I have very mixed feelings about the new album--
I think the order of the tracks is just all wrong. I know from the sundry magazine articles I've been reading lately that there was some band disagreement about what the order should be; I don't know if they went with Bono's or Edge's version, but it just doesn't work for me. It feels choppy.
As for the songs, though, I think most of them are quite catchy and/or beautiful. "Vertigo" is probably my least favorite track on the album. "Love and Peace or Else" has a fantastic baseline -- I think one of the reasons I like this album so much is because The Edge & Adam grew their musical balls to match Bono's lyrics and vocals (to put it as vulgarly as I possibly can). Adam hasn't written such asskicking baselines since "New Year's Day."
Lyrically, I think HTDAAB is very sophisticated, very mature. It's great to look at in comparison with U2's earlier work and their changing perspective, especially in regards to Bono's love songs--refer especially to "A Man and a Woman" with that comment.
In some respects, this might be their best album--and by that, I mean the music itself is more intricate. But I don't think it's as innovative as Zooropa or as moving as Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree. I'd probably place it 4th (in a tie with War), after those 3 albums right now.....perhaps my opinion will change upon further listening. Or, maybe I'll burn myself a copy changing the order of the tracks and it'll become my favorite.
)
g mail to come. I heard some songs from it on the interview the other night and they knocked my socks off. I already know I love it to pieces but I don't know how it compares with the other albums, I'll have to listen to it a few times to know.
