Early Song Rankings

[RoKKeR]

Fantastic, top-tier U2
The Little Things That Give You Away

Great
Love Is All We Have Left
Lights of Home
Summer of Love
Red Flag Day
Landlady
The Blackout

Good
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Showman
13

Eh
You're The Best Thing About Me
American Soul
Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way

I think this is a really damn strong album. Potentially over-rating a few in the Great category, but I like all of them. Might eclipse SOI for me, which I was certainly a fan of. This has Little Things on it, so I think it already moves it up into a higher category and above SOI, which lacked a true standout track.

 

[purpleoscar]

I'm going to have to wait for the lyrics to adjust my rating.

 

[superchuk5]

Ok let's give this a whirl:

1. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
2. The Little Things that Give You Away
3. Red Flag Day
4. Landlady
5. Get Out of Your Own Way
6. The Blackout
7. 13
8. Summer of Love
9. Lights of Home
10. You're the Best Thing About Me
11. Love is All We Have Left
12. The Showman
13. American Soul

I can honestly see them performing all of these live. Shocked how consistent the album is.

REVISION (3 days later):

1. The Little Things that Give You Away
2. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way
3. Get Out of Your Own Way
4. Lights of Home
5. The Blackout
6. Landlady
7. Red Flag Day
8. 13
9. Love Is All We Have Left
10. You're the Best Thing About Me
11. The Showman
12. Summer of Love
13. American Soul

Funny thing is I don't dislike any of these songs. I think they're all at least solid, but all very different.

 

[Catman]

Funny thing is I don't dislike any of these songs. I think they're all at least solid, but all very different.

Almost likewise... still find GOOYOW to be pretty unremarkable, and American Soul--aside from just sounding out of place on the album--overstays its welcome after about a minute and a half (for me, anyway) lol.

But yeah, overall, and especially considering where my expectations were before hearing the record, it's hard to find much to complain about--SoE is great

 

[Bernie02]

Totally

 

[Bernie02]

Little things is a masterpiece.

 

[BANZAI]

After 4-5 days of listening to SOE my opinion about the songs is starting to get clearer...

GREAT
1. Landlady 9/10
2. Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way 8,5/10
3. Summer of Love 8,5/10
4. The Blackout 8,5/10
5. Love Is All We Have Left 8/10
6. Red Flag Day 8/10
7. The Little Things that Give You Away 8/10

GOOD
8. 13 7,5/10
9. The Showman 7,5/10
10. Lights of Home 7,5/10

AVERAGE
11. Get Out of Your Own Way 7/10
12. American Soul 6/10
13. You're the Best Thing About Me 6/10

AVERAGE SCORE: 7.7

 

[bono_man]

im sorry. how do i go about getting this album? i have done some hunting around here and also the net but keep coming up at dead ends. can anyone help?

 

[Sken]

im sorry. how do i go about getting this album? i have done some hunting around here and also the net but keep coming up at dead ends. can anyone help?

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/80d577b506814a45eb1acb061881929c20171126213021/1dd24d

 

[bono_man]

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/80d577b506814a45eb1acb061881929c20171126213021/1dd24d

thank you!

 

[2861U2]

After two listens:

Very Good:
1) The Little Things That Give You Away
2) Summer Of Love
3) Get Out Of Your Own Way
4) Lights Of Home
5) Landlady
6) You're The Best Thing About Me

Good:
7) The Showman
8) The Blackout
9) 13
10) Love Is All We Have Left
11) Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way

Okay:
12) American Soul

Don't Care For:
13) Red Flag Day

The obligatory "quoting my original ranking from 2 days ago" post:

Very Good:
1) The Little Things That Give You Away
2) Summer Of Love
3) Get Out Of Your Own Way
4) Lights Of Home
5) You're The Best Thing About Me

Good:
6) Landlady
7) The Blackout
8) Love Is All We Have Left
9) The Book Of Your Heart

Okay:
10) The Showman
11) 13
12) Red Flag Day
13) Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way

Don't Care For:
14) American Soul

 

[Amiarockstar]

Still too early but so far

Very Good:
1) The Little Things That Give You Away (9/10)
2) Summer Of Love (9/10)
3) Red Flag Day (8/10)
4) Landlady (8/10)
5) The Showman (8/10)
6) Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way (8/10)

Good:
7) Get Out Of Your Own Way (7/10)
8) You're The Best Thing About Me (7/10)
9) Love Is All We Have Left (6/10)
10) The Book Of Your Heart 6/10)

Okay:

11) The Blackout (5/10)
12) Lights of Home (5/10)
13) Well...13! - i just don't like the re-used lyrics (4/10)

Wish It Wasn't On The Album:
14) American Soul (1/10)

 

[josh82]

1. Red Flag Day (10/10)
2. Love Is All We Have Left (10/10)
3, Lights of Home (St. Peter) (9/10)
4. Landlady (8/10)
5. Book of Your Heart (8/10)
6. Best Thing (8/10)
7. Blackout (7/10)
8. Little Things (6/10)
9. Get out (6/10)
10, Summer of Love (6/10)
11. 13 (5.5/10)
12. Love is Bigger (4/10)
13. Showman (3/10)
14. American Soul (2/10)
Pretty good but uneven record with brilliant highlights.

 

[coolz481]

Having heard so much of the album before its release made this ranking harder to do, but here it goes:

Outstanding
Red Flag Day - how was this not a single? far and away my favorite - catchy as hell!
The Showman
The Little Things That Give You Away
Landlady

Great
The Lights of Home
You're the Best Thing About Me
Get Out of Your Own Way
American Soul
Summer of Love
The Blackout
Love is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way

Okay
Love is All We Have Left
13


I hope the band really emphasizes playing the new material on the upcoming tour plus some choice Songs of Innocence cuts like a full band version of Every Breaking Wave, Raised by Wolves, Cedarwood Road, Sleep Like a Baby Tonight, Reach, and The Troubles.

 

[U2FloridaFan]

Well.... it s a tough call. Have been listening to the album all day long. No weak track , that s 2 albums in a row.

2. Red flag day (is this band really close to 60?!)
3. The Blackout (loved that song from the start)

Totally agree with #2!! Can't wait to hear Red Flag Day live...what a great tune. The Blackout I did not like initially but it has grown on me, especially after seeing the "making of" video on YouTube.

 

[NintendoFan204]

Very rough early ranking. Could change dramatically.

1. Summer of Love
2. Red Flag Day
3. The Showman (Little More Better)
4. Get Of Your Own Way
5. You're The Best Thing About Me
6. Lights of Home
7. The Blackout
8. The Little Things That Give You Away
9. Love Is All We Have Left
10. 13 (There Is A Light)
11. American Soul
12. Landlady
13. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way
14. Book Of Your Heart

It's hard to rank the previously released songs with the new ones, since I already know them well. I will make another list in the future that should be more accurate.

 

[Yahweh]

1. The Little Things That Give You Away
2. Summer Of Love
3. Red Flag Day
4. Lights Of Home
5. Landlady
6. Love Is All We Have Left
7. 13 (There is a light)
8. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
9. You're The Best Thing About Me
10. The Blackout
11. The Showman (Little More Better)
12. Get Out Of Your Own Way
13. American Soul

 

[gweeps]

Something like this:

13 (There is a Light)
The Little Things that Give You Away
Red Flag Day
Lights of Home
Summer of Love
Love is All We Have Left
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Blackout
Love is Bigger than Anything in its Way
The Showman (Little More Better)
You're the Best Thing about Me
American Soul
Book of Your Heart
Landlady

 

[An Cat Gav]

Red Flag Day, Summer of Love and Love Is All That We have Left are the ones I am constantly listening too. This album will be a grower which in U2's case is normally a very positive sign.

 

[Wolfdogmandude]

I've listened to this album 2 times and I don't like it But this is what I was saying after few listenings of previous one, later Songs Of Innocence became one of my favourite albums. Right now I love only "Love Is All We Have Left", but Landlady have a potential to become my fav song from this album. American Soul is a good track, little bit better than Volcano. Summer Of Love and 13 are ok. Right now I don't like all other songs I hope my opinion will change later (very likely it will)

 

[TheEdge1987]

Summer of Love
Red Flag Day
Lights of Home
The Showman
Little Things
Love is bigger than anything
Blackout
Love is all we have left
Landlady
13
Best thing
Get out
Summer of Love

Little things & blackout may have been higher if I hadn’t heard them before. American Soul may have been better if we hadn’t heard elements of this song twice before!

 

[thefly418]

VERRRRRY Early Rankings
1. The Little Things That Give You Away
2. Lights Of Home
3. Landlady
4. Red Flag Day
5. Love Is All We Have Left
6. The Blackout
7. 13 (There is a light)
8. Summer Of Love
9. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
10. The Showman (Little More Better)
11. Get Out Of Your Own Way
12. American Soul
13. Book of Your Hear
14. You're The Best Thing About Me

 

[TheUnknownCalle]

I find the album very difficult to rank, because for me there are few absolute standouts,but also no real clunkers. It's of a very consistent, high quality. Still, my absolute first preliminary ranking, likely to change;

1. The Little Things That Give You Away
2. The Blackout
3. Red Flag Day
4. The Lights of Home
5. Love Is All We Have Left
6. The Showman (Little More Better)
7. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
8. Get Out Of Your Own Way
9. American Soul
10. You're The Best Thing About Me
11. Landlady
12. Summer Of Love
13. 13 (There Is A Light)

I am BLOWN AWAY by how good Little Things is. I saw it live in MetLife and really liked it, but the studio version just destroys that one. I was really, really not expecting it to be my #1 song - and frankly if you'd told me that it would be, I would have thought the album was a little disappointing.

 

[trevgreg]

After three listens, not hearing Little Things whatsoever this whole time, and already being familiar with the "singles" aside from American Soul... subject to change, of course.

Love is All We Have Left
The Little Things That Give You Away
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Blackout
Summer of Love
You're the Best Thing About Me
The Showman (Little More Better)
Love is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way
Lights of Home
Red Flag Day
Book of Your Heart
Landlady
13 (There is a Light)
American Soul

 

[cjboog]

After four listens:

9.5 - Red Flag Day
9.0 - The Blackout
8.5 - You’re The Best Thing About Me (acoustic 9.0)
8.5 - Get Out Of Your Own Way
8.5 - Landlady
8.5 - The Little Things That Give You Away
8.5 - Summer of Love
8.0 - American Soul
8.0 - Lights of Home
7.5 - 13 (There Is A Light)
6.5 - Love Is All We Have Left
6.5 - Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It’s Way
6.0 - The Showman

Overall: 7.96 / 10

First reactions:
- Red Flag Day, holy crap!
- Easily one of their most consistent albums.
- Some gorgeous, focused melodies
- Surprisingly poppy and modern feeling, but the songwriting is strong and crisp, with classic U2 feel at times
- Edge is not as prominent as I would like, but plays his part well. This album is about Bono and the vocal melodies.
- Vocals are excellent. Bono is restrained where he needs to be and emotional where he needs to be. Pitch perfect singing.
- No immediately apparent all time classics (as Every Breaking Wave, Magnificent, Breathe are for recent times -- in my book at least...) but lots of excellent material.
- I have a feeling many of these songs will sound fantastic live and I expect some growers (like The Little Things and Landlady)
- Album feels very personal and intimate but addresses some big topics too, without going over the top
- My wife, who is not a U2 fan, likes a lot of the music. I think it could be pretty appealing to a mainstream audience.

 

[DomCobb]

I've listened maybe ten times so far. It's only been a day but I think my rankings have changed quite a bit from the first listen.

1. The Little Things That Give You Away - 9
2. Lights of Home - 9
3. Red Flag Day - 9
4. Love Is All We Have Left - 9
5. The Blackout - 9
6. The Showman (Little More Better) - 8
7. 13 (There Is a Light) - 8
8. Summer of Love - 8
9. You're the Best Thing About Me - 8
10. Get Out of Your Own Way - 8
11. Landlady - 8
12. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way - 7
13. American Soul - 6

Well, I guess I like this album quite a bit.

 

[gweeps]

Something like this:

13 (There is a Light)
The Little Things that Give You Away
Red Flag Day
Lights of Home
Summer of Love
Love is All We Have Left
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Blackout
Love is Bigger than Anything in its Way
The Showman (Little More Better)
You're the Best Thing about Me
American Soul
Book of Your Heart
Landlady

I've rethought some of my rankings.

13 (There is a Light)
The Little Things that Give You Away
Red Flag Day
Lights of Home
Summer of Love
Love is All We Have Left
Get Out of Your Own Way
The Blackout
The Showman (Little More Better)
Landlady
Book of Your Heart
You're the Best Thing about Me
American Soul
Love is Bigger than Anything in its Way

 

[snutes1]

Haven't been here in a while. But I like early listen ranks.

1. Summer of Love
2. Red Flag Day
3. Blackout
4. The Showman
5. Love is all we have left
6. You're the Best thing about me
7. Lights of Home
8. Get out of you're own way
9. 13 (There's a light)
10. Landlady
11. Little Things
12. American Soul
13. Love is Bigger

 

[super fly guy]

Hmm here goes.......

Joint 1st Red Flag Day
Lights of home
2. The little things that give you away
3. The Blackout
4. Summer of love
5. Love is all we have left
6. 13 there is a light.
7. Book of your heart
8. The showman (little more better)
9. Love is bigger than anything in it's way
10. Your the best thing about me
11. American soul
12. Landlady
13. Get out your own way

I love all the songs,in a way they are all joint 1st!

 

[Airseven]

Landlady 8/10
Red Flag Day 7.5/10
Little Things 7/10
Love Is Bigger 7/10
Blackout 6.5/10
Showman 6/10
Lights Of Home 6/10
Summer Of Love 5.5/10
Get Out 5.5/10
13 5/10
Love Is All We Have Left 5/10
Best Thing 4.5/10
American Soul 4/10