Unknown Caller appreciation thread

[LarryMullen's POPAngel]

I think so far this is in the top 3 for me, the other two being No Line and Stand Up Comedy... (2nd listen right now, with more to come)

 

[surelypaul]

Worst song I've heard so far on the album. I'm listening to it now on my earphones at work. I can't believe its U2. It sounds like something from Tommy The Musical.

You obviously drink a lot...

 

[Aardvark747]

Still growing on me...

 

[Achtung_CJ]

Just finished listening to it again! I love this song. The chanting chorus is my favorite part. Definitely a great track

 

[ekelhaft]

so i heard it now the 100time and i cant get enough from this fuckin shit.

 

[europop2005]

My favorite solo on the album

 

[Rosebud]

The solo is sick, and the verses are wildly magical.

 

[mikal]

^^^^^^^^^^^^

definitely gives me the chills.

 

[quiltybones]

The first four songs on NLOTH make for one of the most glorious thirty minute stretches of music they've ever done. It's all capped off by Unknown Caller -- possibly my favorite U2 song since ... since ... Kite? Mofo? Stay? Lemon? ...

Holy shit, this might just be my favorite U2 song ever.

 

[Zooropa man]

All it needs are the wave sounds... lol

No, I love this song a lot.... can't get enough of it.

 

[Zooropa man]

All it needs are the wave sounds... lol

No, I love this song a lot.... can't get enough of it.

 

[Popmart Shopper]

Fantistic Chorus.Great Edge guitar solo.Excellent harmony.

 

[purpleblackeye]

a daring song, unlike anything out there in rock music today.

that solo is just killer.

the best song on the album for me, next to Moment of Surrender

 

[Zooropa man]

a daring song, unlike anything out there in rock music today.

that solo is just killer.

the best song on the album for me, next to Moment of Surrender

It's truly something that you would expect out of a Pink Floyd album. You are right, we don't hear this type of stuff now.

 

[Michael Griffiths]

It's truly something that you would expect out of a Pink Floyd album. You are right, we don't hear this type of stuff now.

Very true...it is Pink Floyd-ish in a non-Radiohead Pink Floyd-ish sort of way. This is U2 entering the world of meta-physics, going beyond common religion and touching upon the nature of God and the universe. A spectacular song.

 

[alanah]

It's one of the best songs on the album for sure.

 

[diamond]

sooo..i leave for a day and this thread sinks..

 

[whackjester]

Is it just me or at 5:25 do you hear a harp? That's gotta be a U2 first.

 

[Gilead12]

Anyone else in on the The Edge's guitar = the ringing phone of the "Unknown Caller?"

The tone really sounds like that; even just the way he plays does it.

So Edge's guitar is like God calling for us to answer Him...

Which is an accurate representation of the solo.

 

[stray dog]

dunno...woke up one night and it was the devil on the line.

 

[Flying FuManchu]

One of the songs that I really like. I like the intro with the birds. I like how Moment of Surrender sort of flows into Unknown Caller. The guitar for the most part sounds like typical Edge chime BUT I think it just fits the song so extremely well that I don't pay mind to it, with guitar playing actually enhancing the song. I've been critical of Edge's use of his trademark sound and playing, but it fits just right on this song. The chorus, climax, and finale are great. Solo is good and fits. I think of Walk On's solo (nice solo) and how it just didn't fit with Walk On, but this solo definitely fits with Unknown Caller.

 

[diamond]

...it has an unlifting triumphant sound..makes you wanna sing, cry and smile..all at once.

 

[Bonogirl777]

Ditto.

 

[rwolins1]

Small Similarity to Hands That Built...

Not that this is a complaint, Unknown Caller is my favorite song on the album, but does anybody else agree that there is an element to Bono's voice on this song and the rhythm/beat that is similar to The Hands That Built America's "It's early fall, there's a cloud on the New York skyline...."?

 

[monke]

great song, this was the only beach clip i had listen to, and i loved it, but never really knew it was the same song, itll be great live

 

[stray dog]

Not that this is a complaint, Unknown Caller is my favorite song on the album, but does anybody else agree that there is an element to Bono's voice on this song and the rhythm/beat that is similar to The Hands That Built America's "It's early fall, there's a cloud on the New York skyline...."?

I hear that too...but this song takes so many turns...htba was predictable in some ways...this one goes here and then goes there...and absolutely flattens me with edge at playing it out. quirky? but yet completely sonic.

 

[Fullonedge3]

Is it just me or is this just an absolute beast of a song? I think of it having 3 parts: the intro, the chorus-containing middle section, and the solo outro. It's just epic.

 

[meetdave]

Unknown Caller is the song I keep coming back to. Most original song I've heard in quite a while and a total surprise.

Dude has a car accident and his cell phone starts beaming the voice of God to him???? Not sure what it is about, but that's the fun of a great song.

This whole album is fantastic. I do not understand the complaints. Totally slays their last 4 albums (I think) and honestly, my favorite CDs over the past year were TV on the Radio's Dear Science and Radiohead's In Rainbows -- amazing albums -- but THERE'S NOTHING LIKE U2 WHEN THEY ARE ON TOP OF THEIR GAME. And this new album was well worth the wait.

 

[maycocksean]

Musically, one of the most gorgeous tunes U2 has ever done in IMHO. The off kilter-lyrics and chanting vocals were just what was needed to leaven a song that would otherwise have been too beautiful, if such a thing is possible.

 

[MrBTH]

I really don't understand how anyone could fail to be blown away by this song... It's dark yet joyful, odd yet anthemic, musically and dynamically extraordianary... God it's a fucking trip of a track from start to finish...
I knew I'd love it from the beach clips but the finished version exceeds every expectation...