Found this today!

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an tha

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Found this today!
« on: April 14, 2020, 01:29:36 PM »
Let me just explain how i came across this....

I googled 'other artists on u2' as i was looking for some quotes to put into another thread that codeguy has started.

The 6th result on the search results page was the article I have posted below...it is nearly 10 years old and i honestly had never seen it before and i thought it would make for a very interesting discussion.

I personally think it is harsh and more than a little unfair...

Thoughts? Have you seen it before?....

https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/its-depressing-but-true-u2-are-the-most-influential-band-of-the-last-25-years-779357

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laoghaire

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2020, 01:38:03 PM »
Interesting!

As I was reading, I had to say "can't argue that," "fair point." Then I came to this:

NME: And the lyrics are totally meaningless.

Me: Hey, no way, these are INCREDIBLY meaningful songs, I don't even know where to begin.

NME: Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?

Me: ...Oh.
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The Exile

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2020, 01:39:43 PM »
Sounds to me like they're just way too cool to give U2 their due. Pretentious twats if you ask me.
Listen as Hope and Peace try to rhyme,
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kango

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2020, 02:08:37 PM »
Hmm I also don't recall reading this before and I thought I'd read every UK based 'piece' with U2 as its subject at least 10 times. A few points...

1. Yes there is a strong influence on later big rock acts but I think this writer is wrong to blame Achtung Baby for the sounds these bands produce, okay except for this one...
You can't argue that the guitar sound that Edge made his own has been diluted out and he now finds it difficult to mark any territory as his own.

2. The criticism about lyrics is ridiculous. When I discovered U2, I was blown away because so often their songs were explicitly about something in a way that I'd never heard before. Achtung Baby marked a move to the more personal lyrics which on the surface could appear more airy but they were incredible explorations of love, faith, hurt and TV! Very well written and tied together in an album that stands head and shoulders above most of what came later.

3. The most stupid point - U2 taking music away from punk. Well I think U2 did it all their way (the punk way) more than probably any other multi million selling band out there. They might not have sounded punk but they held on to those punk principles and took control over everything. Yes they also had ambition and wanted to be massive but I think being massive is just against the law in NME's world rather than in some punk rule book.

4. What the hell happened to The Courteeners?
Another Time, Another Forum

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laoghaire

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2020, 02:23:34 PM »
I think "don't be massive, and certainly don't try to be" is on page one of the punk rule book.

It might even be rule number one.
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kango

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2020, 02:40:46 PM »
I think "don't be massive, and certainly don't try to be" is on page one of the punk rule book.

It might even be rule number one.

Well the movement certainly got very massive like Britpop a generation later. If they really didn't want to be massive and influence people, why did they form bands, fashion labels and record labels to sell their wares?
Another Time, Another Forum

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an tha

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2020, 02:51:42 PM »
Interesting the punk thing being picked up on.

U2 may have been sort of loosely born out of punk, but make no mistake there is absolutely nothing 'punk' about u2 as a band or the men individually.....

Oh and that is not a criticism by the way, they are what they are and they have been alright down the years as a band and as men despite their poor public image (ltd)  ;) i think they are decent men - but punk they are not!

Not even that version of it "from venus"
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kango

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #7 on: April 14, 2020, 02:58:15 PM »
Let me just explain how i came across this....

I googled 'other artists on u2' as i was looking for some quotes to put into another thread that codeguy has started.

The 6th result on the search results page was the article I have posted below...it is nearly 10 years old and i honestly had never seen it before and i thought it would make for a very interesting discussion.

I personally think it is harsh and more than a little unfair...

Thoughts? Have you seen it before?....

https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/its-depressing-but-true-u2-are-the-most-influential-band-of-the-last-25-years-779357

Oh btw I'd recommend this book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/U2-Popaganda-Essential-Quotations/dp/0340933534/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=u2+popaganda&qid=1586890280&sr=8-1

Can be yours for about £3!

An entertaining collection of quotes from U2 and by others about U2 with cheerfully blunt intros to each themed section from the author.
Another Time, Another Forum

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Shank Asu

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #8 on: April 14, 2020, 03:03:23 PM »
Always found it amusing listening to Henry Rollins rip apart U2 and Bono.

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laoghaire

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #9 on: April 14, 2020, 03:19:48 PM »
Bono's ass looked great at Red Rocks.
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an tha

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #10 on: April 14, 2020, 03:31:12 PM »
Always found it amusing listening to Henry Rollins rip apart U2 and Bono.

I love Henry Rollins - i know he used to get stuck into Bono and u2 but still....and Henry has great taste in the u2 he DOES actually like...

https://u2log.com/2006/04/22/rollins-bites-the-lemon-u2-aint-all-bad/

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Codeguy

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #11 on: April 14, 2020, 04:03:45 PM »
Always found it amusing listening to Henry Rollins rip apart U2 and Bono.

I love Henry Rollins - i know he used to get stuck into Bono and u2 but still....and Henry has great taste in the u2 he DOES actually like...

https://u2log.com/2006/04/22/rollins-bites-the-lemon-u2-aint-all-bad/
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Twilight

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2020, 04:07:04 PM »
That article makes a strange argument ... I fail to see how U2 are responsible for what other bands choose to sound like. I'd be more inclined to blame record companies or (gasp) the bands themselves.


You can't argue that the guitar sound that Edge made his own has been diluted out and he now finds it difficult to mark any territory as his own.

Agreed. That's why I think of Bono's voice as U2's secret weapon ... it's harder to emulate.



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SlyDanner

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2020, 04:14:08 PM »
I would argue that the term 'punk' only gets picked up in this article and in others critical of U2 for the simple reason that Bono insists on using it at every opportunity.  Total nonsense and wishful thinking.

That said - this was a weak peice.  AB lyrics (including Wild Horses) are awesome.  Full stop.

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Twilight

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Re: Found this today!
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2020, 04:19:49 PM »
I would argue that the term 'punk' only gets picked up in this article and in others critical of U2 for the simple reason that Bono insists on using it at every opportunity.  Total nonsense and wishful thinking.

Does he? I distinctly remember him saying --- ages ago, like maybe Joshua Tree era --- that U2 thought they were a punk band for about 2 minutes. Admittedly, Bono says a lot of stuff....  :)
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