cobl04
45:33
U2- Is That All? - YouTube
First, let's look at some of the reasons people don't like the song (feel free to add as well).
- Its main riff is taken from The Cry, which is associated with one of the best early-days songs, The Electric Co.
- It's the last song on an album that includes a number of early fan favourites.
- It's preceded by Scarlet, which is quite pretty, and some say feels like a more natural closer.
- The lyrics are pretty basic.
- It sounds rushed and unfinished, and is little more than a glorified demo.
Over the years, Is That All? has been consistently criticised here. In all our survivors, it has inevitably been the first song from October to get the boot.
I've got a history of defending regularCesspool EYWIK whipping-boys - Babyface, Some Days are Better Than Others, Stranger in a Strange Land, Shadows and Tall Trees, Elvis Presley and America, Grace, Red Light, the list goes on.
I think all the above are largely bullshit reasons to dislike the song.
I just posted this in the Bono's best vocal performances thread, but I really treasure "Is That All?".
We all know the stories about the recording of October. It was incredibly difficult - the band and Paul were fighting with themselves over whether being in a rock band was a suitable way to fulfill themselves spiritually and they were fighting amongst themselves. A briefcase containing lyrics was stolen. The band didn't have enough time to satisfactorily finish the album's recording.
And that's why I hold "Is That All?" so dear. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another song by a band that so accurately portrays its recording. The band was frustrated and you can hear it in the song.
They didn't have enough time to finish the album properly, so they took the riff from The Cry and used it as a starting point for a song they had to finish. Stressed, with little time remaining, Bono had to do the best he could to come up with lyrics and a vocal take. He was 20 (or 21?) He was yet to develop into the master lyricist he would soon become. The lyrics are very basic and simple - but they've got meaning, which people always look over.
"To sing this song makes me angry / I'm not angry with you"
"But is that all? Is that all?
"Is that all you want from me?"
Once you get past The Cry intro, the rest of the band, too, are great. Edge's guitar playing, while typical of his guitar playing on most of the band's songs at the time, is awesome, and the rhythm section has a lot of urgency.
It's an upbeat sort of song too, like the band wanted to make a great upbeat rocker to finish the album with, but you can hear the frustration, as the final minute or so is just frenetic guitar playing and Bono singing "is that all..." over and over again.
Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?
First, let's look at some of the reasons people don't like the song (feel free to add as well).
- Its main riff is taken from The Cry, which is associated with one of the best early-days songs, The Electric Co.
- It's the last song on an album that includes a number of early fan favourites.
- It's preceded by Scarlet, which is quite pretty, and some say feels like a more natural closer.
- The lyrics are pretty basic.
- It sounds rushed and unfinished, and is little more than a glorified demo.
Over the years, Is That All? has been consistently criticised here. In all our survivors, it has inevitably been the first song from October to get the boot.
I've got a history of defending regular
I think all the above are largely bullshit reasons to dislike the song.
I just posted this in the Bono's best vocal performances thread, but I really treasure "Is That All?".
We all know the stories about the recording of October. It was incredibly difficult - the band and Paul were fighting with themselves over whether being in a rock band was a suitable way to fulfill themselves spiritually and they were fighting amongst themselves. A briefcase containing lyrics was stolen. The band didn't have enough time to satisfactorily finish the album's recording.
And that's why I hold "Is That All?" so dear. Off the top of my head, I can't think of another song by a band that so accurately portrays its recording. The band was frustrated and you can hear it in the song.
They didn't have enough time to finish the album properly, so they took the riff from The Cry and used it as a starting point for a song they had to finish. Stressed, with little time remaining, Bono had to do the best he could to come up with lyrics and a vocal take. He was 20 (or 21?) He was yet to develop into the master lyricist he would soon become. The lyrics are very basic and simple - but they've got meaning, which people always look over.
"To sing this song makes me angry / I'm not angry with you"
"But is that all? Is that all?
"Is that all you want from me?"
Once you get past The Cry intro, the rest of the band, too, are great. Edge's guitar playing, while typical of his guitar playing on most of the band's songs at the time, is awesome, and the rhythm section has a lot of urgency.
It's an upbeat sort of song too, like the band wanted to make a great upbeat rocker to finish the album with, but you can hear the frustration, as the final minute or so is just frenetic guitar playing and Bono singing "is that all..." over and over again.
Does anybody else in here feel the way I do?
)
