Surprise EP Release - Days of Ash - All Discussion Here

[Irvine511]

I'll admit I looked up what it's about and now I feel a bit weird tapping my foot to a song about a teenager beaten to death by her own government.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the perfect distillation of what it’s like to listen to U2.

 

[DaveC]

Worth $400 in double jeopardy tonight:

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Who are Hanson?

 

[DaveC]

i'm sorry, we were looking for Ace of Base...

 

[lazarus]

There's a Lance's Mom/Sean Connery/Trebek's mother joke here somewhere, I know it.

 

[cobl04]

It’s funny because after hearing it a couple of times and reading through the lyrics I thought “now this sort of writing reminds me of Nick Cave, historical/biblical narrative imagining conversations as allegory for real world atrocities , some clever lyricism culminating in a gut punch line like ‘when people go round talking to God is always ends in tears’”. No accounting for personal preferences, but I immediately thought of you and thought this might be the tune that brings you back in.

It just... feels a bit laboured to me. Like one of those songs that feels a lot longer than it is. Something I can't quite put my finger on between the music and Bono's vocals just puts me off a little bit (Cave's singing is much more understated). It's a bit histrionic. I do like it, though.

One Life at a Time is definitely the best track in my eyes, and my favourite new/non-vault/re-record song they have released since The Troubles, and then before that NLOTH's best three (Fez, Cedars and Moment of Surrender). Then Song of the Future. Then Tears. Yours Eternally works, in spite of itself, American Obituary is definitely my least favourite, but it's fine.

 

[ChurchBay2]

What on earth is going on here? (AI slop alert)

 

[2861U2]

Worth $400 in double jeopardy tonight:

View attachment 24400

The important part- did someone get it right?

 

[2861U2]

What on earth is going on here? (AI slop alert)

Saw that several weeks ago, but re-watching it now, interesting how the font they use for Only Works One Way is awful similar to the font on Days Of Ash…

 

[DeVaul]

accepting their status?

 

[gvox]

To be better than any past U2 album, it would have to have n standout tracks that eclipse the same number of standouts on any past release.

At only 5 actual songs, it’s already handicapped.

At only 3 that are absolute standouts, it gets a lot harder for me to make that case. I can easily pick 3+ songs on each of their past albums that I think are as good/better/can’t live without

 

[DeVaul]

At only 3 that are absolute standouts

You’re being generous.

 

[BEAL]

accepting their status?

View attachment 24401

We keep beating this dead horse

Please ditch those glasses

 

[mikal]

To be better than any past U2 album, it would have to have n standout tracks that eclipse the same number of standouts on any past release.

At only 5 actual songs, it’s already handicapped.

At only 3 that are absolute standouts, it gets a lot harder for me to make that case. I can easily pick 3+ songs on each of their past albums that I think are as good/better/can’t live without

I do consider Jar Of Flies to be one of the best things in Alice In Chains’ catalog, though. And it doesn’t have as many standout tracks as some of their albums.

 

[Rich79]

And I'd bet that American Obit is a re-worked-to-fit-the-times concept from the "loud, uncompromising, irrational guitar album" that would not have fit on the "defiantly joyful" album they're working on.

Is it defiant because it's going to be 60 minutes of Coldplay-esque chanting with dance-adjacent beats in the background that nobody asked for?

*promise I'm not that skeptical

...yet

 

[gvox]

I do consider Jar Of Flies to be one of the best things in Alice In Chains’ catalog, though. And it doesn’t have as many standout tracks as some of their albums.

Hmm. Perhaps.. I guess I'm just not convinced that I'll end up enjoying it overall than most of U2's other records. The closest for me would might be NLOTH. On just about every other album there are 6 or more tracks that are in heavy rotation for me.

 

[dan_smee]

U2valencia posted a video from yesterday where they met Bono and edge and they asked them about playing live soon. Bono didn’t answer but then pulled a very smug and cheeky face and walked off. I think it seems the plan for the year is pretty final. It’s going to be a fun year to be a U2 fan

 

[clerks]

U2valencia posted a video from yesterday where they met Bono and edge and they asked them about playing live soon. Bono didn’t answer but then pulled a very smug and cheeky face and walked off. I think it seems the plan for the year is pretty final. It’s going to be a fun year to be a U2 fan

And that weirdo BONO impersonator who can get some free drinks at bars outside Jimmy Fallon.

 

[gvox]

U2valencia posted a video from yesterday where they met Bono and edge and they asked them about playing live soon. Bono didn’t answer but then pulled a very smug and cheeky face and walked off. I think it seems the plan for the year is pretty final. It’s going to be a fun year to be a U2 fan

saving for 2027

Take my money! lol

 

[clerks]

I guess an EP can't stop WW3.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I guess an EP can't stop WW3.

Perhaps if they had put it on the Ayatollah's iPhone

 

[gvox]

You say you wanna save the world..

 

[The John Tree]

I appreciate how this forum takes weekends off.

 

[DeVaul]

I appreciate how this forum takes weekends off.

They’re We’re Lazy.

 

[gvox]

I actually had a thought about that...show of hands how many people are using the forum to pass the time at the ol' 9 to 5? lol

 

[DeVaul]

 

[david]

I actually had a thought about that...show of hands how many people are using the forum to pass the time at the ol' 9 to 5? lol

Haha, me. My job shifted to a hybrid schedule following Covid and my wfh days involve this forum, other forums, youtube guitar lessons and hanging out with my dog. My in office days involve those things too minus my dog.

 

[Fly-2000]

I guess an EP can't stop WW3.

I guess they got bored of peace.

 

[2861U2]

I actually had a thought about that...show of hands how many people are using the forum to pass the time at the ol' 9 to 5? lol

Oh, absolutely. I have a job where there's either a lot to do for a stretch of time, or very little, so I spend a lot of my free time checking this place and searching for other U2 news.

 

[clerks]

I appreciate how this forum takes weekends off.

Some of us take all the weekends off between tours or albums. Others have 80,000 posts, neglected children and unpaid therapy bills.