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

[pacemaker]

I hope they realise with NLOTH that over time it feels like an art project that was overcooked and destroyed. If they had treated it as an art project and learnt into being arty, we’d feel very differently about it 15 years down the road. It’s be that interesting detour they took that spawned some great moments of late career inspiration even if they didn’t play stuff live. Kind of like the Killers Pressure Machine.

Good call! There’s got to be a great album in the NLOTH sessions hiding somewhere. Even beyond alt track lists. The vibes of all of the clips and snippets leading up to it had me so excited. I like it a lot, but I want more.

 

[MrPryck2U]

I'm very excited about the remaster for Bomb and the "new" songs.

 

[super fly guy]

I'm on the fence as to whether the vocals in country mile are new or not. Compared to Picture of you though,it does sound like later day Bono.

 

[super fly guy]

U2’s Country Mile and Picture of You (X + W): Two fantastic songs – but it’s hard not to be haunted by what they represent

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was U2’s last artistically relevant album. These new releases are from the reboot How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb

www.irishtimes.com

 

[The John Tree]

U2’s Country Mile and Picture of You (X + W): Two fantastic songs – but it’s hard not to be haunted by what they represent

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was U2’s last artistically relevant album. These new releases are from the reboot How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb

www.irishtimes.com

I disagree with the author. HTDAAB might have been their last *commercially* relevant work, but I think NLOTH has quite a few things to say, artistically.

Edited to add: the Songs albums have their moments as well. SoI has some strong tunes about youth, while SoE has a few meditations on death that I think are fairly poignant. The problem with those albums is that you have to dig to find those moments.

 

[TinKnight]

Getting rid of “Love is the end of history, the enemy of misery” and the later mentions of love is an affront IMO. It feels like such a release, like what someone would just start shouting after they’ve tried and tried to describe what love is rationally.

This man (the luckiest man in the world we now know) just cannot for the life of him overthink every lyric he’s ever written after 2000.

 

[TinKnight]

they have the opportunity to do the funniest thing and still not release the studio version of mercy.

Also, look at that crystal ball.

 

[RoKKeR]

U2’s Country Mile and Picture of You (X + W): Two fantastic songs – but it’s hard not to be haunted by what they represent

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was U2’s last artistically relevant album. These new releases are from the reboot How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb

www.irishtimes.com

Not sure I can agree with "gee isn't it a shame that they never reached the heights of... er.... Country Mile and X&W again!?"

Bit too much rose tinted glasses for U2 being relevant with their new releases vs. the actual quality of the output. Moment of Surrender and Little Things say hello.

Anyways as always there's some classic odd U2 decision making in here, but I'm so pleased they're giving these demos a bit of an "album-lite" treatment rather than just shoving them out the door. The edit on X&W is a bit jarring after hearing the original so much, but we'll see how it plays over time. Country Mile is meandering but has real solid moments in there as well... the "guess you should have thought of that" line made me smile (someone else mentioned lightening things up a bit in the lyrics earlier... agree that helps) and Edge's verse is quite nice with the build as well.

Wish this was a new album release but alas, guess we'll have to wait for next year. Will take the new material from the archives in the meantime!

("odd decision making" = $300 vinyl set (!!) and not releasing Live in Chicago on streaming platforms...smh)

 

[lazarus]

Getting rid of “Love is the end of history, the enemy of misery” and the later mentions of love is an affront IMO. It feels like such a release, like what someone would just start shouting after they’ve tried and tried to describe what love is rationally.

This man (the luckiest man in the world we now know) just cannot for the life of him overthink every lyric he’s ever written after 2000.

Yep.

 

[BEAL]

One reason to go back to Brian and Danny is that Brian could maybe go back to the UF / JT days and let Bono’s early takes make the recording.

Bono’s trying to be so damn clever (vs ironic in the 90s) has really been a let down. Maybe it’s just becoming a old man haha

We get it. You’re humbled by Joey Ramone and Blondie….and the career you’ve had.

How about making things a little less obvious and literal ?

Luckiest man in the world ?

Agree with the best part of Mercy being after the feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllll….and the simple guitar part by the edge being allowed to take center stage. It’s classic edge. A riff anyone of us could play, yet when he plays it, it sounds like no one else.

 

[gareth brown]

they never bloody get it right do they? Absolute monkey paw madness.

 

[count rushmore]

Some negative comments here, so I'll post for once to balance it out.
It took 3-4 listens, but I absolutely love Country Mile. I feel it has such a positive vibe to it. A burst of optimism. Seems like it's lyrically about having a long and difficult road ahead of you, but you've found someone who helps you walk it.

First impression of Picture of you (x+w) is that it takes time getting used to the new edits, but it's not necessarily worse than Xanax and Wine.

As for Luckiest man in the world, I'll wait to judge it until I hear the entire thing, but if it is a slightly different to the original Mercy I view that as a good thing. Why would you want them to release a copy of what was leaked in 2006...

 

[dabiggestu2fan]

Some negative comments here, so I'll post for once to balance it out.
It took 3-4 listens, but I absolutely love Country Mile. I feel it has such a positive vibe to it. A burst of optimism. Seems like it's lyrically about having a long and difficult road ahead of you, but you've found someone who helps you walk it.

First impression of Picture of you (x+w) is that it takes time getting used to the new edits, but it's not necessarily worse than Xanax and Wine.

As for Luckiest man in the world, I'll wait to judge it until I hear the entire thing, but if it is a slightly different to the original Mercy I view that as a good thing. Why would you want them to release a copy of what was leaked in 2006...

I agree, we already heard the original Mercy (although maybe not the best quality), ide rather hear something a bit different. Also I was never a fan of Mercy personally (it did nothing for me) so I’m hoping this version will do something for me.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I love the constant insults of a song nobody's heard yet. Interference gonna interference

 

[DeVaul]

I love the constant insults of a song nobody's heard yet. Interference gonna interference

As the second luckiest man in the world, I’ve already heard it and really love the extra keyboards by will.i.am

 

[david]

I’ve warmed up to Country Mile. I also prefer the new edits of X + W. Call me crazy!

 

[lazarus]

Why would you want them to release a copy of what was leaked in 2006...

Why is wanting a cleaner version of a song people love that is currently in cassette tape quality an odd request?

 

[cobl04]

I think if you look at lyrics of Mercy, devoid of the context of the actual song, it's easy to criticise it as another modern-day Bono mess. But you can't separate them. And Mercy, the song, has an intangible magic to it that almost every single U2 song released after Pop lacks. Bono sings with heart and passion, like he truly believes what he's singing. He sings within his capabilities. Edge plays the guitar with beautiful simplicity during the verses. Larry and Adam lock incredibly tightly, giving the song a slow yet exciting propulsion. The pre-chorus adds tension and theatre and sets you up for an explosive, gorgeous chorus, where it all comes together. Bono goes on an old-fashioned Bonoglese tear as the song reaches its final crescendo, and then Adam walks Bono home. It is an absolute masterpiece in my eyes, an open-hearted, raw, beautiful love song that encapsulates all of their strengths as a band.

 

[super fly guy]

Why is wanting a cleaner version of a song people love that is currently in cassette tape quality an odd request?

Because it was left off an album 20 years ago,it's their song to release in which ever form they want. They don't owe us anything.

 

[DeVaul]

Bono goes on an old-fashioned Bonoglese tear as the song reaches its final crescendo

Yup

 

[count rushmore]

Why is wanting a cleaner version of a song people love that is currently in cassette tape quality an odd request?

It's not odd. Sorry if I came across as blunt. I just personally find it much more exciting to hear something new and different. Also I always thought the original Mercy needed more than higher fidelity to be truly enjoyable.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I think if you look at lyrics of Mercy, devoid of the context of the actual song, it's easy to criticise it as another modern-day Bono mess. But you can't separate them. And Mercy, the song, has an intangible magic to it that almost every single U2 song released after Pop lacks. Bono sings with heart and passion, like he truly believes what he's singing. He sings within his capabilities. Edge plays the guitar with beautiful simplicity during the verses. Larry and Adam lock incredibly tightly, giving the song a slow yet exciting propulsion. The pre-chorus adds tension and theatre and sets you up for an explosive, gorgeous chorus, where it all comes together. Bono goes on an old-fashioned Bonoglese tear as the song reaches its final crescendo, and then Adam walks Bono home. It is an absolute masterpiece in my eyes, an open-hearted, raw, beautiful love song that encapsulates all of their strengths as a band.

This is going to sound snarky but I truly don't mean it to be, but here we go anyways...

So if I hear correctly - Bono's modern day platitude style of writing is cool provided that you like the song?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

As a Mercy detractor I thought I'd go back and relisten and try and give my honest assessment

The open through the first verse is fairly epic and classic U2 (despite having one of Bono's worst lyrics ever in "weed killer honey" ). It builds up in a way that's similar to Bad. Let's be real though, the lyric is nothing but platitudes. Literally every line. It's just a platitude list that he's singing - but he's doing it well. The "your heart is aching part before.the chorus " is classic Bono.

This is where it starts to go off the rails for me though. The drop in octave in the pre chorus. I hate it. It would be better if that part was cut, or if Bono tried singing it in the same octave as the verse and chorus. It takes me out of the "epicness" of the song. Or, even better, just have an instrumental there. No words.

That's said - through the first 4:30 it's still pretty quality.

Then the feel nothing part starts. I, well, feel nothing. I think it's awful. If there's any part I wish they'd change, that's it. It ruins the song for me. Bono's just screaming - which may have worked in his ZooTV and earlier voice, but doesn't. By the third feel he's borderline in tune and I just want him to stop.

When the Edge kicks back in and Bono goes back to the chorus? Yea that's killer again. And it closes strong.

So yea - for me this is another example of an almost classic U2 song that just misses.

For shit's and giggles I'm listening to the live official release version now from wide awake in Europe.

And maybe the reason why I liked this version better is immediately evident - the drop in octave, ripping the stitches part is gone. As is feeeeeeeeel nothing. Thank god.

Now they kill it by shrinking the chorus and cutting it off with the because because because bullshit.

I think there's a morphing of these two versions that would make a truly epic U2 song. The original has two moments that take me out of the song, the live version tries to take a meandering U2 potential classic and cut it down for radio.

If they can keep the meandering, Bad-like qualities but fix the pre chorus and the nails on a chalk board feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeereel nothing? This song could actually be worth the hype it's always received.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Also Happy Sphere Opening Night Anniversary Day to those who celebrate

 

[super fly guy]

If we are wanting proper studio releases of unheard songs from that era,give me Boy falls from the sky everytime.

 

[TinKnight]

I hate being negative about U2. There are few very U2 songs I actively dislike. Country Mile is one of them.

 

[dabiggestu2fan]

If we are wanting proper studio releases of unheard songs from that era,give me Boy falls from the sky everytime.

Yes this!! Boy falls from the sky is MUCH better then Mercy in my opinion. I can’t believe they never released a proper U2 version of this song!

 

[PookaMacP]

I've listened to Country Mile a few times now. Let's be honest, there's a reason why they discarded this back in 2004. I don't have a visceral reaction either way; it's just, well, forgettable.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

There's a reason why Edge is the guitar player and not the singer ..

 

[PookaMacP]

There's a reason why Edge is the guitar player and not the singer ..

Ha! Yep.