U2...what's wrong with them?

2

Comments

  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,733
    One of my favorite U2 moments was when they played on SNL around the time "All That You Can't Leave Behind" came out and Bono jumped up on a table and almost fell and landed on his ass. He just jumped back up on stage and just kept on rockin'. That was cool!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • g under pg under p Posts: 18,183
    Croos1226 said:

    g under p said:

    Croos1226 said:

    It seems I'm not in the minority when I say I lost some interest after the Achtung Baby album. I remember being in high school and talking to an upperclassman who told me he saw them live and it was like a religious experience. From that point on I knew I had to see them live. My first U2 concert was for the Joshua Tree tour in '87 at JFK Stadium. Just me and about 85,000 other people. Still the best concert experience of my life. Absolute insanity!

    I've heard of and attended shows at RFK Stadium but where is a JFK Stadium? The RFK show for The Joshua Tree Tour was only 5 songs since Bono slipped on a rainy wet stage and dislocated his shoulder. The rest of the show was cancelled and I so dissappointed they never came back for that tour till The Pop Tour.

    Peace
    Yo G, JFK Stadium was in Philadelphia. Live Aid took place there in '85 along with London's Wembley Stadium. JFK was torn down sometime in the early '90's to make way for the Corestates Center which has now become the Wells Fargo Center. It's funny you mention Bono's injury because at JFK he was in a sling and unable to play any guitar. At one point in the show he asked if anyone wanted to play his guitar? Then added..."does Bruce Springsteen wanna play my guitar?" The crowd went nuts and The Boss came out and played Stand By Me with the band. I believe there is a video on YouTube of the song w/Bruce. Incredible show.
    Ok maybe that's why I've never heard of it. Did the Eagles play there?.....JFK just has never come to my mind. You may know RFK Stadium is in DC. So when you saw Bono in a sling in Philly that was probably a short time after our Sunday Muddy Sunday show in DC. I must say though it was a beautiful scene seeing 60,000 fans rocking for those 5 songs till the show came to a halt.

    Peace

    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • g under p said:

    Croos1226 said:

    g under p said:

    Croos1226 said:

    It seems I'm not in the minority when I say I lost some interest after the Achtung Baby album. I remember being in high school and talking to an upperclassman who told me he saw them live and it was like a religious experience. From that point on I knew I had to see them live. My first U2 concert was for the Joshua Tree tour in '87 at JFK Stadium. Just me and about 85,000 other people. Still the best concert experience of my life. Absolute insanity!

    I've heard of and attended shows at RFK Stadium but where is a JFK Stadium? The RFK show for The Joshua Tree Tour was only 5 songs since Bono slipped on a rainy wet stage and dislocated his shoulder. The rest of the show was cancelled and I so dissappointed they never came back for that tour till The Pop Tour.

    Peace
    Yo G, JFK Stadium was in Philadelphia. Live Aid took place there in '85 along with London's Wembley Stadium. JFK was torn down sometime in the early '90's to make way for the Corestates Center which has now become the Wells Fargo Center. It's funny you mention Bono's injury because at JFK he was in a sling and unable to play any guitar. At one point in the show he asked if anyone wanted to play his guitar? Then added..."does Bruce Springsteen wanna play my guitar?" The crowd went nuts and The Boss came out and played Stand By Me with the band. I believe there is a video on YouTube of the song w/Bruce. Incredible show.
    Ok maybe that's why I've never heard of it. Did the Eagles play there?.....JFK just has never come to my mind. You may know RFK Stadium is in DC. So when you saw Bono in a sling in Philly that was probably a short time after our Sunday Muddy Sunday show in DC. I must say though it was a beautiful scene seeing 60,000 fans rocking for those 5 songs till the show came to a halt.

    Peace

    G , I think the Eagles only played there for a short time, and well before my time! I would think Wikipedia has plenty of info on the stadium(sporting events, concerts, etc...)if you wish to learn a little more. The stadium was a mess when I was there but I bet it was pretty awesome in it's heyday!
  • JTHJTH Posts: 3,238
    JFK never really had a long-term football tenant, unless you include the Army-Navy game that was played there every year for 40 or 50 years.
  • 23scidoo23scidoo Posts: 19,139
    After ''Achtung Baby''..everything..
    Athens 2006. Dusseldorf 2007. Berlin 2009. Venice 2010. Amsterdam 1 2012. Amsterdam 1+2 2014. Buenos Aires 2015.
    Prague Krakow Berlin 2018. Berlin 2022
    EV, Taormina 1+2 2017.

    I wish i was the souvenir you kept your house key on..
  • EraserheadEraserhead Posts: 2,926
    Manchester 04.06.00, Leeds 25.08.06, Wembley 18.06.07, Dusseldorf 21.06.07, Shepherds Bush 11.08.09, Manchester 17.08.09, Adelaide 17.11.09, Melbourne 20.11.09, Sydney 22.11.09, Brisbane 25.11.09, MSG1 20.05.10, MSG2 21.05.10, Dublin 22.06.10, Belfast 23.06.10, London 25.06.10, Long Beach 06.07.11 (EV), Los Angeles 08.07.11 (EV), Toronto 11.09.11, Toronto 12.09.11, Ottawa 14.09.11, Hamilton 14.09.11, Manchester 20.06.12, Manchester 21.06.12, Amsterdam 26.06.2012, Amsterdam 27.06.2012, Berlin 04.07.12, Berlin 05.07.12, Stockholm 07.07.12, Oslo 09.07.12, Copenhagen 10.07.12, Manchester 28.07.12 (EV), Brooklyn 18.10.13, Brooklyn 19.10.13, Philly 21.10.13, Philly 22.10.13, San Diego 21.11.13, LA 23.11.13, LA 24.11.13, Oakland 26.11.13, Portland 29.11.13, Spokane 30.11.13, Calgary 02.12.13, Vancouver 04.12.13, Seattle 06.12.13, Trieste 22.06.14, Vienna 25.06.14, Berlin 26.06.14, Stockholm 28.06.14, Leeds 08.07.14, Philly 28.04.16, Philly 28.04.16, MSG1 01.05.16, MSG2 02.05.16
  • TheBeardedFellowTheBeardedFellow Posts: 317
    edited March 2016
    I get into it with people around my age (late 30s) about this band from time to time. It usually comes down to people thinking Bono is douchy. But I dunno... they've probably written about 50 songs I could listen to at any time.

    I got into them with Achtung Baby in high school. (That album doesn't feel 25 years old). Then Zooropa was one of my first few CDs I bought---that is a cool, weird album. Numb...Lemon...Johnny Cash...rad! Then I went back...

    Couldn't really get into Boy or October, but loved and still love War. It's probably my "go to" U2 album if i'm going to listen to one. The Unforgettable Fire...eh, other than Bad, I could do without it. Pride is Pride, but has gotten so much airplay. Joshua Tree... what a mellow, cool ride that album is. (Hmm...kind of like Yield? Cool, Mellow, 5th album...I'm going to think this through more.)

    Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me has a weird special spot in my heart. It was the summer after high school graduation and a bunch of us spontaneously went to the midnight release of Batman Forever after getting off of work---so it's linked to a fun, old memory.

    Pop was a let down, I thought. I remember hearing them talk about not being thrilled with Zooropa and making a more accessible album..but eh...other than Please, Gone, and sorry---Discoteque is catchy, that album is a miss for me.

    Really the last album I listened to was All That You Can't Leave Behind. I like it a lot. Especially Walk On, where the title came from (though it plays on the same themes of other songs like Stuck in a Moment...). Since then, um..well, the singles have all been fine but for whatever reason, i haven't delved into the albums, despite still buying them almost on impulse.
    Post edited by TheBeardedFellow on
  • Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me is my all time favourite U2 song.
    new album "Cigarettes" out Fall 2024!

    www.headstonesband.com




  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 29,265
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • elvistheking44elvistheking44 Posts: 4,375
    Unpopular opinion, but I think zooropa is amazing. 
  • Planet of SoundPlanet of Sound Posts: 626
    edited October 1
    I'll say it. Outside of The Joshua Tree, Pop is my favorite U2 album. It's absolutely fucking phenomenal!
    I’d go further and say it’s the best album of U2, and I have little interest in anything else they’ve done outside of a few 80s/early 90s singles.
    Post edited by Planet of Sound on
  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 11,141
    Achtung Baby was and still is an amazing album. 
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    Unpopular opinion, but I think zooropa is amazing. 
    I think thats generally accepted.
  • nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 8,328
    Achtung Baby was and still is an amazing album. 
    Absolutely 
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,733
    I'm kind of envious of you more loyal, faithful U2 fans- and I go all the way back to when they first started up.  Other that some of All That You Can't Leave Behind, I haven't cared for much of anything past The Joshua Tree. (But still have plenty of respect for the band.)
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • ZodZod Posts: 10,535
    I liked the Joshua Tree/Rattle& Hum Era, but to me the Achtung Baby/Zooropa era is Peak U2.   It's crazy how there's an eternal argument of Joshua Tree vs. Achtung baby, and that some people don't even like Achtung Baby, when for me it's a top 5 album of all albums from all bands from all time :)

    For me I really like the stretch of catalog from Joshua Tree to Pop.  I know Pop turn off some U2 fans in the way No Code turned off some PJ fans, but I love that album.  The albums after it were ok, most of them had a few memorable songs, but not so much that I'll play the full albums too often. 

    Seen 'em 6 times now.  I thought I was done at 5, but the sphere hooked us in.
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Posts: 36,611
    edited October 2
    I love how they are brave and experiment a lot, and in the beginning I didn't give their early stuff the time of day. Now that I've come to appreciate post punk/new wave in my balder years, I listen to the first few albums more than the rest. 
    new album "Cigarettes" out Fall 2024!

    www.headstonesband.com




  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    I wish they weren’t so precious with refining the songs and put more trust in their song writing instincts. I did t need a raw rock record from them, but I don’ t want 12 hyper polish songs where devoid of some spirit. They overthink stuff now. Work it until you have a solid finished song. 

    The Bomb outtakes prove the songs are good enough without months or years worth of more work. 

    That being said there’s a classic record somewhere in the Innocence/Experience records.
  • nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 8,328
    I wish they weren’t so precious with refining the songs and put more trust in their song writing instincts. I did t need a raw rock record from them, but I don’ t want 12 hyper polish songs where devoid of some spirit. They overthink stuff now. Work it until you have a solid finished song. 

    The Bomb outtakes prove the songs are good enough without months or years worth of more work. 

    That being said there’s a classic record somewhere in the Innocence/Experience records.
    Couldn’t agree more. They’re a top 3 band for me but you’ve perfectly described their biggest and most frustrating problem. 
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,733
    I wish they weren’t so precious with refining the songs and put more trust in their song writing instincts. I did t need a raw rock record from them, but I don’ t want 12 hyper polish songs where devoid of some spirit. They overthink stuff now. Work it until you have a solid finished song. 

    The Bomb outtakes prove the songs are good enough without months or years worth of more work. 

    That being said there’s a classic record somewhere in the Innocence/Experience records.

    Do Achtung Baby and Zooropa fall into that category?  I'm almost afraid to go back and give them a second try.  I cringe at overly polished recordings that lack spirit.  That's why bands like Dead Moon work so well for me.  Listen to any Dean Moon LP and you will hear rough and raw like crazy, but real as the day is long!
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    Achtung famously went through that. And it was wildly successful. So that become their strategy. About 4 years to make a record and tour. Not unheard of. The problem is every record of theirs seems to have a few years of gestation and then the results seems to be pretty milquetoast and too polished. Fans would like them to just bash something out and not over bake it.  
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    Basically they need to stop chasing HITS and pushing what they think is their sound envelope, and start chasing U2. Their best songs of the past 25 years have been songs that sound like them.  
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    I made this last year. Sort of a best of the last 2 records. I think it flows well and contains the highlights (IMO). It’s u2 enough and features some of their better experiments from those 2 LPs 




  • nicknyr15nicknyr15 Posts: 8,328
    edited October 2
    I thing SOI shits on SOE honestly. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I think SOE is easily bottom 3 from them. 
    Post edited by nicknyr15 on
  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    It was said in this thread or a different U2 thread, but SOI is really great and its rollout marred what is a great record. 
  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,733
    Achtung famously went through that. And it was wildly successful. So that become their strategy. About 4 years to make a record and tour. Not unheard of. The problem is every record of theirs seems to have a few years of gestation and then the results seems to be pretty milquetoast and too polished. Fans would like them to just bash something out and not over bake it.  

    Sorry Tim (and anyone else willing to chine in), are you saying Achtung Baby and Zooropa are "hyper polish songs where devoid of some spirit"?

    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 7,803
    sorry. No. Achtung has all the swagger. Zooropa has some cold electronic swing. It’s basically developed outtakes from Achtung that’s makes a really great record. The hyper polish is more of a 21st century development


  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,733
    sorry. No. Achtung has all the swagger. Zooropa has some cold electronic swing. It’s basically developed outtakes from Achtung that’s makes a really great record. The hyper polish is more of a 21st century development



    OK, thanks.  Might be time to give them another try. 
    “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
    Variously credited to Mark Twain or Edward Abbey.













  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,707
    nicknyr15 said:
    I thing SOI shits on SOE honestly. I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I think SOE is easily bottom 3 from them. 
    I'm with you on this. SOI had just a couple missteps (SFS most notably) and has some great tunes.
    This weekend we rock Portland
  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,707
    I made this last year. Sort of a best of the last 2 records. I think it flows well and contains the highlights (IMO). It’s u2 enough and features some of their better experiments from those 2 LPs 





    If I were to pick 13 songs from the Songs of era, it would probably be these (not in any organized rack list for flow)

    Invisible
    Iris
    Volcano
    Raised by Wolves
    Cedarwood Road
    Sleep Like a Baby Tonight
    This is Where You Can reach Me Now
    The Troubles
    The Crystal Ballroom
    Lights of Home
    Red Flag Day
    The Little Things That Give You Away
    The Blackout


    This weekend we rock Portland
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