So I waited to comment, because it took me about 6 listens of Pride over two days to land on how I felt about it. Pride I give a 6 mostly because of the last half. WOWY is a bit tougher.
At first listen I didn't like it much. Then reading all the comments about the "cracks" in Bono's vocal, which stood out to me at first as well. But here's the thing. This style suits WOWY much better than Pride. It's about a troubled relationship, a man feeling broken with "nothing left to lose" So the vocal makes perfect sense to me and feels right and actually give a whole new dimension on the feeling of this song.
I also really like the lush synths going on in the background. I think that should have been used even more prominently.
So now the bad. I've said it before, but I feel like they are still married to much to the original and even in a reimagining, can't let go of it enough. I don't love the transition from the low to higher register. Why do we even need it?? Could have been more interesting if the entire song was low register and it never "lifted". Thinking more Johnny Cash-esque. But again, too married to original. In the back half, this is where they needed a good vocal editor. I used to comp vocals back in the day. There are parts here where he slips just out of key for a moment, that could and should have been cleaned up. Also the mix is a bit odd. Bono is so up front at the beginning which is fine, I think it works for effect. But then when the big woooahh ooohhhs, come in, it's way back in the mix, which is odd sounding.
And of course the ending. I feel like we are getting these truncated ends maybe because time restraints of putting 40 songs on cd and vinyl?? Sort of how SOI had songs that could have played out with cool outros (The Troubles) but did not.
Also, my least favorite part is Bono singing "with our without you" as the final line. To me the much better end would be to end the song with the "woooaaah oooohh oohhh oohhh's" once those end - a beautiful synth, long fade out ending.
But again, too married to the original, so he sticks that last line in there. At least the original has a gorgeous long played out end.
That said, I give this a 6.5 cause I feel that I do really like the low register, broken man vocal here, I like the backing synths and instrumentation. So opposite of Pride. I'd take a full song of the first half of WOWY, and I like the back half of Pride.
Now bigger picture of this project. I agree with some of the posts here. I think if it had come out the same day as the book, and sold it separately and as a book+album combo, it would be understood better. I think the songs would be seen more as musical sketches or accompaniment to the chapters. Making it its own release so far from the book release makes it seem like a much bigger deal and thus the expectations of a polished and truly solid reimagining become higher.
And while re-doing 40 songs is not at all lazy... Some of these feel like they should have had more time put into them.
One last thing please, before you post "But it doesn't have the things I like from the original!!!" Please reflect on that statement and realize that that is the entire point of this project. I'm on the opposite side and think that they are sticking a bit too close to the original songs.
So far a 6, a 6.5, and if BD doesn't have any big shifts or surprises from the long clip we heard, I'd say a 5.
My hope is that the original songs I like the least may be made better, or at least bring some surprises. Thinking I may end up really loving about 5 or so from this, liking 20 and then feeling meh or badly about the remaining ones.
I definitely am anticipating each new song they will put out there before the release and am enjoying this little detour as we wait for something else down the road.
