SOE 25 - The Freakout
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david
ONE love, blood, life
We have to Coexist guys.
BigMacPhisto
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
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No. But that sort of mentality seemed to thrive around here when anybody had a negative opinion of SOI as they'd get bashed like crazy for having a contrary belief. Like whatever you want to like.
But we all know that there's always an enthusiasm boost that every new LP gets...and once the dust settles, they're basically always held in much worse regard around here.
Zoomerang96
ONE love, blood, life
yeah, i hear ya.
but to be fair to u2/their fans, they're hardly alone in this regard.
Why is t that when people don't like a song they have to try to explain why it isn't a "great song" and basically come across as other people shouldn't think it's great etc, if you don't like it then fair enough, have never gotten my head round it
Y2K
Refugee
Gonna Run 2 U
New Yorker
The drums and bass better survive when the album version clears of the crowd. Most exciting part of the song. Again, edge is very meh. Wtf is up dude?
popacrobat
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
why do you let it affect you so much? if you like the song, enjoy it. there are always going to be people who dislike it.
david
ONE love, blood, life
I found the criticism in this review to be surprisingly constructive and yet optimistic in regards to U2's future.
"And yet, they've been working with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, eschewing further collaboration with their longtime co-conspirators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois in order to chase the warmed-over, U2-like sound that so dominates mainstream rock radio. There is greatness yet in this band. Their bond and their legacy will never fully dissipate. But they need to be willing to break their path once again and rise to the desperate occasion they're so keen to call out if they're going to tap it. If they've taught their fans anything, it's that they can still hope for more."
TinKnight
Refugee
The Boots vs. Vertigo thread is great
1. Vertigo
2. Blackout
3. Miracle
4. Boots
Although I will say that I actually do like Boots.
1. Vertigo
2. Blackout
3. Miracle
4. Boots
Although I will say that I actually do like Boots.
I don't mind people disliking albums or songs, it's when it's put in a way that says "hey you shouldn't really like it"
JamietheEdgefan
Refugee
My thoughts after a few listens:
The thing that stands out most is how confident this track is.
Whereas the Miracle wanted to be both a hard rocker and a big pop anthem, this feels like a song that knows what it wants to be, and does it well. It feels far more effortless and ballsy than anything on SoI. For the first time since well, probably Vertigo, they have a song that isn't ashamed to just be plain ol' rock and roll.
I don't really hear a 'hook' that would make it a radio hit (melodically, i think the chorus is actually pretty bland), so I can understand why U2 have gone with The Best Thing for a single (which will likely have a more distinctive/catchy/upbeat melody). But it serves it's purpose - announcing SoE, having some fun, leaving the pop/hook work to other songs so it can be a straight forward rocker - incredibly well.
What is staying with me is the 'feel' of the song. It's quite impressive in that respect. I suspect we're getting 2 songs for a reason: both are specialising in their own fields, with Best Thing being the single, and Blackout just showing off some of U2's new swagger. I think that's a far better method than trying to write a single song that tries to be all things to all people, and fails. I'd much rather have a song that's unashamedly pop, and another that's unashamedly rock! I think we'll enjoy hearing these 2 new songs back to back, and undiluted.
The thing that stands out most is how confident this track is.
Whereas the Miracle wanted to be both a hard rocker and a big pop anthem, this feels like a song that knows what it wants to be, and does it well. It feels far more effortless and ballsy than anything on SoI. For the first time since well, probably Vertigo, they have a song that isn't ashamed to just be plain ol' rock and roll.
I don't really hear a 'hook' that would make it a radio hit (melodically, i think the chorus is actually pretty bland), so I can understand why U2 have gone with The Best Thing for a single (which will likely have a more distinctive/catchy/upbeat melody). But it serves it's purpose - announcing SoE, having some fun, leaving the pop/hook work to other songs so it can be a straight forward rocker - incredibly well.
What is staying with me is the 'feel' of the song. It's quite impressive in that respect. I suspect we're getting 2 songs for a reason: both are specialising in their own fields, with Best Thing being the single, and Blackout just showing off some of U2's new swagger. I think that's a far better method than trying to write a single song that tries to be all things to all people, and fails. I'd much rather have a song that's unashamedly pop, and another that's unashamedly rock! I think we'll enjoy hearing these 2 new songs back to back, and undiluted.
He seems to like TLTTGYA a lot better. The criticism is mostly about the lyrics, which I disagree with; I don't buy that they're trying to sell the idea that resistance is "fun". I don't see that in those lyrics at all. Then he also throws it in with the previous first-singles, which I think is lazy. There's some style similarities to stuff like The Miracle and Vertigo, but I'd say most of it (the melodies, the groove etc.) is more reminiscent of something from Pop than anything else. The structure towards the end, feels a lot more "unpolished" and raw than anything from SOI, NLOTH or HTDAAB.
Doesn't mean the review or his opinion is unfair. I just disagree.
BigMacPhisto
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
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True. And it's always to be expected that the fans are going to be more welcoming of new material then the general public.
I think one part of the puzzle that always gets ignored is that people that give up caring about a band or television show or whatever aren't ever counted in the whole. In other words, there's plenty of U2 fans (or former fans) who don't go on message boards anymore (or ever) or even gave up caring about the band entirely in years past.
So, basically, any forum or general web audience is mostly going to consist of the people that actually like the new product being put out. Kind of like how Interference became its own echo chamber for SOI being "amazing" while everybody else outside of that space was like, "umm...." as evidenced by the worst album reviews of their career.
TinKnight
Refugee
SoI isn't really fair though. So many of those reviews focused on the release strategy than the actual album itself. Hating U2 became a meme again.
BigMacPhisto
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
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Or because the release strategy meant people were left with a turd on their phone.
I'm sure HTDAAB wouldn't have had the same reaction from people. It had hooks.
I'm sure HTDAAB wouldn't have had the same reaction from people. It had hooks.
If they released Bomb in 2004 as a free album automatically given to everyone's iTunes account, they would have been celebrated.
If they released Bomb in 2014 as a free album automatically given to everyone's iTunes account, the reaction would have been exactly the same as it was for Songs of Innocence.
cseggleton
War Child
I'm waiting on a "real" review from an unbiased source likeRolling Stone!! I think they are going to find a way to give U2 the first 6 star album rating ever at some point.
Super Yo
New Yorker
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
Melon50
The Fly
Found a link for the Best Thing Kygo remix that still works:
Kygo's New Songs “You’re the Best Thing” Feat. Bono and “Carry On For You” Feat. Charlie Puth - pm studio world wide music news
Still like this version
Kygo's New Songs “You’re the Best Thing” Feat. Bono and “Carry On For You” Feat. Charlie Puth - pm studio world wide music news
Still like this version
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
I'm really liking it. That little descending chord between verses is cool. Say what you want but that chorus is catchy af. And Larry and Adam showed up!
The only part I'm unsure of is Bono at the end, he seems to go off script a little, but I'm thinking the studio vs is different.
The only part I'm unsure of is Bono at the end, he seems to go off script a little, but I'm thinking the studio vs is different.
Melon50
The Fly
It does sound like they still want to produce a radio hit. But agree that the chorus sounds very catchy, and the rest of the song raw and punkish
Sken
Refugee
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2001
- Messages
- 1,042
Its a good song for the most part, I'm just not liking the simplicity of the chorus at all, it doesn't gel with the rest of the song.
Definitely prefer Little Things, and from what I have heard of the Kygo leak of Best Thing, it sounds like they made the right choice for the lead single.
Definitely prefer Little Things, and from what I have heard of the Kygo leak of Best Thing, it sounds like they made the right choice for the lead single.
Interesting... my girlfriend just forwarded me an email she got from "Live Nation Concerts" with the same body text/picture/links as the U2.com "Blackout" announcement email.
Her email address & Live Nation account are in no way connected to U2 (never bought tickets, music, merch, or been subscribed to their newsletter) so I wonder if they're promoting it to all LN members?
Her email address & Live Nation account are in no way connected to U2 (never bought tickets, music, merch, or been subscribed to their newsletter) so I wonder if they're promoting it to all LN members?
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
I think my favourite thing here is the fill riff between lines in the verses - not common in U2 songs, and songs they have written that are similar to the Blackout don't have anything like it. You can just see them developing this song and not having it, and it being half the song it is.
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