SOE Review - By An Tha

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an tha

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SOE Review - By An Tha
« on: December 10, 2017, 03:56:23 PM »
Sorry folks, it is long - very, very long.

You know me, why use 1 word when 10 will do etc.

My review of SOE.

http://talku2.com/soe-review-tha/

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2017, 04:03:21 PM »
Wow, An Tha! That's a freaking Netflix special you wrote  ;D ;D ;D

Digesting now.....
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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2017, 04:17:58 PM »
A very honest review, an tha. I actually expected most of this...knowing you as I seem to.
And, you're right, it's far from their best album, but I'm liking (loving) it more each day. I'm even warming up to American Soul (a bit). So, give AS another chance, or two. And, I disagree with you 100% on Love Is Bigger...but, that's probably a personal thing with me. But, as I told OnlyU2 the other day, I was REALLY apprehensive about this album the first time I listened...wasn't sure I was going to like it (WHAT? Riffy not like a U2 album?) But, I'm slowly falling head-over-heels. No, it's not AB or Pop, or UF. It probably won't be in too many fan's top five fav albums. But, it's beautiful. I do like the connections to SOI a lot. But, I'd like more depth, more darkness, and more raucous rock & roll. I'd like more Edge (turn it up!). Adam absolutely owns this album. And, I think Bono sounds wonderful. Larry is always great.

HEY - this is about YOUR review, not mine! oops...sorry...I got carried away. anyway, I did enjoy reading your review...thanks for not putting it out there after your first listen!

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2017, 04:19:38 PM »
A very honest review, an tha. I actually expected most of this...knowing you as I seem to.
And, you're right, it's far from their best album, but I'm liking (loving) it more each day. I'm even warming up to American Soul (a bit). So, give AS another chance, or two. And, I disagree with you 100% on Love Is Bigger...but, that's probably a personal thing with me. But, as I told OnlyU2 the other day, I was REALLY apprehensive about this album the first time I listened...wasn't sure I was going to like it (WHAT? Riffy not like a U2 album?) But, I'm slowly falling head-over-heels. No, it's not AB or Pop, or UF. It probably won't be in too many fan's top five fav albums. But, it's beautiful. I do like the connections to SOI a lot. But, I'd like more depth, more darkness, and more raucous rock & roll. I'd like more Edge (turn it up!). Adam absolutely owns this album. And, I think Bono sounds wonderful. Larry is always great.

HEY - this is about YOUR review, not mine! oops...sorry...I got carried away. anyway, I did enjoy reading your review...thanks for not putting it out there after your first listen!

Fair points, riffy.......fair points
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Aviastar

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SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2017, 04:20:33 PM »
I read your review.  Its fair and I can see some of your points but I still like some of these tunes. The record is not their greatest but it's not their worst either.

Can you provide a little insight as to why you hate Showman? Is it too derivative, lyrics too poor, or it's just not your cup of tea? I'm not trying to challenge you on it - I'm just curious because this is a song that seems to be very polarizing and for me it's a favorite.  I don't know why I just like the vibe and the chorus reminds me of an early Elvis Costello tune. It's very un-U2 to me, and if it's something I look for it's for them to go out and try different styles.


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« Last Edit: December 10, 2017, 04:23:41 PM by Aviastar »
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mariamontreal

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2017, 04:29:33 PM »
I can't comment I still haven't heard it yet waiting for it to arrive. I have heard a few songs. and my first reaction to AS is I  hated it...must wait to listen to it a few times before I add my 2 cents.
She moves in mysterious ways

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an tha

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2017, 04:30:08 PM »
I read your review.  Its fair and I can see some of your points but I still like some of these tunes. The record is not their greatest but it's not their worst either.

Can you provide a little insight as to why you hate Showman? Is it too derivative, lyrics too poor, or it's just not your cup of tea? I'm not trying to challenge you on it - I'm just curious because this is a song that seems to be very polarizing and for me it's a favorite.  I don't know why I just like the vibe and the chorus reminds me of an early Elvis Costello tune. It's very un-U2 to me, and if it's something I look for it's for them to go out and try different styles.


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'Problems' with The Showman....

The lyrics

The music.

The shouty chorus

It does seem to be polarising as you say and i am at the opposite end of the pole to you.

I've never liked 'goofy' u2 personally.
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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2017, 04:31:07 PM »
I forced my friend to listen to SOE (he's a casual fan), and his response was, "There's nothing on here I really dislike, but I also realized that the only reason I do like the songs I do is because it's U2. If I were to hear these tracks from any other band I wouldn't give them a second listen."

My response was that this may not necessarily be a bad thing. I mean, the reason I like my 9 year-old's art drawings is because she is my daughter, and not because they're actually objectively good.

For my part, this is the key to my U2 fandom. U2 sounds nothing like the kind of music I currently listen to, and I wouldn't like songs such as Lights of Home and Red Flag Day if they were by any other band. But they're not by any other band, they're U2 songs. So I like them.

Objectivity is bullshit.
Listen as Hope and Peace try to rhyme,
Listen over marching bands playing out their time.

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2017, 04:40:01 PM »
I read your review.  Its fair and I can see some of your points but I still like some of these tunes. The record is not their greatest but it's not their worst either.

Can you provide a little insight as to why you hate Showman? Is it too derivative, lyrics too poor, or it's just not your cup of tea? I'm not trying to challenge you on it - I'm just curious because this is a song that seems to be very polarizing and for me it's a favorite.  I don't know why I just like the vibe and the chorus reminds me of an early Elvis Costello tune. It's very un-U2 to me, and if it's something I look for it's for them to go out and try different styles.


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DENTAL GALLOWS.   Lmao.

I get the feeling of not wanting to listen to it.  And then not being in the right frame of mind or place. 

Right now I am doing a back to back SOI / SOE Listen at the gym.   I'm totally lost in the music not trying to critique it. 

And yes GOOYOW has a way of infiltrating you brain.  It suddenly becomes very soothing amidst the other songs.   Like a monkish chant that would sound good with Bono leading mass in a cavernous cathedral. 


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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2017, 04:43:18 PM »
I read your review.  Its fair and I can see some of your points but I still like some of these tunes. The record is not their greatest but it's not their worst either.

Can you provide a little insight as to why you hate Showman? Is it too derivative, lyrics too poor, or it's just not your cup of tea? I'm not trying to challenge you on it - I'm just curious because this is a song that seems to be very polarizing and for me it's a favorite.  I don't know why I just like the vibe and the chorus reminds me of an early Elvis Costello tune. It's very un-U2 to me, and if it's something I look for it's for them to go out and try different styles.


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DENTAL GALLOWS.   Lmao.

I get the feeling of not wanting to listen to it.  And then not being in the right frame of mind or place. 

Right now I am doing a back to back SOI / SOE Listen at the gym.   I'm totally lost in the music not trying to critique it. 

And yes GOOYOW has a way of infiltrating you brain.  It suddenly becomes very soothing amidst the other songs.   Like a monkish chant that would sound good with Bono leading mass in a cavernous cathedral. 


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Zero, I did the same thing...listened to SOI and then right into SOE the third time I put SOE on. I think it made me appreciate some of the odd qualities of SOE more. (not saying that odd is bad)
I think we all wanted more AB or more Pop, and it's not what we got. But, what we got is good U2 music.

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SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2017, 04:46:56 PM »
I have been mentioning this on other threads, but you Exile and An tha - you guys are onto something about the ability of this album to win anyone over.  Despite what the #1 rating in the US says (largely smoke and mirrors from the giveaway tied to concert tickets), this album doesn't seem to be winning anyone over.  It's only real defenders are U2 fans and some sympathetic reviewers.

I think this is shaping up to be a 1 week peak and then fall on the sales charts, and it will bruise u2's ego a bit more. Even NLOTH went platinum...and I know it's a different day and age in album sales but I don't think the band went into this not caring about how popular this album would be (how else do you explain them writing YTBTAM).  I am curious if they will take this as a cue....maybe to change strategies on future albums or music releases altogether.


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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2017, 04:47:35 PM »
Once I first heard the first verse of Little Things in May I loved the crooning honesty of a 57 year old Bono.  He could have been singing that in a smoky Vegas Piano bar with a glass of scotch on a stool next to him. 

We cannot put lightning back
In a bottle and wait for Achtung II.   Love the album for what it is.  The next step of 4 guys from Dublin.  They have always been earnest in their musical endeavors.  Why stop?


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an tha

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2017, 04:50:35 PM »
I have been mentioning this on other threads, but you Exile and An tha - you guys are onto something about the ability of this album to win anyone over.  Despite what the #1 rating in the US says (largely smoke and mirrors from the giveaway tied to concert tickets), this album doesn't seem to be winning anyone over.  It's only real defenders are U2 fans and some sympathetic reviewers.

I think this is shaping up to be a 1 week peak and then fall on the sales charts, and it will bruise u2's ego a bit more. Even NLOTH went platinum...and I know it's a different day and age in album sales but I don't think the band went into this not caring about how popular this album would be (how else do you explain them writing YTBTAM).  I am curious if they will take this as a cue....maybe to change strategies on future albums or music releases altogether.


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My guess (or hope) is that this will be the last time they actively chase the zeitgeist so to speak....

It is time to be the elderly statesmen you are and make music befitting of that status - which when they do on this record I think we see the best of them.

The rest of the time they are trying to sing into the ear of an audience who don't want to know.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2017, 04:52:13 PM by an tha »
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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2017, 04:51:49 PM »
Once I first heard the first verse of Little Things in May I loved the crooning honesty of a 57 year old Bono.  He could have been singing that in a smoky Vegas Piano bar with a glass of scotch on a stool next to him. 

We cannot put lightning back
In a bottle and wait for Achtung II.   Love the album for what it is.  The next step of 4 guys from Dublin.  They have always been earnest in their musical endeavors.  Why stop?


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Nicely said, Zeri.

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Aviastar

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Re: SOE Review - By An Tha
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2017, 04:52:10 PM »
An Tha - do any of these songs entice you to buy E+I concert tix? I.e. the potential to hear it live is a big draw?


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