Songs Of Surrender

My feeling of ambivalence toward U2 is rivaled only to how I feel toward R.E.M. Both bands were highly formative to my musical growth, and yet they’ve both produced some real stinkers along the way. This “new” collection from U2 takes the cake. However Bono, et al. try to spin it, this is a pointless collection that epitomizes the worst excesses of the MacPhisto character that was created twenty-plus years to mock the very thing they’ve now become.

I think old age is getting to them.

Each band members take on how to turn their songs into a lounge vibe.

I still have a stronger emotional attachment to the originals, but it’s nice to listen to variations.

Go away and raise some goats

I was pleasantly surprised with this album. I was originally disappointed with the first few songs that dropped. However after listening to the whole album I find it cohesive and enjoyable. Sure Bono is a little full of himself but I think the edge did a great job of putting these songs together. Also I had forgotten how many great songs are in there catalogue it’s kind of unbelievable that these four lads could write so many dare I say classic songs. I think one of my favorites so far is the Fly. I am still hoping they will still put out some more songs well into their sixtes

I first heard U2 in 1984 and these re-imagined versions make sense in that context, while sounding beautiful in their own way.

The energy of every song on this album has been sucked away, horrible.

If you go in expecting these to sound exactly the same as the original versions, yes, you will be disappointed. But that's not the point of this album. The idea behind it was to take each song and change the arrangement, strip it down in some places and bolster it in others. Does it work? Not always, hence the four stars, but in most cases yes. Some of these songs take on a beautiful, meditative quality. Ultimately, these rearrangements are neither better nor worse than the original -- just different, and still a great listening experience.

We all age! I saw the lads for the first time in the Minneapolis Auditorium March 19, 1985–Unforgettable Fire Tour. I loved the youthfulness of that album and tour. I was 16 years old. The lads were in there 20’s. Now, I am 53 and the lads are in their 60’s. This album beautifully shows how they have matured as musicians—more lyrical and rhythmical. Now they can explore the depths of these previous songs and express nuances I never imagined. This album may even reach out to a different generation who has more acoustic sensibilities—like my children who struggle with the younger lads albums. Nonetheless, the lads I love are maturing like a good Cabernet Sauvignon in a whiskey barrel. I love this album.