What is wrong with ATYCLB??

[AussieU2fanman]

I was very surprised to hear all the ATYCLB bashing over the past several weeks. I am personally a huge fan of the album and it introduced me to U2 when I was 13. It made me notice that U2 have something unique and the songs on the album are quite inspirational, ie. Peace on earth, Kite (BRILLIANT song), In a litte while etc. It was hugely sucessful with many memorable tunes. Are people referring to their dissaproval of the sound of the album? Was it taking the easy option by adopting a slightly poppy sound to win back the mainstream again? Is there anything really wrong with that anyway? After all, it's all about the music and U2 did present us with a brilliant collabaration produced with their unique creativity mixed with a tad of commercialism. (sometimes commercialsim isn't bad, especially in this case where U2 can get their music across while staying true to themselves. Unlike that bullshit pop\rap\other crap destroying the mainstream!! I HATE IT SO MUCH!!)
Leave ATYCLB alone! It made me the U2 nut I am today!

Anyway where was I, oh yeh, STAY OUTTA MY BOOZE!

 

[HelloAngel]

You make an interesting point.

I think a factor here might be that those who do not like ATYCLB "bash" it because it greatly differs from the U2 albums that made them the U2 fans they are today.

 

[djerdap]

U2 should be a rock band. They will enter the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year. ATYCLB has no resemblance to a rock album. It is a bland pop record, with no memorable tunes, in my opinion.

 

[AussieU2fanman]

Jeez I had no idea U2 fans were not approving of this album. I do believe that U2 are taking a more dangerous pathway with the new album in relation to the sound (a lot more rock n raw, which is potentially dangerous as they may not break into the mainstream as much which could damage sales significantly)
It's a lot harder these days to break into the mainstream where everything is very formulated and un-original unlike the previous decades. I think after gaining a greater audience with the previous album by taking a safer approach, they may have some more room to do as they please, however this is going to be very risky for them, and there is a good chance they may be shot down. I personally hope they stay true to themselves with some raw rock and roll U2 while still being successful (somehow, its just too hard these days!)

 

[ishkash]

I am not very bright at analysing music, I dont listen to radio much so cant differentiate the genres. Thus my ability to contribute to topics like this very limited. However for me there's two types of music, good and bad. U2 as a band usually makes good ones, very simple and organic. So as long as they can make a record which sounds fresh and creative, I wont be complaining. I understand that U2 are professional entertainers, if they wish to do their business I am not complaining as long as it falls under criteria I mentioned previously.

Should a stage come where I feel otherwise, simply I wont listen to that particular record. I dont have any desires to control U2's creativity. I expect them to make music which they want to in that moment of time. If they want to record a duet with my grand mother and somehow if they can make it sound interesting, I will pay money to buy it. Otherwise I will wait for the next one. Law of diminishing returns are applicable to my interest as well.

All That You Can't Leave Behind is a great record, I love it and I usually find hard to objectively analyse things I love, which include 99% of U2 song.

Thanks for your time.

 

[HelloAngel]

Jeez I had no idea U2 fans were not approving of this album. I do believe that U2 are taking a more dangerous pathway with the new album in relation to the sound (a lot more rock n raw, which is potentially dangerous as they may not break into the mainstream as much which could damage sales significantly)
It's a lot harder these days to break into the mainstream where everything is very formulated and un-original unlike the previous decades.

As alot of us have said in similar threads - it's still too early to really describe U2's album as anything other than "eagerly awaited" since none of us know much about it save for a really really bad snippet of a song from outside the studio. To say it's "risky" is a bit premature. Though Bono has given us lots of food for thought, he has always made grand boasts before an album debuts to stir up interest, debate and drama.

 

[MrBrau1]

Some people need a gimmick to hold on to. To them, bad experimentation is better than good songwriting. It's a poor perspective, and I pity the people who feel that way. They miss out on the most important thing U2 are, makers of great tunes. "Miami" may be "exciting" because of its loops and imagery, but it's a piss poor song. "Kite" is just guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. All working into a great song. These are the same kind who think "Viva Davidoff" is a great tune. Urgh.

 

[isabelle_guns]

I like the point you make and each to their own. I think that ATYCLB is a great album and in fact I was listening to it yesterday after a hard day at work and I like the simplicity and the songwriting. It is not U2's best work but it is not a bad album.

 

[zoopop]

Yesterday I picked up ATYCLB for the first time in a while. I looked at the black n white images and remembered what was great about this album. When it came out 99% of this board was crazy over ATYCLB. Now everyone is bashing it for having poppy songs????

U2 went into the direction of soul music while make ATYCLB. Stuck, In a Little While, and Wild Honey (maybe Grace) are soulful tunes and areas U2 have never touched before. While BD, Walk On, and Kite are vintage U2. New York and Elevation are simple yet effective rock tunes. I don't see ATYCLB as a masterpiece but its a very good album. And during the next tour when U2 play some songs off ATYCLB I bet all U2 fans will be dancing and cheering in their sits just like they were during the Elevation Tour.

 

[U2Kitten]

You make an interesting point.

I think a factor here might be that those who do not like ATYCLB "bash" it because it greatly differs from the U2 albums that made them the U2 fans they are today.

I have always thought in most cases that was it It is usually the "Pop" fans who complain about it the most, but it is ironically ironic that they have vehemently bashed the people who didn't like Pop because it was different from the albums they were fans because of! I also think that those same people hate and resent ATYCLB and its fans because they feel that many of those fans' disapproval and unacceptance of Pop made the band 'change' with ATYCLB and they hate that. Again, ironcially, doing the same thing as the people they diss and call 'bad fans' and 'didn't get it.' Disclaimer, I know this is not true in every case so don't get mad, but I have been reading this forum and other things long enough now to convince me my theory is a big part of the problem

I don't believe U2 'changed' with ATYCLB because of the backlash they took for Pop. U2 are always changing anyway, no matter who likes it or doesn't like it! ATYCLB was what was in their hearts and on their minds when they recorded it, just as every previous album was and the new one is surely to be. No need to bash any U2 album, just listen to the ones you like and not to the rest. Because the albums are all so different, and we all have different tastes, it would be rare to find someone who loved them all the same. It doesn't matter.

 

[Bonochick]

ATYCLB is my favorite U2 album.

 

[radioskugga]

ATYCLB taste too much sugar.

 

[Catman]

Yeah, ATYCLB-bashing really pisses me off. It really is a great record! Just because it isn't what U2 fans wanted from U2, does not make it a bad album. Quality songs = quality songs. It's as simple as that, really. Sure there aren't any really heavy hitters on there (i.e. no "HMTMKMKM"'s or "The Fly"'s), but there's definately something special about the record (maybe it's the fact that ATYCLB got me into U2 )...




EDIT: On a side note, I dreamt I met Bono last night I stepped outside of the house and he was standing on our porch. Apparently, he had sung a few songs from the new album and some kids came to hear the material. He seemed to be very happy and said he was going to throw a grenade in my yard

 

[MrBrau1]

It's funny because New York and Elevation are just as big and strong musically as any other U2 hard rock song. If ATYCLB doesn't rock, then the Joshua Tree and UF don't rock either.

 

[TheDaddy]

Some people need a gimmick to hold on to. To them, bad experimentation is better than good songwriting. It's a poor perspective, and I pity the people who feel that way. They miss out on the most important thing U2 are, makers of great tunes. "Miami" may be "exciting" because of its loops and imagery, but it's a piss poor song. "Kite" is just guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. All working into a great song. These are the same kind who think "Viva Davidoff" is a great tune. Urgh.

Maybe what it is is that U2 fans who dislike ATYCLB dislike it because there is no compromise between good songwriting and experimentation.

And that would be better than just imitating the 80s sound in pop form.

Still I think ATYCLB is a decent record - just not the grand rock masterpiece like JT I was hoping it was going to be.

 

[TheDaddy]

The bottom line for me is ATYCLB is a good to very good album with some good to very good U2 songs just not the rock masterpiece that I was hoping it was going to be.

Let's hope the new U2 album will be a rock masterpiece. But maybe I'm hoping for too much.

By the way although it is poppy I also disagree with the notion that ATYCLB had no rocking tunes - what about Beautiful Day (in particular), Elevation and New York?

 

[U2Kitten]

"Experimentation" is way overrated. All I care about it is good or not good. IMO, some of their 'experimental' albums have been their worst!

Weird dream Catman! That seems more like Larry, not Bono. Remember the story of him hosing down the kids for standing and listening? Good to see you!

ATYCLB=

 

[djerdap]

People keep saying that everybody loved ATYCLB in the beginning and now it keeps getting bashed.
But, see? That's maybe the album's biggest failure. Because it was safe and radio-friendly, it was very pleasant to the ear in the first listening, but it didn't have that longevity that almost every other U2 album has. It kept getting worse and worse for me and I hardly listen to it now. But, I never said that the album was great. I was disappointed from the moment I heard Stuck and Elevation for the first time.
On the other hand, there are U2 albums I didn't especially like at the beginning, but then...as I started to listen to it more, I loved it. The Unforgettable Fire album is the best example for me. Now, it is my 4th favorite album. I used to ignore it.

 

[HelloAngel]

People keep saying that everybody loved ATYCLB in the beginning and now it keeps getting bashed.

That's actually not true. ATYCLB was bashed from the very beginning by many fans, just like it was loved by many others. "Everybody" never agrees on anything around here other than that they have loved U2 alot in the past and in the present.

 

[U2Kitten]

Hello Angel is right. I don't think that's it at all. Believe me, I've been reading these forums ever since it came out. The same people who hated it then hate it now. I've never seen someone who used to like it hate it now, that's not what happened. Just because you heard good reviews then and read this now don't mean it hasn't stood the test of time. It has. It's just that some people seem to have a vendetta against it and have bashed it all along.

 

[jick]

Nothing is wrong with ATYCLB. It's just that U2 can never please everyone, so there will always be ATYCLB bashers everywhere.

Cheers,

J

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Personally, I like both U2's more experimental stuff and this album. There really is not one U2 album that I dislike. Sure, I have my personal favorites, but there's not a least favorite for me.

Angela

 

[djerdap]

You misunderstood. I said that "people keep saying", which I see now very often on these boards. I never said that it is true that everybody loved ATYCLB in the beginning.

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

you've gotta understand, achtung baby was what got me into U2. so i had that, then zooropa. then hmtmkmkm. then pop, which was different, but i still liked it. then atyclb came along, and it was totally different than anything they'd ever made, but it just wasn't in a good way.

i bought it when it came out, and was immediately not impressed. the simplest way to put it was that it was just too poppy for my taste.

 

[FullonEdge]

What moonlit_Angel said

 

[Swan269]

It is not U2's best work but it is not a bad album.

I think most people in this forum would agree with that statement. The album has some great songs, but as an album it doesn't stack up with their past works. (in my opinion)

 

[Muggsy]

some people like that album... some people don't..
that's life...

 

[jacobus]

djerdap wrote

...it was very pleasant to the ear in the first listening, but it didn't have that longevity that almost every other U2 album has...

i fully agree, but its not a bad album, its just too polished.

 

[Salome]

who on earth discusses the longetivity of an album that isn't even half a decade old???
and if you would like to discuss this than at least look at some of the facts we do have - like airplay - and acknowledge that this album is still more popular than Zooropa and POP combined

you've gotta understand, achtung baby was what got me into U2. so i had that, then zooropa. then hmtmkmkm. then pop, which was different, but i still liked it. then atyclb came along, and it was totally different than anything they'd ever made, but it just wasn't in a good way.

which is pretty much what U2kitten wrote in here and what I wrote in another thread a while ago

I don't mind people not liking ATYCLB
but I've read so many bullshit reasons on why this album supposedly is so bad (if anyone could explain to me why the lyrics to Elevation would be any worse than those of If God Will Send His Angels ...... well, they'd be wrong! ......... IMO )

so .. yes,
don't like continious bashing
it gets tiring no matter what album it happens with

 

[Axver]

I guess I'm one of those people who 'bashes' ATYCLB, though certainly not to the extent of others. I think it's a fantastic album, but it pales in comparison to the rest of U2's catalogue. I also feel it can seem too pop-y sometimes.

But in any case, my favourite era is eighties U2. The best side of U2 died on 10 January 1990 when they left the stage for the last time in Rotterdam at the end of Lovetown.