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  1. Originally posted by aussiemofo:[..]

    I'm hoping. At the moment I find it slow, boring and repetitive. I feel like creating an Eno voodoo doll whenever I listen to it.


    Ha, see I'm not the onle one, MoS is overrated.



    It's a decent song, but it doesn't grow on you enough to become a masterpiece

    But I suppose listening to it while drunk would help

    Originally posted by WojBhoy:
    NLOTH is probably the only song I think could have been a bit more, although that said I still really like it. I think it needs to have a bit more pace and intensity.




    You're spot on regarding NLOTH, it needs to be more like the remix, the album versions chorus is really flat, Bono even sounds bored singing it, which is only accentuated by the fact that the verses are such a rush.

    I would like to see a remix based on NLOTH2, but with 1's less repetitive instrumentation throughout the verses, and the 'Time is irrelevant' verse replacing the scat singing on 2.
  2. It's been nearly two weeks since I first listened to the album so I thought I'd put down some thoughts. Afterall, I've listened to an average of twice a day.

    Short critique is that I very much like it and believe it has the potential to be regarded as one of U2's greatest works. Up there with AB or JT? Probably not but give it time and who knows? It's certainly shaping up to be their best offering of the 2000's, perhaps even since AB.

    The thing that I really admire about NLOTH is its ability to transport me to another time and place, in much the same way JT does. It's very much a departure from All That You Can't Leave Behind and Bomb. These were both autobiographical and in many ways conventional. NLOTH is a soundtrack to a movie (even though it was by and large made before the movie), a different kind of narrative to the ones that have been served up this decade. And IMO it cannot be accused of being conventional or pedestrian. To me U2 took a bit of a creative risk with this album. For me it also paints very vivid images depending on the song.

    NLOTH the song is fast becoming one of my all time top 10 U2 tunes. Can't get enough of it no matter what version's playing. This is stadium rock at its best and I can't wait to see it in all its live glory.

    Magnificent is probably the closest thing U2 have come to the Killers. I can also see this becoming a U2 classic over time as well as Breath.

    But there are other gems on NLOTH. Fez-Being Born (despite its critics) is the epitome of what NLOTH is all about - U2 not really striving for a polished, catchy, 3-minute radio product, just wanting to produce a different kind of music that transports you and Fez-Being Born certainly fits the bill. For some reason I think of flying when I hear this song.

    But then there is White As Snow and Cedars of Lebanon. White As Snow is NLOTH's answer to Bomb's One Step Closer, only much better and Cedars of Lebanon is another example of U2 throwing caution to the wind. Bono half talking and half singing is inspired and gels into the song beautifully.

    There are only a couple of disappointments. I was expecting a lot more from Moment Of Surrender based on the praise during the 'leak'. It's easily the bottom of the pile for me. Long, drawn out, repetitive lyrics - just plain boring. This is an Eno-U2 cocktail gone bad. It's the 'skip' song on the album.

    The other disappointment is the absence of Winter. If it had of replaced Moment, this album would have gone up a notch. But it wasn't so.....

    Lyrics are profound, inspired, original, and clever for the most part. But the "passers by" lyric on Moment is pathetic, and I still don't know what to make of the "helping God across the road" bit in Stand Up Comedy.

    A great album that's not without its flaws, but one that easily surpasses anything I've heard since...well Bomb!

    Bring on the 360 Tour!

    AM

    EDIT: And why wasn't Winter on the album?

    And Mercy?
  3. Originally posted by aussiemofo:


    There are only a couple of disappointments. I was expecting a lot more from Moment Of Surrender based on the praise during the 'leak'. It's easily the bottom of the pile for me. Long, drawn out, repetitive lyrics - just plain boring. This is an Eno-U2 cocktail gone bad. It's the 'skip' song on the album.

    The other disappointment is the absence of Winter. If it had of replaced Moment, this album would have gone up a notch. But it wasn't so.....

    Lyrics are profound, inspired, original, and clever for the most part. But the "passers by" lyric on Moment is pathetic, and I still don't know what to make of the "helping God across the road" bit in Stand Up Comedy.


    Exactly, well said.

    MoS has not realised it's potential, they should have done more than one take. Doing only one seems rather lazy & indulgent considering the end product. And the worst lyric is the ATM machine one, it's dowright silly. The chorus is utterly boring too, sounds like a Christmas carol, totally out of step with the rather dark verses.

    I think they left Winter off, because (like Mercy)it wasn't finished. Some vocals (eg. the start of the chorus) are very rough and the lyrics aren't quite there yet.

    Alternatively they could just be wanting to retain some good material for Songs of Ascent.
    It is a fantastic song though.
  4. Originally posted by vanquish:[..]
    Exactly, well said.

    MoS has not realised it's potential, they should have done more than one take. Doing only one seems rather lazy & indulgent considering the end product. And the worst lyric is the ATM machine one, it's dowright silly. The chorus is utterly boring too, sounds like a Christmas carol, totally out of step with the rather dark verses.

    I think they left Winter off, because (like Mercy)it wasn't finished. Some vocals (eg. the start of the chorus) are very rough and the lyrics aren't quite there yet.

    Alternatively they could just be wanting to retain some good material for Songs of Ascent.
    It is a fantastic song though.


    Obviously I completely disagree with you both about MoS as do a lot of people here. I think the one take thing adds to it's beauty. But we could go round and round in circles.
    The ATM lyric I will defend, simply because that is how it is referred to in common parlance. Nearly everyone would say ATM machine, even if it is a repetition. (Over here we say cashpoint, but that's beside the point). I know it's grammatically wrong, but it does reflect common usage.

    I must say Aussie, very well thought out critique.
  5. Originally posted by djrlewis:[..]

    Obviously I completely disagree with you both about MoS as do a lot of people here. I think the one take thing adds to it's beauty. But we could go round and round in circles.
    The ATM lyric I will defend, simply because that is how it is referred to in common parlance. Nearly everyone would say ATM machine, even if it is a repetition. (Over here we say cashpoint, but that's beside the point). I know it's grammatically wrong, but it does reflect common usage.

    I must say Aussie, very well thought out critique.


    I agree Dan. I used to laugh at the ATM machine lyric, but now I don't mind it at all. Great song.
  6. Kudo's to MOS, great song!
  7. Originally posted by BonoIsTheMessiah:I read a rumor on Interference that "Winter" would be on the U.S. version. Anyone know if this is true?

    I added "Winter" and changed the sequence on my I-Pod slightly and I think this order gives the album more balance and the songs follow each other nicely both musically and conceptually. It also gives NLOTH another politically-charged song, especially for audiences in the U.S. whose military is in, you know, Afghanistan.

    No Line on the Horizon
    Magnificent
    Moment of Surrender
    Unknown Caller
    Stand Up Comedy
    Crazy Tonight
    Get On Your Boots
    FEZ -- Being Born
    Winter
    White As Snow
    Breathe
    Cedars of Lebanon

    Hear that, Bono? God forbid you should release an album with 12 songs. I'm waiting for this song order on the 2019 remastered deluxe version. Thank you.



    Nice move with that tracklisting. I definitely think the album needs another track in the second half to wind it down a bit more substantially due to WAS and COL being so straightforward and unspectacular (on a bad day I'd maybe even label them as lazy ballad filler).



  9. Completely disagree of course, like most of the people.

    The only thing that annoys me with this song is the "oh-oh-ohh" part; could have been a bit shorter. But again, 7 mins 24 secs just flies away, listen To Boots feels like an hour or two.

  10. Originally posted by TheLedge:[..]

    Nice move with that tracklisting. I definitely think the album needs another track in the second half to wind it down a bit more substantially due to WAS and COL being so straightforward and unspectacular (on a bad day I'd maybe even label them as lazy ballad filler).






  11. White as Snow is a fantastic ballad, one of the best songs on the album, unlike MoS it doesn't have lyrics or singing that make you wince.

    And I didn't even like the song from the start, when I first heard it, I had no idea what to make of it, was a proper country song (unlike something like the Wanderer), reminded me of something off R&H but quieter.

    If anything MoS is the 'lazy ballad filler' (though even it, is not that bad) being improvised and recorded in only a single take.
  12. Originally posted by djrlewis:[..]

    Obviously I completely disagree with you both about MoS as do a lot of people here. I think the one take thing adds to it's beauty. But we could go round and round in circles.
    The ATM lyric I will defend, simply because that is how it is referred to in common parlance. Nearly everyone would say ATM machine, even if it is a repetition. (Over here we say cashpoint, but that's beside the point). I know it's grammatically wrong, but it does reflect common usage.

    I must say Aussie, very well thought out critique.


    Thanks.
    And yes, I know how most people feel about MoS.
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