Albums: Side A vs Side B

Ok. So do you prefer Side A or Side B of Boy?

Side A
I Will Follow
Twilight
An Cat Dubh
Out of Control

Side B
Stories for Boys
The Ocean
A Day Without Me
Another Time Another Place
The Electric Co
Shadows and Tall Trees

My favorite song is An Cat Dubh / Into The Heart, but overall I'd go with side 2, especially because ATAP, Electric Co, and SATT.

I’m thinking in general the A sides will have the hits and the B sides wil have the deeper cuts more interesting to fans. But it still would be a question as to which albums we might prefer the hit side or the more obscure side.

For example, TJT is heavily front loaded on the hits, and that side may also be preferred here.

Pop had no hits but I think Side B is pretty strongly regarded around here to be the point of liftoff.

War is front loaded on hits but perhaps folks here will prefer Side B.

As for Boy, I agree with Pride, ACD/ITH swings it for me, plus OOC, for Side A.

Was Discotheque not considered a hit? 

Discowho?

That’s a U2 song?

Yeah, nobody’s heard of it.

I think plenty of people heard of it the question is do they remember it.

BOY: Side B
October: B
WAR: B
UF: A
JT: B
R&H: Album 2
AB: Tough one. B, just.
Zooropa: A
POP: A
ATYCLB: A
HTDAAB: B
NLOTH: B
SOI: B
SOE: B

Why do you pick side B for TJT, Code?

Not knockin’ it, I might pick it myself, just curious as to your reasoning.

Boy > B
October > Impossible to choose
War > B
TUF > Impossible to choose
TJT > B
R&H > It’s mostly dismal but B because of heartland
AB > B
Zooropa > A
OS1 > A
POP > B
ATYCLB > A
Bomb > a record so bad I can’t choose
NLOTH > A
SOI > a record so bad I can’t choose
SOE > impossible to choose. Some real gems on both

Why do you pick side B for TJT, Code?

Not knockin’ it, I might pick it myself, just curious as to your reasoning.

Here are my reasons for picking side B of TJT. The intro to streets works well but the song falls flat on its face after that. ISHFWILF has always been a bit naff. WOWY is great, as is bullet and RTSS. But side 2 just feels more coherent to me. Less bombastic. As with everything U2 do, they’re at their best when they dial things down.

Quote from: laoghaire on December 15, 2024, 03:37:58 PM

Why do you pick side B for TJT, Code?

Not knockin’ it, I might pick it myself, just curious as to your reasoning.

Here are my reasons for picking side B of TJT. The intro to streets works well but the song falls flat on its face after that. ISHFWILF has always been a bit naff. WOWY is great, as is bullet and RTSS. But side 2 just feels more coherent to me. Less bombastic. As with everything U2 do, they’re at their best when they dial things down.

Like they did with American Soul?   

Quote from: Larry's Lovebucket on December 16, 2024, 11:57:29 AM

Quote from: laoghaire on December 15, 2024, 03:37:58 PM

Why do you pick side B for TJT, Code?

Not knockin’ it, I might pick it myself, just curious as to your reasoning.

Here are my reasons for picking side B of TJT. The intro to streets works well but the song falls flat on its face after that. ISHFWILF has always been a bit naff. WOWY is great, as is bullet and RTSS. But side 2 just feels more coherent to me. Less bombastic. As with everything U2 do, they’re at their best when they dial things down.

Like they did with American Soul?   

Touché!

To me, the A side of Joshua Tree has always represented what I like most about music : contrast.

Take each one of these 5 songs : none of them sounds in any way like the other, and yet they sound consistent brought together, as if it was an opera.

I can’t think of any other band able to pull this off.

BOY - B
October - B (starting with Tomorrow)
WAR - A
The Unforgettable Fire - B
The Joshua Tree - A
Rattle & Hum - B
Achtung Baby - B
Zooropa - B
POP - B
All that You can't Leave Behind - A
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - B
No Line on the Horizon - impossible because first 4 songs are pretty good followed by a massive black hole of shit and then 4 more good songs
Songs of Innocence - B
Songs of Experience - B