The John Tree
War Child
Crystal Ballroom deserves mention on the list of ‘good modern day Bono’ lyrics. That’s a heartbreaker.
Is it remastered
It’s hard to think of too many complete songs that would qualify. Sure it is probably possible to find things that are really good, but something changed in his style and this appears to be the moment. Stateless is closer to Streets or WOWY or Bad than anything after it. And I say this as someone who has been well and truely on the side of apologising for the bands 2000s+ missteps, rather than criticising.
Has things he’s written since been great?
Sure, at times. But there’s a stylistic magic that has been so exceptionally rare in that time. The best examples have some cringe about them that breaks the 4th wall at some point.
Moment of Surrender is close. City of Blinding Lights is close. Reach Around, the Troubles, LIAWHL, Little Things and 13 are close.
I suppose I’m trying to say that there is an effortless quality I haven’t seen throughout a complete song since then. And it’s like he adds words to fill silences in a forced attempt to be prophetic rather than letting his poetry stand in its own greatness.
I'd add:
A Man And A Woman
Sometimes You Cant Make It
Invisible
Every Breaking Wave
Song For Someone
Crystal Ballroom
Lights Of Home
Love Is Bigger Than Anything*
Landlady
possibly Red Flag Day
*possibly cringey as far some of the lyrics MAYBE
As songs to me that have that effortless unforced "U2 greatness" feel to them...not many awkward or cringey stylistic choices, not jumbled up syllables (unless there are some I should be reminded of in the verses)
On the other hand I disagree about This Is Where You Can Reach me....this song has not aged well on me. I was loving it early out..but it's got almost no staying power with me now.
The syllables are crammed in so tight on Lights of Home, I find it preposterous that someone would think that’s an example of great writing.
Same goes for EBW as well, but that song has blinded people since even before it was released.
I don't think your casual listener notices things like that.The syllables are crammed in so tight on Lights of Home, I find it preposterous that someone would think that’s an example of great writing.
Same goes for EBW as well, but that song has blinded people since even before it was released.
The thing with Reach Around isn’t so much about it’s greatness as a song - I just think that lyrically it is interesting, original, not cringey, complete and consistent.
The syllables are crammed in so tight on Lights of Home, I find it preposterous that someone would think that’s an example of great writing.
Same goes for EBW as well, but that song has blinded people since even before it was released.
I don't think your casual listener notices things like that.
Hip hop has become the dominant music genre specifically because people are so concerned with letting the music breath.
Wait a minute...
The "modern u2 sucks because of too many syllables" take might be the worst take of all time.
The "modern u2 sucks because of too many syllables" take might be the worst take of all time.
Touchénot in a world where "trump is going to win because i looked at some profiles on bumble" exists.
the album was packed with tracks like “Walk Away,”