GibsonGirl said:
Marry me. 
I don't particularly hear In God's Country in The Back Of Love, but a lot of U2's songs sound like Echo And The Bunnymen songs. (Not the other way around.)
The bass line in Indian Summer Sky is almost identical to the bass line in With A Hip (released three years earlier, for people who aren't familiar with the Bunnymen.) I have musical proof.
Code:
With A Hip
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|---7-------------7------------|
E|-0---8---10---0----8---10-----|
Indian Summer Sky
G|------------------------------|
D|------------------------------|
A|---7---7775-(x 2)-------------|
E|-----0-------------8---10-----|
Only difference is that Adam holds the E note (tabbed 7 on A string) for a bar longer and throws in a very subtle D note. You can play the With A Hip bass line over Indian Summer Sky and it synchronises perfectly.
Er, I tried transcribing that into standard notation, from the tabs is it the same?
Synchronises = identical?
With a Hip starts out with an open E.
_________________________________________
.........O............................................O
_____________O______________________________O
___________________________________________
_________________________________________
.................O.......................................................O
________________________________________
--O------------------------------O-----------------
Indian Summer Sky starts off as a mid E.
_______________________
O................O....O....O
____________________O_______
________________________
________________________
_______________________
--------O----------------------------------
I have a bass clef notation chart in a book right next to me, shows where different notes are on a bass, that's how I transcribed it from the tabs.
I know U2 weren't the first to do many things, but to claim plagarism, I've gotta see the evidence for myself. I don't see it.
Perhaps I have a very simple view of it, probably something deeper going on, but I just read from sheet music if it's at all possible. Is it a progression of the songs' notes? Pattern?
I could sorta hear the Tom Petty, Chili Peppers thing, but then you find out the Chili Peppers were listening to Lynrd Skynrd, and now I hear some of that in the Tom Petty song.
nothing is new under the sun.
//////////////////////////////
On a side note, it's really difficult to find U2 sheet music, that includes the basslines. Found one that was exactly what I was looking for, another on back order.
Out of print=gaining value perhaps?
Definitely going to keep them in as best shape as possible.
It's kind of astounding how much it sounds like latter-day U2. Especially considering that it was released in 1997. Even the Stuck In A Moment chimey sounds are there at the beginning of Nothing Lasts Forever. 
The guitar chords in the main riff are the same. However, I was focussing a little bit too much on the different rhythm of the guitars...when I should have been listening to the bass lines. Same bass notes in the verses. Same bloody notes!
