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  1. I've listened to SOI seven or eight times now and the album it reminds me the most of from U2's catalogue is HTDAAB. HTDAAB has, in my opinion, a collection of songs that are as strong as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby but suffers from a lack of thematic cohesiveness and from some flat lyrics in places (for example, on "Love and Peace or Else"). HTDAAB is an album that sounds like a collection of singles for any other band, but the question is what the songs are all doing on the same album. Songs of Innocence, although it has a more contemporary sound than HTDAAB, with the synthesizers, distorted guitar riffs, and so on, has the same commercial, radio-friendly appeal. The difference is that all the songs are unified by dealing with the band's youth and innocence.

    So perhaps Songs of Innocence is the album that U2 wanted HTDAAB to be. And this may, depending on your perspective, make it one of their best.
  2. There are many ways to see this album. I would rather see it is a U2 album, with inspiration from their 80s, 90s and past decade work. The songs fit all over the place, but the album feels very coherent as it seems to have one theme.
  3. Originally posted by BonoIsTheMessiah:I've listened to SOI seven or eight times now and the album it reminds me the most of from U2's catalogue is HTDAAB. HTDAAB has, in my opinion, a collection of songs that are as strong as The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby but suffers from a lack of thematic cohesiveness and from some flat lyrics in places (for example, on "Love and Peace or Else&quot. HTDAAB is an album that sounds like a collection of singles for any other band, but the question is what the songs are all doing on the same album. Songs of Innocence, although it has a more contemporary sound than HTDAAB, with the synthesizers, distorted guitar riffs, and so on, has the same commercial, radio-friendly appeal. The difference is that all the songs are unified by dealing with the band's youth and innocence.

    So perhaps Songs of Innocence is the album that U2 wanted HTDAAB to be. And this may, depending on your perspective, make it one of their best.

    It's a shame we don't see you around more often, this is very well written.
  4. Finally, another person who likes HTDAAB! I totally agree with you in that the album as a whole generally has that feel to it. I think it's got a sound that younger people (teens, twenty-somethings) would get into.

  5. I show up whenever there is a new album and tour. There hasn't been all that much to talk about for the last few years, but there is now!
  6. Originally posted by ahn1991:Finally, another person who likes HTDAAB! I totally agree with you in that the album as a whole generally has that feel to it. I think it's got a sound that younger people (teens, twenty-somethings) would get into.

    I think HTDAAB is one of their best albums. The lyrics aren't as well-crafted as on Pop or NLOTH, but it's a great rock album, like Who's Next or Eagles' Hotel California. Every song could be a single. I listen to it more than any other U2 album besides JT and AB. My biggest complaint is that they didn't go with their original title, Hanover Quay.
  7. I'm not sure. HTDAAB was pretty successful and I don't think the band had any regrets in terms of it not turning out how they wanted to. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I wouldn't put it past the band to name this album what it's called as an ironic name. If you think about it this album isn't really about innocence at all, it's more about the loss of it. Whether it's dealing with the death of Bono's mother, hearing the band that changed them from four kids in Dublin to what they are now, meeting the love of their lives that in the most traditional way possible made them men from boys, etc. etc.

    To me HTDAAB is really about innocence and trying to tell oneself that you haven't lost what made you, you. I can definitely see your point, but I'm not sure. To me this album is sort of dark and not necessarily "innocent" and bright. It's extremely heavy, whereas HTDAAB was not, at least to me. It was much more politically charged (subtle though) whereas this really deals with the personal over political. To me Songs of Innocence is an album they haven't made before. Bono has always played a character, and sometimes that character was very close to himself, but SoI to me is extremely honest. Some people might hear Iris and say "why do I care", but the band had to have known that when they wrote it. Fans have always said U2 should make the album THEY want to make. As far as I can tell, that is what they've done with Songs of Innocence. HTDAAB was the album that an aged rock band should have made, and it was successful at it. This album is a completely different beast and I'm not sure anyone knows what to make of it yet. If the rumours of multiple albums are true, we might not know until they all come out.

    Right now though, the album this is most reminding me of is October. That might be weird to some, but October was probably the last album when they were completely honest without shielding themselves with metaphors, irony, inspired characters, and so on. It was completely from the soul and heart, and they got ripped apart for it. This album is a lot less spiritual, but to me the honesty has returned.
  8. Double post.
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U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.
U2start is run by fans for fans. Help us reduce personal costs. Consider to make a donation to support us.