Songs of Ascent - Part III

**Sicy** · 10-01-2009, 08:09 PM

Continue discussing (not arguing) here.

Previous thread:
Songs of Ascent - Part II

For the people that are out of the loop, if someone could post links or any other information about when and if this album is coming out, that would be helpful.

powerhour24 · 10-01-2009, 08:14 PM

As per the comment that they should write about sex and drugs?? Um, 1 grow up, and 2, remember what band we're discussing. Aside from the songs about other people's addictions, what does U2 have to do with drugs? And this sounds even more spiritual than NLOTH, the cleanness and spirituality are both parts of their appeal to me.

ozeeko · 10-01-2009, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerhour24

As per the comment that they should write about sex and drugs?? Um, 1 grow up, and 2, remember what band we're discussing. Aside from the songs about other people's addictions, what does U2 have to do with drugs? And this sounds even more spiritual than NLOTH, the cleanness and spirituality are both parts of their appeal to me.

I was that original poster.

1) What is so immature about writing about sex and drugs if they're done in an artistic manner? Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" is about an orgasm for crying out loud.

2) What does U2 have to do with sex and drugs? Okay, for starters: Bad, Running To Stand Still, Wire, MOS, Discoteque, Do You Feel Loved, If You Wear That Velvet Dress, Deep In The Heart, The Unforgettable Fire, Hawkmoon, Desire, Even Better Than The Real Thing, So Cruel, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Elevation, Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car...

Vlad n U 2 · 10-01-2009, 08:16 PM

The whole "I want to get singles on the pop charts" thing is starting to worry me, and has dampened my spirits a little bit.

digitize · 10-01-2009, 08:24 PM

Regarding the sex/drugs thing, I thought the original poster was talking about them writing about sex and drugs in a Guns-N-Roses-type way. If they want to make more songs like MOS and Bad, I fully condone it (MOS and Bad are two of my five favorite U2 songs).

Vlad n U 2 · 10-01-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digitize

Regarding the sex/drugs thing, I thought the original poster was talking about them writing about sex and drugs in a Guns-N-Roses-type way. If they want to make more songs like MOS and Bad, I fully condone it (MOS and Bad are two of my five favorite U2 songs).

I agree, even if U2 write songs related to these things, they make it seem vague and not at all sleazy.

Gilead12 · 10-01-2009, 08:58 PM

What we have to remember with the comment about hits it that U2 really believe in the power of a beautiful melody to rip through the consciousness of entire countries. It's not so much a matter of making a song commercial for them (no songs about chasing hot girls or getting high) as it is finding that melody that's just instantly unforgettable.

The intro to WOWY, the drums/guitar as SBS builds, the piano/guitar on BD... you hear that and you just KNOW it's major.

NLOTH had plenty of beautiful songs, but none of them had that instant classic feel. I'm not even saying it lacked U2 classics (heck, I think MOS, Magnificent, and arguably Breathe/UC/NLOTH/CT are all right there).

What the band means, I think, is not that they're going to go into the studio and scrap beautiful music until they have something that's pure pop. They just mean they want at least one of those songs that you never forget, one of those songs that becomes, by way of the pop consciousness, practically eternal.

U2 believe in an "If you build it, they will come" ethic. They really believe that if they can just find the right melody, the right beautiful chorus, the right sound, the whole world will sit up and listen.

So I don't let it worry me too much. These guys know what good music sounds like.

Vlad n U 2 · 10-01-2009, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilead12

What we have to remember with the comment about hits it that U2 really believe in the power of a beautiful melody to rip through the consciousness of entire countries. It's not so much a matter of making a song commercial for them (no songs about chasing hot girls or getting high) as it is finding that melody that's just instantly unforgettable.

The intro to WOWY, the drums/guitar as SBS builds, the piano/guitar on BD... you hear that and you just KNOW it's major.

NLOTH had plenty of beautiful songs, but none of them had that instant classic feel. I'm not even saying it lacked U2 classics (heck, I think MOS, Magnificent, and arguably Breathe/UC/NLOTH/CT are all right there).

What the band means, I think, is not that they're going to go into the studio and scrap beautiful music until they have something that's pure pop. They just mean they want at least one of those songs that you never forget, one of those songs that becomes, by way of the pop consciousness, practically eternal.

U2 believe in an "If you build it, they will come" ethic. They really believe that if they can just find the right melody, the right beautiful chorus, the right sound, the whole world will sit up and listen.

So I don't let it worry me too much. These guys know what good music sounds like.

I like your theory, Gilead. But what would you think of the people that would simply scream "sell out" after this pure pop single is unleashed into the airwaves.

powerhour24 · 10-02-2009, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilead12

What we have to remember with the comment about hits it that U2 really believe in the power of a beautiful melody to rip through the consciousness of entire countries. It's not so much a matter of making a song commercial for them (no songs about chasing hot girls or getting high) as it is finding that melody that's just instantly unforgettable.

The intro to WOWY, the drums/guitar as SBS builds, the piano/guitar on BD... you hear that and you just KNOW it's major.

NLOTH had plenty of beautiful songs, but none of them had that instant classic feel. I'm not even saying it lacked U2 classics (heck, I think MOS, Magnificent, and arguably Breathe/UC/NLOTH/CT are all right there).

What the band means, I think, is not that they're going to go into the studio and scrap beautiful music until they have something that's pure pop. They just mean they want at least one of those songs that you never forget, one of those songs that becomes, by way of the pop consciousness, practically eternal.

U2 believe in an "If you build it, they will come" ethic. They really believe that if they can just find the right melody, the right beautiful chorus, the right sound, the whole world will sit up and listen.

So I don't let it worry me too much. These guys know what good music sounds like.

I truly want to believe you're 115% right!

Muldfeld · 11-12-2009, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilead12

What we have to remember with the comment about hits it that U2 really believe in the power of a beautiful melody to rip through the consciousness of entire countries. It's not so much a matter of making a song commercial for them (no songs about chasing hot girls or getting high) as it is finding that melody that's just instantly unforgettable.

The intro to WOWY, the drums/guitar as SBS builds, the piano/guitar on BD... you hear that and you just KNOW it's major.

NLOTH had plenty of beautiful songs, but none of them had that instant classic feel. I'm not even saying it lacked U2 classics (heck, I think MOS, Magnificent, and arguably Breathe/UC/NLOTH/CT are all right there).

What the band means, I think, is not that they're going to go into the studio and scrap beautiful music until they have something that's pure pop. They just mean they want at least one of those songs that you never forget, one of those songs that becomes, by way of the pop consciousness, practically eternal.

U2 believe in an "If you build it, they will come" ethic. They really believe that if they can just find the right melody, the right beautiful chorus, the right sound, the whole world will sit up and listen.

So I don't let it worry me too much. These guys know what good music sounds like.

Actually, if you look at the interviews taken about the Unforgettable Fire album and the documentary during it, you don't get that sense of trying to make self-conscious hits.

U2 is now saying that they never imagined that "Bad" would be popular, but perhaps what should concern the band about its self-conscious approach nowadays is that that's what made it great.

I don't know what instant classic really means. I think it's a sense people have in retrospect. If there were a specific formula, then it wouldn't really be a classic because it would so obviously be shallow, on some level, like most of U2's output this decade.

Including this most recent album, The Edge is trying to hard to make the guitar stand out; there's little loud and soft, which existed on the band's best albums, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. Not even any wah-wah peddle.

The band's taste has also declined considerably. Bono used to think the band was too good to be covered by The Pet Shop Boys ("Where the Streets Have No Name"), but jeez, look at the crappy artists covering U2 now! Mary J. Blige may be a decent person, but her cover lacks any originality.

Look at the opening acts. Snow Patrol? What a horrible band. It makes Coldplay look avant garde.

The way U2 can make future classics is by not trying to self consciously make classic sounding songs. Just make great music.

The way U2 is talking about its pride in the Unforgettable Fire album gives me real hope that it might try something innovative and different for "Songs of Ascent" instead of trying to please the morons who go for bathroom breaks during "Your Blue Room" and have never heard it and who only like U2 songs because they've been played with brain-washing frequency on the radio. Those aren't real fans and they shouldn't be appeased.

BVS · 11-12-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

Actually, if you look at the interviews taken about the Unforgettable Fire album and the documentary during it, you don't get that sense of trying to make self-conscious hits.

Pride was their most obvious self conscious hit of their career before BD...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

I don't know what instant classic really means. I think it's a sense people have in retrospect. If there were a specific formula, then it wouldn't really be a classic because it would so obviously be shallow, on some level, like most of U2's output this decade.

This doesn't even make any sense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

Not even any wah-wah peddle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

The band's taste has also declined considerably. Bono used to think the band was too good to be covered by The Pet Shop Boys ("Where the Streets Have No Name"), but jeez, look at the crappy artists covering U2 now! Mary J. Blige may be a decent person, but her cover lacks any originality.

Bono really stood his ground on that Pet Shop Boys cover eh?

What about your taste, do you even like R&B music?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

Look at the opening acts. Snow Patrol? What a horrible band. It makes Coldplay look avant garde.

Really? But Third Eye Blind and Smashmouth during the bands "creative peak" didn't bother you?

mikal · 11-12-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVS

Really? But Third Eye Blind and Smashmouth during the bands "creative peak" didn't bother you?

this response, ftw.

Registered Dude · 11-12-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

I don't know what instant classic really means. I think it's a sense people have in retrospect. If there were a specific formula, then it wouldn't really be a classic because it would so obviously be shallow, on some level, like most of U2's output this decade.

Including this most recent album, The Edge is trying to hard to make the guitar stand out; there's little loud and soft, which existed on the band's best albums, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. Not even any wah-wah peddle.
.

I agree with your thoughts on regarding what it means when a song is a "Classic song."

I also agree with your thoughts on dynamic. HTDAAB was all loud, all the time. Even in the quieter moments, Edge's tone is piercing. however, regarding this last album, I think he has put more emphasis on dynamics.. on the "loud and soft." consider MOS, where the guitar is little more than a rhythmic figure, until it bursts forth in the solo, or Cedars.. which employs a myriad of effects, but subtlety!

this is a production decision, and one that works to the band's strengths.

Irvine511 · 11-12-2009, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muldfeld

Those aren't real fans and they shouldn't be appeased.

let's purge the ranks of the non-believers!

Aygo · 10-01-2009, 09:10 PM

1) Loved the assumption that NLOTH was well received by the overall public/critics, but not commercially as much as hoped, specially on the singles' impact.

2) I looooooved Bono's intervention about his reaction to people's dumbness about him and the band and the analogy of rock band/politicians. Perfect.

3) Didn't like the desperation for an hit single. They want a moody, slower (maybe even more atmospheric) album. How do they want to put it on the radios if that's the extreme opposite of what radios are looking for these days? How are they gonna make it? Put some sort of GOYB (which I love) in the middle of more paced-down songs like NLOTH?

4) Glad to see the will of releasing SOA ASAP. I think that this time we have too many indicators that there's another album coming soon, unlike in the past.

10-01-2009, 08:09 PM	#1
Sicy Sizzlin' Sicilian Forum Administrator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: runnin' down the road like loose electricity Posts: 61,817 Local Time: 03:42 PM	Songs of Ascent - Part III Continue discussing (not arguing) here. Previous thread: Songs of Ascent - Part II For the people that are out of the loop, if someone could post links or any other information about when and if this album is coming out, that would be helpful. __________________ sicy[at]interference.com

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10-01-2009, 08:14 PM	#2
powerhour24 Rock n' Roll Doggie Band-aid Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 4,204 Local Time: 06:42 PM	As per the comment that they should write about sex and drugs?? Um, 1 grow up, and 2, remember what band we're discussing. Aside from the songs about other people's addictions, what does U2 have to do with drugs? And this sounds even more spiritual than NLOTH, the cleanness and spirituality are both parts of their appeal to me.

10-01-2009, 08:16 PM	#4
Vlad n U 2 Rock n' Roll Doggie VIP PASS Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: In the passengers seat of a car driven by God (aka The Stig) Posts: 6,427 Local Time: 10:12 AM	The whole "I want to get singles on the pop charts" thing is starting to worry me, and has dampened my spirits a little bit.

10-01-2009, 08:24 PM	#5
digitize Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Doing His Disappearing Act (actual: Austin, Texas) Posts: 7,042 Local Time: 05:42 PM	Regarding the sex/drugs thing, I thought the original poster was talking about them writing about sex and drugs in a Guns-N-Roses-type way. If they want to make more songs like MOS and Bad, I fully condone it (MOS and Bad are two of my five favorite U2 songs).

10-01-2009, 08:58 PM	#7
Gilead12 Refugee Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,115 Local Time: 11:42 PM	What we have to remember with the comment about hits it that U2 really believe in the power of a beautiful melody to rip through the consciousness of entire countries. It's not so much a matter of making a song commercial for them (no songs about chasing hot girls or getting high) as it is finding that melody that's just instantly unforgettable. The intro to WOWY, the drums/guitar as SBS builds, the piano/guitar on BD... you hear that and you just KNOW it's major. NLOTH had plenty of beautiful songs, but none of them had that instant classic feel. I'm not even saying it lacked U2 classics (heck, I think MOS, Magnificent, and arguably Breathe/UC/NLOTH/CT are all right there). What the band means, I think, is not that they're going to go into the studio and scrap beautiful music until they have something that's pure pop. They just mean they want at least one of those songs that you never forget, one of those songs that becomes, by way of the pop consciousness, practically eternal. U2 believe in an "If you build it, they will come" ethic. They really believe that if they can just find the right melody, the right beautiful chorus, the right sound, the whole world will sit up and listen. So I don't let it worry me too much. These guys know what good music sounds like.

10-01-2009, 09:10 PM	#15
Aygo New Yorker Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lisbon, Portugal Posts: 2,530 Local Time: 11:42 PM	1) Loved the assumption that NLOTH was well received by the overall public/critics, but not commercially as much as hoped, specially on the singles' impact. 2) I looooooved Bono's intervention about his reaction to people's dumbness about him and the band and the analogy of rock band/politicians. Perfect. 3) Didn't like the desperation for an hit single. They want a moody, slower (maybe even more atmospheric) album. How do they want to put it on the radios if that's the extreme opposite of what radios are looking for these days? How are they gonna make it? Put some sort of GOYB (which I love) in the middle of more paced-down songs like NLOTH? 4) Glad to see the will of releasing SOA ASAP. I think that this time we have too many indicators that there's another album coming soon, unlike in the past.