Snowlock
Refugee
Can't make myself like this album. I think the a-side is decent, but the b-side is so generic that I can barely remember the melodies of these songs when I see the titles.
The Miracle - Sounds like Vertigo and Beautiful Day had a baby. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Should be fun live. But we've heard this before. I'm also kinda sick of the whole "lets explore our roots" schtick. C'mon guys, it didn't work in 1989, it doesn't work now; simply changing the names of the bands you're paying homage to doesn't make it a fresh idea.
EBW - Like it. A good U2 song and worthy of the album. I might like the
"acoustic" version better. Not sure. The new producers improved on the song, if the 2010 versions are any indication.
California - The intro wrecks this song. Santa Barbara? Okay we get it, Edge lives there and wants the city council to let him build some development on a cliff. Does he need to ask the band to suck the city's dick to get it done?
Song for Someone - Could've been called 'Generic U2 Song #1'. If Rock Band prefabricated U2 parts to assemble into a song, this is what 85% of the users would've created. Even the title is generic. A perfect 5/10. Which I would hope U2 would find so insulting as to never deliver such claptrap again.
Iris - Great song. But I can't help but feel a little creeped out by it. Also, yes, it's Ultraviolet.
Volcano - Would be wholly forgettable if I didn't find the refrain so irritating and forced.
Raised By Wolves - Volcano without the irritating refrain.
Cedarwood Road - Beer song.
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight - Did this in 1997, called it If You Wear that Velvet Dress back then. Don't like either version.
This is wear you can zzzzzzzzz - I can't even finish typing out the title without boring myself to death. If this is supposed to be a song paying homage to The Clash, where's the hook? Where's the groove? Where's the stolen riffs from colored people?
The Troubles - Another filler; but at least the alternate version was better. I've played this song dozens of times, I couldn't repeat a single line of lyric without having to play it again. All I remember of this song is that there's some annoying chick singing on a U2 song; it annoyed me in 1983 with Red Light, it annoys me now.
It's a sad day when the most interesting song on this album (and the one that charted the best of the three singles so far) is hidden; and, it's not as strong a version as the edited one.
The reason Pop Music doesn't sell records like it did back in the day is because it's SHIT!!!! Don't use these shitty producers again, boys, please. Chasing relevance is kind of icky, but whatever; but don't tarnish your legacy at the same time.
I tried making an alternate track list to make this bore palatable:
1) The Miracle
2) Crystal Ballroom - because even this second rate disco song is better than much of what made the original album
3) Iris
4) Song for Someone
5) Raised by Wolves
6) This is Where
7) EBW
8) Invisible Album Version - Because the Red Edit is a little too good for this collection and it's succinctness feels out of place.
9) Ordinary Love - Which doesn't fit the tone of the album at all, but is a small sacrifice to pay for an excuse to cut shit from that b-side
10) California - I have an edit that cuts the santa barbara shit. Don't really improve it, but makes it less annoying.
11) Troubles (Alternate) - At least the alternate version allows it to compete for title of worst album closers ever with the likes of 'Grace' and 'Cedars', rather than simply winning it outright.
The Miracle - Sounds like Vertigo and Beautiful Day had a baby. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Should be fun live. But we've heard this before. I'm also kinda sick of the whole "lets explore our roots" schtick. C'mon guys, it didn't work in 1989, it doesn't work now; simply changing the names of the bands you're paying homage to doesn't make it a fresh idea.
EBW - Like it. A good U2 song and worthy of the album. I might like the
"acoustic" version better. Not sure. The new producers improved on the song, if the 2010 versions are any indication.
California - The intro wrecks this song. Santa Barbara? Okay we get it, Edge lives there and wants the city council to let him build some development on a cliff. Does he need to ask the band to suck the city's dick to get it done?
Song for Someone - Could've been called 'Generic U2 Song #1'. If Rock Band prefabricated U2 parts to assemble into a song, this is what 85% of the users would've created. Even the title is generic. A perfect 5/10. Which I would hope U2 would find so insulting as to never deliver such claptrap again.
Iris - Great song. But I can't help but feel a little creeped out by it. Also, yes, it's Ultraviolet.
Volcano - Would be wholly forgettable if I didn't find the refrain so irritating and forced.
Raised By Wolves - Volcano without the irritating refrain.
Cedarwood Road - Beer song.
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight - Did this in 1997, called it If You Wear that Velvet Dress back then. Don't like either version.
This is wear you can zzzzzzzzz - I can't even finish typing out the title without boring myself to death. If this is supposed to be a song paying homage to The Clash, where's the hook? Where's the groove? Where's the stolen riffs from colored people?
The Troubles - Another filler; but at least the alternate version was better. I've played this song dozens of times, I couldn't repeat a single line of lyric without having to play it again. All I remember of this song is that there's some annoying chick singing on a U2 song; it annoyed me in 1983 with Red Light, it annoys me now.
It's a sad day when the most interesting song on this album (and the one that charted the best of the three singles so far) is hidden; and, it's not as strong a version as the edited one.
The reason Pop Music doesn't sell records like it did back in the day is because it's SHIT!!!! Don't use these shitty producers again, boys, please. Chasing relevance is kind of icky, but whatever; but don't tarnish your legacy at the same time.
I tried making an alternate track list to make this bore palatable:
1) The Miracle
2) Crystal Ballroom - because even this second rate disco song is better than much of what made the original album
3) Iris
4) Song for Someone
5) Raised by Wolves
6) This is Where
7) EBW
8) Invisible Album Version - Because the Red Edit is a little too good for this collection and it's succinctness feels out of place.
9) Ordinary Love - Which doesn't fit the tone of the album at all, but is a small sacrifice to pay for an excuse to cut shit from that b-side
10) California - I have an edit that cuts the santa barbara shit. Don't really improve it, but makes it less annoying.
11) Troubles (Alternate) - At least the alternate version allows it to compete for title of worst album closers ever with the likes of 'Grace' and 'Cedars', rather than simply winning it outright.