As the band ages, Bono has become the weak link. His persona, his vocals, the vocal mixes, the vocal melodies, his lyrics, his song titles, etc. A lot of generic, semi-inspired stuff since ATYCLB. Even at the Apple event, he had to talk about how this album needed to be up to par with their best work. Well it isn't and it never was going to be. How about he says something like, "this is a personal album, a bit of a throwback, we enjoyed making it, we hope you enjoy listening to it." Is that so hard?
Let's talk about Bono
- Thread starter Afliktor
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Afliktor
The Fly
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
This is out of context. The fuller line, "there is no end to grief/that's how I know/there's no end to love" is actually an interesting concept and not typical Bono.
CrashedCarDriver
Refugee
flybabe
Blue Crack Addict
Bono's vocals on NLOTH are pretty good at some points but at other points he was trying really hard to produce his normally fluid voice. I agree that with the Pop era he was pretty scratchy, but it seems like it would go back and forth.
TheBrazilianFly
Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB
I have to disagree here. While the melodies are good, they are not at all as good as what he's done before. All the albums from the 2000s have better and more unique melodies. Even though they are not bad, it takes a while to distinguish one from the other in this album for some reason. The first few times I listened to them they felt pretty bland and all very similar. There were no particular great chorus or verse melody that stood out at all. It took quite a few listens to start to to really discovering them and appreciating. Even though U2 albums usually take a few listens anyway it was never the case for the melodies. They were always very strong and and always stood out. This is ok for me, cause they are still there on this album but for some reason they are not as interesting and definitely not as catchy, despite of all the nice chants.
Regarding the lyrics, Bono always wrote great lyrics, in my opinion War, RAH, AB and POP show how a great lyricist Bono is. However ever since ATYCLB for some reason, between good on liners and a mildly good set of lyrics, Bono very often shifts into writing like a teenager in what I think is an attempt to write from the heart of his true emotions. Every album he repeats certain words so much that makes it all feel like the same song on every album. I'm certain this is being done consciously but it comes across as lazy and uninspired. Not ot mention extremely bland. While the latter records certainly have great lyrical moments, they are few. This one is the same. Nothing particularly amazing stand out. Bono is great with one liners and this album has a few great ones, but no strong full set of lyrics. I truly hope he will stop writing like this and start writing more interesting lyrics like he has done before.
And I truly hope he will stop with this extremely long period of constantly revising and addressing his past and their work all the time and start writing something that is less self centered. He has romanticized about his younger self and U2's first baby steps so much over the last years that it feels like a way to hide a lack of creativity. U2 always says what a struggle it is to be relevant, but is this the right way?
I think Bono can still at some point come out of this lyric writing approach and get back to exposing life in a much more interesting way as he has has done so many times before.
Regarding the lyrics, Bono always wrote great lyrics, in my opinion War, RAH, AB and POP show how a great lyricist Bono is. However ever since ATYCLB for some reason, between good on liners and a mildly good set of lyrics, Bono very often shifts into writing like a teenager in what I think is an attempt to write from the heart of his true emotions. Every album he repeats certain words so much that makes it all feel like the same song on every album. I'm certain this is being done consciously but it comes across as lazy and uninspired. Not ot mention extremely bland. While the latter records certainly have great lyrical moments, they are few. This one is the same. Nothing particularly amazing stand out. Bono is great with one liners and this album has a few great ones, but no strong full set of lyrics. I truly hope he will stop writing like this and start writing more interesting lyrics like he has done before.
And I truly hope he will stop with this extremely long period of constantly revising and addressing his past and their work all the time and start writing something that is less self centered. He has romanticized about his younger self and U2's first baby steps so much over the last years that it feels like a way to hide a lack of creativity. U2 always says what a struggle it is to be relevant, but is this the right way?
I think Bono can still at some point come out of this lyric writing approach and get back to exposing life in a much more interesting way as he has has done so many times before.
Pop Artist
Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS
I gotta agree on this one although I otherwise love the song.
Front half of the album has most of the (few) clunkers though. I think the lyrics on the album overall are much better than the past few albums of theirs.
Moser
Refugee
owl
War Child
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
It's not the last word in the verse?
The word makes perfect sense in dealing with the mindset of U2 as teenagers. They weren't getting into a rock band for drugs and chicks, they really thought the could discover and change the world.
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BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
There's nothing throwback about this album, so why would he say that?
Melody and lyric wise this is Bono's best since Zooropa. Probably even voice wise for most of the album.
He also doesn't mix the album.
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ozeeko
Refugee
It's not the last word in the verse?
The word makes perfect sense in dealing with the mindset of U2 as teenagers. They weren't getting into a rock band for drugs and chicks, they really thought the could discover and change the world.
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I meant the last line, my bad.
I don't have a problem with the meaning of it. It just doesn't sound all that great. Especially coming after "I was YOUNG, NOT DUMB...YOU...BRAND NEW..." then all of a sudden the word "Pilgrims" gets thrown in there. I dunno, it just sounds wrong to me.
BVS
Blue Crack Supplier
I get what you're saying. But this is the Bono that has always spread modern vernacular with religious and historical references.
I'll take this over walking God like a little old lady, or Cartoon Network and angels any day.
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dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
dabiggestu2fan
Rock n' Roll Doggie
Lol is this guy on drugs or something? His tweets did not make sense but they were kinda funny.
thavidesco
Refugee
On this record Bono is good. Good lyrics and he really found confidence in his voice again.
Anyway, some songs are way too high pitched, it feels like pushing too hard, it sounds a bit annoying at several parts, a bit of reserved Joshua Tree/ Achtung baby approach would be helpful.
What I also dislike as one member mentioned are his verses diarrheas, too much words squeezed into it. But that´s a problem since Bomb.
Anyway, some songs are way too high pitched, it feels like pushing too hard, it sounds a bit annoying at several parts, a bit of reserved Joshua Tree/ Achtung baby approach would be helpful.
What I also dislike as one member mentioned are his verses diarrheas, too much words squeezed into it. But that´s a problem since Bomb.
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