SOE FAN + industry reviews only

[cseggleton]

From the Irish Mail Sunday (3 out of 5 stars):

O Danny boy is a really lazy reviewer isn’t he!?!?!

 

[danm]

FYI - there’s a mention in that article above of Noel Gallagher’s new album. If anyone hasn’t heard it yet I highly recommend. It’s excellent.

 

[Frenchie44]

When you read those reviews you just have to laugh out very loud. Those reviewers write like they made themselves masterpieces and are teaching all of us how music should be. This guy writes for a newspaper where you put in the fish or just use when you lack some toilet paper. But he writes like he is the big expert in music. So funny.

 

[HansaTonImbiss]

O Danny boy is a really lazy reviewer isn’t he!?!?!

Holy Lord what happened to the art of reviewing? Pathetic. If Ed Sheeran or Beyonce recorded an album of fart noises they'd contend it was vivid artistic expression; a touch of the unfamiliar from a 40 year old band and they call it aimless wandering. Fascinating.

 

[Psychobabble]

From another thread. Most positive (and fair) review I've read.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

https://twitter.com/neil_mccormick/status/934777271478640640

 

[Nick66]

What I'm most interested in as far as these industry reviews is comparing them to what the same publication said about SOI.

For example, that Hot Press review above is pretty good, which would give me cause for excitement, except they also gave a glowing review to SOI, which I was disappointed with. In comparing a lot of then and now reviews, I'm finding the same thing. I'd be most interested in reading the review of someone who loves SOE but not so much SOI.

Actually now that I think about it, U2 is one instance where I generally trust the fan reviews more than the industry ones.

 

[mikal]

What I'm most interested in as far as these industry reviews is comparing them to what the same publication said about SOI.

For example, that Hot Press review above is pretty good, which would give me cause for excitement, except they also gave a glowing review to SOI, which I was disappointed with. In comparing a lot of then and now reviews, I'm finding the same thing. I'd be most interested in reading the review of someone who loves SOE but not so much SOI.

Actually now that I think about it, U2 is one instance where I generally trust the fan reviews more than the industry ones.

Knowing what your biggest criticism of SOI was, I think you’ll like SOE better. I loved SOI but this album definitely has higher highs and more emotion, especially in the last 5 tracks.

 

[Psychobabble]

What I'm most interested in as far as these industry reviews is comparing them to what the same publication said about SOI.

For example, that Hot Press review above is pretty good, which would give me cause for excitement, except they also gave a glowing review to SOI, which I was disappointed with. In comparing a lot of then and now reviews, I'm finding the same thing. I'd be most interested in reading the review of someone who loves SOE but not so much SOI.

Actually now that I think about it, U2 is one instance where I generally trust the fan reviews more than the industry ones.

I liked SOI quite a bit, but from what I've heard so far, I'm going to like SOE "a little more better" (couldn't resist, Paul McGuiness).

 

[Nick66]

Knowing what your biggest criticism of SOI was, I think you’ll like SOE better.

I really hope so! Getting excited and keeping an open mind.

 

[purpleblackeye]

As much as I loved SOI I can confidently state that SOE is better - even with this crappy audio quality link.

 

[danm]

Agree with others, despite the crappy audio of the leak, SOE is definitely better than SOI. And the good thing for those who haven't heard the leak yet - except The Blackout (which is brilliant) the other 3 songs that have so far been released are the weaker songs on the album. So the best is yet to come.

 

[Nick66]

I'm going into this record pretty fresh. I've heard each of the three "singles" exactly one time each. I turned off American Soul after 45 seconds or so. I've read some of Bono's thoughts on the record, skimmed a couple industry reviews, and read some of the comments on here, but that's about it.

I don't trust what Bono says because, well, it's Bono and he has a record to promote.
I don't trust industry reviews b/c most of them are just interested in sucking up to U2.
I don't trust the reviews here, initially, because there's the whole new album excitement thing to contend with. But that said, eventually, once things calm down the consensus on the music here more or less evens out and ends up being pretty reasonable & fair.

 

[Super Yo]

I'm going into this record pretty fresh. I've heard each of the three "singles" exactly one time each. I turned off American Soul after 45 seconds or so. I've read some of Bono's thoughts on the record, skimmed a couple industry reviews, and read some of the comments on here, but that's about it.

I don't trust what Bono says because, well, it's Bono and he has a record to promote.
I don't trust industry reviews b/c most of them are just interested in sucking up to U2.
I don't trust the reviews here, initially, because there's the whole new album excitement thing to contend with. But that said, eventually, once things calm down the consensus on the music here more or less evens out and ends up being pretty reasonable & fair.

You need to finish your post with “I believe in love”. [emoji23]

 

[Nick66]

 

[CosmoKramer]

You need to finish your post with “I believe in love”. [emoji23]

Super Yo, have you listened to the leak? If so, what are your thoughts?

 

[purpleblackeye]

Don’t expect anything dark and heavy like Achtung obviously. There are definitely beautiful and atmospheric moments here - more so than on SOI - but to me what strikes me is confident and effortless songwriting. Nothing is strained or forced. The Edge wasn’t kidding when he said any song could be a single.

It’s really hard to pick a favorite. Right now Red Flag Day is a frontrunner - that has such swagger and groove to it. Adam’s bass is tremendous. And the bookend songs are just gorgeous. There is nothing cheesy about 13, something that Song for Someone veered toward at times.

 

[Super Yo]

Super Yo, have you listened to the leak? If so, what are your thoughts?

I’m surprised with the album, I didn’t expect an album that fresh and modern.
Loved the diversity, so much to discover.
Hearing so many different vibes and melodies.

I’m in love with “Love is Bigger Than Anything in its Way”, is a big tune and I think could be an excellent song for this season of the year. “Summer of Love” is gorgeous, “Red Flag Day” is like “War” in 2017, “Love Is All We Have Left” is a great choice for an opener and I love the last part of “Lights Of Home”.

I’m not that enthusiastic with “13”, I believe the last song should be LIBTAIIW, and I don’t know if the singles choice was the best.
The good thing about it is the album is like a collection of singles, so, they have material to have a long ride with SOE.

Yes, I like what I’ve heard. [emoji23]

 

[Super Yo]

 

[Super Yo]

View attachment 11621View attachment 11622

https://twitter.com/u2uruguay/status/934808441536897024

 

[MattD]

FYI - there’s a mention in that article above of Noel Gallagher’s new album. If anyone hasn’t heard it yet I highly recommend. It’s excellent.

Yeah, really really great album and very surprised as a fan of classic Oasis. Sound nothing like them though; pretty schizophrenic and colourful in its nature and easily his best album since Morning Glory with Oasis (although it ain’t hard to beat what followed). The massive comedown at the end with Dead In The Water really ties it all up at the end.

Has it really got to the stage where Noel Gallagher - a man known for making dull mid tempo splodges after Oasis heyday ended - is now making more ambitious and adventurous records than U2? No excuse then for U2 not to do likewise again, here’s hoping they loosen up for the next album again (and get Brian Eno on board again by himself, without diluting the sound with pop pap like Tedder).

 

[GoodMachine9]

Just heard the album on a clean MP3 rip and a few stray thoughts:

A) Little Things is the one undeniable classic on SOE. It has the ebullient flow of streets and the sorrowful undertow of One.

B) Landlady, Love is All, 13, are soulful and stirringly written ballads.

C) There is something here for everybody; a banquet for all flavours of U2.

D) The rockers, Lights of Home, American Soul, Red Flag Day, and Blackout, have serious punch because they've adrenalized the rhythm section.

E) This collection of songs feels more authentic than any presentation since ATYCLB and the most potent since Achtung Baby. It has taken a personal crisis to rattle the millionaire's cage, but he's wide awake now.

 

[Dragonfave]

 

[purpleblackeye]

Don’t see how one can compare SOE to High Flying Birds. SOE is a freaking masterpiece in comparison. I couldn’t get past Noel’s cliches lyrics on a couple of songs. Couldn’t believe this is the same guy who wrote Wonderwall. U2 is doing just fine without Eno. SOE proves it.

 

[Vlad n U 2]

Don’t see how one can compare SOE to High Flying Birds. SOE is a freaking masterpiece in comparison. I couldn’t get past Noel’s cliches lyrics on a couple of songs. Couldn’t believe this is the same guy who wrote Wonderwall. U2 is doing just fine without Eno. SOE proves it.

Wonderwall is lyrically full of cliches ...

 

[purpleblackeye]

Then Noel’s gone from bad to worse...

This is from the Holy Mountain song:


Dance dance, if you do that dance
I'm gonna let you join my one man band
Be my doll, be my baby doll
Come get to know me like the back of your hand
I like the name hanging on that chain
I like the way you do the push and the shove
You can blow my mind if you're that way inclined
All that I know is that you fell from above

 

[PowerSurge]

Wonderwall is lyrically full of cliches ...

But it somehow works so well...which is why The Showman works equally well.

 

[akann]

Don’t see how one can compare SOE to High Flying Birds. SOE is a freaking masterpiece in comparison. I couldn’t get past Noel’s cliches lyrics on a couple of songs. Couldn’t believe this is the same guy who wrote Wonderwall. U2 is doing just fine without Eno. SOE proves it.

Agreed that Noel was at his peak in the mid 90s and has regressed since then. Having said that, Riverman, Dying of the Light and Ballad of The Almighty from his previous record are all time classics that very few artists are capable of writing. Haven't listened to SOE yet so it's hard for me to compare but Noel's latest record is certainly a massive let down imo.

 

[hasin73]

Then Noel’s gone from bad to worse...

This is from the Holy Mountain song:


Dance dance, if you do that dance
I'm gonna let you join my one man band
Be my doll, be my baby doll
Come get to know me like the back of your hand
I like the name hanging on that chain
I like the way you do the push and the shove
You can blow my mind if you're that way inclined
All that I know is that you fell from above

If an album containing that type of awful lyrics get 4 star from Irish Mail but an amazing album like SOE get only 3 star then .....................

 

[hasin73]

Don’t see how one can compare SOE to High Flying Birds. SOE is a freaking masterpiece in comparison. I couldn’t get past Noel’s cliches lyrics on a couple of songs. Couldn’t believe this is the same guy who wrote Wonderwall. U2 is doing just fine without Eno. SOE proves it.