Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

[Canadiens1131]

I listened to the album version of Original of the Species today for the first time in a long while, and I was struck by how subtle and cool the intro is.

Then, I pulled up the single version and instead of the understated piano we are treated to a write-off Edge guitar line with delay and an effect off of New York that assumes that it's cool to listen to guitar notes which reverberate around off-key.

Do you think that U2, at this point in their career, overthink the production of their songs in the studio, or does their songwriting process save us from horrors like the original SYCMIOYO?

 

[LemonMelon]

Nah, I like busy production. And this:

or does their songwriting process save us from horrors like the original SYCMIOYO?

happens to be true, IMO.

 

[Screwtape2]

I'd say yes but then I think about the production on Bomb. So I guess...no.

 

[Canadiens1131]

 

[U2Man]

both.

lillywhite screwed up quite a lot on bomb, but he did save sometimes... from becoming a complete piece of crap.

 

[xaviMF22]

songwriting process save us from horrors like the original SYCMIOYO?

no, because the album version turned into a complete nightmare

 

[LemonMelon]

Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

no, because the album version turned into a complete nightmare

The original was better? How so?

 

[Canadiens1131]

Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

no, because the album version turned into a complete nightmare

I dunno. I'd take the album version of ABOY over the original one which dropped in the riff from WTSHNN for some reason for the chorus.

 

[LemonMelon]

The only alternate that is noticeably better IMO is Yahweh. The rest are about the same or worse.

 

[U2Man]

no, native son > vertigo.

thats a fact. you can write it down.

 

[Chizip]

aboy alternate is much better than aboy album

xanax and wine is better than fast cars too

so its hit and miss i guess

 

[U2Man]

xanax and wine is better than fast cars too

qft.

 

[Canadiens1131]

no, native son > vertigo.

thats a fact. you can write it down.

But can I take it to the bank?

 

[xaviMF22]

Re: Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

The original was better? How so?

I have always preferred the original, its a lot more subtle and it doesn't sound as overproduced like the album version.

plus it doesn't have that god-awful chorus

"And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own"

 

[LemonMelon]

xanax and wine is better than fast cars too

Disagree. X&W rocks harder and has an awesome chorus, but the way Edge plays the chords causes the melody and mystique of the song to be lost. Plus, the "somebody in their body" part goes on waaaaaay too long and is totally pointless.

I'd say they're about equal.

 

[Canadiens1131]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

I have always preferred the original, its a lot more subtle

Except for Edge's god-awful guitar on the versus being about as subtle as a 9-person bukkake.

 

[LemonMelon]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

Except for Edge's god-awful guitar on the versus being about as subtle as a 9-person bukkake.

That and the crappy second verse which Bono clearly wrote while on the can.

 

[xaviMF22]

no, native son > vertigo.

thats a fact. you can write it down.

alternate ABOY with better lyrics > HTDAAB version of ABOY

 

[xaviMF22]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Do U2 overthink their songs in the studio?

Except for Edge's god-awful guitar on the versus being about as subtle as a 9-person bukkake.

plus the chorus is a millions times better on the orginal version

"Sometimes you can't make it on your own
Sometimes you can't make it on your own"

the way Bono signs this is beautiful

 

[Canadiens1131]

Disagree. X&W rocks

Prease never abbreviate anything that could even slightly resemble X&Y when shortened.

 

[xaviMF22]

aboy alternate is much better than aboy album

xanax and wine is better than fast cars too

 

[LemonMelon]

alternate ABOY with better lyrics > HTDAAB version of ABOY

But weaker music and virtually no chorus. I like them both, but the atrocious double-layered vocals (why must they do this? it ruined Discotheque too) on the album version is the only thing that makes me want to agree with you.

 

[Zoots]

Prease never abbreviate anything that could even slightly resemble X&Y when shortened.

 

[xaviMF22]

But weaker music and virtually no chorus. I like them both

I can deal without a chorus...and without this line:

"intellectual tortoise "

plus on the alternate version from 2:08 - 2:30 is one of the my favorite moments...

 

[Utoo]

I think it's definitely hit-or-miss.

Obsessive calculations have given us wondrous things like Streets. They've also given us the mechanical, overproduced sounds seen in parts of HTDAAB.

In the end, I think that a certain degree of 'overthinking' is good--it's practically Edge's nature--but that there is a line that can be crossed.

 

[BVS]

Well everyone seems to be focusing on Bomb, but I think we'd find that U2 either overthinks or underthinks in the studio. U2's greatest weakness is their fear of testing out new songs, even in the early days it was rare.

Bomb suffers from overthinking then underthinking. I think they overthink the songs but underthink the album as a whole.

Pop suffers from overthinking a new sound and underthinking songs.

I think even JT suffers from some overthinking in parts.

AB ironically seemed like the most difficult album for them to make, yet seems to one of the most natural. Zooropa being a 2nd.

 

[BVS]

Obsessive calculations have given us wondrous things like Streets.

Yet Bono would argue it's very under thought when it comes to lyrics. Personally I like the lyrics but I know quite a few that think they are too simplistic or cliche.

 

[U2girl]

Depends on the song.

I think in the case of Bomb (which should have been mixed and produced by Lillywhite alone, but instead we got the mess thanks to Jacknife Lee and Flood) the extra time actually payed off for most of the time - album versions of the following songs > Sometimes, Xanax and Wine, Native Son, ABOY, Yahweh.
The only thing I miss from the alternative versions/outtakes is the lyrics to ABOY.

Single OOTS < album OOTS. Single ABOY >>>> Album ABOY.

As for the rest of the reworkings :

October Tomorrow < Bono 96 Tomorrow.
Rattle and Hum Silver and Gold > Bono solo Silver and Gold
Album WGRYWH < Temple Bar version
98 S. Thing >>>> B-side Silver and Gold.
Please single >>>> album Please.
The rest of Pop single versions = album versions.
Single Walk on > ATYCLB Walk on.
Best of mixes: Discotheque and Gone >>> album versions, SATS < album version.
IYWTVD Bono version < IYWTVD album version (except the vocals. there, the Bono version is >>>> to the album)

 

[Aygo]

Not gonna vote because it depends on the song. Some songs are too worked, we can see that. Others don't and that reflects after on the live performances.

 

[Yahweh_OMG]

October Tomorrow is way better than the 98 version!!!!!!!

Alternate Yahweh > album Yahweh

Sometimes album > alternate sometimes

In general, on the latest albums, U2 is trying too much. They should try to make an album like Zooropa or October, or War.... write+record in 1 year max! That's what the young bands do, and that's when the best albums come out!

Not always, AB was done in 3 years..... JT in 3 too.... ok ok