Based on what we know from recent magazine articles, Edge posts here and other rumors, I've prepared a track by track scouting report focusing in on keys to artistic success. I'll start at track 2 since we've all heard Vertigo by now.
2. Miracle Drug
Appears to be: Slowish rock number
Key(s) to success: Lifeline must not be overly dramatic
Comments: There will definately be some kind of hopeful lifeline like attribute to this song. It must not be overdone dramatically speaking or the tune will slip toward tediousness
3. Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own
Appears to be: Stately moving ballad
Key(s) to success: Presentation must not be overly formal
Comments: U2 has recently had the tendency to present these type of songs too formally. Even though it's probably a moving ballad it still must be loose and a tad unkempt emotionally to be creatively successful.
4. Love and Peace or Else
Appears to be: Some sort of combination of classic rock (Led Zeppelin) and modern rock (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
Key(s) to success: Wicked playing and textural vision
Comments: Band has got to be rolling on a number like this one appears to be. There must also be significant sonic vision to compete with the likes of the artists mentioned above.
5. City of Blinding Lights
Appears to be: Traditional U2 rouser
Key(s) to success: Needs to be packed with some intensely beautiful moments
Comments: Sonic decorations might be the key here. We know the band can easily work a storm up, but in order to compete with their own great rousers of the past the beautifully intense musical moments have to be superb. These moments don't have to be long just great.
6. All Because of You
Appears to be: Straightforward rock song
Key(s) to success: Liveliness
Comments: A tune of this kind must be ALIVE to reach great places. The music is gonna have to carry this part since the lyrics appear confessional in nature. Instrumentation cannot slip back and allow lyrics to dominate the song.
7. A Man and a Woman
Appears to be: Motownish street song
Key(s) to success: Street, street and more street
Comments: Cement and concrete with life buzzing about it is the way to reach an environment of urban earthiness to set this song in. So whatever the musical equivalent of cement and concrete is, that's what the band needs to capture here.
8. Crumbs from Your Table
Appears to be: Spiritual song that challenges institutionalized religion
Key(s) to success: Purity of the Holy Spirit must be evident
Comments: Musically they must capture a spiritual purity to take on certain religious tendencies. If they can do this, the song will greater for it because it will be able to challenge these tendencies on religions own turf (spiritual realm) as opposed to coming after it from a completly outside perspective.
9. One Step Closer
Appears to be: Rumination on death
Key(s) to success: Emotional depth and musical finesse
Comments: Depth is obviously important here, but the song cannot be allowed to drown in that depth. Therefore the band must have some creatively light musical touches throughout the song to lift it out of a deep well.
10. Original of the Species
Appears to be: Reflective pop/rock song
Key(s) to success: Pull off the ATYCLB balancing act
Comments: ATYCLB balanced a mid-life kind of resignation and acceptance of one's self with a review and longing of one's youth without succumbing to nostalgic tendencies. Suffice to say, this tune will need to do the same to be successful.
11. Yahwaeh
Appears to be: U2's penultimate hymn
Key(s) to success: Must go further than 40 did in it's plea for peace
Comments: 'How long to sing this song' won't do this time out. The world is gonna need more to take notice. Yahwaeh must give more without going over the top.
2. Miracle Drug
Appears to be: Slowish rock number
Key(s) to success: Lifeline must not be overly dramatic
Comments: There will definately be some kind of hopeful lifeline like attribute to this song. It must not be overdone dramatically speaking or the tune will slip toward tediousness
3. Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own
Appears to be: Stately moving ballad
Key(s) to success: Presentation must not be overly formal
Comments: U2 has recently had the tendency to present these type of songs too formally. Even though it's probably a moving ballad it still must be loose and a tad unkempt emotionally to be creatively successful.
4. Love and Peace or Else
Appears to be: Some sort of combination of classic rock (Led Zeppelin) and modern rock (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
Key(s) to success: Wicked playing and textural vision
Comments: Band has got to be rolling on a number like this one appears to be. There must also be significant sonic vision to compete with the likes of the artists mentioned above.
5. City of Blinding Lights
Appears to be: Traditional U2 rouser
Key(s) to success: Needs to be packed with some intensely beautiful moments
Comments: Sonic decorations might be the key here. We know the band can easily work a storm up, but in order to compete with their own great rousers of the past the beautifully intense musical moments have to be superb. These moments don't have to be long just great.
6. All Because of You
Appears to be: Straightforward rock song
Key(s) to success: Liveliness
Comments: A tune of this kind must be ALIVE to reach great places. The music is gonna have to carry this part since the lyrics appear confessional in nature. Instrumentation cannot slip back and allow lyrics to dominate the song.
7. A Man and a Woman
Appears to be: Motownish street song
Key(s) to success: Street, street and more street
Comments: Cement and concrete with life buzzing about it is the way to reach an environment of urban earthiness to set this song in. So whatever the musical equivalent of cement and concrete is, that's what the band needs to capture here.
8. Crumbs from Your Table
Appears to be: Spiritual song that challenges institutionalized religion
Key(s) to success: Purity of the Holy Spirit must be evident
Comments: Musically they must capture a spiritual purity to take on certain religious tendencies. If they can do this, the song will greater for it because it will be able to challenge these tendencies on religions own turf (spiritual realm) as opposed to coming after it from a completly outside perspective.
9. One Step Closer
Appears to be: Rumination on death
Key(s) to success: Emotional depth and musical finesse
Comments: Depth is obviously important here, but the song cannot be allowed to drown in that depth. Therefore the band must have some creatively light musical touches throughout the song to lift it out of a deep well.
10. Original of the Species
Appears to be: Reflective pop/rock song
Key(s) to success: Pull off the ATYCLB balancing act
Comments: ATYCLB balanced a mid-life kind of resignation and acceptance of one's self with a review and longing of one's youth without succumbing to nostalgic tendencies. Suffice to say, this tune will need to do the same to be successful.
11. Yahwaeh
Appears to be: U2's penultimate hymn
Key(s) to success: Must go further than 40 did in it's plea for peace
Comments: 'How long to sing this song' won't do this time out. The world is gonna need more to take notice. Yahwaeh must give more without going over the top.
