SecretFly
War Child
I'm excited that we are hearing new songs but these two songs dont really do it for me
It's that "Whole Lotta Love" sample riff that Edge plays. To my ears it doesn't sound inspired, just another example of Edge paying tribute to Jimmy Page. IMO he never properly absorbed Page's influence during that Might Get Loud era. It just sounds extremely bland, like it's just adequate, just good enough to pass for a retro sounding throwback Zeppelin riff.
The verses and "flowering rose" parts sound a bit more inspired. Kinda weird, 60's psychadelia or something, but then that Zepellin riff comes back, with Bono shouting "Yo! Oh! Rock and Roll something something!". I can just picture the video, with the camera shaking on a desert somewhere, with Bono leaning into the camera everytime he hits his "Yo!"s and "Oh!"s. Wait, didn't they already do a video like that?
After Vertigo and GOYB, do I really need another song like this?
I could be wrong. For all I know, this song could be reworked into a classic. But with knowing U2's reputation for overcooking songs in the studio lately, can't say the song has much of a chance.
"I Can't Wait Any Longer Fooooor Your Love - i can't wait, i can't wait!!!" Now that's still sounding great to my ears. At least there won't be any pelvic thrusts and lyrics about rock and roll.
Come on, the guy thinks the power chord structure of Vertigo is blues based and walks around with 'Only Happy When it Rains' as the theme song in his head...
Your post is unduly negative in my view, and I say that as someone who isn't slow to criticise the band. I think this track sums up the best of their 90s work- the riff reminds me a bit of Discotheque, Bono's distorted chanting echoes Big Girls Are Best and (as you rightly say) the verses are psychedelic. I cannot understand how you or anyone else can call this a HTDAAB rip-off on the basis of what we can hear. Sure, if they let Lillywhite produce it, it may well meet that fate but for now, I think there are grounds of optimism. And on a minor point, what is wrong with Bono acting like a rock star? Isn't that what he did on Zoo Tv and PopMart, which were brilliant tours? I'd rather have Bono sending up rock stardom than preaching at me.
By no means am I an apologist or self proclaimed anything, I just see you resort to really lazy comparisons all the time, and then repeat those lazy comparisons or lazy critiques all the time over and over...You get under people's skin a lot, i've noticed. You think maybe it's time to take a break from being the U2 apologist/lawyer/selfproclaimed know-it-all? I'm sure you'll respond to this with some snide or sarcastic remark, but you can't deny that (with the exception of this and the previous 3 sentences) my posts are always first and foremost about the music and how it makes me feel.
You really think that's the reason? Come on now...But because I criticised one cock-rock song about a rose in Glastonbury, all of a sudden I'm Mr. Negative, only happy when it rains? Wow.
Don't be fooled, Bono wasn't "acting" during ZooTV, he was just embracing and exaggerating. During PopMart, that was all him, there was no character it was just on stage Bono. Bono has always been the rock star, I mean when was the last time he referred to himself as Paul? You don't watch Rattle and Hum and see rock star plastered all over the screen? The kicking the leg to the side, the hair flips, the guitar held behind his back, the earnestness... it may have not been "typical" rock star, but it was rock star. Don't ever fool yourself into thinking anything less.When Bono acted, and the key word is "acted", like a rock star during ZOOTV and PopMart, it worked. It worked because he was "acting". Big difference between that and the present Bono.
Don't be fooled, Bono wasn't "acting" during ZooTV, he was just embracing and exaggerating. but it was rock star.
I dunno, through my eyes MacPhisto and Mirrorball Man look very much like Bono assuming a role.
By no means am I an apologist or self proclaimed anything, I just see you resort to really lazy comparisons all the time, and then repeat those lazy comparisons or lazy critiques all the time over and over.....
You really think that's the reason? Come on now....
Don't be fooled, Bono wasn't "acting" during ZooTV, he was just embracing and exaggerating. During PopMart, that was all him, there was no character it was just on stage Bono. Bono has always been the rock star, I mean when was the last time he referred to himself as Paul? You don't watch Rattle and Hum and see rock star plastered all over the screen? The kicking the leg to the side, the hair flips, the guitar held behind his back, the earnestness... it may have not been "typical" rock star, but it was rock star. Don't ever fool yourself into thinking anything less.
Actually none, the slow song just has nothing to it.
The 'faster' song just sounds like another SUC/LAPOE, U2 desperatly trying to prove they can still rock or something? Please Edge just bring back your delay pedals and make a good melodic song instead of these plain boring riffs.
No, I don't think your negative because you have a different opinion, that has nothing to do with it... You just come off as someone who hates optimism.This is what I'm talking about. You're assuming that I'm just an overall negative guy because once in a while I say something you disagree with. Maybe it's my writing style, I dunno. Sometimes i have to repeat myself because people misunderstand what i'm getting at. Otherwise, i would just make one post and leave it.
I agree with you about 80's Bono. In fact, I was going to say something very similar to what you said, but it was mad late and i was about to konk out for the night. But yea, he has always been a rock star. And he was a more effective rock star when he wasn't "typical". When he was the alternative. Whether it was his earnest 80's self, or ironic 90's self (i do think that POPMart Bono was an extension of ZooTV Bono, with the muscle suit and all). I think when Bono and Edge come up with these (forgive me) cock-rock anthems lately, it really brings out the worst in them. I'm not saying they shouldn't experiment with the form...I just wish they would stop! Because I think they always wind up looking and sounding silly. And that's my opinion.
Two bad songs. The end of the group is near. Damn.
Two bad songs. The end of the group is near. Damn.
No, I don't think your negative because you have a different opinion, that has nothing to do with it... You just come off as someone who hates optimism.
And if you really want my opinion, I believe that those that hold your opinion(which I know there are many more) really just don't like aging rocks. Period. It wouldn't matter if he was still doing the ironic thing or the earnest thing, I honestly believe they would come off as desperate in your mind no matter what. People want their rock stars to be youthful...
^ I tend to agree. I don't have anything against the adult contemporary/"dad's rock" thing. The problem is that U2 shown for 20 years (before that) that they could do something waaay more imaginative and defying (which doesn't mean they have to write another "Mofo"). That's it.Yes, we've had countless conversations about optimism. And no, I wouldn't say i "hate" optimism. Hell, I'm one of the few fans who sticks up for "Grace"! And I love the ATYCLB album, with IALW being one of my all time fave songs. And their sound in the 80's was for the most part bright and optimistic sounding, and I loved all of that. So, I wouldn't say I "hate" optimism, when truth is I like about 95% of everything U2 has ever released.
I don't hold their ages against them, that would be pretty unfair. And they still have the goods. Just take a look at MOS, WAS, F-BB, COL...these songs reflect the depth and maturity of a band totally in control of their craft. However, their craft gets away from them when they attempt the rock thing. And their moodier rock songs always sound better (Fast Cars, NLOTH). Is age a part of it? Well, it shouldn't be. I think Vertigo and SUC would still sound dumb if they had recorded it in their 20's. I think Edge should drop the whole Zepellin/garage/classicrock/cock-rock gig, and started messing with atmospheres again. I'm positive they'd come up with some damn good rock songs, rock songs that I don't NEED to be at a concert to appreciate. And rock songs that don't enable Bono's worst tendancies.
Two bad songs. The end of the group is near. Damn.