1. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]


    Agreed. Sticking to the band's 11-song "rule" for studio albums, I think Invisible and The Crystal Ballroom would have been better choices than SLABT and TIWYCRMN. The fact that the band didn't even attempt these two songs during any of this past year's shows really says something, too.
    Sorry, but I call bullshit on that last statement.
    Following that logic, you'd say Acrobat is crap too.
  2. I'd say I like this album as a whole.
    After all this time, there's not 1 song I like to listen to on repeat or think is a worthy single/standout song.
    But I find myself listening to the whole album still quite a lot.
  3. You're comparing Acrobat to Sleep Like A Baby Tonight???????

    (or even worse, making it sound like I'm comparing the two????)

    Final note: I never said anything was "crap."
  4. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]
    The fact that the band didn't even attempt these two songs during any of this past year's shows really says something, too.
  5. SOI is one of my favorite albums, but what gets me every time is the quality of the acoustic sessions. There are a few very obvious acoustic incarnations, but many of them featuring full orchestral sections or brass are amazing (California, RBW, Cedarwood Road).

    Acoustic California still gets me every single time.
  6. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]
    I still think California is a fun song that would have worked great in the #2 or #3 slot of the setlists.


    The problem is that those slots were meant for high energy - those songs that sat there were just perfect. Although I wish they swapped out I Will Follow for something like 11 O' Clock Tick Tock once in a while. I think California could have worked fifth slot after that, then they could have slotted Iris in after that - slows down the show a bit more naturally. From IWF to Iris, it was such a dip. I noticed that more as the shows went on.
  7. SOI is still in my top 5 of U2 records.

    Its a shame that some songs are not played regularly. For SLABT I can understand why. But it is a great song about a frightening subject.
  8. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]
    I still think California is a fun song that would have worked great in the #2 or #3 slot of the setlists.


    It isn't a bad song, and I like the verse. It could do with a new chorus, though
  9. You're going by one of the few exceptions to the rule (you could also have mentioned Drowning Man, Red Hill Mining Town, and maybe even When I Look At The World). I'm going by more recent patterns such as the lack of One Step Closer, A Man and a Woman, Stand Up Comedy, White As Snow, Cedars... in the setlist . Like them or not, they are generally viewed less favourably by songs that were performed.

    Back to Acrobat. The fact that it wasn't payed in 1992-1993 wasn't a big deal back then. Different times. Twenty-four years later, it sure has taken on a life of its own. Again, this the exception to the rule. Furthermore, an AB b-side wasn't played instead of it.
  10. Originally posted by KieranU2:[..]


    The problem is that those slots were meant for high energy - those songs that sat there were just perfect. Although I wish they swapped out I Will Follow for something like 11 O' Clock Tick Tock once in a while. I think California could have worked fifth slot after that, then they could have slotted Iris in after that - slows down the show a bit more naturally. From IWF to Iris, it was such a dip. I noticed that more as the shows went on.
    California is a pretty high energy song, no?
  11. Not in comparison to Out of Control, Vertigo and I Will Follow, no.
  12. SOI is definitely in my top-something. TUF goes first, after that... SOI is seriously one of the albums I enjoy the most listening to it. I know AB or TJT are "better albums", but I really enjoy more listening to albums like SOI or Boy. So, yeah, still pretty happy about this album.

    ---

    The way I listen to it, btw:

    1. Reach Me Now
    2. Volcano
    3. Raised by Wolves
    4. Cedarwood Road
    5. Song for Someone
    6. The Miracle
    7. Every Breaking Wave
    8. California
    9. Iris
    10. The Troubles
    11. Sleep Like a Baby Tonight

    I love opening with those 4 songs, then the Miracle sounds fresher to me in the middle of it, and (surprisingly for me at least) The Troubles leading into SLABT as a closer work a lot better than ending with the clearly incomplete studio version of the Troubles Edge's solo.

    ---

    After the whole tour...

    The Miracle is way better and catchy than I ever thought it would be. From probably the worst from the album to one of my favourites now.

    Wolves is a monster. It was great before, but now gets legendary status treatment in my book.

    ---

    @California
    Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]
    I still think California is a fun song that would have worked great in the #2 or #3 slot of the setlists.
    I was listening the other day to the show when they did this (Vancouver 2?), and no, it doesn't work, at least that's my perception. The regulars and the casuals respond a lot better to the TEC/OOC/Gloria rotation than they can possibly do it to another new song.
    Later in the set, yes, probably before the Dublin segment, or in the e-stage, but it felt totally out of place in the 2nd slot when they tried that.