Surprise EP Release - Days of Ash - All Discussion Here

[AshTS]

Names of Ash

?

 

[Irvine511]

fighting the urge to crack the skulls of fascists posting their pro-ICE reactions on the U2 Facebook page.

with words, of course.

 

[clerks]

But are you on The List™ ?

I'm 4563 in line to get on The List, but 1st at the Venue. Let the Gods decide.

 

[clerks]

Chhhhowers of fun

And yet Brian has released far more interesting music in the past decade than U2.

This song is what you hear right before you drink the Kool Aid.

 

[dan_smee]

Chhhhowers of fun

And yet Brian has released far more interesting music in the past decade than U2.

I’m not trying to yuck anyone’s yum here - but this doesn’t exactly argue against Bono’s point about Eno’s recognition of a hit. This music is quite interesting etc, but I would never expect this type of thing from U2. This level of anti-consumability isnt even possible from Passengers. There’s no point in comparing.

 

[CedarwoodAWT]

I’m not trying to yuck anyone’s yum here - but this doesn’t exactly argue against Bono’s point about Eno’s recognition of a hit. This music is quite interesting etc, but I would never expect this type of thing from U2. This level of anti-consumability isnt even possible from Passengers. There’s no point in comparing.

I would still take whatever Eno might have done to “American Obituary”. Including throwing it in the trash can.

 

[cseggleton]

I understand why people may feel this way, but I can't get behind it.

If I had to compare everything the band released to Streets, Bad, One? I'd just give up.

You can't compare every release to the greatest songs a band has ever written. They have to be judged on their own merit. I can enjoy Hackney Diamonds while realizing that it's not in the same stratosphere as Beggar's Banquet.

I just couldn't imagine constantly trying to judge everything released by an artist against their greatest works. Feels like it would be exhausting.

Totally agree. Part of the fun for me especially War to ATYCLB was the fun of having to digest the new sound and direction of each new release. How they were able to reinvent themselves and create great tunes with each reinvention was part of the draw. Achtung, Zooropa, and PoP are always the albums I revisit most and secretly want that experimental period again.

 

[CedarwoodAWT]

Totally agree. Part of the fun for me especially War to ATYCLB was the fun of having to digest the new sound and direction of each new release. How they were able to reinvent themselves and create great tunes with each reinvention was part of the draw. Achtung, Zooropa, and PoP are always the albums I revisit most and secretly want that experimental period again.

I think there is something to the idea that as we age our creative capacities slow down with the rest of us mentally and physically. So I get with the band being as old as they are, I don’t think I have a right to expect “new sound” every album or three. In fact I don’t need to hear “brand new sound” at all.

What’s a bummer for me with Edge is that he’s had many years now - after the experimental work of their first 20 years ended - to just get better technically. He doesn’t have to try to be Jimmy Page or John Mayer, but would it hurt to add to his toolbox the arpeggios and classical influences you hear in Andy Summers and Johnny Greenwood?

I think we get what “minimalist Edge” can bring to the table. At this point it really just sounds to me like he’s retreading the same elements for 26 years. I’m sad to say it’s kind of boring.

I wish he’d get some really intense classical lessons or study a wide range of scale work and bring it in.

Can it hurt?

 

[MrPryck2U]

fighting the urge to crack the skulls of fascists posting their pro-ICE reactions on the U2 Facebook page.

with words, of course.

I saw that and didn't respond. Argue with a fool and you have 2 fools arguing.

 

[Maroon Bells]

Tears of Things owes a phrasing debt to One Shot of Happy, Two Shots of Sad. Also, "the silent song of Christendom / so loud everybody hears" is a great line.

 

[cobl04]

I’m not trying to yuck anyone’s yum here - but this doesn’t exactly argue against Bono’s point about Eno’s recognition of a hit. This music is quite interesting etc, but I would never expect this type of thing from U2. This level of anti-consumability isnt even possible from Passengers. There’s no point in comparing.

Totally get you, but I would rather U2 make interesting music than try to make hits, the vast majority of which over the last 20 years have been awful.

 

[vaz020202]

Tears of Things might be their best song this century

 

[ascender_RS]

The reviews

fighting the urge to crack the skulls of fascists posting their pro-ICE reactions on the U2 Facebook page.

with words, of course.

I saw similar stuff on Reddit which is pretty depressing to be honest. Disappointed but not surprised.

 

[dan_smee]

Totally get you, but I would rather U2 make interesting music than try to make hits, the vast majority of which over the last 20 years have been awful.

Yeah - the sweet spot is something that is interesting above all else. U2 have done interesting very well in the past, and even plenty of times in the last 20 years - even if it hasn’t had the artistic clarity of Eno or Cave, or been to the taste/liking of the long term fans who have low tolerance for this period in their history.

I think you’d be hard pressed as a U2 fan to not call these songs interesting - even the lesser of them for the ways they depart from similar things in the recent past. American Obituary has more to it than American Soul, the Miracle or Stand Up Comedy. It’s structurally more interesting, it has far more detail and texture and layering than those songs. It’s a low bar, and I’m not saying that’s it’s great - just that it is a step in the right direction from those songs. Yours Eternally is in the same boat. It’s far more interesting than Best Thing, GOOYOW, SFS, Crazy Tonight. I want to compare these songs with their peers, not the peak of artistic integrity.

Also, before I get shouted down from all sides - things I find interesting (and note I didn’t say great) in the last 20 years:

- Oh Berlin (I think it counts given how much was recorded in 2011)
- invisible
- Fez-Being Born
- Soon
- Cedars of Lebanon
- Moment of Surrender
- Love is All We Have Left - the atmosphere and vocoder thing - a creeping, haunting snippet to open an album. The guts to open the album after the Apple thing like that isn’t talked about enough.
- Red Flag Day
- Little Things (a top 2/3 song since AB for me)
- Book of Your Heart
- EBW from A Sort of Homecoming
- Raised By Wolves
- TIWYCRMN
- The Troubles
- SLABT
- Crystal Ballroom
- Acoustic 11 O’Clock
- piano Stories for Boys
- Dirty Day, Stay, Wild Horses from e+i tour
- the Sphere
- pulling out Seconds, Two Hearts and Love Rescue Me live
- Songs of Surrender versions of IGWSHA and stay
- 40 Foot Man
- Bono’s solo show
- Actually releasing Mercy and somehow improving it in 2024.
- Releasing Days of Ash clearly so quickly after writing and recording it, and having songs like One Life at a Time still in them somewhere.

There’s nothing avant garde, groundbreaking or anything like that. But they are all moments of pleasant surprise

 

[ascender_RS]

To me, this is a cohesive collection of songs which don't sound overproduced, sound fresh, lyrically different, musically interesting and varied. I love what they've done.

Adding-in the Propaganda, the politically-themed lyric videos etc, its been a great surprise.

Also looks like its been very well received critically which is interesting and encouraging, especially if they look at this as having been a success outside of the fanbase.

 

[RUBIKSCUBE]

Yeah - the sweet spot is something that is interesting above all else. U2 have done interesting very well in the past, and even plenty of times in the last 20 years - even if it hasn’t had the artistic clarity of Eno or Cave, or been to the taste/liking of the long term fans who have low tolerance for this period in their history.

I think you’d be hard pressed as a U2 fan to not call these songs interesting - even the lesser of them for the ways they depart from similar things in the recent past. American Obituary has more to it than American Soul, the Miracle or Stand Up Comedy. It’s structurally more interesting, it has far more detail and texture and layering than those songs. It’s a low bar, and I’m not saying that’s it’s great - just that it is a step in the right direction from those songs. Yours Eternally is in the same boat. It’s far more interesting than Best Thing, GOOYOW, SFS, Crazy Tonight. I want to compare these songs with their peers, not the peak of artistic integrity.

Also, before I get shouted down from all sides - things I find interesting (and note I didn’t say great) in the last 20 years:

- Oh Berlin (I think it counts given how much was recorded in 2011)
- invisible
- Fez-Being Born
- Soon
- Cedars of Lebanon
- Moment of Surrender
- Love is All We Have Left - the atmosphere and vocoder thing - a creeping, haunting snippet to open an album. The guts to open the album after the Apple thing like that isn’t talked about enough.
- Red Flag Day
- Little Things (a top 2/3 song since AB for me)
- Book of Your Heart
- EBW from A Sort of Homecoming
- Raised By Wolves
- TIWYCRMN
- The Troubles
- SLABT
- Crystal Ballroom
- Acoustic 11 O’Clock
- piano Stories for Boys
- Dirty Day, Stay, Wild Horses from e+i tour
- the Sphere
- pulling out Seconds, Two Hearts and Love Rescue Me live
- Songs of Surrender versions of IGWSHA and stay
- 40 Foot Man
- Bono’s solo show
- Actually releasing Mercy and somehow improving it in 2024.
- Releasing Days of Ash clearly so quickly after writing and recording it, and having songs like One Life at a Time still in them somewhere.

There’s nothing avant garde, groundbreaking or anything like that. But they are all moments of pleasant surprise

Agree. The bad attempts at singles over the last 3 albums draw all the attention, but the majority of the album tracks in each of these records is worthy of the U2 name and can stand aside those of their earlier work. It's just that they haven't delivered a hit in that time, and they've tried too hard to do so. The masses may think of them as being irrelevant and artistically dead but I've never agreed with this, there's loads to enjoy on their recent albums.

 

[AndrewCowley]

If the album is not worse than this I’ll be happy. 6 decent songs. Not earth shattering, but it’s unrealistic to expect that.

A few of them do sound like SOI and SOE era outtakes / rejects which I’m not a fan of. But whatever.

I like One Life At A Time a lot. It has a smouldering sound to it where you can actually picture them playing together.

 

[MattD]

I agree about American Obituary. I think there's a dirtiness to the recording that the dire rockers like Miracle, American Soul etc lack. It doesn't sound like they've watered it down for radio consumption ala those mentioned tracks. Nothing The Edge did in those risible rockers did anything for me, but I like what he's doing here.

It's not a great song, but hopefully its a sign of them being unshackled by some sense of commercialism and a tentative step in the right direction.

 

[AndrewCowley]

Agree re Edge making a welcome return here. There’s a breaking of the shackles taking place here, hopefully putting an end to the sterility of his recent studio efforts.

 

[mikal]

I agree about American Obituary. I think there's a dirtiness to the recording that the dire rockers like Miracle, American Soul etc lack. It doesn't sound like they've watered it down for radio consumption ala those mentioned tracks. Nothing The Edge did in those risible rockers did anything for me, but I like what he's doing here.

It's not a great song, but hopefully its a sign of them being unshackled by some sense of commercialism and a tentative step in the right direction.

Agreed. His guitar riff actually carries the song, much like Boy Falls From The Sky, which should have been a U2 song.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Totally get you, but I would rather U2 make interesting music than try to make hits, the vast majority of which over the last 20 years have been awful.

But what's interesting to one person is mind numbingly boring, pretentious bullish to another.

 

[Fly-2000]

I'm surprised at how well this is being received in the media generally, expected more push back:

U2's Days of Ash EP: Political fury drives a thrilling set of comeback songs

 

[Airseven]

People trying to like these duds for the ham-fisted messaging alone

 

[david]

Mmmm ham fist

 

[DeVaul]

I agree about American Obituary. I think there's a dirtiness to the recording that the dire rockers like Miracle, American Soul etc lack. It doesn't sound like they've watered it down for radio consumption ala those mentioned tracks. Nothing The Edge did in those risible rockers did anything for me, but I like what he's doing here.

It's not a great song, but hopefully its a sign of them being unshackled by some sense of commercialism and a tentative step in the right direction.

It isn’t as annoying production-wise as The Miracle, but I’ll go to bat for that song’s songwriting over American Obituary. The acoustic sessions take is my preferred form and would’ve been the bolder approach for a first single. The sloppy AO bridge (“thin aiiiiiir”) is classic U2 demo mode and I find that kinda charming.

 

[Maroon Bells]

Totally get you, but I would rather U2 make interesting music than try to make hits, the vast majority of which over the last 20 years have been awful.

I think their most interesting work has been in the last 20 years. I mean we rave about the early stuff, but it doesn't show near the playing and songwriting chops of recent U2. U2 could not have written a song like Tears of Things 20 years ago, and certainly not in the 80s.

 

[MattD]

Totally get you, but I would rather U2 make interesting music than try to make hits, the vast majority of which over the last 20 years have been awful.

The principle is very clear. Be closer to Brian Eno, Radiohead, David Byrne, Bowie rather than Mumford & Sons, modern Coldplay, Kings of Leon.

The EP is refreshingly rawer than the latter dirge of drippy stadium acts, but Yours Eternally strays distressingly close to them.

 

[jphelmet]

I think their most interesting work has been in the last 20 years. I mean we rave about the early stuff, but it doesn't show near the playing and songwriting chops of recent U2. U2 could not have written a song like Tears of Things 20 years ago, and certainly not in the 80s.

That's an interesting take, but I definitely don't agree. I think they are now writing (like Tears of Things) with a completely different palette. They are different, some are great, but the difference in approach is certainly not better, or even more refined- just different.

The way I see there work is like they went from impressionistic paintings to hyper-realistic. Lots of people think hyper-realistic is better because it seems harder. I prefer the impressionistic style of song, which may feel more unfinished, but leaves much more room to interpretation, and has loads more ambience and feel.

I actually like Tears of Things quite a lot, and while they would have never thought to work that way in the 80's, it doesn't mean its better. I think the lament of the song is done in the 80's in a songs Running to Stand Still and Mother's of the DIsappeared with a completely differnt pallette, but I wouldn't think the band sounds more accomplished in their writing on Tears of Things. For my ears, Running is far superior, and MOD still better if less so.

The good if you like what they are doing now (I do), you can appreciate both. I don't see any validity in that new songwriting chops are better. In fact, I think they are worse in a lot of ways, but I appreciate the impressionistic more.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

What made U2 great is their ability to bridge the gap between commercial/accessible and experimental/atmospheric.

Admittedly they've trended too far to the commercial side of late, but in no way do I want them to sound like Radiohead or Brian Eno solo work, either. I'm not interested in Passengers Part 2.

A drift further towards them - sure. I think we'd all appreciate that. But not too far.

I don't think these songs are "too" commerical sounding - which was a fair criticism of SOE and anything Tedder. I feel like Tears and One Life At A Time do a good job of bridging that gap. Maybe they could be a bit more atmospheric in nature, but it's certainly not pandering to the kids U2.

 

[clerks]

As a screenwriter (shout out to my writer peeps) I have these fun discussions all the time of too popular vs not.

To get MANY people to like something is the HARDER thing to do. It's easy to write small things that are for just the writer or artist and have 100 people that love them. It's much harder to get 10000 to love the same piece of art work.

The reason we are all here on a U2 forum is because they are the most successful band of all time. So to pretend like their goal isn't to make commercial hits 95% of the time is hilarious to me.

And also why do you think people like Brian Eno work with U2? Because they want to have their music heard by more than 100 people.

In writing we talk about "our voice" and that's what great artists have. U2 has their voice and their DNA is still in every song -- even the ones they won't play in concert.

I'm all for opinions on if you like a certain song or not or even a band, but I don't get some of these posts that basically boil down too the less accessible the song is to many the more I prefer it regardless if it's a good song or not.

***Yogi Berra was asked if a certain restaurant in New York was as popular as ever. “Naw,” quoth Yogi. “Nobody ever goes there anymore — it’s too crowded.”