Wow, one year! The album still sounds amazing to me. All great songs with the exception of California: it's not so much the Barbara intro; I just don't think the chorus is inspired enough. They probably meant it as a punk song; but good songs need to have good choruses, IMO.
On a personal level, so many things have happened over the past 12 months: I've moved (to a fantastic) country (Austria), taken up a new (great) job, have a wonderful baby. SOI has been the soundtrack of all of this - and what a soundtrack!
I listened to it for the first time in a few months just this past week and think it's a great album - I think I like it better now than when I first heard it....and this is someone who liked - but did not love - the recently completed tour.
(No need for me to post AGAIN how they should have played more songs from the new album and tried harder to rotate the classics from previous albums...oh, wait...I just did it!)
I recenty listened as well to some of the album songs and I like them a lot. Have to admit I'm also skipping the album version of Song for Someone now as the live version also bores me. Which I didn't skip before the tour.
Most of the band's albums are better than this one. Thought it was better at first, but after a tour and a year to listen to it, I honestly wouldn't mind if this album went the way of Pop.. Pop on the other hand..
I still listen to it, prefer the songs live but think it's a great album... Still the best one of the 21st century for me. This is Where you can reach me now is still the weakest on the album though.
I like it a lot more, but the album tails off towards the end. I'm still not a fan of tracks 9 and 10, but seeing Cedarwood, RBW and Iris live made me appreciate them more. It's not their finest work - it's perhaps one of their worst - but Iike any other U2 album, it has its moments of brilliance. Crystal Ballroom, though - ooft. Should have been on the album.
