the tourist
Blue Crack Addict
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2003
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I haven't listened to this album in ages. Probably two or three years at the very least. Some of my opinions have changed, some have remained the same. I'm just some guy on the internet with opinions, but every once in awhile I like to put them out there and so here we are. (Whether anyone will read them is a whole different story!)
1. No Line On The Horizon
Since I first heard the faster version, I have always been underwhelmed with the album version. I wish there was some sort of middle version that is fast, has the keys of the album version, and has the finished lyrics. I am of the unpopular opinion that this song would not have made a good single as it is. I think its counterpart would have made a better single.
2. Magnificent
This has always been one of those songs that everyone loves. I don't love it. I think it's okay. Maybe it's just the musician in me saying, "I would not have made these choices," regarding some of the chord changes and chord voicings. It just doesn't click with me now and it didn't then either.
3. Moment Of Surrender
This song is amazing. It reminds me of Unforgettable Fire era U2, which is one of my favorite eras of U2. Every time I heard "ATM Machine" I shake my head. But now it's with a smile of "Oh Bono..." instead of being grumpy about it. The slide guitar is amazing. I wish I could coax that guitar tone out of my setup. Reminds me a bit of Jimi Hendrix at the end of the All Along The Watchtower solo from his studio version.
4. Unknown Caller
I remember liking this song when it came out. I now think it's just okay. Hasn't aged well musically for me. There's nothing specifically that I can point to, but I guess it is what it is.
5. Crazy Tonight
I love this song. I think this song is this album's A Man And A Woman or Wild Honey. It is fun. Unpopular opinions and all. I think this would have been a great first single - not the remix single version. It reminds me of She's A Rainbow by The Rolling Stones. Maybe just because there's that lyric.
6. Get On Your Boots
This is a song where Bono kinda ruins part of it for me. That rap-singing he was liking there for awhile is not good. Also The Edge's solo is ridiculously bad here and a massive letdown. That said, I like the fuzz guitar better now. I just wish the bass was harmonizing with the guitar and that the notes weren't in unison (think Black Dog by Led Zeppelin). This song does have my favorite moment on the album, though: Let Me In The Sound should have had a much larger role in this song.
7. Stand Up Comedy
This song is totally a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute. I don't hate it as much as some people do, but it suffers from the lyrics the most of any U2 song since the chorus of Miami. At least to me. The music isn't terrible. It's fairly average (kinda like All Because Of You, but that song's problem was Bono's voice more than anything else).
8. Fez
My favorite song on the album. That said, the ending peters out anticlimactically and that will always keep it from being one of my favorite U2 songs. I feel like it should have had a couple more minutes at the end with a big Exit-style ending. Just a massive wall of sound that keeps getting bigger.
9. White As Snow
This song will always remind me of a Christmas carol. Nothing much else to say about it.
10. Breathe
This is U2 by the numbers to me. That's not a bad thing. I like it better than I remember liking it. Also would have been a good choice for a single.
11. Cedars Of Lebanon
The best album closer since Wake Up Dead Man. That said, it's not one I would listen to outside of album context.
In retrospect, this album's weak moments are stronger than I remember and it's strongest moments are weaker than I remember. I'd rank it in between All That You Can't Leave Behind and Songs Of Innocence on my album ranking scale. Firmly in the bottom third of U2 albums, but still solid.
1. No Line On The Horizon
Since I first heard the faster version, I have always been underwhelmed with the album version. I wish there was some sort of middle version that is fast, has the keys of the album version, and has the finished lyrics. I am of the unpopular opinion that this song would not have made a good single as it is. I think its counterpart would have made a better single.
2. Magnificent
This has always been one of those songs that everyone loves. I don't love it. I think it's okay. Maybe it's just the musician in me saying, "I would not have made these choices," regarding some of the chord changes and chord voicings. It just doesn't click with me now and it didn't then either.
3. Moment Of Surrender
This song is amazing. It reminds me of Unforgettable Fire era U2, which is one of my favorite eras of U2. Every time I heard "ATM Machine" I shake my head. But now it's with a smile of "Oh Bono..." instead of being grumpy about it. The slide guitar is amazing. I wish I could coax that guitar tone out of my setup. Reminds me a bit of Jimi Hendrix at the end of the All Along The Watchtower solo from his studio version.
4. Unknown Caller
I remember liking this song when it came out. I now think it's just okay. Hasn't aged well musically for me. There's nothing specifically that I can point to, but I guess it is what it is.
5. Crazy Tonight
I love this song. I think this song is this album's A Man And A Woman or Wild Honey. It is fun. Unpopular opinions and all. I think this would have been a great first single - not the remix single version. It reminds me of She's A Rainbow by The Rolling Stones. Maybe just because there's that lyric.
6. Get On Your Boots
This is a song where Bono kinda ruins part of it for me. That rap-singing he was liking there for awhile is not good. Also The Edge's solo is ridiculously bad here and a massive letdown. That said, I like the fuzz guitar better now. I just wish the bass was harmonizing with the guitar and that the notes weren't in unison (think Black Dog by Led Zeppelin). This song does have my favorite moment on the album, though: Let Me In The Sound should have had a much larger role in this song.
7. Stand Up Comedy
This song is totally a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute. I don't hate it as much as some people do, but it suffers from the lyrics the most of any U2 song since the chorus of Miami. At least to me. The music isn't terrible. It's fairly average (kinda like All Because Of You, but that song's problem was Bono's voice more than anything else).
8. Fez
My favorite song on the album. That said, the ending peters out anticlimactically and that will always keep it from being one of my favorite U2 songs. I feel like it should have had a couple more minutes at the end with a big Exit-style ending. Just a massive wall of sound that keeps getting bigger.
9. White As Snow
This song will always remind me of a Christmas carol. Nothing much else to say about it.
10. Breathe
This is U2 by the numbers to me. That's not a bad thing. I like it better than I remember liking it. Also would have been a good choice for a single.
11. Cedars Of Lebanon
The best album closer since Wake Up Dead Man. That said, it's not one I would listen to outside of album context.
In retrospect, this album's weak moments are stronger than I remember and it's strongest moments are weaker than I remember. I'd rank it in between All That You Can't Leave Behind and Songs Of Innocence on my album ranking scale. Firmly in the bottom third of U2 albums, but still solid.