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SOE - initial rating

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SOE - initial rating
« on: November 25, 2017, 03:46:42 AM »
For those who have heard it in its entirety. Also comment whether you think it is an improvement on SOI.
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sashlon

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2017, 07:23:33 AM »
4/5 on an initial impression from the leak.

I'd give SOI 4/5 too.

Totally different though.
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Zeropartii

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2017, 08:18:12 AM »
Totally fresh.  Longtime fan. 

5/5 for me.   Natural feel for the band in their 50s.  The songcraft / production is A+.

My only complaint is that American Soul and Blackout as the big rockers by design really run out of gas around 2 minutes.  I bet they will be better live



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Argo

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2017, 10:09:22 AM »
I gave it 4 stars. Probably 3.5 would feel right at the moment. I think it has potential to grow on me and increase. The best music works that way with me as I discover the different parts of songs on more listens. I think there is a lot going on in many of the songs which will help me like them more and more over time. Is more atmospheric album than I expected. Really not sure about the song order. It is a pretty strong start and end to the album (not just first and last song but say first 5 - except TBT, and last 3 songs). Would prefer 1st and last tracks to be switched. Like the similarity to Song For Someone in that song, hence why it would work as 1st song better (for me) to connect it to SOI.

But they're back. Not everyone is going to like this. The various people posting that they don't expect to like it from what they have heard and read, I don't think will like it. But there is something/enough there that I hope most people will like. There's some shades of Achtung Baby, some glimpses of War, a Passengers like feel at times and some poppy stuff. It is quite a different sound in many parts and that is good. It doesn't seem on 2 listens that it goes with SOI. Is like a further change of direction. Going to be fun to see what people think.

Bit of a shame it has leaked and sound quality is not great. I couldn't help downloading it and listening but would be nice to be writing this stuff at the same time as (most) others. I must say, it was always going to leak. Just seems unavoidable these days for a band like U2.   
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samko

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #4 on: November 25, 2017, 11:04:39 AM »
I would say after a few listens 3 or 3.5, but this may change after time.

I have to admit I am a little underwhelmed by some of the tracks that some of the offical reviews had indicated were highlights (namely Red Flag Day, Showman and Love Is Bigger Than Anything It's Way). They sound very pop / contemporary but in places quite generic mucsically.

And I thought the already released tracks (Best Thing, GOOYOW, American Soul and Blackout) were okay to good, but not great.

I really like the first and last tracks (Love Is All We have Left and 13 There Is A Light) which work really well as intro / outro to the album. Summer of Love and Landlady are nice.

I would say the lyrics are pretty good overall and that Bono's vocals are great. The album flows well together but I can't help feeling there aren't that many really classic U2 high points. There are only two real stand out tracks for me at the moment: Lights of Home (very catchy, in a good way) and Little Things (album production of which is excellent - interesting things happening sonically in the background).
 
I think I will wait until the actual album is officially available before listening again as I am well aware that in hearing the tracks in not quite the best quality, I  may not be doing them full justice.

Hoping it will be a grower!
« Last Edit: November 25, 2017, 05:02:33 PM by samko »
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guest87

Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2017, 11:09:03 AM »
What's on it that was influenced by the election of Trump and Brexit?

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Waffles

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2017, 12:16:55 PM »
4/5. Hindered by a few mediocre songs (best thing,gooyow, American Soul, showman)
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Zeropartii

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #7 on: November 25, 2017, 01:18:25 PM »
Quote from: Tumbling Dice on November 25, 2017, 11:09:03 AM
What's on it that was influenced by the election of Trump and Brexit?

Blackout, ASoul, and the Lincolns ghost line in gooyow are about all I can detect


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Zoomerang77

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #8 on: November 25, 2017, 05:25:24 PM »
4/5 for me, but that is relative to U2 catalogue where several albums (the likes of TJT, AB) hold the 5/5 position. Given their age I am utterly blown away by what I've heard - higher highs for me than SOI and perhaps slightly stronger lows. As hoped I feel that the best material hadn't yet been released - some transcendent ambients the likes of which haven't been heard since TUF. Yet some completely fresh and contemporary sounding material too. I'm a big fan on first listen. Haven't liked an album on first listen this much since ATYCLB, yet this feels more consistent across the board for me.

Thank you U2. I thought I'd missed the boat becoming a fan before AB's release. How wrong was that 13yo me!
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Wik73

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #9 on: November 25, 2017, 05:34:27 PM »
Quote from: Zoomerang77 on November 25, 2017, 05:25:24 PM
4/5 for me, but that is relative to U2 catalogue where several albums (the likes of TJT, AB) hold the 5/5 position. Given their age I am utterly blown away by what I've heard - higher highs for me than SOI and perhaps slightly stronger lows. As hoped I feel that the best material hadn't yet been released - some transcendent ambients the likes of which haven't been heard since TUF. Yet some completely fresh and contemporary sounding material too. I'm a big fan on first listen. Haven't liked an album on first listen this much since ATYCLB, yet this feels more consistent across the board for me.

Thank you U2. I thought I'd missed the boat becoming a fan before AB's release. How wrong was that 13yo me!
Well said. I completely agree.


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Waffles

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #10 on: November 26, 2017, 12:53:08 AM »
They should've thrown away American Soul and left The Blackout as a pre single, non album song like invisible.
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Zeropartii

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #11 on: November 26, 2017, 05:09:22 AM »
Quote from: Waffles on November 26, 2017, 12:53:08 AM
They should've thrown away American Soul and left The Blackout as a pre single, non album song like invisible.
Blackout wonders why it's on the album yeah



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valttes

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #12 on: November 26, 2017, 10:45:21 AM »
7/10 after 2 listens. I get the initial feeling that this is a 'grower' of an album. Production is excellent on 'the little things' and '13(there is a light)' it takes some special production to turn 'song for someone' into a decent song!
On the downside, 'you're the best thing' and 'american soul' would have been better left off the album. Make it 11 tracks and it might have been their best album since achtung baby



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The Exile

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #13 on: November 26, 2017, 03:22:12 PM »
I'd really like to try creating a mix of the Bono vocal from XXX, Volcano, and American Soul. Hmmmm.
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robgalloway

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Re: SOE - initial rating
« Reply #14 on: November 26, 2017, 04:01:47 PM »
After 4 listens of the CD quality leak I'm in love with this album ... not felt like this about one of their albums since ATYCLB ... It's the potential for a top 5 U2 album spot. It's no AB, Zooropa, Pop, or JT. But I think only time will decide where it sits amongst UF, ATYCLB, or Boy.


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