Rate the Song: New York

[digitize]

Let's move onto voting for the second half of All That You Can't Leave Behind today.

Please rate New York on a scale from 0 to 10, using whatever criteria you feel allows you to best evaluate the song as a whole. I will not set criteria for people to based on, but if you feel like your best evaluation of the merits of a song comes from voting only based on, say, the studio version, go right ahead and vote that way. Full information on the Rate The Song series may be found in this thread.

Have fun! This poll will close in 96 hours.

 

[Nick66]

This rocker has its moments, and some interesting lyrics. It doesn't quite work as well as it could, and like most of the second half this very front-loaded record, it's just a couple notches above average.

7.

 

[djerdap]

Nevermind the lyrics, but that guitar exploding in the chorus always makes me wake up again (the album is a definitive cure for insomnia). It was even better live, before the cheesy post-9/11 lyrical changes. 9

 

[An Cat Gav]

I'm a fan of this song, decent lyrics and a heavy, dark flowing through the song. It's a decent tribute to a great city.
8

 

[OpenG180]

Perhaps the best song on this album (if you don't count the UK version with The Ground).

 

[gvox]

On the album an 8 but I docked a point for failing to achieve lift-off live

 

[corianderstem]

It's as hot as a hairdryer in your face, guys!

Ehhhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[Nick66]

It's as hot as a hairdryer in your face, guys!

Ehhhhhhhhhhhh.

I beg to differ. It's hot as a handbag and a can of mace.

Whatever that means.

 

[corianderstem]

I guess Bono's been the recipient of some mace hidden in a handbag? that's the best I can figure.

 

[Nick66]

I guess Bono's been the recipient of some mace hidden in a handbag? that's the best I can figure.

Actually, he's referring to Mace Windu.

Now that brother is HOT.

 

[mikal]

good song. some of the lyrics bug me in the versus, but oh well. the song really owned live.

 

[gareth brown]

on record, great - love the chorus
live, pretty bland - what the hell were they doing not making Bono play guitar on this one? instead of some chunky HEAVY in your face chords you just had The Edge playing a more melodic part on his own before the more noodly bits? very weak

 

[trevgreg]

Meh. I never minded it, but it doesn't "lift off" for me much either. 6.

 

[LemonMelon]

Some terrible lyrics, sure, but it has tremendous atmosphere and an awesome chorus. I also love Larry's drum sample. 8

 

[popacrobat]

Musically delicious, totally awesome live. Needs to at least be played when they play in NY.

 

[lemonfly]

One of the better songs on a very patchy second half. The lyrics are inane (wtf happened to Bono in 1999/00 that he became so lyrically inept?) but musically I love how the calm phases switch to the (reasonably) chaotic phases, evoking the hubbub of a metropolis. Also, the intro is one of my favorite moments of the album. 8

 

[Scorpionac]

some terrible lyrics, sure, but it has tremendous atmosphere and an awesome chorus.

+1

 

[Galeongirl]

I dont' give a shit about the lyrics, but I like the music a lot. The guitar especially. And it gets bonus points for Explorer usage.

 

[theedgeu2]

Good song. I prefer live to the studio version also. Edge fixed the chorus to this when they played it live. Gave the chords more variation. 9.

 

[Globo14]

Don't think the lyrics are that bad. They're just different, very topical. Good all around piece, with good guitar. The contrast between the verses and chorus is great. 8.

 

[prbiker15]

I've always loved this song. Regardless of the lyrics, it's easily one of my Top 5 songs on ATYCLB. The guitar is just explosive, and the bass is just really great.

'The Irish have been coming here for years...' This song gets a 10!

 

[flybabe]

I like/love this song. Ever since the first time I listened to this album, this song stuck out. The lyrics are that of a forty-something year old man with a New York fetish, but it is a catchy song. Awesome bass and drums. 9.

 

[LadySpinHead]

NY is the only song that saves the second half of atyclb from taking a giant dump, and even at that, it's only slightly above average- 6

 

[Aardvark747]

Not one of their best imo. Forgot if I voted 5 or 6. Who cares?!

 

[cobl04]

What LM said. Always dug this one. 8

 

[coolian2]

paints a cool picture. i probably bumped my vote a bit high because i was thinking of the live version, which was a bit of a monster.

the studio version always feels pretty neutered, which sums up most of the album for me.

 

[The Panther]

It's a good song. I agree the "Irish been coming here for years" part is great. Bono's lyrical ventures into character-playing have met with mixed results; this being one of the better-such I think.

 

[lazarus]

Agree with all the compliments on the guitar, and I love the end especially, where Bono is saying "I hear your voice whispering..."

I think it's better live though, primarily at the beginning of the tour.

 

[gareth brown]

And it gets bonus points for Explorer usage.

hahah have to agree

 

[BlueSilkenSky]

Um, 8. I like New York a lot. (The song, I mean, but the place is pretty cool too. )

This is wonderful line delivery:

In the stillness of the evening
When the sun has had its day
I hear your voice whispering-
Come away, now...