Been listening to it (having read it on release). It's absolutely fantastic. Hearing it aloud makes you even more alert to how self aware, self deprecating and funny he is.
Did anyone think that the lack of a smash hit from Pop was indicative of the band losing their ability to write a smash and grab / easily accessible radio hit?
Or were they hearing a band bunkering down, actively trying to avoid that sort of song (in hindsight, given the chart success of the...
If U2 had quit after Pop, it would have been an outright bleak and depressing moment to go out on. It weighs a thousand tonnes which is why it's been such a long time I've listened to it. It's not their best album but it's still excellent. In the whole of U2's career, the album stands out...
I listened to this again recently as well. I like it but nothing more.
The track sequencing is all over the place. The album sort of collapses with those middle three songs which are very poor. Cedars is a fine closer though and swap Breathe (which I've always quite liked) and MOS in the track...
I totally agree - it's one of U2's best ever moments. 'Sometimes I wake at 4 in the morning, where all the darkness is swarming, and it covers me in fear' just hits me like a truck.
I have to say I was sceptical about this whole Sphere thing, especially without Larry. No matter how extravagant and superb the show is, no Larry will always be a bummer.
But I love what U2 are doing (once again). One of the many things I derive great pleasure from U2 is the spectacle. As part...
Replacing the original Even Better with that dog shit Fish Out Of Water version from 360 onwards. Was a great song live, Popmart versions particularly great. Association with that wank (by their standards) Glastonbury performance as well doesn't do it any favours.
It was a crying shame that they chose not to play Little Things on the last tour. For me, it was a perfect example of U2's tendency today to just utterly fail in realising when they have something brilliant. It seems to obvious to go after them for playing a stripped down version of a complete...
What I really miss from U2 these days (aside from notable guitar work) is Edge's unique backing vocals. They crop up here and there (Red Flag Daaay) but there was a time when most their songs were just drenched in those atmospheric ghostly drones. I was listening to Zooropa again recently and I...
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is an incredible achievement that they will probably never surpass in my opinion. One of the best albums ever made by a mainstream pop act in the last 20 years. An absolutely gorgeous, eclectic album that just gets better as the years go by.
This new...