Finally we have an album: SONGS OF INNOCENCE!! DISCUSSION THREAD ONLY

[Aleh_Hewson]

I keep thinking how amazing this album is going to be on a stadium

 

[Nick66]

This is how I feel, too. I'm not hearing a Moment of Surrender or a City of Blinding Lights, but I'm also certainly not hearing a Stand Up Comedy or an All Because of You.


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Yeah...that's what I said earlier...there's none of the "highs" of NLOTH, but it certainly lacks that record's clunkers also. It's remarkably even. I'm loving Wolves. The songs are definitely distinct, but the record as a whole feels cohesive. A nice hat trick (though l'll have to see how I feel in a month).

Now, enough of that. Rate the Songs of Innocence series! What are you waiting for!!

 

[powerhour24]

I'm thinking it is a placeholder cover. He said they just finished the album last week.

I'm sure they'll have a nice package for the physical release...plus, they'll still want fans to want to buy it! 4 new songs and acoustic ones, I think plenty will still buy it. I know I probably will.

Nah, it's a conscious design, the songs are harkening back to their days falling in love with punk rock and demoing their early music, hence the demo/type-writer look.

 

[owl]

I keep thinking how amazing this album is going to be on a stadium

You mean like them playing on top of one or what?

 

[david]

They really could do an 8 songs in a row and in your face live like they did during Zoo TV if they wanted. The songs are that strong.

 

[digitize]

Yeah...that's what I said earlier...there's none of the "highs" of NLOTH, but it certainly lacks that record's clunkers also. It's remarkably even.



Now, enough of that. Rate the Songs of Innocence series! What are you waiting for!!

I don't have the foggiest idea how I'd rank this album or the songs on it, so I'm not going to attempt to induce anyone else to do so.


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[Fano]

Standout songs for me are

The Troubles
Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
Raised by Wolves
California

I much prefer the original version of Every Breaking wave from the 360 tour though

 

[Nick66]

I don't have the foggiest idea how I'd rank this album or the songs on it, so I'm not going to attempt to induce anyone else to do so.

I've been on this board too long, because I KNEW you were going to say something like that. Let's see where we all are in a month...and which ones, if any, set themselves apart.

 

[AEON]

I'm very pleased.

 

[popacrobat]

While the many predictions of a "double" album apparently were wrong, I'll be interested to see if the "second" album Bono mentioned actually happens this time. The prospect feels much more "real" to me than Songs of Ascent, so I think there's room to be optimistic that we may yet have more U2 coming.

Innocence in Autumn and Experience in Winter? Blake would approve.

I get the feeling that this is the last major hurrah for U2, so I do believe Bono regarding Songs of Experience.

 

[azraelsevaen]

A theory here, if anyone agrees

Really enjoying this album, and how it feels like an album proper.

I wonder if anyone else gets the sense that, unlike NLOH, where the band appeared to force a self-referencing, reinvention a la Achtung or to recreate the experimental results from TUF, this time they certainly were trying to get more contemporary sound, hence the slate of producers they enlisted. But the result is some refreshingly different sounds, even while it all fits in the U2 wheelhouse.

That's what's most surprising here. Some of the tracks sound like it's someone else, but U2 appear to have embraced it and, more often than not, they reached and got a hold of something good, rather than overreaching as we saw with some of POP's albeit undercooked tunes or some of the overcooked, overproduced stuff on NOLH.

 

[kitkat234]

What a fantastic surprise to come home from work to Loving it, what a fantastic thing for them to do!

 

[Peterrrrr]

Is this the result of 5 1/2 years work? Almost every song have the same sound, it is to overproduced... It is to happy for U2...

Remember when I first inserted NLOTH in the cdplayer and heard the first song NLOTH, I was blowed away... Magnificent was a great pop song, MOS was an amazing song. On NLOTH I could still found a bit of U2-deepish sound.

This is U2 trying to sound like relevant popgroups today, why not try do something own...

 

[saltlick]

Ok putting aside the way they released the album, which was obviously different, (and pretty f***** awesome). This album has such a different feel to it. Like it's 1997 and THIS is the bridge between Achtung baby/Zooropa and ATYCLB (not to take anything away from pop). Other then a couple of songs, I almost had to convince myself to like HTDAAB and NLOTH, if that makes any sense. Anyway time to listen to the last 3 songs, I've been trying to savor this so I start over after every 3 songs, kind of psychotic, but hey it's been 5 years.

 

[Silex]

Hi there everyone!

I've listened to the album for the third time now and I feel Songs of Innocence is amazing, and that this feeling will last. They did it again. Beautiful music that lifts you up and gets better with each listening. And quite a cohesive collection of songs, too. Does reminds me of early U2, but definitively more eloquent and mature. It is raw and at the same time beautifully crafted, and very emotional. The producers have done a great job too. Don't know much about Epworth and Tedder, but I can clearly hear Danger Mouse's influence on many songs (especially the last three, amazing), and it works wonders.

How about getting more Songs soon, of Maturity, of Wisdom, who knows? That would be legendary.

Best to all

 

[Roland of Gilead]

I spoke to Lykke Li an hour ago... by accident I was her first interview since the release of this album. She didn't know it would be released today, either. I'll be Tweeting some of the stuff she said over the next couple days, if you want to follow me on Twitter. @RomiTheWriter.

I will.

 

[mgokelly]

I was well kissed off with U2 back in February of this year for delaying the album, so glad they did, I was totally wrong, this is a stunning return to form with BALLS.

Sent from my HTC One mini using U2 Interference mobile app

 

[Nick66]

I think there's so much sheer joy and adrenaline going about this thing right now, I'm not going to say anything remotely negative about it...partially because right now I don't even trust my own ears regarding it, because I'm feeling joy and adrenaline about it myself, it's hard to be objective about it at this moment.

I like what I hear...saying much more than that, positive or negative, is probably pretty meaningless for me right now.

 

[Peterrrrr]

Is this the result of 5 1/2 years work? Almost every song have the same sound, it is to overproduced... It is to happy for U2...

Remember when I first inserted NLOTH in the cdplayer and heard the first song NLOTH, I was blowed away... Magnificent was a great pop song, MOS was an amazing song. On NLOTH I could still found a bit of U2-deepish sound.

This is U2 trying to sound like relevant popgroups today, why not try do something own...
Bonos dosnt give much in voice-views also, come one you got a voice.

 

[digitize]

I think there's so much sheer joy and adrenaline going about this thing right now, I'm not going to say anything remotely negative about it...partially because right now I don't even trust my own ears regarding it, because I'm feeling joy and adrenaline about it myself, it's hard to be objective about it at this moment.

I like what I hear...saying much more than that, positive or negative, is probably pretty meaningless for me right now.

This.

I am encouraged a bit by the fact that I'm enjoying songs more as I listen to them more, though.


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[Irvine511]

I am encouraged a bit by the fact that I'm enjoying songs more as I listen to them more, though.

yes.

 

[owl]

I think there's so much sheer joy and adrenaline going about this thing right now, I'm not going to say anything remotely negative about it...partially because right now I don't even trust my own ears regarding it, because I'm feeling joy and adrenaline about it myself, it's hard to be objective about it at this moment.

In general, I like what I hear. Saying much more than that, positive or negative, is probably pretty meaningless for me right now.

Yeah, pretty much the same on this.

But savour this feeling because new album feels don't come around often.

 

[blujein]

I honestly can't decide which track is my favourite. Every listen is making me love this album even more; it's beautiful, cohesive, and it's a damn rocker to boot! Brilliant work.

 

[david]

*crosses fingers that the vinyl will be mastered really well*

 

[digitize]

Another random thought: I am a little surprised that Invisible is not here, because of how well it would fit lyrically. But I also think that it definitely would not be one of the better songs on this album.


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[BEAL]

Is this the result of 5 1/2 years work? Almost every song have the same sound, it is to overproduced... It is to happy for U2...

Remember when I first inserted NLOTH in the cdplayer and heard the first song NLOTH, I was blowed away... Magnificent was a great pop song, MOS was an amazing song. On NLOTH I could still found a bit of U2-deepish sound.

This is U2 trying to sound like relevant popgroups today, why not try do something own...

Can't be angry and/or depressed forever. While I find U2's dark stuff the most interesting (and it's too soon to rank this album with anything else), I think they are just in a different place in their lives. The ability to write in darker shades still exist. But I think they are more content with their lives at 50, than they were in mid 20's and 30's.

 

[Rachel D.]

Whoa, I just got home and was expecting a lot of news, but not AN ENTIRE NEW ALBUM RIGHT NOW!

 

[Flaming_C]

Another random thought: I am a little surprised that Invisible is not here, because of how well it would fit lyrically. But I also think that it definitely would not be one of the better songs on this album.


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I'm glad Invisible didn't make the cut, as it wasn't new or refreshing. The majority of the tracks on this album are different and, for the most part, are inspiring.

 

[blujein]

Another random thought: I am a little surprised that Invisible is not here, because of how well it would fit lyrically. But I also think that it definitely would not be one of the better songs on this album.


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Honestly, that's the only thing that disappoints me slightly because I was hoping for an extended version of the track. Perhaps it's intended for release on "Songs Of Experience" or as a single b-side?

 

[romi]

I think there's so much sheer joy and adrenaline going about this thing right now, I'm not going to say anything remotely negative about it...partially because right now I don't even trust my own ears regarding it, because I'm feeling joy and adrenaline about it myself, it's hard to be objective about it at this moment.

I like what I hear...saying much more than that, positive or negative, is probably pretty meaningless for me right now.

My feeling, exactly. Right now I really like it, but I need to listen to it away from all the hype and buzz I'm feeling today to make sure.