Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Harmonies News

This is borrowed news, I guess, having read it on Robert Uthlaut's blog. However, it is big enough news that I can't keep it under wraps. U2 (the greatest band, ever) is considering re-recording their Pop album, which, incidentally, is one of my favorites (though Liv hates it). Maybe she will like it after this. There is a lot of good stuff on that album. Edge is great on this album, in my opinion. When Pop first came out, the critics loved it; however, U2's audience didn't, and it ended up being their biggest financial flop yet. Anyway, you can take a listen over on U2.com, on the sidebar Harmonies links.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

What do you think of "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb"? I haven't gotten a chance to talk to you about it yet.

Anonymous said...

Funny that you ask. I just listened to the clips today on U2.com. I would like to hear what you think. I was excited when it first came out, and went to listen to it the first day. However, amidst all the buzz, I didn't really like it at first. It actually took me a while to warm up to Vertigo. There were 3 songs that I liked on first hearing: "Miracle Drug," "Love and Peace or Else," and "All Because of You." However, I think I have warmed up to it a little. I heard people comparing it to other albums, but the only album that it reminds me of is maybe October (or Boy). Obviously, some things are a lot different, but it kind of sounds wild like their early stuff, and not as disciplined as later stuff (I don't know if that makes any sense). However, I really think I had an easier time liking Boy than this. I just don't feel like I get it. It seems disorganized to me. But I think that having only listened to it fully twice, and never having looked at the lyrics, that is very likely just due to me. I do think that my mind is changing about it. I would like to spend some time with it. It took me a long time to warm up to Pop and Achtung Baby, but now, those are two of my favorite albums all-time, with War, and All That You Can't Leave Behind (two that took no time to warm up to). Maybe you could give some wisdom. Please comment on the site (send me an email, too, but I would like to be able to make your thoughts on it public). It's really good to hear from you. I hope all is well.

Anonymous said...

It wasn't "All Because of You" that I liked at first. It was "City of Blinding Lights."

Anonymous said...

Well, you know that my perspective is going to be more about the music than the lyrics. I think Edge is at the top of his game on this album. He's still using the same delay tricks that he perfected on The Joshua Tree (think "Where the Streets have No Name"), but in my opinion, his leads on HTDAAB—simple and beautiful—are the best that any pop artist can dish out, period. "Miracle" and "City of Blinding Lights" are probably my favorites on the album as well, but I also really like "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," "A Man and a Woman," and "Yahweh". I agree that it's more "wild" than recent albums like All That You Can't Leave Behind, hearkening back to their earlier days. On the other hand, I also feel like it's a very solid album, and even more musically diverse than even some of their more recent albums (Pop comes to mind). I feel like there's very little filler on this whole album, although "Vertigo" is annoying to me (one...two...three...fourteen?), and I think it's pretty boring, perhaps against popular opinion. All in all, though, probably my favorite album since The Joshua Tree.

Anonymous said...

I take back my comment about Pop.

Anonymous said...

So you don't think Pop is musically diverse?

Anonymous said...

And when you say diverse, you mean diverse within itself, as opposed to a diverseness within the spectrum of rock/pop, right?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, diverse within itself.

Anonymous said...

Also, congrats on the recent graduation. Law school is next, and where? Any other news? But please do talk about U2.

Anonymous said...

I hear you about Vertigo, though. Favorite since Joshua Tree? Over Achtung Baby? This sounds crazy, but I will give you your opinions, since they're more respectable than mine.

Do you think Pop is not musically diverse, or do you think that this album is less so than Pop? What are you taking back?

Anonymous said...

Also, your old blog is inaccessible. Do you have a new one, or am I using the wrong address?

Anonymous said...

Rich, I only just now found your blog! I've added a link to mine. It's always interesting to hear the opinions of other U2 fans. I have grown to love HTDAAB such that I consider it among my top three favorites -- Achtung Baby and ATYCLB are the other two. Joshua Tree never really grew on me like the others did, and consequently I probably listen to it the least. I like most every song on the new album, and I especially look forward to seeing them on tour in November.

Anonymous said...

Where are you seeing them? That's great that you have tickets. I saw them twice on the ATYCLB tour. They were awesome, and Edge really makes their sound when they're live. He is the most important member of the band, in my opinion, esp. after seeing them in person. I was privileged to see them in Charlotte, which was a pretty small arena. Atlanta was where I saw them the second time, and I thought that it was so big, that the sound was kind of lost on me.

Anonymous said...

I'm seeing them at Philips Arena in November as I did during the ATYCLB tour. We didn't end up with the best seats in the world, but just being there is enough for me. I don't like to go deaf at concerts, so seeing them in a big arena doesn't bother me at all.

Anonymous said...

When I say that it sounds wild, that's not a statement of dislike. I just mean that it sounds like they have a lot of energy on the album (like Boy and War and others). However, I did feel kind of lost listening to it, and that's what I mean when I say it sounds disorganized to me. That's what I didn't like. I think I need to get the album. Everyone that I know that's a U2 fan really likes it. I listened to it at the store. There's only one U2 album that I've never completely warmed up to (read: given my heart to), and that's Zooropa, and even that's mainly due to just a couple of songs. I appreciate your thoughts on HTDAAB. You're convincing me to give it another try.

Also, looking forward to hearing how they are live. I remember that I really started to like "New York, New York" after hearing it live.

Anonymous said...

Rich,

The new blog is at www.benzinnecker.com/blog. The other one unexpectedly got deleted, so I'm trying to make another run of it.

Sorry I didn't respond earlier,
-Z.