New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album

[Headache in a Suitcase]

4 of the last 6 albums they've ****ed up the first single choice.

 

[PookaMacP]

what will tell you all you need to know about best thing... it took me a solid 5 minutes to try and remember how the verse went. i could hum the chorus in my head, but i was stonewalled on the verse for a while. really left a dent, that one.

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[DeVaul]

4 of the last 6 albums they've ****ed up the first single choice.

They’ve what?

 

[Registered Dude]

take this with all the salt grains you want, but I recall hearing in the weeks before it came out that the intended lead single for SOE was going through a pretty drastic rearrangement

 

[DeVaul]

take this with all the salt grains you want, but I recall hearing in the weeks before it came out that the intended lead single for SOE was going through a pretty drastic rearrangement

Didn’t they draft Lillywhite in at the last minute to try and get it across the goal line? The end result is an overcooked MOR track that Bono attempted to justify through some whack **** including but not limited to “punk Supremes”

 

[Irvine511]

it's almost a shame Vertigo worked so well. they've been chasing Veritgo 2.0 for the past 20 years.

 

[david]

Can’t believe they thought “You’re the Best Thing…” would be a good lead off single.

 

[BEAL]

There was a version that floated around that was much more dance/bouncey riff that sounded a bit different than what they’ve done before. Not talking about the Kygo mix

Then edge decided the song needed the RAWK power chords and i don’t feel like the song ever went anywhere.

It’s too bad cause I like Bono’s lyrics. Wandering Man returns and wasn’t so over the top like Luckiest Man in the World edits

 

[dan_smee]

take this with all the salt grains you want, but I recall hearing in the weeks before it came out that the intended lead single for SOE was going through a pretty drastic rearrangement

Yep. The cool pre chorus riff was cut. Most interesting thing in the track. The SciFi remix included it. It is superior.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

There was a version that floated around that was much more dance/bouncey riff that sounded a bit different than what they’ve done before. Not talking about the Kygo mix

Then edge decided the song needed the RAWK power chords and i don’t feel like the song ever went anywhere.

It’s too bad cause I like Bono’s lyrics. Wandering Man returns and wasn’t so over the top like Luckiest Man in the World edits

The only version of the song I can recall that we heard before the actual release was from the Kygo show.

 

[ascender_RS]

Can’t believe they thought “You’re the Best Thing…” would be a good lead off single.

I still don't think its a bad song, or necessarily a bad choice for a lead single, but I think it suffers from the same issues as other songs on that album where there's a good song with a catchy melody, but the final arrangement and mix doesn't do it any justice at all. Love is Bigger is another example of that - I think that's got an insanely catchy melody but they just didn't make the most of it.

I can definitely see a world where either of those two songs could have been a hit (whatever that means today).

Ironically, I think some of the remixes of both of those songs were better than the originals.

 

[DeVaul]

The only version of the song I can recall that we heard before the actual release was from the Kygo show.

Ah yes. Mighty high on the U2 Cringe-o-Meter as I can recall…

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

You can see Spiderman's bono

 

[Salome]

Agreed. For

I still don't think its a bad song, or necessarily a bad choice for a lead single, but I think it suffers from the same issues as other songs on that album where there's a good song with a catchy melody, but the final arrangement and mix doesn't do it any justice at all. Love is Bigger is another example of that - I think that's got an insanely catchy melody but they just didn't make the most of it.

I can definitely see a world where either of those two songs could have been a hit (whatever that means today).

Ironically, I think some of the remixes of both of those songs were better than the originals.

I truly believe that if, towards the end of the recording process, they had pushed these songs towards more of a 'U2 sound' instead of a temporary mainstream sounds, the songs would have had a better shot at becoming a hit.
The listening public at large might not be all that musically literate but even they can mostly hear it when you are trying too hard. U2's core audience definitely can.

 

[TinKnight]

I love You're The Best Thing About Me, and I think it probably is the closest they'll get to a mainstream pop song. It was a minor hit, got airplay, but ultimately wasn't the music for the moment.

They are having a hard time dealing with the fact that pop music today is just not rock friendly at all. I'd say Olivia Rodrigo is the closest thing to a pop-rock star, but the pop is doing heavy lifting there. They're just too far on the rock side.

 

[BEAL]

The only version of the song I can recall that we heard before the actual release was from the Kygo show.

Yeah, think you’re right. Had to jog the memory.

Kygo played it at a festival, without permission ??, and even that mix was slightly different than what was officially released

I vividly remember the guitar part thinking, hey this is pretty catch and dancy for the Edge. It was a nice change of pace from what we assumed would be Miracle part 2

In the end it didn’t make the album and i feel SOE is Edges weakest work

 

[DeVaul]

Rock band buries guitar hook?

 

[super fly guy]

what will tell you all you need to know about best thing... it took me a solid 5 minutes to try and remember how the verse went. i could hum the chorus in my head, but i was stonewalled on the verse for a while. really left a dent, that one.

The best thing for me was like a dog's dinner the first few listens,had to piece it together in my head.

 

[super fly guy]

take this with all the salt grains you want, but I recall hearing in the weeks before it came out that the intended lead single for SOE was going through a pretty drastic rearrangement

Edge called the best thing a "ballsy rocker" on BBC radio 2.

 

[DeVaul]

Edge called the best thing a "ballsy rocker" on BBC radio 2.

 

[jay canseco]

With all their tinkering, U2 have honed their craft to a dull edge.

 

[dan_smee]

Woodie Guthrie performance thing will be broadcast on Sirius. I’d like to hear it, but assume the days of these these being recorded, shared easily etc are close to done?

 

[Irvine511]

Ah yes. Mighty high on the U2 Cringe-o-Meter as I can recall…
View attachment 24331

I believe this is consensus all time worst U2/Bono performance ever?

 

[ascender_RS]

Ah yes. Mighty high on the U2 Cringe-o-Meter as I can recall…
View attachment 24331

I'd genuinely forgotten (presumably on purpose) about all of those other than the lowest and highest.

 

[ascender_RS]

I've said this before, but it still holds. Ever since Edge switched to the all-in-one multi-fx unit, the creativity has been lacking. There used to be a thriving online community of guitar players trying to figure out how to play u2 songs. That community vanished after 360. Edge needs to find a new toy.

I think the opposite - the fact you can now accurately simulate any amp or fx pedal from the whole of time at the touch of a button (and a credit card) would massively appeal to Edge.

But we all know the change in the writing dynamic over the last 15 years or so possibly has an impact on this too.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I believe this is consensus all time worst U2/Bono performance ever?

I dunno guyliner Boots is pretty bad.

Also this still exists

 

[wolbersu2]

U2's most dull work to me is the Sing 2 song. What a disaster that was. It started in losing interest in the band after 40 years of fanship.
I am not even interested in seeing the Woody Guthrie show.
They have to come back with a really strong, typically u2 single to get my attention back I'm afraid... That means no Love is bigger than..., Your song..., Atomic city or American soul. Give it an Unforgettable fire/War vibe!

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I mean disaster is a tad strong

 

[JWR1992]

U2's most dull work to me is the Sing 2 song. What a disaster that was. It started in losing interest in the band after 40 years of fanship.
I am not even interested in seeing the Woody Guthrie show.
They have to come back with a really strong, typically u2 single to get my attention back I'm afraid... That means no Love is bigger than..., Your song..., Atomic city or American soul. Give it an Unforgettable fire/War vibe!

U2 is going to come back with the strongest One Republic/Fergie hybrid ever created

 

[Registered Dude]

something that gives me hope is that supposedly Larry was a driving force in the studio in recent recordings. I'd love to think he and Adam decided to assert themselves creatively, so it's less the Edge and Bono show, and more the four of them bringing ideas and approaches and advocating for those ideas