Zoocoustic
War Child
Looking back to 1991, I think there are so very many parallels between this album and AB...
We waited and waited and waited, and finally we get this masterpiece of an album...and make no mistake, this is clearly a masterpiece. Reviews are a mixed bag, with most critics agreeing that this is a very good album, and so on. But the one consistent criticism we hear is that this album has "no memorable catchy tunes". Sound familiar? We heard this with AB as well. The early critics called AB a good album, but had the same comments about this album as well.
After several listens, HTDAAB is really starting to grow on me. And I've heard the same from several others as well. It's not the kind of album that immediately catches your attention with catchy tunes and radio-friendly singles like ATYCLB. But it is a much more complex, deeper album with more meaning and much more "staying power", if you will. The more I listen, the more I like what I hear. Take MD for example. On first listen I really didn't think this song was too memorable. Now, I can't get it out of my head, and think it's one of the album's best.
I seem to recall shortly after "The Fly" basically tanked on US radio that some critics were saying AB would not be a success and that U2's career had hit a wall. Now, most critics look back on that album and either call it U2's best or second best ever.
I am convinced that HTDAAB, like AB, will only get better and better with age. Right now some critics have been quick to write it off, but I think that a few years from now it will be seen as what it truly is - a cohesive album that improves with multiple listens. It will be one of those U2 albums that you keep pulling off the shelf, because it keeps your interest.
Of course, only time will tell, but I can't help but feel the same way about this album as I did with AB when it first was released.
Just my two cents worth...
We waited and waited and waited, and finally we get this masterpiece of an album...and make no mistake, this is clearly a masterpiece. Reviews are a mixed bag, with most critics agreeing that this is a very good album, and so on. But the one consistent criticism we hear is that this album has "no memorable catchy tunes". Sound familiar? We heard this with AB as well. The early critics called AB a good album, but had the same comments about this album as well.
After several listens, HTDAAB is really starting to grow on me. And I've heard the same from several others as well. It's not the kind of album that immediately catches your attention with catchy tunes and radio-friendly singles like ATYCLB. But it is a much more complex, deeper album with more meaning and much more "staying power", if you will. The more I listen, the more I like what I hear. Take MD for example. On first listen I really didn't think this song was too memorable. Now, I can't get it out of my head, and think it's one of the album's best.
I seem to recall shortly after "The Fly" basically tanked on US radio that some critics were saying AB would not be a success and that U2's career had hit a wall. Now, most critics look back on that album and either call it U2's best or second best ever.
I am convinced that HTDAAB, like AB, will only get better and better with age. Right now some critics have been quick to write it off, but I think that a few years from now it will be seen as what it truly is - a cohesive album that improves with multiple listens. It will be one of those U2 albums that you keep pulling off the shelf, because it keeps your interest.
Of course, only time will tell, but I can't help but feel the same way about this album as I did with AB when it first was released.
Just my two cents worth...
