After sitting with this over 24 hours I agree it is much better than YTBTAM and The Miracle. Kicks shit out of Boots.
After a while of trying to work out which songs from the last three albums it was better than, I realised it would be faster to list the ones it wasn’t. I felt that was a good sign.
So I reckon the only songs from NLOtH onwards that are better are MOS, EBW, Little Things. There are some I can’t place yet around it like LIAWHL, LOH, Blackout, LIBTAIIW, RFD, RBW, The Troubles, Magnificent, Fez-BB. I am sure it’s on a best of U2’a last 15 years.
I love ya Dan, but this could be a hot take that you look back at in a year or two and sorta wonder what you were thinking.
I know everyone has their opinion and unique style or time period of the band that they hold above others. But I'm trying to strip this down to the quality of the "song" Not if I just liked the way it was mixed better. But the lyrics, lyrical delivery, melody, chorus, feeling etc...
I like the song. It's a good song. But it isn't a
really good or great song. So my take on this comes from just my own opinion and experience with the bands music for the last 37 years or so.
I've always stated on this board that the band is a journey and hardcore fans like us roll with the changes and ups and downs that come, because there is something great in even the albums that we don't like as much overall. It goes for this song. There are some great things about this song. But overall for me, it's just a good song.
I'll attempt to do the same analysis of the songs from the last three records in comparison of what I think of the song at this point.
No Line -
This song is better than - Unknown Caller, Crazy, Stand Up, Breathe, and I'm on the fence with Boots.
SOI -
This song is better than - California, SFS, Cedarwood, Reach, and I suppose Miracle, but it's close
SOE - Get Out, American Soul, The Showman, and I'd say it's about even with, but may edge out Best thing by a hair.
So for me it's lands around 22nd or so out of the 35 songs from the previous 3 albums. Which is actually pretty strong.
Again, this is my opinion of course. That is largely shaped because I fell in love and stayed in love with this band, not for fun, strummy bops, but passionate, moving, often dark, or at least conflicted songs that showed both hope and inspiration, but also doubt and pain.
And I don't think many can argue this. Even the casual U2 fan/listener's favorite songs are
SBS, Streets, WOWY, Still Haven't Found, One, Vertigo, Pride, NYD, Beautiful Day, etc... Only BD really is a straight on Feel good song. Vertigo a great rocker.
When it comes to mega fans like ourselves. I would say that Achtung Baby, Joshua Tree, War, UF and then a bit of Zooropa, Pop and All That are our biggest faves. Most of which hold some of their more serious, emotional and/or darker material.
I don't mind going on the ride, if the next album is a more light-hearted straight rock record. I'll be there. But it isn't my preference, even if this is a solidly good catchy song.
EDIT - It may also win over Blackout... ugh I'm not sure. I really like it, but I find it so hard to get over the Ned/Fred thing. really hard.