moments on SOI where he captures that again, like the opening lines on Volcano (very Zoo Station!) and at other points.

What brings the album up though, IMO, is the quality of the songs - production and lyrics aside, there are some great catchy melodies and hooks, and I think it is their most memorable set of songs since ATYCLB.

The production is great, I think, as it doesn't sound like any other U2 album, and its a very "guitar" album - the edge isn't relying on his old tricks, he's doing some other things, more distortion, the odd traditional "rock" solo here and there, and some nice colouring with acoustic guitar here and there. I for one got really sick of his "signature" delay guitar sound, and am glad there isn't much on this album. For this, he should be applauded.

Pop is much maligned but only I feel because the album wasn't a huge success and people (mostly American fans) didn't "get" it. It was perfect for the times, showed a band not afraid to push the boundaries (though Zooropa was encapsulation of that theory, leaving aside Passengers as its not really a "U2" album) and there is a lot of weighty material throughout, which belied its throwaway title. Gone, Mofo, If God Will Send His Angels... Do You Feel Loved is one of their very best ever groove-songs. Please, of course, is one of the best ever U2 songs. Stunning, mind-blowing music from start to finish.

Anyway, we can't expect U2 to make Pop again, never mind AB or Zooropa, but fair play to them for adding new touches to their sound with SOI and coming up with some good songs to boot.

Songs Of Experience, the mooted follow up to come next year, could be interesting, if we get a taste of the "club" album they are reported to have made but didn't release. I'd like to see a return to sampling, programmed beats, and more moody songs like we have on Pop.

Now, time to put on "Always Forever Now" and bliss out...

Their three finest songs are "Discotheque" , "Please" and
"Lemon".

Full disclosure before I make this post, I am a U2 Fanatic (27 concerts, inc )

Elevation world tour in Miami -first 2 opening nights,
Vertigo tour 2 nights in MSG
Zoo TV, 1 night in Boston, 1 night at Wembley
360 tours (2 nights Wembley)
with the balance being Dublin shows since Unforgettable Fire era

NLOTH was by U2 standards mediocre (bar the sublime I'll Go Crazy...)
ATYCLB was an underrated album, Walk On, Kite and Stuck In A Moment brilliant tunes
HTDAAB was good (not great) Miracle Drug and Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own absolute genius
SOI again has flashes of brilliance, some other songs will be slow-burners (not necessarily a bad thing btw)

IMHO Achtung Baby was their best album
Zooropa great album with the song itself Zooropa a classic
Pop on reflection had some great songs ( with some decidedly poor ones (Miami for example)

BTW I should also add I have an inoperable brain tumour & the band have been good to me since falling ill (sent me letters, rarities etc)

lee_baby_simms wrote: »

I really think they should pack it in - at least stop making records. Just tour. They haven't made a really good album in decades.

I don't agree with you, but I've often thought the opposite - they should stop touring and just make records. They've been trying to write for stadiums for the last decade, unlike with Zooropa / Pop etc when they were just making music. I think that if they stopped touring they could make much more interesting music.

Anyway, I've decided my favourite song on SOI is "Sleep Like A Baby Tonight". Its like a cross between The Playboy Mansion and If You Wear That Velvet Dress! With a bit of God Will Send His Angels. Very Pop sounding.

eviltimeban wrote: »

I don't agree with you, but I've often thought the opposite - they should stop touring and just make records. They've been trying to write for stadiums for the last decade, unlike with Zooropa / Pop etc when they were just making music. I think that if they stopped touring they could make much more interesting music.

Anyway, I've decided my favourite song on SOI is "Sleep Like A Baby Tonight". Its like a cross between The Playboy Mansion and If You Wear That Velvet Dress! With a bit of God Will Send His Angels. Very Pop sounding.

I actually flicked through some of their old albums last night, some great songs. They had something back then, like they had something to prove. They took risks and wrote some memorable tunes. Tunes like Zoo Station, Stay, Mofo.

It just feels like u2 are a franchise now rather than something really creative. Good luck to them all the same.