Surprise EP Release - Days of Ash - All Discussion Here

[mikal]

I’m not even thinking about you too from the 80s or 90s. That was their peak creative era. In my opinion, anything from post 2005 into a new era where the band became more part-time. They had enough money to party on the beach, raise their kids, etc. So pretty much anything they release, I put more in the comparison with those songs. I think “The Tears of Things”, “Song of the Future” and “One Life At A Time” rank up there with the best of this era. The two other songs definitely don’t rank up there with the worst of the era either.

 

[2861U2]

After the first listens of day two, not much has changed for me:

Song of the Future is the standout. All four members shine, and definitely my favorite of the bunch. I want to love Tears of Things, but I only like it so far. Bono when he seems lost religiously and talking to God is usually when he's at his best (IGWSHA, WILATW, WUDM). Great lyrics, good song. Hopefully it grows on me. Your Eternally is fun and catchy. Very poppy, but I don't mind the the occasional song like that if it's done well. I love the first verse especially.

The other three I don't have much use for. I must not be hearing what most of you are in One Life. I find it forgettable and not one I'll probably go back to much.

Once the actual tour starts in support of the album, I don't expect any of these to get played live. Maybe a snippet of Tears in a good spot.

 

[DeVaul]

Just because you enjoy anal stimulation, doesn't mean others do.

We don’t kink shame* around here, so even the conveniently apolitical are free to, ah, “get a grip.”

*Unless you are into American Soul/ YSSML / NLOTH middle 3

 

[david]

It’s funny, the other day I was scrolling Facebook and a reel popped up and it was rehearsal footage of Please form the 1997 MTV VMAs and I thought to myself “it would be nice if they could give us songs like this again - with this much emotional weight” and then they dropped this EP.

 

[vaz020202]

In Future, why does everyone keep thinking it’s Sarina Sarina when all I can hear is Sayōnara?

 

[popacrobat]

nice to see U2 back.

 

[Rich79]

I don't have time today to catch-up on all the discussion, but I just finished the Propaganda interview w Bono. I'd predict the new album will be called "Carnival of Light", but that was taken by the band RIDE in the 90s (might not stop them, who knows)

 

[clerks]

U2 had Songs of Surrender remixes, Bono book tour, The Sphere, Atomic City, Remix and new stuff from HTDAAB and now this EP...

People act like they've been gone for 20 years. This is them moving fast!

 

[david]

Had to make an appearance at my office today so I gave the ep the car test today. One Life At A Time sounds pretty good in my car haha.

 

[clerks]

Had to make an appearance at my office today so I gave the ep the car test today. One Life At A Time sounds pretty good in my car haha.

Nice. Now someone do the road head test!

 

[The John Tree]

I'd predict the new album will be called "Carnival of Light", but that was taken by the band RIDE in the 90s (might not stop them, who knows)

“Carnival of Light” is also a legendary unreleased Beatles track, supposedly a 15 minute avant garde jam that McCartney tried to release on Anthology, but the other surviving Beatles said no. Among Beatles fanatics, the track is quite mythical.

It would be the most Bono thing ever to title an album Carnival of Light in some sort of homage to this. I can hear his explanation now.

 

[clerks]

I don't have time today to catch-up on all the discussion, but I just finished the Propaganda interview w Bono. I'd predict the new album will be called "Carnival of Light", but that was taken by the band RIDE in the 90s (might not stop them, who knows)

Days of Ash.... I'm going with Weeks Of Sun. Or Months of Fun.

 

[david]

Jeff Tweedy got away with releasing a song called Cry Baby Cry.

 

[Fly-2000]

If it's filled with such joyful tunes maybe they should go with "We're Miserable Bastards Really" just to mess with us.

 

[DeVaul]

If it's filled with such joyful tunes maybe they should go with "We're Miserable Bastards Really" just to mess with us.

Next EP entitled Bits & Pieces and the cover art is an x-ray of Larry’s previously busted elbows.

 

[lazarus]

We don’t kink shame* around here

 

[vaz020202]

The idea of Carnival doesn’t thrill me - sounds Coldplayesque

That said, Bono has always wanted to perform on the beach of Rio…

 

[DeVaul]

The idea of Carnival doesn’t thrill me - sounds Coldplayesque

In some ways, we already there

 

[Rich79]

Musically, Yours Eternally sounds so different to the rest of the EP. More joyful, and much lighter - almost folk-esque instrumentation at times. I think this could be more of a window into what we might hear on the next album.

Unfortunately, I feel like this is mostly accurate. It's good for what it is, even surprisingly so, and I understand ending on a more hopeful sounding note; but it's the bubblegum pop chanting "this song's gonna save the world by giving us all hope" style thing they've been harping on about forever now that I think has significantly weakened their output from a creative stance. Please don't give me an album of all this.

1. American Obituary- this one wasn’t doing much for me until I saw the lyrics video and now it’s really something!!

The "Window in the Skies Effect" as I call it. I could hardly give that song the time of day until I saw the video for it.

The Tears of Things - nice enough I guess. Nice to hear Bono singing within his limits. Weird choice running his bridge vocals through a vocoder. Not sure why so many of you are so enamoured with it. 5

Weird choice? Good! It's the weird choices that elevate their music for me. That bridge is so far the highlight of the EP for me.

“Carnival of Light” is also a legendary unreleased Beatles track, supposedly a 15 minute avant garde jam that McCartney tried to release on Anthology, but the other surviving Beatles said no. Among Beatles fanatics, the track is quite mythical.

It would be the most Bono thing ever to title an album Carnival of Light in some sort of homage to this. I can hear his explanation now.

Well, the EP cover does have a Rubber Soul vibe going for it. Can we start the "Paul is Dead" conspiracy with this band yet? I mean look at young Bono! No way that's the same guy!

 

[Mr Gone]

I get this and feel the same about some things. I knew immediately I would always hate your song saved my life. It's about the feel and style. There is nothing in that song I find redeeming, and it's largely a style thing I just don't care for. I am fine if I never hear it again.

Its probably sacrilege to say on this site, but I feel the same way about Stateless, Book of Your Heart, Love Comes Tumbling, and Hands That Built America. All of those songs fall into that boring, bland U2 song that I just don't get at all. No amount of listening (I have tried hard with all of those) makes them less boring to me. They don't have any of the elements of U2 that I love. If they did an album that is all in that vein, I would give up on it pretty quickly. It wouldn't take lots of listens to know that is not my thing.

It always fascinates me how we're all wired (pun?) differently along these lines.

I have a friend that was blown away by Book of Your Heart when SOI came out. She just couldn't stop listening to it. I tried and tried to get into that song but to no avail. It does absolutely nothing for me. But knowing that someone else loves it makes the songs existence worthwhile and so I certainly wouldn't trash it.

Hands That Built America. Flat and beyond boring to me. But I just figure I'm a Neanderthal and am missing something. But that's ok. Plenty of other U2 tunes for me to enjoy.

Love Comes Tumbling is ok. Nothing objectionable. Nice groove. Not a great song but then again, it's a only B-side (though to be fair sometimes B-sides can be stellar).

Stateless isn't bad but not for me. Same for several other songs on that soundtrack.

I won't even bother commenting on Your Song Saved My Life. But it was made for a kid's film, so context. Maybe.

Anyway, nothing you said was sacrilege, for me at least. We all have our likes and dislikes and that's one of the things that makes the world such an interesting place.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I expect the next album to sound as much like carnival as Bomb sounded like punk rock from Venus.

 

[super fly guy]

Just heard the new foo fighters song,now thats dad "rawk".

 

[mikal]

Just heard the new foo fighters song,now thats dad "rawk".

It’s also good. I feel fortunate, 4 of my top 5 bands have released music in the last 6 months.

 

[prbiker15]

Just listened to the EP for the 2nd time and then moved on to the lyric videos. The lyric videos do a great job at enhancing the songs.

The Tears of Things - Strong lyrics. Those last 90 seconds are the four lads doing what they (arguably) do best - building a song up and going all out at the end.

Song of the Future - Probably the most accessible song on the EP. Catchy. If they ever wanted to capitalize on this EP and push a single to radio and whatnot, this is the one.

As for the other songs, they’re currently on the same boat. I’ll probably give them another listen, but they’re not grabbing me at the moment.

Still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we have 5-6 new songs out at the same time, for the first time in almost a decade.

 

[super fly guy]

It’s also good. I feel fortunate, 4 of my top 5 bands have released music in the last 6 months.

Yeah, with the biff being up there!

 

[mikal]

Yeah, with the biff being up there!

Yes! So good and I’m seeing them in Chicago in 2 months!

 

[Fano]

@Headache in a Suitcase your passing comment about turning Atmos off in Apple Music has been a real game changer. I’m embarrassed to say I had no idea it was on in my settings, and now everything sounds so much better. So, thank you for that little tidbit amongst all of the new EP hype.

I think my sound settings were off yesterday too, the PC did some update.
I rolled the settings back and the songs sound a bit better on Tidal.
They still arent great but they sound better than the first few listens.
American Obituary is still awful (Get on your Boots crossed with American Soul) but the rest are listenable, definitely could do without Sheeran though, that song sounds a bit like Unknown Caller.

 

[Irvine511]

On the second day, I think AO is not going to age well with me, but I appreciate that it’s written for this moment. Pretty good lyrics, too.

Hands is the standout. Really great lyrics.

EY is joyful and a bit bland and, yes, Coldplay. But people like Coldplay. I like some Coldplay too. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying enjoyable music. If you don’t, you probably kiss with your mouth closed.

The others are fine, with One Life as the one that sticks least with me, but it’s good. It’s well performed modern rock with a higher level of thought and craft than pretty much anyone else.

Good job all around.

 

[DeVaul]

Hands is the standout. Really great lyrics.

Hands you say?

 

[vaz020202]

American Obituary has so many good moments in it, quite fond of the guitar parts in this. The lyrics let it down but it isn’t supposed to be a masterpiece, was put together in weeks.