Another New Yorker review The Church of U2 - The New Yorker
Not really a review is it?
Insightful piece though, except I think he forgets to underline how elegantly lyrics like One and With Or Without You are open to several interpretations.
And he speaks quite favourably of the new album actually...
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Just reading that article about one. Isn't one about a father and son relationship. The son has aids and is trying to come to terms in telling his father?
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Once the controls for the album are ceded (mostly) to Danger Mouse, the album really starts to cook. The last five songs are the best batch of material U2 have played a part in for a decade, at least, with scintillating uses of electronics and The Edge pulling out some of his finest guitar tricks (on “Cedarwood Road” he ably slides from fractured post-punk to sleek pop smoothly, and he cuts through “Sleep Like A Baby Tonight” with notes that feel like they fracture into shards the second they leave his amplifier). For about 25 minutes, all four men sound energized, challenged and, dare I say it, like they’re having fun. I’d say this bodes well for the future of a band that is closing in on its 40th birthday together. Other legacy acts of their ilk should be so lucky.
I like it!
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Once the controls for the album are ceded (mostly) to Danger Mouse, the album really starts to cook. The last five songs are the best batch of material U2 have played a part in for a decade, at least, with scintillating uses of electronics and The Edge pulling out some of his finest guitar tricks (on “Cedarwood Road” he ably slides from fractured post-punk to sleek pop smoothly, and he cuts through “Sleep Like A Baby Tonight” with notes that feel like they fracture into shards the second they leave his amplifier). For about 25 minutes, all four men sound energized, challenged and, dare I say it, like they’re having fun. I’d say this bodes well for the future of a band that is closing in on its 40th birthday together. Other legacy acts of their ilk should be so lucky.
I like it!
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Once the controls for the album are ceded (mostly) to Danger Mouse, the album really starts to cook. The last five songs are the best batch of material U2 have played a part in for a decade, at least, with scintillating uses of electronics and The Edge pulling out some of his finest guitar tricks (on “Cedarwood Road” he ably slides from fractured post-punk to sleek pop smoothly, and he cuts through “Sleep Like A Baby Tonight” with notes that feel like they fracture into shards the second they leave his amplifier). For about 25 minutes, all four men sound energized, challenged and, dare I say it, like they’re having fun. I’d say this bodes well for the future of a band that is closing in on its 40th birthday together. Other legacy acts of their ilk should be so lucky.
I like it!
Sorry, I can't take anyone seriously who compares "Iris" to "Streets".
I agree. Talk about way off base....in what universe Iris the Streets even remotely similar?
Sorry, I can't take anyone seriously who compares "Iris" to "Streets".
Not really a review is it?
Insightful piece though, except I think he forgets to underline how elegantly lyrics like One and With Or Without You are open to several interpretations.
And he speaks quite favourably of the new album actually...
Those two little characters - U2 - now have about as much integrity for serious music fans as McDonalds' golden arches do for foodies.
Just really a summary of the 'outrage' and little about the album itself, but this quote is sadly pretty much bang on, and really has been for some time...
U2 free album verdict is in - an epic fail that could cost dearly
Id love to hear an interview with the band now and see what they think of all this bad press.
They really are getting bashed from pillar to post.
Yep they sure are, and unfortunately this is a band that chases that critical acclaim so it is all a little concerning IMO
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They would be pretty tough skinned (they've been doing this for a while, you know) and I think would have braced themselves for at best 50/50 on the critical review front. I'm not sure that they really care about that too much at all. I think they will care about the general atmosphere around the release, which it must be said is absolutely dominantly negative. Did they expect it to be seen as 'innovative'? Did they think people would gush over their genius ability to reach so many people? I would bet they would have expected negativity from some circles for sure - mainly within the industry, for the industry - but certainly not such loud front page negativity right across the globe.
The 33m number is nice for sure, but U2 would be seeing the data behind it and the true story behind that figure would be nothing like the way its getting muddled by some in here ("33m people have listened to the album") and the release of that figure was certainly a defensive measure from either Apple and/or U2 and by going for such a large and obviously wobbly number does kinda suggest that they don't have a really healthy more concrete figure there. And I think they really really really will care about the acceptance of the songs, which remains to be seen. Will be really interesting to see what happens if per No Line none of them have legs.
Tour will be fine. U2 are still a large enough 'event band' with a large enough gap between visits to be able to go on a big, successful tour without having a release of consequence (and probably even without having one at all).
So, remember, Bono went into this asking Does the world really need another U2 album? - what answer do you think he's hearing? Genuine question, but I think the answer really hinges on what happens once the release dust settles and the a public judgement on the songs is pushed to the front.
Seriously, this is the most badass thing that U2 have done in years. I mean, what's more rock 'n roll than, "we are going to insert ourselves into your life without permission, and you'll need a special tool to remove us."
I keep saying it, if this was anyone other than U2 they would be praised every step of the way
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Haven't seen this one posted, apologies if I'm wrong. And it's a good one.
TIME Magazine:
https://time.com/3311836/u2-itunes-apple/
This is a really good review.