SOE
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U2 - Songs Of Experience (2017)
 Tracks: 14
  1. I love SOE, but no way it's better than Pop. I'm not even sure it's better than NLOTH or SOI.
  3. For me SOI is a by far a beter and more complete U2 album than SOE. Because SOE has unfinished songs, simular popsongs. SOE is more a Bono album than a u2 album. I am a fan of edges guitar sound, which is less present in SOE, like also the drumming of Larry. Nevertheless I do like SOE and the songs played at the BBC sounds awsome. But saying that SOE is the best and complete album is since AB, noway that is for me SOI
  4. Originally posted by ferrari:For me SOI is a by far a beter and more complete U2 album than SOE. Because SOE has unfinished songs, simular popsongs. SOE is more a Bono album than a u2 album. I am a fan of edges guitar sound, which is less present in SOE, like also the drumming of Larry. Nevertheless I do like SOE and the songs played at the BBC sounds awsome. But saying that SOE is the best and complete album is since AB, noway that is for me SOI


    Exactly in the same boat as you both. SOI and NLOTH have some cringeworthy moments for sure, but as a whole they're more complete albums than SOE for me. And the 3 of them are better than ATYCLB and HTDAAB!
  5. I tried to write down why I think SOE is better than all these records but it's so hard since I really LOVE NLOTH. I love POP. I love (7 songs of) ATYCLB. I Love COBL and Vertigo. And I really like SOI as a complete body of work (and love EBW, California and Troubles). It's just a feeling for me that this record ticks all the U2 boxes for me: big anthems, real catchy tunes, heartbreaking ballads, joyful and uplifting tunes...

    Since I only really lived the release of NLOTH and SOI, when these both came out I really liked them, but I was back then also a bit underwhelmed by certain songs that I tried to love but never really clicked. That is not the case with SOE so far.
  6. Originally posted by Edi:I have been on a 600 km jorney and did some intensive SOE listening...Having previously ranked it 13th out of 14 it is growing on me...

    I am now happy to declare it is the best Passengers album ever !


    I am undergoing a transformation in my views of this album...another long journey 1000km/12 hours down to the French Alps has convinced me now on the 17 track deluxe version...my first thought that this was only one up from SOI which I thought their worst album is now blown away...

    SOE is a very good album, actually it is a great album... it really is one of their best... it is deep, reflective, melancholic, rich veins of metaphor & musical styles with a strong narrative throughout, anthemic (yes, there are anthems in there !)...something for everyone...

    Having put the listening effort now I am being rewarded...

    The best Passengers album ever, a great Bono solo album...maybe a great Bono-Adam album. ..

    ...but in my opinion this is their WHITE ALBUM (without side 4! ....not quite enough experimental Eno-esque stuff to make it perfect).

    I reversed into this album with actually the 4 extra tracks leading the way ...Book of your Heart opened it up for me, Lights of Home strings, Ordinary Love then 13, Little Things,... then all of it.

    I love it.

  7. Originally posted by ferrari:For me SOI is a by far a beter and more complete U2 album than SOE. Because SOE has unfinished songs, simular popsongs. SOE is more a Bono album than a u2 album. I am a fan of edges guitar sound, which is less present in SOE, like also the drumming of Larry. Nevertheless I do like SOE and the songs played at the BBC sounds awsome. But saying that SOE is the best and complete album is since AB, noway that is for me SOI
    Curious for the sake of discussion about some of your points here, which I disagree with but would love to talk more about (no “opinion bashing” intended!):

    1. What songs sound “unfinished” to you on SOE? I don’t hear any that sound that way, though even if that were the case i am not sure that would be a bad thing after SOI, which the band has since admitted suffered from being a little too polished.

    2. What do you mean by “Bono album”? Lyrically, SOI was more of an autobiographical type album from Bono. Now, SOI does have more of an overall “rock” sound to it, but I would argue that SOE has more “classic” U2 songs on it - Little Things, Love is Bigger, GOOYOW, etc. Edge’s sound on these songs is more distinctive than many songs on SOI. And I actually think SOE has some of Larry’s best drumming in a long time. Lights of Home’s hip hop style, Best Thing’s buildup on the chorus, Blackout’s fills, etc...

    3. Dieder mentioned this already, but I can relate to his point that SOE ticks all the rights boxes for a U2 album. It just feels like there is more variety expressed here than SOI, an ebb and flow in terms of music and emotions conveyed, where SOI charged pretty much straight ahead with no slowing down apart from Song for Someone. I appreciate the album for that reason, but if we are talking “completeness” I find SOE to top SOI. (That said, i wish they would have experimented just a bit more yet and echoed more of their 90s irony, but that’s another story...)

  8. Originally posted by bpt3:[..]
    Curious for the sake of discussion about some of your points here, which I disagree with but would love to talk more about (no “opinion bashing” intended!):

    1. What songs sound “unfinished” to you on SOE? I don’t hear any that sound that way, though even if that were the case i am not sure that would be a bad thing after SOI, which the band has since admitted suffered from being a little too polished.

    2. What do you mean by “Bono album”? Lyrically, SOI was more of an autobiographical type album from Bono. Now, SOI does have more of an overall “rock” sound to it, but I would argue that SOE has more “classic” U2 songs on it - Little Things, Love is Bigger, GOOYOW, etc. Edge’s sound on these songs is more distinctive than many songs on SOI. And I actually think SOE has some of Larry’s best drumming in a long time. Lights of Home’s hip hop style, Best Thing’s buildup on the chorus, Blackout’s fills, etc...

    3. Dieder mentioned this already, but I can relate to his point that SOE ticks all the rights boxes for a U2 album. It just feels like there is more variety expressed here than SOI, an ebb and flow in terms of music and emotions conveyed, where SOI charged pretty much straight ahead with no slowing down apart from Song for Someone. I appreciate the album for that reason, but if we are talking “completeness” I find SOE to top SOI. (That said, i wish they would have experimented just a bit more yet and echoed more of their 90s irony, but that’s another story...)

    I’ve played through both SOE and SOI on drums. SOI is miles better in the Larry department IMO.

    And not one riff even comes close to Cedarwood Rd on SOE. The only guitar work I like on SOE is Little Things. I mean in two songs the guitar riff isnt even written by the edge. SOE is very middle of the road for me personally. I enjoy SOI far better.

    I applaud anyone who thinks this is their best work since AB. I’m jealous of that feeling you have with this album.

    I am highly anticipating the upcoming tour. I think most of these songs will sound better live.
  9. Almost a month after the release. The album hype is down. SOE is not on my top 5.
    No particular order

    Achtung Baby
    The Unforgettable Fire
    No Line On The Horizon
    Songs Of Innocence
    The Joshua Tree

    Its a great album but i enjoy the previous albums better. Especally HTDAAB. I got the vinyl for Xmas and had a great experience with the album. Bringing back my 2004 days with U2 and Halo 2. SOE , i just skip tracks now. The highest repeatability songs are

    Little Things
    Red Flag Day
    Landlady
    Blackout
    Get Out Of Your Own Way
    American Soul
    Lights of Home
    Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way

    Everything else i skip. I made my own playlist of SOE EP
    1. Get Out Of Your Own Way
    2. American Soul
    3. Red Flag Day
    4. The Blackout
    5. Lights of Home
    6. Landlady
    7. Love Is Bigger Than Anything In It's Way
    8. The Little Things That Give You Away

    It plays smooth.
    I consider the other tracks, bonus songs.
    1. Love Is All We Have
    2. You're The Best Thing About Me
    3. The Showman (Eh.....)
    4. Summer Of Love
    5. Book of Heart
    6. 13
  10. I still rate this album as no. 3 in there catalogue. 4 10/10 songs helps the matter but I also think there isn’t a poor song on there. Love is bigger is just THE SONG. Verse 2 for my daughter ‘ I know the rage in you is strong’ my favourite song ever.
  11. Originally posted by deanallison:I still rate this album as no. 3 in there catalogue. 4 10/10 songs helps the matter but I also think there isn’t a poor song on there. Love is bigger is just THE SONG. Verse 2 for my daughter ‘ I know the rage in you is strong’ my favourite song ever.
    I love that line, because it’s Bono speaking to his son knowing exactly how he’s feeling at that age. WE all know how Bono was at that age.

    This album is so damn personal.
  12. Nearly 2 weeks past expected delivery date and almost a month since my SOE Vinyl was dispatched by Universal Music's Official U2 Store and it still hasn't arrived in the mail (I live about an hour away from Toronto Ontario). I sent the Universal Music Store customer support 2 emails regarding this, one a week ago and one today and I'm still waiting for a reply. This is disappointing to say the least. I just want to know where it is since they don't provide tracking on international shipments or how long I have to wait before I can request a refund because 2 weeks late and almost a month after release is a bit ridiculous.
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