Hola amigos
Well, with a close friend we did something different. We had a sort of "press album preview". First we downloaded all songs, and then we were sharing and discussing the feelings about the album by MSN, and finally we created a review from the whole album that will appear soon on
www.amazon.co.uk ( you can rate the album now there !! )
Well, sometimes is better to be quiet and not talk to much, isn´t it Bono ?. How many times have you listen any artist saying "this will be the best record ever made" and things like that before ?. Since Pop, in 1997, U2 has used to say the same thing to their new album, and that the reason why I didn´t believe at all those wonderful Bono´s words about this new album. I have so many ideas about reviewing this album, so I have to order in my mind now...well, here I go.
First, an overall review, and second, a song by song one.
This album is near 50 minutes long, intended as a "singles album", not as a concept album or any other art form. So, to some extent, is pretty ATYCLB ( one of the worst U2 albums ever ), that´s quite dissapointing. I don´t know why U2 can´t make a more art and interesting album, with so many things happening now, like War on Iraq, some U.S scandals like Torture on Iraq, relationship between Saudi Arabian and Bin Laden´s family, civil war in some countries in Africa, Mid East, the fall of United Nations after Bush´s wish to go war, etc.
Is bassicaly a nice collection of songs, but quite empty and lack of deep, interesting and unexpected moments, etc. Sometimes is pure Rock, and sometimes in slower. Is not Techno at all, also isn´t Punk at all. The overall sound is flat, I mean, if you compare ( for example ) Bono´s voice sound is pretty the same on every song, unlike many truly awesome records like Radiohead Ok Computer, Pink Floyd The Wall, Led Zeppelin IV, John Lennon Plastic Ono Band. Sound mixer wasn´t very smart. The same thing happen with Edge´s guitars, when they´re distorded sound pretty the same on every distorded chords, and then they´re delayed, sound pretty the same too. By the way, Edge is not so creative on this album, I mean, all his guitars are great ( like always ) but you can´t find his whole new guitars used on Boy, Unforgettable Fire or Acthung Baby. Many guitars sounds like ATYCLB. Larry´s drums and Adam´s bass are really filler !!!, I mean, you can´t find any such a classic bass like Pink Floyd Money or Another Brick In The Wall, any classic drumming like The Police Message In A Bottle or Roxanne, etc. Truly bad, they seem to be just a boring musicians, without any ideas. The whole album are just Bono, The Edge and some keyboards and strings.
After listening the whole album, is clear Bono´s voice will never returned back to Zoo TV times. Is pretty the same singing than ATYCLB, sadly, that´s the true. You can realize how he has to "fight" with his voice to reach higher notes.
For my overall view, my rating is 6/10.
Song By Song:
1- Vertigo: Just a Rock song, nothing more. Absolutely empty and pointless song, silly lyrics, flat sound, etc. The Jacknife Remix has so much interesting moments than the "master" version. Bono´s voice should have sounded like Jacknife Remix. Also is a short song, just intended for a hit single. You can´t find any deep messages on this song. 5/10
2- Miracle Drug: What an improvement !!! The best song of the album. Great melodies, great guitars, Bono´s voice at the best of the whole album. Is a mid-tempo song, and will be a classic.
10/10
3- Sometimes You Can´t Make It On Your Own: A typical mid album song, and pretty ATYCLB one. Is very nice, a ballad, with many high guitars and almost no drumming. Nothing to compare with classic ballads like All I Want Is You, One or With Or Without You. Bono´s voice is pretty crappy. 5/10
4- Love And Peace Or Else: What the hell is this ? is this U2 trying to make Pink Floyd´s Money or what ?. If that so, they shouldn´t have done those awesome and classic Gilmour´s guitars. A really filler song, the worst of the whole album. Skip the track, the song turns boring and boring. For the first time, Edge is wrong with his guitars, except on the middle "quiet" part. The only good thing is the ending, should have been longer and with a real guitar solo. Again, Bono´s voice should have sounded different. What a crap was the sound mixer !!.3/10
5- City Of Blinding Lights: Again, another classic of the album. Beautiful song, really great and worth listen. I love it, really love it. Most of the time, when Bono and Edge sing the chorus is something unforgettable and great. That piano like Boy times is cool. Bono sounds far better not trying to reach those impossible high notes for him. The longer song of the album and one of the best. Well done U2. 10/10
6- All Because Of You: Nice song, so many guitars, between acoustic and electric ones !!. Another song singing in a dual voice style, cool and fresh. The ending is pretty Rattle & Hum song. I know you´ll like it. 9/10
7- A Man And A Woman: Unlike the previous song, this song stars pretty simple in its instruments. Is one of the most different song of the album. Nice instruments, except for boring Larry´s drumming...why he is so lazy on this album ?. I think it would have been better a somewhat Peter Gabriel´s drumming programming.
The song is really good, but in this version turns somewhat boring, really. 7/10
8- Crumbs For Your Table: Another dual voice style song, also another highlight moment on the album. Edge´s guitars lead the song, and AGAIN Larry and Adam are so lazy...please guys, if you can´t play better than this, leave the band and give a chance for younger and far better drummers and bass players !!!. Another "long" song ( if long is 5 minutes running ). Another song could have sounded pretty different, but is still good. Remains me to some extent ATYCLB Walk On. 8/10
9- One Step Closer: The 3rd quite song ( since A Man And A Woman ) makes the album less interesting, really. Basically, a Keyboards song, with almost no drums and few guitars. Another low point of the album, it seems to be a filler song. 4/ 10
10- Original Of The Species: Many chords used on this song, that´s weird, because sometimes is great and sometimes y bad. In The chorus is great, anyway, as well during verses, but in the brigde is bad. Overall is another quite song, making the B-side of HTDAAB clearly lower than the A-Side. Again, Edge´s guitars are the best of the song. 6/ 10
11- Yahweh: After 4 songs somewhat boring if you listen one after another, this one could have put between those ones. Is the last song of the album and ( again ) is a dual voice style. Nice song, but is not a classic. Bono´s voice is not his best. Is not an ending like All I Want Is You or Love Is Blindess. When I´m listening this song, I want to put again the highest points of the record, Miracle Drug and City Of Blinding Lights.
6/ 10
Now is your choice to buy it, but one thing I´m sure of: this is not the U2´s masterpiece. Is nice, but is not their best
Oh well, at least the others will get a chuckle out of your review!
And that probably is an understatement.
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