Do You Think EVERYONE ELSE Will Like NLOTH?

[cjboog]

By now about 95% of Interference users (not including myself) have listened to the album several times. Last time I checked, the average rating for the album in the poll thread was like 8.1/10 -- so in between "Extraordinary" and "Masterpiece".

Hardcore U2 fans seem to love it.

But what about everyone else? The "general public" or "casual fans"?

I'm reading some negative feedback on Sputnik music, Amazon discussion forums, and RateYourMusic.com, Rolling Stone's album review page...

Obviously, there are a lot of haters who go around and dis U2 at every opportunity....but from what I've read overall I get the sense that Interference is eating this album up and declaring it one of the best of the decade, while it seems to be fairly divisive online in other forums. Lots seem to love it while many others are disappointed.

I'm not trying to say that people won't like this album (it hasn't even been released!!), but regardless of your own opinion of the music, how do you think NLOTH is going to be received by "everyone else"?



PS. Please don't leave a response like "It doesn't matter what they think, all I care about is my own opinion of the music." We know. That's irrelevant for this thread. I'm not asking "Will other people's opinions influence yours?" I am asking, "What do you think other people's opinions will be?"

 

[HansaTonImbiss]

As mentioned, one of my coworkers, WILDLY biased in his views (a DJ on the east coast, good music vocab and longtime performer), loved it. And this is a guy that loves to be against the mainstream. He couldn't help gushing about it. I hope this is a very good sign........

 

[digitize]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

 

[Sicy]

My friend likes it and she's just a 'casual' fan.

 

[Utoo]

I think people will eat this baby up. Many of the negative reviews I've read (including RS and Amazon) talk about stupid, unrelated issues----disliking Bono, ire at the release of best of's & u218, etc. When Magnificent and hopefully Breathe hit the radio, it'll be all tied up.

 

[icebergy]

I think there will be a few new people on board with the more accessable songs like Magnificent, Stand Up, Boots, and Crazy Tonight but sadly i think many people are too much into instant gradification to sit down and appriciate the album as a whole...so basically what im saying is there will be new one but not nearly as many as their last two albums

but i do think it may win over some of the more old school general music lovers who are really into music

 

[Rosebud]

I'm thinking that this is definitely a less accessible album, and thus will likely have a harder time with the general public (and be appreciated more here ). On Dave Fanning the other day, he talked with fans all over the world and asked them what their impressions of the album were. One guy said he didn't care for it much because it "didn't seem to have a lot of singles that knocked you over the head", or something to that effect. I can see a few songs becoming big hits, sure, but for the most part it looks like this will be more an album for the hardcore fans, for the critics, for smarter people, etc... Also, it is a "grower", so a lot of the positive response might take a while to start coming in.

I do think it's unfortunate that an album as great as this has less chance of recoming a smash. I'm so not in the camp that wishes this -- or any other U2 album -- won't be a big hit, as if the general public liking it will somehow taint it, and having it shunned will will win it cred. Great music deserves to be a hit, and it's a good sign for society when a truly great album is recognized for what it's worth. Still, whether it's a hit or not, I'm glad the guys stuck by their integrity and made a fantastic and ballsy album.

 

[cjboog]

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn.

Please see P.S. note in original post

 

[Yahweh]

I would say that this album unless people change their listening habits wont sell as many copies as the previous 2 because it is a lot more dense in sound and the people that like throwaway bubblegum pop radio hits probably wont get this album, not like it.

I hope I am wrong and that this album trancends all the current trends though. It could be massive if it does.

 

[digitize]

Please see P.S. note in original post

LOL, sorry. That wasn't meant as a jab towards you.

 

[ShipOfFools]

Honestly, I couldn't care less. I usually tend to lean towards the anti-mainstream, so it wouldn't bother me if everyone hated an album that I love. But I hope it does well, for U2's sake. They really deserve praise and appreciation for this masterpiece.

 

[Earnie Shavers]

With two different groups of friends over the weekend I was able to squeeze in a run through of the album. Both very social settings, so not sitting around hanging on every note, but just having it running in the background. Everyone was really surprised by it, these groups most definitely all falling into the category of “used to love U2 but they completely lost it this decade”. No mass consensus or overwhelming reaction, but a bunch of times someone would make a point of saying that they really liked what they were hearing, and that it was great to hear U2 ‘back’. All are very music savvy people with varying tastes, but open to pretty much everything. One even a music journo with a pretty big publication here.

I think they’ll all definitely check it out again in some form or other, and I’d be really interested to hear what they think given a proper hearing. Good signs though. One of these guys made a big show of chucking Atomic Bomb off his 10th floor verandah the night after he bought it back in ‘04. Declared the band dead. He was loving a lot of this one and wanted to get a copy a.s.a.p.

I think getting people to hear it – both in 2009 and post HTDAAB – will be the difficulty. Winning them over once they’ve got it should be pretty easy. Boots is not a good start for that, but we'll see. Amazingly this might be a word of mouth U2 album.

 

[icebergy]

this is what pop music has degraded to (lyrics to #1 song on billboard top 100)
(Flo Rida)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Kesha)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

(Flo Rida)
Hey
Hopped out of that house with my swagger
Hop in that with girl, I got places to go!
People to see, time is precious
I look at my crowd and they out of control
Just like my mind where I’m going
No women, no shorties, no nothin but clothes
No stoppin now, my Pirellis on role
I like my jewelry, that’s always on gold
I know the storm is comin
my pockets keep tellin me it’s gonna shower
Call up my homies that’s home
Then pop in the night cuz it’s meant to be ours
We keep a fade away shot cuz we ballin
it’s platinum patron that be ours
Lil mama, I owe you just like the flowers
Girl you to drink with all that and power clubs

(Flo Rida)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Kesha)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

(Flo Rida)
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down.
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down

(Flo Rida)
Hey
Shawty must know I’m not playin
My money love her like a numba one fan
Don’t look at my mouth, let her talk to my fans
My Benjamin Franklin
A couple of grands, I got rubber bands
My paper planes makin a dance
Get dirty all night, that’s part of my thing
Keep building castles that’s made out of sand
She’s amazing, the fire blazing
Hotter than Cajun
Girl won’t you move a lil closer?
Time to get paid, it’s maximum wage
That body belong on a poster
I’m in a daze, that bottom is wavin’ at me
Like damn it I know you
You wanna show like a gun out of holster
Tell me whatever and I’ll be your roper ..

(Flo Rida)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Kesha)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

(Flo Rida)
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down
From the top of the pole I watch her go down
She got me throwin my money around
Ain’t nothin more beautiful to be found
It’s goin down down

(Flo Rida)
I’m spendin my money
I’m out of control
Somebody help me
She’s takin my bank roll.
But I’m king of the club
And I’m wearin the crown
Poppin these bottles
Touchin these models
Watchin they asses go down down
down down, down down [this line x4]

(Flo Rida)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Kesha)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Flo Rida)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down
(Kesha)
You spin my head right round, right round
When you go down, when you go down down

 

[cjboog]

this is what pop music has degraded to (lyrics to #1 song on billboard top 100)

True. But at one point 10 million Americans bought the Joshua Tree and 8 million bought Achtung Baby.

Do you think those people might give this album a try, if they do -- will they like it? Or are they long gone?

 

[phillyfan26]

By reading other forums, the general consensus is:

- It's better than the last two.
- It's more of an album.
- It's underwhelming due to the way it was talked up as revolutionary.
- Breathe rocks.
- Magnificent is great.
- Unknown Caller is great.
- Get on Your Boots sucks.

 

[cjboog]

LOL, sorry. That wasn't meant as a jab towards you.

No prob

I knew it wasn't directed at me. I just want this thread to be for discussion about whether or not people will like the album, not about whether or not you and me CARE about what people think about it.

 

[icebergy]

True. But at one point 10 million Americans bought the Joshua Tree and 8 million bought Achtung Baby.

Do you think those people might give this album a try, if they do -- will they like it? Or are they long gone?

Idk most of the people i know are either rap fans who are looking for a big hook or metal elitist looking for a killer solo neither of which would listen through an album to analize its true contents or emotional value

 

[phillyfan26]

Magnificent gave the other music message boards on the Internet a collective erection.

 

[icebergy]

By reading other forums, the general consensus is:


- It's underwhelming due to the way it was talked up as revolutionary.
quote]

Idk if it was underwhelming... I was a tad underwhelmed with the first listen but now its simply overwhelming and getting better
...and i do think it has some revolutionary aspects but i agree with larry its a different kind than zooropa

 

[icebergy]

Magnificent gave the other music message boards on the Internet a collective erection.

what ones?

And why do i suddenly have "check out my pubes "stuck in my head?

 

[cjboog]

And why do i suddenly have "check out my pubes "stuck in my head?

 

[HansaTonImbiss]

True. But at one point 10 million Americans bought the Joshua Tree and 8 million bought Achtung Baby.

Do you think those people might give this album a try, if they do -- will they like it? Or are they long gone?

Music was different then. The spread of the internet has made "downloadable tracks" supplement the construction of classic albums, based on profit- at least in pop and hip hop music. I think rock and other genres will take longer on this, or simply buck the trend. I used to review albums for a time for a CA record company (now defunct), and there was a time in the early-mid 90s that music was outdoing itself. The trend will change for the better, hopefully, again, but the rise of the digital music industry and big profits on smaller productions is making the art change in strange ways.

PS- I'll be submitting a review for NLOTH for an online music publication/blog. Hopefully this can help the numbers on Metacritic!!!!

 

[stray dog]

I do not care...actually I hope they hate it...I remember cuddling up with my UF vinyl and weeping openly..."its just me and u baby"

 

[MMP]

I hope so, but if doesn't happen, well, it's their loss, not ours.

A big hit can always turn people's ear to some good music. Maybe if that happens it will be easier to get the people's approval.

 

[icebergy]

I do not care...actually I hope they hate it...I remember cuddling up with my UF vinyl and weeping openly..."its just me and u baby"

1) thats jsut a little weird
2) you might need one
3) see the PS at the bottom of the first post

 

[stray dog]

lol sorry just cant think in someone elses brain...

 

[icebergy]

lol sorry just cant think in someone elses brain...

i no the feeling

 

[stray dog]

Ok I will play by the rules...most people I know were listening to cinderella and still think g n r are the greatest band ever...yes I know ...upgrade friends lol...to be honest this album will not change minds...U2 is still U2...I remember AB haters...they are alive and well...I remember JT haters...also alive and well...u get my point.

 

[stray dog]

This is why you see so many reviews saying..."well if they only didn't sound like U2"

 

[dan_smee]

my girlfriend and her sister love it. They both like dancier music, or very unheard of indie music.