dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
I’ve been thinking with this era now done and dusted, it was worth looking back at the best bits of the period that started with the release of Ordinary Love. I’d love to hear the main highlights of the era for you - best new tunes, tour highlights, personal stories... it’s up to you. For me:
New songs:
When the dust settles, I think it is clear that these two albums are a substantial step up from NLOTH.
Invisible - I am a sucker for a rousing U2 chorus. I also like to hear them exploring new sounds, and there was something really endearing about the introduction to their introspective period.
Every Breaking Wave - this songs drips catchiness and quality. I love everything about it - the melody, the chords, the way Bono’s vocals soar in the final chorus.
Raised By Wolves - Bono in evocative lyric mode, loved the vocal effects, the jarring guitars. Edge got some attitude back.
The Troubles - the first in a series of winding melodies in this period. In years to come, I will really associate this period with Bono exploring vocal melodies, and Adam exploring real bass lines.
Love is All We Have Left - The first example of U2 exercising restraint since One Step Closer, this one catches in my chest every time.
Red Flag Day - fun U2 returns, but collided with early 80s U2. This one is a “never skip” for me.
The Little Things That Give You Away - This is the real triumph of this era. It’s dark, it’s emotive, it builds, it pays off, it is lyrical, it has all members firing, its atmospheric, and it just fucking rules.
Love is Bigger Than Anything in its Way - I didn’t know they could write crowd pleasers like this any more. Just a great pop song with great messages.
Bonus songs - how great was it to get some b sides or equivalents. And they were ALL very good - Lucifer’s Hands, The Crystal Ballroom, and The Book of Your Heart were worthy additions to this era.
Tours:
The screen - what an innovation. The first time I saw Cedarwood Rd videos on YouTube and Bono was IN THE SCREEN it was just wild. They continue to be innovation leaders, and their relevance really does rest with their ability to change the way tours run and look.
The songs - we finally got live versions of Red Hill Mining Town and Acrobat. Acrobat was incredible. We saw the return of A Sort of Homecoming, Exit, One Tree Hill, Trip Through Your Wires, Running to Stand Still, In God’s Country, Mother’s of the Disappeared, New Year’s Day’s final verse, Wild Horses, Zoo Station, Stay, October, Sweetest Thing, When Love Comes to Town, Two Hearts Beat as One, Miracle Drug, Satellite of Love, The Ocean, full band Desire, All Because of You, Staring at the Sun and The Unforgettable Fire.
New songs:
When the dust settles, I think it is clear that these two albums are a substantial step up from NLOTH.
Invisible - I am a sucker for a rousing U2 chorus. I also like to hear them exploring new sounds, and there was something really endearing about the introduction to their introspective period.
Every Breaking Wave - this songs drips catchiness and quality. I love everything about it - the melody, the chords, the way Bono’s vocals soar in the final chorus.
Raised By Wolves - Bono in evocative lyric mode, loved the vocal effects, the jarring guitars. Edge got some attitude back.
The Troubles - the first in a series of winding melodies in this period. In years to come, I will really associate this period with Bono exploring vocal melodies, and Adam exploring real bass lines.
Love is All We Have Left - The first example of U2 exercising restraint since One Step Closer, this one catches in my chest every time.
Red Flag Day - fun U2 returns, but collided with early 80s U2. This one is a “never skip” for me.
The Little Things That Give You Away - This is the real triumph of this era. It’s dark, it’s emotive, it builds, it pays off, it is lyrical, it has all members firing, its atmospheric, and it just fucking rules.
Love is Bigger Than Anything in its Way - I didn’t know they could write crowd pleasers like this any more. Just a great pop song with great messages.
Bonus songs - how great was it to get some b sides or equivalents. And they were ALL very good - Lucifer’s Hands, The Crystal Ballroom, and The Book of Your Heart were worthy additions to this era.
Tours:
The screen - what an innovation. The first time I saw Cedarwood Rd videos on YouTube and Bono was IN THE SCREEN it was just wild. They continue to be innovation leaders, and their relevance really does rest with their ability to change the way tours run and look.
The songs - we finally got live versions of Red Hill Mining Town and Acrobat. Acrobat was incredible. We saw the return of A Sort of Homecoming, Exit, One Tree Hill, Trip Through Your Wires, Running to Stand Still, In God’s Country, Mother’s of the Disappeared, New Year’s Day’s final verse, Wild Horses, Zoo Station, Stay, October, Sweetest Thing, When Love Comes to Town, Two Hearts Beat as One, Miracle Drug, Satellite of Love, The Ocean, full band Desire, All Because of You, Staring at the Sun and The Unforgettable Fire.