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  1. Originally posted by NeonTiger64:Not really a review, but did anyone else see that idiotic "10 things to do with an unwanted U2 album" that The Guardian had? I clicked it hoping for at least a bit of humor because if it's actually funny I don't mind laughing at people I admire but it was just more petty U2 bashing.

    I do think this album has its flaws, and almost agree that reviewer that said "where the songs should soar they sputter and die", except not "sputter and die" just that there aren't enough big moments that sound like they could fill a stadium like I expect from U2. Eh, right now the wave of popular U2 hate is around most comment sections on the internet I've seen so I'll wait until it blows over to hear legitimate criticisms from review sites.

    I don't know about a stadium but some of these songs I can really feel in a smaller venue (an arena obviously) but they feel more intimate like they require that smaller space.
  3. Originally posted by RattleandHum1988:[..]

    I can admit to not really being able to view it from a critical point of view, but what you are saying also comes down to opinion about it should've been DM's album and all that. I'll agree it has its flaws, but that doesn't mean we agree on what those flaws are, and what I'm saying is most of the reviews that I've read don't hit on the flaws that some people around here are making out, it's all just "U2 are blowhards and Bono is self-centered."

    Of course it comes down to opinion but I only used those as examples because if a U2 fan has had a complaint about the album, it has been those negative factors that have been more prominent than others. I agree with your last point entirely and like I said after my lengthy post, it seems as if some journalists aren't completely focusing on the sonic defects, instead fixating themselves with the "U2 are irrelevant and needless in music now and Bono is egomaniac." That's always going to happen, it's essentially lazy journalism. To make the review look more padded, they fill with unnecessary crap so it shows they haven't written about five lines like NME sometimes apathetically perform in order to prove that they done something to cover that album. I may add and confirm to you all that the person who reviewed U2's new album for NME is a big fan of metal, not to say that he isn't partial to softer rock in the region of U2, but briefly viewing his Twitter he was all over a band called Gnarwolves – who are bloody excellent, by the way. Maybe he was the wrong person for the job.

    To be honest, I have only properly read a couple of the new album reviews, the rest have been terse readings. I'll do that now.
  4. See previous post in terms of "opinion", but you "like" the songs. Just "like" or am I splitting hairs here? If you just "like" the songs, surely at some point you think that something doesn't sound right or sounds a little blemish. I'm not saying you should been stating flaws and I understand there has been loads of lackadaisical reviews or even parts of reviews flying around, but you can't really be that biased when they are your favourite band. It's a great thing to be critical about your favourite band, because at the end of the day you are their harshest and most realistic critic. But yes, that is my opinion. At least it doesn't revolve around Bono's apparent and everlasting wankerness or pointless band existence. I have provided some brief analysis which could easily be expanded on that has substance.
  5. Originally posted by KieranU2:See previous post in terms of "opinion", but you "like" the songs. Just "like" or am I splitting hairs here? If you just "like" the songs, surely at some point you think that something doesn't sound right or sounds a little blemish. I'm not saying you should been stating flaws and I understand there has been loads of lackadaisical reviews or even parts of reviews flying around, but you can't really be that biased when they are your favourite band. It's a great thing to be critical about your favourite band, because at the end of the day you are their harshest and most realistic critic. But yes, that is my opinion. At least it doesn't revolve around Bono's apparent and everlasting wankerness or pointless band existence. I have provided some brief analysis which could easily be expanded on that has substance.

    Sorry to jump in, but I really agree with your point about being 'critical about your favourite band'. Being a fan doesn't mean one suspends one's critical faculties and accepts every release without question. As a long time fan, I am very much a far harsher critic of their music than, say, some non fans, largely because I'm so familiar with their work, capabilities and limitations. In sharp contrast to those who simply focus on bono's personality, ego, extra curricular activity, weight, etc. NLOTH was a real let down and is the one cd missing from my collection. That's my proof that fans don't have to be devoted sheep. But that said, I'm really enjoying listening to SOI regardless of the opinions of Pitchfork or even Rolling Stone. The reality is that the true quality of SOI probably lies somewhere between those extremes.
  7. Originally posted by TheRefugee:[..]

    Sorry to jump in, but I really agree with your point about being 'critical about your favourite band'. Being a fan doesn't mean one suspends one's critical faculties and accepts every release without question. As a long time fan, I am very much a far harsher critic of their music than, say, some non fans, largely because I'm so familiar with their work, capabilities and limitations. In sharp contrast to those who simply focus on bono's personality, ego, extra curricular activity, weight, etc. NLOTH was a real let down and is the one cd missing from my collection. That's my proof that fans don't have to be devoted sheep. But that said, I'm really enjoying listening to SOI regardless of the opinions of Pitchfork or even Rolling Stone. The reality is that the true quality of SOI probably lies somewhere between those extremes.

    Agree with everything, but I do think this album is truly something special. One of their best? That's a hard argument to make just because U2 has so many "bests" and that comes down to opinion as well. Most hardcore U2 fans say Achtung Baby is their best album, and so many people haven't even heard of that album. I actually hear War a lot more when it comes to U2's greatest effort.

    Point is, I try not to throw that around and just enjoy it for what it is, U2's new awesome album.
  8. To be honest, the only review I care about when rating music is my own. What everyone else has to say is good for them, but it probably doesn't apply to me.
  9. I've listened to it 10 times since I got the album on Tuesday. I'm really not sure I could quantify it in a list with their other albums yet even I listened 100 times. Less than a week is too early for me. Right now I'm loving it because it's new music from my favorite band in the world. It would be unfair to compare something so new to something I've had with me for years and have many thoughts, feelings and experiences associated.
  10. 26 U2 Albums Hit iTunes Top Albums Chart at Once After Apple Stunt

    BY BRIAN ANTHONY HERNANDEZ18 HOURS AGO
    U2's surprise free album on iTunes was ridiculed by some iPhone users for forcing its way onto their devices this week, but U2 is having the last laugh as the Apple stunt for the band's new Songs of Innocence inspired fans to purchase other U2 titles on iTunes.

    At one point Thursday afternoon, 26 U2 titles charted simultaneously on iTunes top 200 albums rankings, Apple and Interscope Records representatives confirmed to Mashable on Friday. Meanwhile, U218 Singles landed in the top 10 in 46 countries.


    U2 had zero albums on the iTunes chart the day before Tuesday's Apple event.

    "Obviously this demonstrates the high level of engagement in the aftermath of the release — it's an unprecedented feat," Interscope's Dennis Dennehy told Mashable, crediting Apple's major marketing push at Tuesday's iPhone 6 event and U2's inherent global reach as a veteran rock band. "Besides giving away a new U2 album as a gift to iTunes store customers, the initiative with iTunes clearly encouraged discovery for new fans and a rediscovery for existing ones. the initiative with iTunes clearly encouraged discovery for new fans and a rediscovery for existing ones."

    Bono and the band joined Apple CEO Tim Cook onstage in Cupertino, California, on Tuesday to announce the new album and its unconventional release strategy. The album, U2's first studio release in five years, became available that day on iTunes, iTunes Radio and Beats Music, with Apple securing exclusivity until Oct. 13.

    After that, iTunes users started exploring U2's catalog and buying the band's albums, compilations and live versions. As of Friday evening, 18 titles were still in the top 200.

    "It’s disruptive, and it has never been done before," U2's manager Guy Oseary told Mashable about the album release. "This will probably be dissected for many years to come. ... I’m just happy that a lot more people are listening to this album than they would have."

    Oseary added that it's too early to know download figures, though Recode is reporting 2 million downloads.

    "From what I'm hearing, they're very promising," he said. "But it's hard to tell because somebody new may listen to it in a month. Somebody new may listen to it in a year."

    A revamped Songs of Innocence, with four additional songs and several acoustic renditions, will go on sale at other retailers starting Oct. 14. Upon that release, Billboard will start calculating its sales, as it won't take into account Apple's release.
  11. The metacritic average -- so far -- gives the album a "67," their lowest score ever. For comparison: ATYCLB and HTDAAB recieved a 79, NLOTH a 72.

    http://www.metacritic.com/person/u2

  12. Metacritic is total bullshit and everyone knows it! They weight different outlets differently and that makes it total crap. The User Score is higher than HTDAAB's though.
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.