This thread inspired me to listen to the album for the first time in years. Aside from issues with the horrendous production (loudness wars), this really is a great collection of songs and I really enjoyed the listen. A few things that stood out:
- I hadn't listened to it for ages, but I'd love to hear LAPOE live again. I remember it as one of the highlights of the Vertigo Tour.
- It was refreshing to hear U2 not try to squeeze songs down to a 3 minute pop song which is one of my only complaints with the new record. Most of these songs had room to breathe and grow and don't feel rushed like many of their recent songs. I can imagine U2 of 2018 taking a song like City of Blinding Lights and cutting out the intro, cutting down the verses, cutting out the bridge and turning the song into a 3 minute and 15 second pop song.
- Years ago I tweaked the track listing and it actually gave the album some much needed cohesiveness This is how I've always listened to it:
1. Vertigo
2. All Because of You
3. Miracle Drug
4. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
5. One Step Closer
6. City Of Blinding Lights
7. Original of The Species
8. A Man And A Woman
9. Crumbs
10. Love and Peace or Else
11. Yahweh
This running order, particularly songs 3-8, feels like there is a narrative taking place regarding the death of Bono's father. The hope for a Miracle Drug (I know the song is not about his father, but it makes sense), the grief of loss with Sometimes and One Step Closer, and a sort of return to innocence and life with COBL, OOTS and AMAAW. This track listing turns a collection of songs into an actual album for me.
-The omission of Mercy and Xanax and Wine is criminal. I do like Fast Cars, especially the Jacknife Lee version also, but prefer Xanax.