U2 | Songs of Innocence

[McParadigm]

Mostly, i'm just amazed at how much like a normal record, with human thoughts and human ideas, it is. It doesn't sound like it expects to change the world. It doesn't even feel like it expects to be shot into space, for other worlds to find and understand us by.

I'm just used to post-2000 U2 records feeling like staring at a monolith from very, very far away.

[stip]

I haven't paid any attention to the lyrics yet. Should I? I certainly don't find it to be as subtle an album as McP seems to. It certainly isn't as stridently anthematic as U2 can be (in their best and worst moments) but in many of these songs, especially the weaker ones, there still seemed to be a tendency to go bigger than was necessary in places.

[ridleybradout]

While a lot of the song titles are lame and bordering of self-parody, there actually aren't many cringeworthy Bono-isms in the lyrics - some are actually quite brilliant.

[digster]

Boy, is side B better. It makes me wonder what an album solely helmed by Danger Mouse would have been like.

But this was better than I would have ever expected it to be. Nothing amazing, but solid.

[McParadigm]

And I'm not about to come rushing to defend it as bombastless, stip. i'm not claiming it to be the best thing I've heard all year. But it IS all relative, and this is His Lord Majesty Bono we are talking about.

From a band that once titled an album how to dismantle an atomic bomb, and then put themselves on the cover (question. answer.), yes…songs about how seeing the Clash changed little Paul's life feel quaint and personable.

[McParadigm]

I also appreciate the humor that this is yet another band where the singer is now singing about famous rock stars he likes...and waves.

[ridleybradout]

Boy, is side B better.

And sounds a lot like Boy at times too (Volcano, Raised by Wolves)

U2 do 'back to their roots' a whole lot better than PJ.

[digster]

The Troubles is the bar none best track on this to me. It reminds me of Portishead.

[Kaius]

After the first two listens I am pretty much only listening to side B.

'Raised By Wolves' reminds me a lot of the early albums, which is a good thing.

'Cedarwood Road' has promise, but then the chorus pretty much kills it. It goes from interesting to boring quite seamlessly.

'Sleep Like a Baby Tonight' has a bit of a Zooropa-era feel to me, which is also a good thing.

'TIWYCRMN' is probably the most "bombastic" song on side B and maybe the record, but that doesn't make it bad. I don't think I have near the problem some of you seem to have with the anti-war Bono, and the melody is fun enough to carry along the baggage.

'The Troubles' is just fantastic. I don't know much of Lykke Li, but she is really nice touch here. I don't think we're giving U2 enough credit here though. Bono sounds great. Edge sounds great. The melody is perfect. I wish current Pearl Jam would consider expanding their musical language with songs like this.

[Kaius]

I also appreciate the humor that this is yet another band where the singer is now singing about famous rock stars he likes...and waves.

It's almost like they're two peas in a pod.

[McParadigm]

Yeah, for a guy who looks like his insides are liquefying underneath his skin, Bono sure does sound better than he has in almost 2 decades.

[Kaius]

But how does he sound in a stadium.

Are these songs that will sound good in an arena?

This is important to aging rock stars.

[McParadigm]

How did you notice they were aging? They had black leather on, for crying out loud!

[Kaius]

The others' faces have a lot of wrinkles and stuff.

[PryTo]

Gotta plug what I think is one of the great overlooked gems from the last U2 album (which I was not a big fan of). I think this is one of their best latter-day tunes. Understated and basically just relying on the power of Bono's voice. It reminds me of some things on this new album. A wonderful, small song that never really tries too hard. Doesn't need to.

[Kaius]

The lyrics to Breaking Waves is like a fucking parody of itself. Goodness gracious.

This would fit nicely to phone/technology commercial, actually. Those scoundrels.

[stip]

Gotta plug what I think is one of the great overlooked gems from the last U2 album (which I was not a big fan of). I think this is one of their best latter-day tunes. Understated and basically just relying on the power of Bono's voice. It reminds me of some things on this new album. A wonderful, small song that never really tries too hard. Doesn't need to.

yeah, this is the kind of stuff I want to see U2 do more of at this point.

[LetMeSleep]

What are the chances of Every Breaking Wave being released as a single on Oct 13 to coincide with the physical release, plus featuring in the new iPhone 6 commercial. Which will work brilliantly for each party leading up to Xmas.

[dimejinky99]

still liking it

[dimejinky99]

Only 200,000 copies downloaded. That's a staggeringly poor amount. The rest aren't happy about it apparently
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