Coping With the Second Crap Album From My Favorite Band* - Page 3

PopDaisy · 01-11-2005, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rev hesed
It's sneaky business writing and reading amateur reviews...the root of the amateur is love, but they often times mimic something else when writing about their interests/passions. A fan is someone who doesn’t make sense anymore. Their judgment is skewed; they’ve turned fanatical. I think U2 is a figment, a big idea that is not essentially quantifiable but still can be charted in terms of ticket and album sales. If you love this music, whichever album, you ought to do that. Play it in your car and while you’re making dinner. Wear it out. But don’t strangle it with over-analysis. Let the life blood flow in it, dance, laugh and take it for what it is.

This was wonderful. Wish I was in a better frame of mind to add anything coherent to this but just wanted to underscore that there are others out here in the universe who feel the same. I know myself I would be a terrible reviewer of any U2 album because I simply could not be objective. Thanks for your eloquence.

PopDaisy

diamond · 01-11-2005, 02:19 PM

HTDAAB
is not the band's best work.

i think it's their best effort for where they're at in their careers.

even though i didnt care for POP or this album i won't miss a tour for it.

a u2 show incorporates much much more than their latest hits off their last record

db9

the tourist · 01-11-2005, 02:43 PM

Since my first experience with U2 (Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me in 1996), I have loved every single piece of music they've done that I've heard. And I'm pretty sure I always will. That includes albums like October, Rattle & Hum, and All That You Can't Leave Behind that people are divided over, and now, also, it seems the same with How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. All four of these albums have great, wonderful, mysterious and classic U2 moments and without them, there is something definitely missing in my catalog. So when I read a review like this I just laugh and think to myself that the review doesn't make me feel good like the album does, and therefore it loses 100% of its merit.

Cheers! (hahaha)

vox1661 · 01-11-2005, 07:33 PM

the bomb is one the greatest albums u2 has done...the songs are powerful, a lot of them rock big time, the melodies are plain beautiful, you can hear 3 amazing musicians at the top of their form and a singer filled with soul, bleeding his heart!
no matter what others say or think, this is one of their best.

mysticchild · 01-11-2005, 11:24 PM

I have read some of these responses. I have to say in my opinion that HTDAAB is not a bad album. There are some really good melodic parts. I do love LAPOE, I think it has a great groove to it. I also like COBL. In the song there is a guitar sound that kinda reminds me of an Italian guitar sound. I don't know how to explain it. It is in the beginning when after the intro the guitar part comes in with an underlying guitar sound. I do agree that POP and the tour was absolutely horriffic. Talk about hype. it was way over the top for me.They should've called themselves HYPE again.

Dreadsox · 01-12-2005, 04:17 AM

I do not think this Album is a crap albumn.......

I do not think this album belongs in the pantheon of their top abumns.

They put together an album that does not seem to flow well together. When I mix the songs in with other songs, I love them. When I listen to the album as a whole, I do not get the same feeling. It is kind of strange.

My wife was raving that it was one of their best, and then I put on Achtung and JT. She quickly changed her mind.

It is a good album not a great one, and Bono is responsible for the untruthful hype surrounding it. I think most of my disappointment comes from the fact that the albumn did not live up to the hype.

Werner C. S. · 01-12-2005, 11:08 AM

U2 albums, with the exception of maybe Joshua Tree, have typically required multiple listenings to truly 'get'. Achtung, War, some of their greatest efforts were not necessarily accessible after the first listen. But at the same time, these great albums have stood up to repeated listenings, and the test of time. I personally have a little process where I listen to a new U2 album repeatedly over a period of several days, and found that my favorite songs shift quite dramatically over that time, and my overall appreciation increases.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is no exception. In this humble fan's personal opinion, it is a great album. As Achtung followed JT, this album follows up All That You Can't Leave Behind. A little rawer, a little more energy, a little darker in spots, but worthy in all respects. I have listened to this album repeatedly, maybe 50 or so times, and I have come to the conclusion there is not a bad song on the album.

My list of favorites, evolved over time, is as follows:

1. City
2. Vertigo
3. Sometimes
4. Miracle Drug
5. Original
6. One Step
7. Yaweh
8. Crumbs
9. A man and a woman
10. All because
11. Love and Peace

I encourage the reviewer to give this album another listen. And then another. And another. This is a great album. It grows on you. Listen until you 'get' it. Then write another review.

Werner

TwoAmericas · 01-12-2005, 11:29 AM

I have been a die-hard U2 fan since 1985 and I am still listening to this album every day. To me, U2 gets better with every single album. But unfortunately, it doesn't have the Top 40 hits. They haven't had a top 40 hit since One. Beautiful Day and Vertigo did okay on the charts, not great.

Pop had high expectations because it followed AB and Zooropa, which were huge. HTDAAB has high expectations because it's following ATYCLB, which put U2 back on top after the disaster with Pop. BTW, I like Pop. I think many people hope that HTDAAB will be another classic. I think to many true U2 fans, it is.

verhalen · 01-12-2005, 01:28 PM

One request for the haters: Please tell us about your actual favorite albums right now. This isn't a sarcastic request, I want to know what turns you on more than U2 right now. I have a lot of other things I dig right now, all for different reasons.

By the way, Achtung Baby was NOT universally acclaimed when it came out.... in fact many of my fellow fans at the time were very disappointed initially. I didn't quite know what to make of all of it at first, and there are some songs on it I didn't care for and still don't. But the highlights of it have caught on over time. The same is true of all the albums, even ATYCLB. My own immediate judgments have not usually held up, especially if I formed them after obsessively listening to the album for weeks straight -- not the way to enjoy anything.

edgeu22 · 01-12-2005, 05:27 PM

The vibe I get from this review is that it isn't genuine and only meant to rile people up.

If it is genuine, it's just not very good.. or at the very least, I've seen much, much better "negative" critiques of the album.

.. and I really don't understand how someone can already write off these songs as being the type "when played live, people leave to get another beer or go to the restroom". How could a U2 fan write that with a straight face?

discostu · 01-13-2005, 05:52 PM

All I can add to the above is this:

One way to get people to read your article is to post an inflammatory article to get the reader thinking and feeling something.

It worked.

Secondly, I felt the same way as the author after the first listen. A month and many listens later, my opinion has changed for the better. Besides, "bad" U2 beats the heck outta "good" Britney or other pop schlock. I'm grateful they're still going after all these years.

pookersmom · 01-13-2005, 07:11 PM

As someone who doesn't hold the opinion that "Achtung Baby" is U2's best album, I'm pretty comfy saying that I love "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." My only quibble is with the order of the songs, something it sounds like the band had a great deal of debate about. I think "Vertigo" coming first sets the wrong tone for the album.

So, "crap?" I don't think so. I think we're not hearing the same album.

sarahlou · 01-14-2005, 01:06 AM

...but we're all different I guess. I'm really enjoying this album, think the band have hit a new peak. Perhaps that means I'm failing to recognise some of the things you pick up on, but in any case, it's got me rocking and smiling, and that's what counts to me.

evenbetterthan · 01-14-2005, 02:05 PM

Hmm, I must have missed that moment when opinion became fact...

edgeboy · 01-14-2005, 05:07 PM

HTDAAB is a GOOD album in my opinion.
But i honestly think they just could have done a bit more with it.
What happened to the killer heavy riffs from edge that bono claimed there would be?(vertigo is'nt that heavy). I've only listened to the album a few times and i dont feel that anxious to
listen to it that much.

01-11-2005, 02:19 PM	#32
diamond ONE love, blood, life Premium Gold Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tempe, Az USA Posts: 11,444 Local Time: 11:27 PM Images: 1	HTDAAB is not the band's best work. i think it's their best effort for where they're at in their careers. even though i didnt care for POP or this album i won't miss a tour for it. a u2 show incorporates much much more than their latest hits off their last record db9 __________________ easy now, some of my best friends are liberals... Last edited by diamond; 01-11-2005 at 02:21 PM..

01-11-2005, 02:43 PM	#33
the tourist I'm A Starflyer Premium Gold Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: in the garage of Liam's cardboard box house in Axver's backyard. Posts: 18,259 Local Time: 10:27 PM	Since my first experience with U2 (Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me in 1996), I have loved every single piece of music they've done that I've heard. And I'm pretty sure I always will. That includes albums like October, Rattle & Hum, and All That You Can't Leave Behind that people are divided over, and now, also, it seems the same with How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. All four of these albums have great, wonderful, mysterious and classic U2 moments and without them, there is something definitely missing in my catalog. So when I read a review like this I just laugh and think to myself that the review doesn't make me feel good like the album does, and therefore it loses 100% of its merit. Cheers! (hahaha) __________________ Starflyer 59: "rocking your world since '93" get into it.

01-12-2005, 11:08 AM	#37
Werner C. S. Babyface Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 1 Local Time: 01:27 AM	Give another listen U2 albums, with the exception of maybe Joshua Tree, have typically required multiple listenings to truly 'get'. Achtung, War, some of their greatest efforts were not necessarily accessible after the first listen. But at the same time, these great albums have stood up to repeated listenings, and the test of time. I personally have a little process where I listen to a new U2 album repeatedly over a period of several days, and found that my favorite songs shift quite dramatically over that time, and my overall appreciation increases. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is no exception. In this humble fan's personal opinion, it is a great album. As Achtung followed JT, this album follows up All That You Can't Leave Behind. A little rawer, a little more energy, a little darker in spots, but worthy in all respects. I have listened to this album repeatedly, maybe 50 or so times, and I have come to the conclusion there is not a bad song on the album. My list of favorites, evolved over time, is as follows: 1. City 2. Vertigo 3. Sometimes 4. Miracle Drug 5. Original 6. One Step 7. Yaweh 8. Crumbs 9. A man and a woman 10. All because 11. Love and Peace I encourage the reviewer to give this album another listen. And then another. And another. This is a great album. It grows on you. Listen until you 'get' it. Then write another review. Werner Last edited by Werner C. S.; 01-12-2005 at 11:56 AM..

01-12-2005, 05:27 PM	#40
edgeu22 The Fly Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Arkansas ? Posts: 121 Local Time: 06:27 AM	The vibe I get from this review is that it isn't genuine and only meant to rile people up. If it is genuine, it's just not very good.. or at the very least, I've seen much, much better "negative" critiques of the album. .. and I really don't understand how someone can already write off these songs as being the type "when played live, people leave to get another beer or go to the restroom". How could a U2 fan write that with a straight face? Last edited by edgeu22; 01-12-2005 at 05:32 PM..

01-14-2005, 01:06 AM	#43
sarahlou The Fly Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 36 Local Time: 06:27 AM	nice to read your opinion ...but we're all different I guess. I'm really enjoying this album, think the band have hit a new peak. Perhaps that means I'm failing to recognise some of the things you pick up on, but in any case, it's got me rocking and smiling, and that's what counts to me.

01-11-2005, 07:33 PM	#34
vox1661 Babyface Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: miami Posts: 13 Local Time: 02:27 AM	the bomb is one the greatest albums u2 has done...the songs are powerful, a lot of them rock big time, the melodies are plain beautiful, you can hear 3 amazing musicians at the top of their form and a singer filled with soul, bleeding his heart! no matter what others say or think, this is one of their best.

01-11-2005, 11:24 PM	#35
mysticchild Acrobat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: N. Hollywood Posts: 420 Local Time: 10:27 PM	I have read some of these responses. I have to say in my opinion that HTDAAB is not a bad album. There are some really good melodic parts. I do love LAPOE, I think it has a great groove to it. I also like COBL. In the song there is a guitar sound that kinda reminds me of an Italian guitar sound. I don't know how to explain it. It is in the beginning when after the intro the guitar part comes in with an underlying guitar sound. I do agree that POP and the tour was absolutely horriffic. Talk about hype. it was way over the top for me.They should've called themselves HYPE again.

01-12-2005, 04:17 AM	#36
Dreadsox ONE love, blood, life Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 10,776 Local Time: 01:27 AM	I do not think this Album is a crap albumn....... I do not think this album belongs in the pantheon of their top abumns. They put together an album that does not seem to flow well together. When I mix the songs in with other songs, I love them. When I listen to the album as a whole, I do not get the same feeling. It is kind of strange. My wife was raving that it was one of their best, and then I put on Achtung and JT. She quickly changed her mind. It is a good album not a great one, and Bono is responsible for the untruthful hype surrounding it. I think most of my disappointment comes from the fact that the albumn did not live up to the hype.

01-12-2005, 11:29 AM	#38
TwoAmericas The Fly Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Assuming the position Posts: 260 Local Time: 06:27 AM	I have been a die-hard U2 fan since 1985 and I am still listening to this album every day. To me, U2 gets better with every single album. But unfortunately, it doesn't have the Top 40 hits. They haven't had a top 40 hit since One. Beautiful Day and Vertigo did okay on the charts, not great. Pop had high expectations because it followed AB and Zooropa, which were huge. HTDAAB has high expectations because it's following ATYCLB, which put U2 back on top after the disaster with Pop. BTW, I like Pop. I think many people hope that HTDAAB will be another classic. I think to many true U2 fans, it is.

01-12-2005, 01:28 PM	#39
verhalen Babyface Premium Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: San Jose, CA, USA Posts: 7 Local Time: 06:27 AM	One request for the haters: Please tell us about your actual favorite albums right now. This isn't a sarcastic request, I want to know what turns you on more than U2 right now. I have a lot of other things I dig right now, all for different reasons. By the way, Achtung Baby was NOT universally acclaimed when it came out.... in fact many of my fellow fans at the time were very disappointed initially. I didn't quite know what to make of all of it at first, and there are some songs on it I didn't care for and still don't. But the highlights of it have caught on over time. The same is true of all the albums, even ATYCLB. My own immediate judgments have not usually held up, especially if I formed them after obsessively listening to the album for weeks straight -- not the way to enjoy anything.

01-13-2005, 05:52 PM	#41
discostu Babyface Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 9 Local Time: 11:27 PM	All I can add to the above is this: One way to get people to read your article is to post an inflammatory article to get the reader thinking and feeling something. It worked. Secondly, I felt the same way as the author after the first listen. A month and many listens later, my opinion has changed for the better. Besides, "bad" U2 beats the heck outta "good" Britney or other pop schlock. I'm grateful they're still going after all these years.

01-13-2005, 07:11 PM	#42
pookersmom The Fly Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 66 Local Time: 11:27 PM	As someone who doesn't hold the opinion that "Achtung Baby" is U2's best album, I'm pretty comfy saying that I love "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." My only quibble is with the order of the songs, something it sounds like the band had a great deal of debate about. I think "Vertigo" coming first sets the wrong tone for the album. So, "crap?" I don't think so. I think we're not hearing the same album.

01-14-2005, 02:05 PM	#44
evenbetterthan The Fly Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: West of Her Spine! Posts: 118 Local Time: 06:27 AM	Hmm, I must have missed that moment when opinion became fact...

01-14-2005, 05:07 PM	#45
edgeboy Acrobat Join Date: May 2004 Location: texas. Posts: 451 Local Time: 06:27 AM	HTDAAB is a GOOD album in my opinion. But i honestly think they just could have done a bit more with it. What happened to the killer heavy riffs from edge that bono claimed there would be?(vertigo is'nt that heavy). I've only listened to the album a few times and i dont feel that anxious to listen to it that much.

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