Comments for @U2blog - U2 news and discussion http://www.atu2blog.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:29:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by syronix http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232229 syronix Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:29:29 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232229 "there are fans out there who feel as passionate about the album as I do." I'm also one of them! :-) As many of you remarked, it's one album you HAVE to listen from the beginning to the end... and it's amazing nowadays, when most of the bands or of the singers just have one or two relevant songs in each piece of work. Regarding my favourite NLOTH's song, I started with Magnificent... so open, so wide, so well done. Now the best for me is Moment of surrender and sometimes it's so moving that I cry... mainly in that middle part: "my body's now a begging bowl...". I love Bono's voice singing those lyrics. I think that NLOTH will grow in the future too; I hope that many new fans will be conquered by this wonderful album :-) “there are fans out there who feel as passionate about the album as I do.”
I’m also one of them! :-)
As many of you remarked, it’s one album you HAVE to listen from the beginning to the end… and it’s amazing nowadays, when most of the bands or of the singers just have one or two relevant songs in each piece of work.
Regarding my favourite NLOTH’s song, I started with Magnificent… so open, so wide, so well done. Now the best for me is Moment of surrender and sometimes it’s so moving that I cry… mainly in that middle part: “my body’s now a begging bowl…”. I love Bono’s voice singing those lyrics.
I think that NLOTH will grow in the future too; I hope that many new fans will be conquered by this wonderful album :-)

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by StrongGirl http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232225 StrongGirl Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:18:10 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232225 I've enjoyed reading all of your reflections. My fellow moderator, Donal, has written his thoughts on the album as well. You can read it on the main page in this week's Off The Record column. I respect everyone's opinion, but I must admit it makes me smile to see that there are fans out there who feel as passionate about the album as I do. I’ve enjoyed reading all of your reflections. My fellow moderator, Donal, has written his thoughts on the album as well. You can read it on the main page in this week’s Off The Record column.

I respect everyone’s opinion, but I must admit it makes me smile to see that there are fans out there who feel as passionate about the album as I do.

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by Becky http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232224 Becky Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:47:04 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232224 I listened to NLOTH almost non-stop last year, leading up to and after seeing shows in Dublin and Houston. I put it away over the holidays and started listening to it again recently. I personally think this album is among their best. It moves from start to finish very easily; it's hard for me to stop at any point because I like to listen all the way through. I am not crazy about all of the individual songs but I love the album in its entirety and its theme of surrender. I appreciate the layered and complex musical quality of this album. Every time I listen, the music takes me somewhere different. The bass and drums remind me of some of their early albums and I agree with comparisons to UF and October. I like how they included bits and pieces of music, lyrics, melodies and harmonies from earlier works. It is surprising this album hasn't received more credit/sales/awards but I do think it will continue to grow on people over time (as Achtung Baby and POP have) and earn the recognition it deserves. Looking forward to what's next....hopefully they won't keep us in suspense another four or five years! I listened to NLOTH almost non-stop last year, leading up to and after seeing shows in Dublin and Houston. I put it away over the holidays and started listening to it again recently.

I personally think this album is among their best. It moves from start to finish very easily; it’s hard for me to stop at any point because I like to listen all the way through. I am not crazy about all of the individual songs but I love the album in its entirety and its theme of surrender.

I appreciate the layered and complex musical quality of this album. Every time I listen, the music takes me somewhere different. The bass and drums remind me of some of their early albums and I agree with comparisons to UF and October. I like how they included bits and pieces of music, lyrics, melodies and harmonies from earlier works.

It is surprising this album hasn’t received more credit/sales/awards but I do think it will continue to grow on people over time (as Achtung Baby and POP have) and earn the recognition it deserves.

Looking forward to what’s next….hopefully they won’t keep us in suspense another four or five years!

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by U2Wanderer http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232219 U2Wanderer Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:09:13 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232219 Keir - people usually look at me weird when i rhyme off my favorites. NLOTH, TUF, Zooropa, and actually Original Soundtracks No 1 is high on the list as well. Yes The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are fine albums, but I find more to love in the chaos of the albums I mention above... Keir – people usually look at me weird when i rhyme off my favorites. NLOTH, TUF, Zooropa, and actually Original Soundtracks No 1 is high on the list as well. Yes The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby are fine albums, but I find more to love in the chaos of the albums I mention above…

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by Keir http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232216 Keir Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:51:32 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232216 Good call from U2Wanderer re: Zooropa; I totally forgot to add that to my Ufire/October comparison. Those three certainly are similar to NLOTH in many ways. Good call from U2Wanderer re: Zooropa; I totally forgot to add that to my Ufire/October comparison. Those three certainly are similar to NLOTH in many ways.

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by BRS http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232215 BRS Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:28:31 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232215 Some great thoughts here, definitely. I tend to concur regarding the "relative lazy lyricism" comment -- and the slips between first and third person bug me a bit. Still, I [heart] this album. Some great thoughts here, definitely. I tend to concur regarding the “relative lazy lyricism” comment — and the slips between first and third person bug me a bit. Still, I [heart] this album.

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by spacejunk http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232213 spacejunk Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:57:59 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232213 What a relief to hear some positive comments for once about this stunning album. So why didn't it sell? Why did the band not get behind it? Why no Grammies? I've heard all the usual reasons - downloading, March release, recession, bad choice of first single .... These things combined don't come close to explaining such a great album's awesome unpopularity. What a relief to hear some positive comments for once about this stunning album. So why didn’t it sell? Why did the band not get behind it? Why no Grammies? I’ve heard all the usual reasons – downloading, March release, recession, bad choice of first single …. These things combined don’t come close to explaining such a great album’s awesome unpopularity.

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by U2Wanderer http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232209 U2Wanderer Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:22:31 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232209 Twelve months ago I was blown away by the album when it was released. I was struck by what sounded like an album finally, instead of just a collection of good songs. Twelve months later?! I've always identified The Unforgettable Fire and Zooropa as my favorite U2 albums. This album now firmly resides beside them as one of my favorites. Seeing the album live transformed Crazy into one of my favorite U2 songs ever. It also brought me around on Moment of Surrender. Measured in terms of what songs I skip over? This is the most successful album since Zooropa, as I only ever skip the one, "White as Snow", oh how I'd wished they left the original version of "Winter" in there instead. And it is an "album" when i pull it out to listen. Like the other two I mentioned, I rarely pull it out to listen to one song, but instead the entire album. Once "NLOTH" starts, I'm usually there until "Cedars of Lebanon" give way to silence. I've been kept interested for 12 months. It is still high in rotation. I'm excited to see songs from it performed live again this upcoming year. The polish hasn't worn off in a year of listening. If anything, after seeing it live, I appreciate it that much more. Twelve months ago I was blown away by the album when it was released. I was struck by what sounded like an album finally, instead of just a collection of good songs. Twelve months later?!

I’ve always identified The Unforgettable Fire and Zooropa as my favorite U2 albums. This album now firmly resides beside them as one of my favorites. Seeing the album live transformed Crazy into one of my favorite U2 songs ever. It also brought me around on Moment of Surrender.

Measured in terms of what songs I skip over? This is the most successful album since Zooropa, as I only ever skip the one, “White as Snow”, oh how I’d wished they left the original version of “Winter” in there instead.

And it is an “album” when i pull it out to listen. Like the other two I mentioned, I rarely pull it out to listen to one song, but instead the entire album. Once “NLOTH” starts, I’m usually there until “Cedars of Lebanon” give way to silence.

I’ve been kept interested for 12 months. It is still high in rotation. I’m excited to see songs from it performed live again this upcoming year. The polish hasn’t worn off in a year of listening. If anything, after seeing it live, I appreciate it that much more.

]]> Comment on Kiss Challenge U2 And Rolling Stones To Stadium Duel by 1031michael http://www.atu2blog.com/kiss-challenge-u2-and-rolling-stones-to-stadium-duel/2398/comment-page-1/#comment-232201 1031michael Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:18:10 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2398#comment-232201 Gene needs to realize that life has moved on and apparently he hasn't. Nobody is gonna call you, Gene, for a "stadium off." KISS had their time. They pushed the envelope for their time and were entertaining. U2 is more the the music. They say that time and time again. Their formula is not a fad. It's much more meaningful. Now, go back to sleep Gene. Gene needs to realize that life has moved on and apparently he hasn’t. Nobody is gonna call you, Gene, for a “stadium off.” KISS had their time. They pushed the envelope for their time and were entertaining. U2 is more the the music. They say that time and time again. Their formula is not a fad. It’s much more meaningful. Now, go back to sleep Gene.

]]> Comment on Reflections on the Horizon by Keir http://www.atu2blog.com/reflections-on-the-horizon/2407/comment-page-1/#comment-232200 Keir Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:44:55 +0000 http://www.atu2blog.com/?p=2407#comment-232200 I very much identify it with Unforgettable Fire and October. My initial judgment of NLOTH was favorable (in comparison to ATYCLB and HTDAAB) despite several stumbles that annoy me about the three middle songs "Crazy," "Boots," and "Comedy" (but don't derail the disc in total). For me, what sinks NLOTH beneath other 80s and 90s work (but not below its two predecessors) is some relatively lazy lyricism from Bono. For every great detail in "Moment of Surrender" there are unfocused and unfinished bits like the moon-June-spoon rhymes in "Cedars" or the recycled Bono-clichés of "Comedy." Even the title track, my personal favorite, is hobbled by a clumsy characterization in the 3rd verse. I get that B was trying to write in character, but I still say he should have tried a little harder in many places to make that work. And yet I have no problem with the oft-derided "cockatoo" lyric in "Breathe." Go figure. Anyway, all of that stuff above is relatively worthless in evaluating the album, because it's just my opinion, and it's not my album, it's U2's. Obviously the band made something they are proud of and at this stage of their career that's definitely laudable. The thing that impressed me the most, though, is how they tied the NLOTH songs to their back catalogue on 360: UFire, Your Blue Room, Ultraviolet, Electrical Storm—all we're missing is some overlooked gems from October or Pop. I guess the ultimate compliment for me about NLOTH is that it kept me interested despite its (perceived or misperceived) faults. I am intrigued by what Songs of Ascent might sound like. I very much identify it with Unforgettable Fire and October. My initial judgment of NLOTH was favorable (in comparison to ATYCLB and HTDAAB) despite several stumbles that annoy me about the three middle songs “Crazy,” “Boots,” and “Comedy” (but don’t derail the disc in total).

For me, what sinks NLOTH beneath other 80s and 90s work (but not below its two predecessors) is some relatively lazy lyricism from Bono. For every great detail in “Moment of Surrender” there are unfocused and unfinished bits like the moon-June-spoon rhymes in “Cedars” or the recycled Bono-clichés of “Comedy.”

Even the title track, my personal favorite, is hobbled by a clumsy characterization in the 3rd verse. I get that B was trying to write in character, but I still say he should have tried a little harder in many places to make that work. And yet I have no problem with the oft-derided “cockatoo” lyric in “Breathe.” Go figure.

Anyway, all of that stuff above is relatively worthless in evaluating the album, because it’s just my opinion, and it’s not my album, it’s U2’s. Obviously the band made something they are proud of and at this stage of their career that’s definitely laudable.

The thing that impressed me the most, though, is how they tied the NLOTH songs to their back catalogue on 360: UFire, Your Blue Room, Ultraviolet, Electrical Storm—all we’re missing is some overlooked gems from October or Pop.

I guess the ultimate compliment for me about NLOTH is that it kept me interested despite its (perceived or misperceived) faults. I am intrigued by what Songs of Ascent might sound like.

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