Classic or Dud: U2

so you're saying this album is musical kudzu

I am reminded of the scene in that Black Mirror episode where the television wall screen pauses the advertisements when you try to close your eyes during them, while playing a friendly reminder that you should open your eyes

I'll bet you anything if I accidentally hit that 'Show Complete Album' link, it restores the whole thing to my library permanently. as in, it shows up again, and when I go back to the Cloud, it's still hidden there so I can't redelete it.

Sorry to U2 fans! I hate it when people show up on a band's thread just to say that they kind of hate the band. But y'know what, there is no other band on that planet that would have the balls to agree to a deal where you weren't allowed to delete their work from your library.

oh i wouldn't assume that - most haven't been given the opportunity

yes

yes you are right

i don't really give a shit about u2 anymore and their hits are way overplayed but i do want to point out the brilliance of "lemon", that tune rules

that whole record is great. if they'd kept going with that and Passengers the U2 conversation would be very different today I think.

as it stands wtf is this shit in my iTunes?

Bono's lyrics are pretty bad, but more interesting than Chris Martin bad.
― Josh in Chicago

(xxxxp) I noticed that in the digital booklet all of the lyrics are credited to Bono and The Edge.

On the live concert film, Elevation 2001: Live from Boston, Bono introduces the song by explaining it was the last song Joey Ramone heard on his deathbed. He notes his honor of having one of his favorite musicians loving a song of his

Loving? It killed him, you egomaniac!

you're not fit to trim Bono's whiskers

http://pando.com/2014/09/11/apple-offends-music-critics-and-iphone-owners-alike-with-u2-album-assault/

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/sasha-frere-jones/u2s-forgettable-fire

I am MAD MAD MAD about this free music that can be removed in seconds.

"removed in seconds"

yeah, no shit

http://thequietus.com/articles/16217-bono-u2-songs-of-experience

I like specific angry takedowns like this better than mere lol U2. There are so many reasons to hate the band and Bono more than for the music.

well this album isn't too notable huh

"volcano" is the only memorable one so far

That piece is otm.

xp

well...

Face down on a pillow of shame
There are some girls with a needle trying to spell my name
My body’s not a canvas
My body’s now a toilet wall

Album is fine and forgettable. The last three should have all been EPs. Viva LA Vida was the last great U2 album. I'd blame the producers, but eno and lanois muffed the last one.

Songs of iNonsense

dying at this 5-star Fricke review

a song about imminent eruption, through a propulsive delirium of throaty, striding bass, alien-choral effects and the Edge's rusted-treble jolts of Gang of Four-vintage guitar.

Couldn't read past this. I imagined myself as Skylar White shouting "shut up shut UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP" at Fricke.

A FB friend of Mr Veg's wrote "It's their best album since Pop!" to which we were both like, ok that's a REALLY low bar.

that fking California song sounds like it's destined to be in a shitty middle-age Rom-Com within the next 2 years

The teenage Bono once gave her Kraftwerk's The Man-Machine as a gift while they were dating.

"Teenage Bono gave you that record, Adult Bono's gettin' it back!"

fricke review almost makes this worthwhile

I thought you guys were kidding about a five-star Fricke review. How'd I fool myself?

I didn't even want to read the review, but it just popped up in my email box this morning.

your neighbors overheard Fricke whispering, "Hee hee, this'll get Josh."

have you tried deleting it?

You can't.

What happened to Danger Mouse? Gorillaz & Gnarls productions were flawed and fun. This is slick and boring.

Considering the band has now worked with some 13 or so producers credited on their last three records, I've come to the conclusion that this all might just be the band's fault.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG4hOjJ9tEs

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/u2-songs-of-innocence-20140911

the photo's so perfect - larry looking up confused at the five stars, bono and the edge trying to walk past like they didn't see it, adam oblivious

Just find one of your own. Then shout as hard as you can.

Clickhole should republish that review verbatim.

When they release "Songs of Experience" in five years, I bet they retroactively bill half a billion people for their free download of "Songs of Innocence." Plus interest. Everyone will be like, what, I didn't download any U2 album! "Songs of Innocence," I've never heard of ... oh, wait, that thing? I totally forgot about that. My bad, just take my money, I'm sure it was good.

It is a clear-eyed and inspired U2 who crafted Songs of Innocence, an insuperably strong record that in time may well reveal itself to be a classic. World, meet U2, Irish band.

Fricke, you go to war with the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have at a later time.

i can hardly read it for all the saliva

A FB friend of Mr Veg's wrote "It's their best album since Pop!" to which we were both like, ok that's a REALLY low bar.

ouch.

i happen to think that POP was their last really good album ..

That SFJ post is the glibbest, snarkiest thing I've ever seen from him. It's a weird thing to have on the New Yorker website.

You think the publisher brought Fricke into the office, poured a couple glasses of whisky, leaned over the table and said "I need you Fricke, I got a bad one here, worst yet, I need the old David Fricke review, I need your magic."

lol

bet it's more like "hey dave, new u2 album" "five?" "yup" "cool"

dude might not even bother with the star ratings himself, just pump out the copy and let someone else sweat where on the four-to-five spread this lands

I doubt he even pumps out the copy himself.

c'mon it's not a nancy drew novel, it's just seven paragraphs