Originally posted by vanquish:[..]
That would be interesting.
I think Mr Sarcastic is not quite as negative as he thinks he is, he talks like the ever sarcastic critic, but when the album comes out he ends up loving absolutely everything, just like an Interferencer.
You're right. I instantly fell in love with this album. It even tops October, TUF and HTDAAB on my list. It's due to this record that I finally discovered the beauty of other songs and I'm on my knees praying for a 2nd encore that consists of Kite, Crumbs and Window in the skies on the next tour. I also hope that Bono talks about Africa a little longer and meets up with more politicians, lobbyists and the pope since this is the only way to fight poverty.
And what a, handsome goodlooking guy he is.
On a serious note: I know it's hard to identify grey when you live in a black and white world, but I'd suggest you try it. It'll open up a new horizon to you...
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As for haytrains's question about my review, I left a few thoughts here and there but I'll just throw them together:
Having listened to the album several times now, my first impression is that it is neither the "3rd masterpiece" nor the radical, innovative shift they promised.
It is a good album with a good number of very good/great tracks, no doubt. There are also some downers, no doubt. All in all - and I'll mention again that this is based on a first impression- this seems to be the band's best album of the 00's.
It's main advantage is that it (partly) gets me emotionally and even more important, it calls on my imagination. Something I missed so much since Pop... It brings up images in my mind and allows me to dream. And that's more than I expected.
That said, taking a different perspective I can easily understand if people don't like the record.
It has a lot of pompous and solemn sounds. Eno using his smoothing iron on virtually all songs can give you the impression that you're listening to one long midtempo song. The doubled vocals everywhere and Edge often dominating with his falsetto can surely distract the listener. The bad mastering might make you shake your head - as well as some lyrics that seem to be working great on a T-Shirt but not on a song.
It's just a matter of taste and priorities - and to me this album has more ups than downs.
Some thoughts about the tracks:
No Line
Did they inverse the channels for the guitar in the chorus?
I like this one a little better than the alternate version. Starts massive, than Edge is cutting the wall of sound into pieces. Bono too high. Everything else has been said.
First rating: 8/10
Magnificent
Hm, somehow this one didn't really get me yet. I can see it as a live darling but there's something that I don't really like on this song. Don't know if it's the "streets" part, the oh oh ohs or something else I can't put my finger on. The chorus sounds okay - if you don't care about lyrics, but the verses are something I could easily picture as Israels contribution to this year's "Eurovision Song Contest" - sung by a drag queen.
First rating: 6/10.
MOS
Very good, melodic and dreamy track - got me instantly. I can even live with the higher parts and the oh ohs. Shot straight into my heart. Bono's passionate vocals are in great contrast with the relaxed music. Love his breaking voice in the "wedding day".
Small minus: Edge's solo could be longer - has the potential to beat R.E.M.'s Country Feedback
First rating 9/10 - 10/10 if you add the Tony Christie bonus
Don't play it live.
UC
One of my least favourites of the album - that intro until after "sunshine" hangs loose in the air to me. Then Walk On II starts- which wouldn't be a bad thing is they kept it that way. But instead the first verse starts with some of the best and most emotional U2 delivered since a long time - which would be good if they kept it that way. Instead Walk On II continues with a hired marching band that sings staccato...
First rating: 5/10 - huge potential but ruined for me so far. Has the potential to climb to an 8 or so once I learned to like the black sea cossacks' choir and the brass band before Edge's solo.
Anyone else thinks the 'Linear' cover might refer to this one?
Crazy
They probably threw this one together in 5 minutes. To me this sounds like a leftover from ATYCLB.
It certainly would have been one of the highlights on it. Very catchy, very poppy, lyrically on the border to idiocy but I decided to ignore that, lean back and sway rhythmically to it.
First rating: 8/10 - with the potential to become my most hated song of the album.
Boots
All has been said about this one. Doesn't fit on the album.
5/10 maybe.
SUC
Contender for the worst track on the album. A good guitar riff leads you to nothing when the rest of the song can't keep up with it. Awful high voice from Bono in the "chorus", terrible high voice from Bono mixed in here and there (check the helping god across the road part), bad lyrics.
First rating: 3/10
Fez/Being Born
Fez? Well if you need a little background music in your elevator - this is it. Kicking Boots from my playlist adds to Fez, though.
Being Born is a different story - The Ocean mixed with The Unforgettable Fire, Walk On and a motorcyle . Doesn't work you say? Works perfectly I say. When Bono starts his ooooooh, I get goosebumps. This is the song for everyone who spent quite some time abroad, far away from home, from the people and places you love. Reminds of coming home - and also of the feeling I have when the plane lands on Antananarivo airport.
Fez - no rating
Being Born: First rating: 10/10.
WAS
Once more, I don't get the sense of the intro yet, hangs loose from the rest...
That said, what follows is a very fragile song that climbs up to something that, due to lack of words, I would describe as Venetian Opera before going back down - makes my mind wandering around and makes me feel like I need to call my brother. Also reminds me of my time in the army - lying in the dirt in the freezing cold...
Somehow Springsteen-like.
First rating: 8/10
Don't play it live.
Breathe
A little like with Magnificent, there's something I don't like about this track. Lyrically it gets downhill after the first verse, Bono's voice a little too high for me again. Musically the highlight is probably Edge's solo. Another potential live hit.
First rating 7/10. Maybe a 6 now.
Cedars
Now that is THE highlight of the album for me. There isn't much to say about it - Just switch out the light, lean back and let it get you. Bono gets me like he rarely did - imho the best lyrics in a long long time.
First rating: 11/10
Don't play it live.
All in all, if I had to put the album into the album table it would be #5.
Proper judgement will follow next year.
And finally: IMHO. Sorry for the long post.
