Red Ships of Scalla-Festa, let's talk about the new album

[APBIRDY]

Acrobat
I can see you are still a first class asshole
I was watching U2 live when your mother was wipoing your ass
and you still are talking s--t

 

[Michael Griffiths]

The question remains...what will it sound like, and will it be as good as the big 3? We all know the big 3, yes we do...and no, they don't include ATYCLB.

You ask if this will be RAW? Do you know Chris Thomas' production style at all? I will have to say, this album will not be raw in the sense that you are speaking...though it will be raw in terms of guitar, bass, vocals, and drums. There will be heavy treatment on these, however. Do you like the ending of 'Electrical Storm'? When the fireworks go off in the video? Well, think of that sound. That is the direction this album has taken. Yes...don't ask me how I know...but this much I can tell you.

You will be RAWKED by a song called 'All Because of You' and swayed gently by a song called 'Original of the Species' This much I can tell you.

Now. out with your next statement!

....Also, consider: What if, say, U2 came up with the direction for this record while on top of a mountain peak in Switzerland. Imagine if the idea to replicate a free fall from such a height in musical terms was what propelled the album into a certain direction. Now imagine this sounding quite interesting, but nothing too shocking by U2 standards...

'Vertigo' anyone?

ReggieTD - I can *assure* you those two things are true. Of course, you never know how much a song will change when it comes to U2. That said, I will be VERY surprised if 'All Because of You' doesn't blow your head off (trust me, it will), and 'Original of the Species' is a GREAT little pop/rock song, built around a great riff. You will see. This record has the potential to be their best ever at this stage...but time will tell.

There will be big songs and big melodies, but it won't sound too much ATYCLB. There again, I suppose there are people who thought ATYCLB sounded like The Joshua Tree and even Achtung Baby in some ways; so at this point, you'll find similarities in every past album...they have a distinct sound...but on the surface, like all their albums, when in context of the U2 Canon, really, this next album will sound unlike any other.

Does Zooropa sound like Achtung Baby? That's an interesting question, which I'll leave you to ponder.

Yes, my good man, I agree to some extent with what you say...well, let's just say I completely understand why you would say it. But remember how U2 wanted to write the "song"--in the most literal way possible--on The Joshua Tree? (Well, that's what Bono said...) but anyway, that record, to me, is nothing like The Unforgettable Fire, which is a more interesting record in some ways. U2 wrote a couple "songs" on UF, most obviously so in the case of 'Pride'. They took this idea to The Joshua Tree...and, later, they focussed on the "song" on ATYCLB as well and, while they will be doing the same on the next record, don't expect it to sound much like ATYCLB beyond that aspect. This next album will sound no more like ATYCLB than The Joshua Tree does to The Unforgettable Fire...or Zooropa does to Achtung Baby. While the latter, in each case, incorporates some of the textures discovered on the former, they are completetely different animals...and that process and philosophy will continue into the next record as well. Expect a more adventerous outing this time around...but that said, don't expect any "one" thing.

Ah, I love it when I'm right....memories....



So, Red Ships, how about it? Let's continue this discussion....

 

[iota]

Actually HTDAAB has very little to do with ATYCLB, it seems more like something spawned from the achtung era. The above statements are so vague there's not a whole lot to be right about.

 

[SkeeK]

I think HTDAAB has a lot to do with ATYCLB. To me, I sort of see it as what they described themselves doing with atyclb. direct bold, and this time more uncompromised.

Red-Ships likes the new album.. at least he did half a week ago. He's also been doing some excellent work cutting people down to size about u2 on the radiohead board. he's definitely one of us

 

[U2DMfan]

Well I was around when you did it the first time and you were so vague and half-assed back then, that I still say you don't know shit.

But apparently you knew about Vertigo before Bono did! Nice job.
Don't you get massages from Bono's hair specialist?





gotta give you some crap, don't I?

 

[Michael Griffiths]

iota, I respectfully disagree. HTDAAB is a natural evolution from ATYCLB (which is not to say it's a repeat) - the same determination for songwriting is present...and the new record sounds very little like Achtung Baby....if anything it sounds like an updated Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree. Oh, by the way - this was all in good fun...

and U2DMfan: I think you mean my friend's friend who was Michael Stipe's massage therapist....who had nothing to do with Bono or his hair.....

Skeek, phew, that's a relief! I'm glad he finally came around.

 

[Reggie Thee Dog]

You know Griff...I believed you the whole time....

 

[Zoomerang96]

I think HTDAAB has a lot to do with ATYCLB. To me, I sort of see it as what they described themselves doing with atyclb. direct bold, and this time more uncompromised.

Red-Ships likes the new album.. at least he did half a week ago. He's also been doing some excellent work cutting people down to size about u2 on the radiohead board. he's definitely one of us

ah, you noticed? truthfully, there's a lot of ignorant dumbasses there whom im actually friends with to a degree. i swear a good number of them read pitchfork and then brag about their flavours of the week but never actually listen to them themselves.

anyway, michael...i do enjoy the album very much at this point. only yahweh bothers me, but oh well, one song, i can't complain about that.

vertigo is significantly weaker than just about everything. it's pretty much throw away, but it's also like elevation - only not shitty.

my favourite song at this point would probably have to be miracle drug. it's hard to say. crumbs from your table is really, really solid, and all because of you actually rocks. yes, rocks. u2 seems to have trouble doing that on record, but they totally nailed it here it seems.

i do hope bono plays the rythm guitar when they play this live...this song must have two guitars playing. bono can save his antics for some other time...

that said, this still isn't my favourite album of the year. wilco's a ghost is born is easily my favourite album, propably one of my favourites since 2000. it's that good.

still, the new u2 is quite enjoyable, and the song 'mercy' has to be one of my favourite b-sides by anyone. well, maybe not. radiohead's are all pretty good...

so yeah. there's my stream of consciousness for ya.

 

[intedomine]

What happened to this red ships of scalla festa guy anyway?

 

[Michael Griffiths]

What happened to this red ships of scalla festa guy anyway?

Classic.


Anyway, Red Ships...er, Zoomerang96...thanks for the stream of consciousness. What do you think of 'One Step Closer'? I would have thought a Radiohead fan would like that one the most. I think 'Fast Cars' has the most Radioheadesque lyrics out of all of them.

 

[intedomine]

ahhhhh so zoomerang96 is red ships of scalla festa?



Am i right?

 

[U2girl]

 

[The_acrobat]

Acrobat
I can see you are still a first class asshole
I was watching U2 live when your mother was wipoing your ass
and you still are talking s--t

Man, somebody sure didn't like me on here a year ago.

 

[Zoomerang96]

Classic.


Anyway, Red Ships...er, Zoomerang96...thanks for the stream of consciousness. What do you think of 'One Step Closer'? I would have thought a Radiohead fan would like that one the most. I think 'Fast Cars' has the most Radioheadesque lyrics out of all of them.

before i downloaded it i read a lot of negative responses here...

when i heard it i couldn't understand why. it indeed is a very nice song. it's subtle, something u2 either does very, very well (see 'the first time', 'if you wear that velvet dress') or very, very poorly (see 'grace').

fast cars and mercy are two of their best b-sides ever, though that doesn't say much. other than lady with...sweetest thing (though hardly a b-side), and maybe one or two others, u2's b-sides have never impressed me much.

i love mercy's lyrics. bono isn't writing for soccer moms here, which is nice.

 

[iota]

iota, I respectfully disagree. HTDAAB is a natural evolution from ATYCLB (which is not to say it's a repeat) - the same determination for songwriting is present...and the new record sounds very little like Achtung Baby....if anything it sounds like an updated Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree. Oh, by the way - this was all in good fun...

Anything could be seen as a natural evolution from an album as bland and nondescript as ATYCLB. The new record sounds like AB in the sense that it is actually U2 at their full potential, pushing things as far as they will go. ATYCLB and POP were status quo, so this album as very little to do with either.

Looks like great fun though. Good luck with it.

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Anything could be seen as a natural evolution from an album as bland and nondescript as ATYCLB. The new record sounds like AB in the sense that it is actually U2 at their full potential, pushing things as far as they will go. ATYCLB and POP were status quo, so this album as very little to do with either.

Looks like great fun though. Good luck with it.

Pop wasn't at all status quo. In fact, as far as mainstream artists go, only David Bowie at the time was doing the same thing as U2 - that being mixing electronica with rock. U2 were aiming to set the trend. Re: album evolution: every U2 album has evolved from the preceding one. Even an album such as Achtung Baby has elements of Rattle and Hum ('The Fly' & 'God Part II' for example)...

As for you last comment personally directed at me - I'll leave you with one of my favourite lines from the new record:

Take this mouth
So quick to criticise
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss