HelloAngel
ONE love, blood, life
By Carrie Alison
Chief Editor
2004.10
Uno, dos, tres, catorce!
If the symptoms of vertigo include the sensation of spinning, blurred vision and inability to concentrate, U2 fans are suffering from it in droves.
This dizzying adventure started with a much-maligned bootleg captured on a beach with the sound of crashing waves and two Spanish men speaking in the background. What music fans heard playing in the background was startling—U2 had returned to the euphoric, hopping noise of 1981's "I Will Follow." Slowly fading were mounting fears that U2 was about to release "All That You Can't Leave Behind Part II," the moment fans heard Bono utter the now-famous "Hello, hello" intro. Like Jerry Maguire, "Vertigo," the first single off "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," had U2 fans at "hello" even in a distant, muddled beach recording.
Months later, on Thursday, September 23rd, "Vertigo" finally arrived in its wholly produced studio form courtesy of a Croatian radio station. Reaction was jubilant, ecstatic and reverential in light of fears that U2 might repeat itself musically, even though this has rarely been the case historically. In a musical landscape littered with one-note teenage acts, pop-punk boy bands and a dozen Strokes rip-offs, "Vertigo" is U2's reintroduction to society, even if it was a fashionably late entrance after four years. The song features a gallant Adam Clayton with a tough and bouncy bass line, The Edge with as dirty guitar as fans have heard since the early ‘90s, Larry Mullen Jr.'s triumphant drumming and Bono's impassioned vocals soaring above it all.
"[It] initially seems to be a direct rocker harkening back to U2's roots in The Ramones," said U2 fan Andre on Interference.com's Feedback message boards. "In that sense, it counters the poor 'punk' music being made today by people [who] have no idea about what the punk movement meant. Once you look deeper at this song, it is more intricate than the surface shows you. Edge shows off his talent—playing a broad variety from harmonics to power chords—and adding some intriguing Spanish backing vocals that add a real flavor of interest to the song. Adam's bass carries the song, thump[ing] and surg[ing] through the song, combining perfectly with Larry's rock-solid drumming. Bono's vocals are the best they have been since 'Achtung Baby.'"
As fans were able to get their first, fifth and, in some cases, 30th taste of "Vertigo," reactions, reviews and dissections, along with cases of vertigo, began pouring in—symptoms included sweaty palms, increased heart beat, uncontrollable dancing, hot flashes, cold sweats, anxiousness and excitability. This was the sound of U2 having fun, going to a club or concert and "swinging to the music" with their hands in the air.
"'Vertigo' is brilliant, explosive rock music," said U2 fan AJ. "The first few listens, I experienced classic U2 new music shock, it just did not register that U2 would finally play ultra-aggressive in-your-face rock music. Sure, they have dabbled in it before, but never like this. After about five to 10 listens of initial shock, the reality just slams you—this is the sound of U2 mastering the art of rock."
The song drew criticism in some circles for what a few fans perceived as its intentional radio-friendliness with a catchy, energetic chorus; observations that Edge was deliberately playing power chords; and the belief that the single's lyrics were just not up to par. Fiery discussions erupted on the Interference.com message boards and many detractors quickly found themselves won over by "Vertigo." Radio listeners also seemed to be won over by the track as it blasted onto Billboard's Hot 100, Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock Track charts within a week of its debut.
"I have a feeling that this album will be for U2 in 2004 what 'Achtung Baby' was for them in 1991, a really good album with dark tones, heavy songs and just from start to finish good," said U2 fan David. "But where 'Achtung Baby' had a Euro thrash feel to it infused with dance beats, this album will be all-out ballsy rock 'n' roll."
Chief Editor
2004.10
Uno, dos, tres, catorce!
If the symptoms of vertigo include the sensation of spinning, blurred vision and inability to concentrate, U2 fans are suffering from it in droves.
This dizzying adventure started with a much-maligned bootleg captured on a beach with the sound of crashing waves and two Spanish men speaking in the background. What music fans heard playing in the background was startling—U2 had returned to the euphoric, hopping noise of 1981's "I Will Follow." Slowly fading were mounting fears that U2 was about to release "All That You Can't Leave Behind Part II," the moment fans heard Bono utter the now-famous "Hello, hello" intro. Like Jerry Maguire, "Vertigo," the first single off "How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," had U2 fans at "hello" even in a distant, muddled beach recording.
Months later, on Thursday, September 23rd, "Vertigo" finally arrived in its wholly produced studio form courtesy of a Croatian radio station. Reaction was jubilant, ecstatic and reverential in light of fears that U2 might repeat itself musically, even though this has rarely been the case historically. In a musical landscape littered with one-note teenage acts, pop-punk boy bands and a dozen Strokes rip-offs, "Vertigo" is U2's reintroduction to society, even if it was a fashionably late entrance after four years. The song features a gallant Adam Clayton with a tough and bouncy bass line, The Edge with as dirty guitar as fans have heard since the early ‘90s, Larry Mullen Jr.'s triumphant drumming and Bono's impassioned vocals soaring above it all.
"[It] initially seems to be a direct rocker harkening back to U2's roots in The Ramones," said U2 fan Andre on Interference.com's Feedback message boards. "In that sense, it counters the poor 'punk' music being made today by people [who] have no idea about what the punk movement meant. Once you look deeper at this song, it is more intricate than the surface shows you. Edge shows off his talent—playing a broad variety from harmonics to power chords—and adding some intriguing Spanish backing vocals that add a real flavor of interest to the song. Adam's bass carries the song, thump[ing] and surg[ing] through the song, combining perfectly with Larry's rock-solid drumming. Bono's vocals are the best they have been since 'Achtung Baby.'"
As fans were able to get their first, fifth and, in some cases, 30th taste of "Vertigo," reactions, reviews and dissections, along with cases of vertigo, began pouring in—symptoms included sweaty palms, increased heart beat, uncontrollable dancing, hot flashes, cold sweats, anxiousness and excitability. This was the sound of U2 having fun, going to a club or concert and "swinging to the music" with their hands in the air.
"'Vertigo' is brilliant, explosive rock music," said U2 fan AJ. "The first few listens, I experienced classic U2 new music shock, it just did not register that U2 would finally play ultra-aggressive in-your-face rock music. Sure, they have dabbled in it before, but never like this. After about five to 10 listens of initial shock, the reality just slams you—this is the sound of U2 mastering the art of rock."
The song drew criticism in some circles for what a few fans perceived as its intentional radio-friendliness with a catchy, energetic chorus; observations that Edge was deliberately playing power chords; and the belief that the single's lyrics were just not up to par. Fiery discussions erupted on the Interference.com message boards and many detractors quickly found themselves won over by "Vertigo." Radio listeners also seemed to be won over by the track as it blasted onto Billboard's Hot 100, Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock Track charts within a week of its debut.
"I have a feeling that this album will be for U2 in 2004 what 'Achtung Baby' was for them in 1991, a really good album with dark tones, heavy songs and just from start to finish good," said U2 fan David. "But where 'Achtung Baby' had a Euro thrash feel to it infused with dance beats, this album will be all-out ballsy rock 'n' roll."
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