I saw this while scrolling Facebook last week. It was posted by musician Chris Church.
"It's almost annoying to have to say this, but I just listened to the 5 newly released songs by U2, and in my opinion, that band still matters."
"Matters" is a strong take. But the "Days Of Ash" E.P. that dropped unexpectedly last week is damn good.
I know when I've posted about the band in the past, it brought out some of the crankiest comments in a long line of cranky comments. I remember when people woke up to a new U2 album on their iPhones, the reaction was tantamount to genocide. Somehow, I don't think the reaction would have been the same for any other surprise record on your phone.
But that's been the case with U2 ever since Bono starting hugging fans in the front row.
That said, if this new E.P. is any indication of what the new full length will sound like later this year, count me in.
Kinda digging the new U2 song. But that cover of "Jet" is really fabulous -- I don't recall checking out the album its from when it was new, but I think I'm gonna have to check it out now. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteThey set out to be the biggest band in the world AND like the Clash, a band that mattered. They did both.
ReplyDeleteThe Clash was very political but NOT partisan, U2 is totally partisan
ReplyDeleteClash was in the middle then, partisan is being left or right. Reagan, Trump partisan. Clash, U2 partisan.
DeleteAnd I'm glad their partisan. Great cut
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this EP when it came out. I still do. Good harbinger for the next album.
ReplyDeleteU2 have been a bit wimpy for a long while. Good to hear them rocking again.
ReplyDelete- Paul in DK
Wow, super powerful. There's a lot to digest there, including the thought I hear more than any other one from my liberal friends, which is: we love this country, but it's failing in its promise.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people on the right only hear the latter part of that. They miss the part about us loving our country - even with its tremendous flaws.
I've always appreciated their subtlety.
ReplyDeleteThe Clash were absolutely partisan, even if you apparently weren't paying attention. Strummer in particular, but all of them. I'm an anarcho-syndicalist, but at the moment here there isn't even a side to pick. You are either with the great majority (greater by the day) who oppose the evil(s) being done in our names or not. And if you're not, well, lie in that bed, brother.
ReplyDeleteU2 has been political since Sunday Bloody Sunday....over 40 years ago. If ya don't like them, move on. Fortunately, I've always loved them and good to see them back sounding energized.
ReplyDeleteEric S
ReplyDeleteWould you explain what anarchist-syndicalist is? That’s a new term to me.
Captain Al
This comment has been removed by the author.
Deletethe short version is too many meetings, but the idea is one of solidarity, worker self-management, direct action...I fall more on the democratic socialist--small d, small s--end of it. Historical examples--kinda--might be the v brief Paris Commune (72 days which influenced the next 150 years of European politics), the relatively brief Spanish Revolution (especially the CNT) within the Spanish Civil War, the pretty hazy & obscure People’s Republic of Greenwich Town in 1980 Jamaica, which is barely even a footnote in Jamaica. Coincidence that none of them are sustainable? Presumably not. But pretty fascinating--to me--efforts by people to take control of the material and ideological conditions of their everyday lives. Never ask a professor a question, Cap'n. We do drone...
DeleteWith apologies, we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming
There was a time when I would drop everything to listen to the new U2, and spend the immediate future ingesting it. So I listened to this when it appeared, and I didn't hate it, but I haven't listened again. That said, I agree that it does bode well for whatever their next album might be, and if they insist on sticking around, working fast, not overthinking, and releasing before they do so is advisable. Otherwise they should take R.E.M.'s lead and just stop.
ReplyDeletethere's this thing called google
ReplyDeleteJust read everything of note.
DeleteThey seem like the people who would bore you at dinner explaining how that tomato ended up on your plate and how it is an oppressed fruit
Aw man, now I have to listen to it. Damn.
ReplyDeleteAfter one spin I really liked "The Tears of Things" and "Song of the Future". Disliked "Wildpeace" but the rest was okay. There's enough here to give the album a shot when it comes out.
ReplyDeleteThe ‘we didn’t start the fire’ template has been extremely abused by this band since the late 90’s. And to start with, that wasn’t a very good template to turn to imao. But enjoy.
ReplyDeleteR