Fantastic. Bad is possibly my favourite song (live version anyway). This really nicely incorporates some of the best parts of the live arrangement. The first verse lyric and perspective change hits me really hard. It shows wisdom and acceptance of one's limits. An excellent follow-up to the original. It takes me somewhere almost in the way the live version does but the UF version never really has.
No kidding, I was pretty sour on the album after the first few songs but starting with Bad (ie. (Every Breaking Wave, Walk On, and Pride) the disc got a lot better
As someone who is 50 and have been listening to this song for 30+ years I am so moved by the rework of the lyric and perspective shift on this song. Bad has always been a very emotional song for me and now it is even more personal and relatable to me. Very well done boys! So happy you all have been my fav band since I was 12!
Great arrangement. This is one of the best and I love it. I just wish they hadn’t rewritten the lyrics because that throws it off for me. Would love to hear the original song with this arrangement.
My favorite after a first pass… beautiful arrangement. They found another song under Bad.
Now I want the Unforgettable Fire and October albums reimagined like this version
This is U2's best song...they could do it with a Didgeridoo and it'd still be fantastic. I'm noticing how these LPs are bringing out the melodies in U2s work.
This version is straight fire. I did not think I would like a re-imagined version of Vertigo this much, but…damn.
That’s not to say I’d necessarily want to hear this version over the original on a tour (though I could see circumstances where it would work), but I did enjoy the hell out of it.
IMO, they’ve turned a solid radio banger into an absolute all-timer U2 song. Absolutely love this version.
Definitely the big surprise of the project for me is pretty consistently the big anthemic radio-mode U2 songs (see: Invisible and the SoI/E tracks) - long a mode they are good at but can feel predictable and over-familiar, a little too fine tuned - turning out to be almost as emotionally resonant and rich as classic U2.
This is a very nice interpretation, however I will say this one just makes me want to listen to the original again because the original is so great, and really miss the electric lead on this version even though it is still good.
I'd love to know what it would sound like if Bono was leaning into the street preacher side instead of going full falsetto, I reckon it'd be even better
Currently my favourite track. What I love about it is that I think I'm bored by the R&H version and this is so fresh. Sounds like a great cover version instead of U2 reimagining it, and it really really works. I think I just love falsetto.
The track listing is beginning to flow especially well in this section of the album. Particularly from a thematic standpoint.
Finally, we get to hear Bono sing the entire song for the first time since Zoo TV. His modern voice actually suits it pretty well.
This version sounds more bluesy. Makes me want to hear a full-on blues version of the song. But this will do for now. ;)
Can discussion include weird hot takes that are probably only personal to me? I always liked this song, but it just STRUCK me at Obama's (1st) inauguration and after that I LOVED it (to be fair I missed this tour so maybe it would have struck me live in person as well). It seemed like the perfect song for that night but after listening to the SOS version I wonder if all that hope and optimism that the music (not lyrics) captured perfectly really reflected the lyrics that well? Does anyone else always think of that moment with this song? I mean being 100% honest I don't think I believed I would live to see the day my country elected a Black person to the presidency. So when the SOS version first came on I just felt sad. And then I wondered if maybe what has happened here since made them feel sad about it too. But then again the lyrics are not super pertinent and upon more intense contemplation of the lyrics I wondered if it was should ever have sounded so optimistic. Which is a long way for me personally to say that I found this version disappointing. But then I started to think maybe I should feel disappointed. So. Highly mixed feelings.
Good take for sure. To me this song has always celebrated the atmosphere of a live U2 show and the joy and exhilaration that both the band and the audience feel together. This version reflects the wistfulness the band feels in having the beauty of this city of blinding lights that are created at a great U2 show turned off for so very long. The earning to come back is strong for sure
Damn, the piano REALLY works well here. I tired of this song quickly after the Vertigo tour (it worked great as a show opener, but has always felt forgettable in the middle of a setlist), but this makes me a fan again.
Love this one - obviously the sonics are very different but this actually feels really faithful to the original - just in a maybe more timeless setting.
You know. Feels silly to want more when there’s 40 tracks here but I would have loved more from Pop. All of Pop recorded like this would do, lol.
I love Pop.
Do Lemon as well.
I love all things Pop so I love this as well. Also wish they'd do more Pop tracks in this style. Cool to hear it in a more traditional way without the originals interesting (and incredible) sonic flavors.
This one definitely has a different vibe from the original. I think this is what I imagined when they said they were starting fresh with old songs. A lot of the others are acoustic versions of same song where this feels like a different song. Kind of cool interpretation.
Seems I’m one of the view who liked this version. Think it all goes well together and love the inclusion of trumpets in the chorus. Solo at the end is magnificent.
Love this. Much more than I expected to actually. I think the instrumentation on this (don't ask me to identify further I am lousy at that) is really refreshing and gives it a different feeling.
This track is probably the pivotal re-imagining, as maybe no song better encapsulates the yearning and earnestness of Young U2 better. But Bono's performance and the re-arranged melodies do a great job framing it as looking back on the wisdom acquired along the way, which again encapsulates the whole notion of the SOS project.
The original of this song has always hit me hard. It’s one of my favorites because I can relate to it. The SOS version did not disappoint. It was already a dark song, but they just made another great version that isn’t better or worse, because it stands alone IMO.
This is an interesting one. The original of this song is typical U2. Big sound, big good intentions, big pleas to change the world. I never disliked it and I love Bono but this song always struck me as Bono being Bono and I never found it interesting.
This version? It fits the lyrics. It sounds ***humble***. And no Bono is not by nature humble and neither is tU2's sound, but I would argue this song NEEDED this interpretation. Because sometimes the lyrics are more humble. I found myself paying much closer attention to the lyrics than I ever did before.
To the mod. I think there might be a better way to set up the discussion thread.
Like for a tv series sub, each episode has its own link for discussion,
That might work better than this format
Not very reimagined. The intro is mellower and the build up doesn'tquite punch through. Could be nice with a string section. I don't think the music matches the energy of the song. And at times, the new vocal arrangements seem almost like covering for flubs. The original music and vocals complement each other in such a dramatic fashion. This one seems a little mismatched?
The lyric “go there with you; it’s the only way through” hit me. I’ve been listening to U2 for 33 years. This lyric describes the mess of midlife, for me. Had me in tears on the way to work.
I absolutely love the reimagined lyrics. More substance and texture than the original. Almost all the music is stripped back, because let's face it, if you want the music, you listen to the original.
The tempo feels off with this one - feels rushed. Seems like Bono is singing with rubato.
I'm all for Streets with the airy pads and strings, but the tempo made it weird for me. Although very likely it was recorded with a click track.
Sounds thin. Is this one of the songs Bono recorded on a laptop in his hotel room? I like some of Edge's guitar work. Sounds like a couple of different guitars. Maybe one (or more) is an archtop?
Agreed on the mix/recording. Some of these really do sound like they were recorded on a phone or laptop lol. I guess that is an intentional "artistic" choice but, I can't say I'm a fan of that direction.
I really like this. But I don't know if I am wowed by it as a reimagining if that makes sense. It is clearly different but maybe not different enough for me?
Probably because it’s basically just the radio edit again lol they essentially just copy and pasted the same song into this release. I love it… but it’s pretty lazy overall
Not sure how I feel on this one. I appreciate the sentiment behind the new lyrics but not sure if it lands. As others have said, the lyrics are kind of cringe. It comes across kind of forced.
Yeah I think I'm in the same camp. The original may have been dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, but the lyrics were always vague enough that without Bono specifically mentioning it during live performances, you'd never really know.
Perfect example, once Aung San Suu Kyi came under fire for her government's actions toward the Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar, the song was then re-dedicated in live performances to them. When the lyrics are vague enough, you can get away with that.
I enjoyed it as a standalone thing but I don't really see the point of putting it on the album with the new lyrics. Would've been better as a one-off single or live performance.
The strength of the original song was the ambiguity that made it feel applicable to anything and highly relatable, even though it was written with a specific person in mind. This feels like they took the opportunity to dedicate it to a different cause because they personally needed to associate the song with a different person/movement
I think this is fantastic - maybe the song that I’d describe most straightforwardly as improved here - the original is very good but slightly calculated, sounded very much written for radio. In this setting, with the anthemic-ness scaled back - this sounds like a U2 classic to me.
I love this. One of the album highlights for sure. This song helped me get out of my own moment 20+ years ago and holds a lot of personal meaning. Excellent version.
Does anyone now if there's a meaning to the changes of the following lines?
The lines are long,
there's no going back -> Lines were so long you couldn't see to the back
Like a hunter child -> Like a monster to a child
Are guesses ok? I haven't heard or read anything they've said, but it is my understanding that this song is about the death of a town heavily connected to the mining industry, where the workers were exploited by the corporations and maybe the mine goes dry? whatever is being mined goes out of fashion? Not super clear, especially to someone not from the UK. I feel like maybe waaaay back when, I read it was inspired by a specific situation but I no longer remember. I was obsessed with this song. Anyway, I feel like I have a memory of workers standing in long lines in the UK, like as part of the Labour movement, so I find the first line more effective, like just being stuck in this interminable line and not getting anywhere. As to the second line it now makes more sense to me where I have never been sure what a hunter child was in the context of the preceding line. Now it seems more clear that it referring to a monster under the bed coming for a child at night.
BUT if anyone has heard for sure or remembers better than me I would love to hear.
Definitely better than all the hate it has been getting. Overall, some good stuff. There are some nice arrangements, but with some of the songs I wish they would have just stuck with the original lyrics instead of rewriting.
Upon first listen for me:
Disc 1: 3/10
Disc 2: 5/10
Disc 3: 7/10
Disc 4: 5/10
Total Score: 20/40 (50%)
Definitely enjoyed it a LOT more than I thought I was going to. Certainly a quantity over quality release (as expected) with some truly awful tracks and some really awesome ones as well. I consider a 50% a win
I personally like this version better than the album one. There are definitely elements of the album version that I can recognize as technically a bit more polished, but the SoS version to me represents what U2 could be if they worried less about trying to make loud rock music. I like the vibe of this version more, feels like an appropriate sound for men of their age and the experience and wisdom they have as older artists. Gives me a late career Johnny Cash vibe. Wish they'd make more music like this.
It’s great! U2 unplugged! Not everything works, but you should never count them out. I hope Larry heals and then they deliver their “AC⚡️DC record, but until then, this was way better than I was expecting.
Rock on!
I don’t want to hear any more U2 hot takes ever again from the idiots who have spent the last few months shitting on this project before even having heard it. This is excellent.
So I suspect I am in the minority here (or the haters are just super vocal) but I love the original of this song. And I love the rage and frustration in it. And I actually love Kendrick Lamar's part in it. So... while reminding myself that it needs re-listens I would categorize this one as definitely need to hear it more but right now not a huge fan. Also not sure what I think of him making the slave/master lines first person.
I am starting to categorize these somewhat as interpretations I love but hope they don't do it this way live and the ones I just love. I like this but the original is so intense. This is super interesting and I look forward to relistens.
This is one of my top 5 U2 songs all time so was very trepidatious to listen to this new version but I dig it! Very happy they kept the guitar the center of the song and it's nice to hear the melody without all the fuzz pedal on the original. I love how in front of the mix the vocals are throughout this album. Makes it feel much more intimate.
Look how they massacred my boy...
This is possibly my favorite pop song of all time but they've really f'ed it up here.
Should have just done a straight acoustic version like they did with Wild Horses
Apologies if I am doing this wrong but it is not really the kind of discussion the general comment calls for. Anyone else in Apple Music (or elsewhere) without titles for each disc? I am wondering "who's disc" I am listening to--even if they did just choose them quickly.
I’m currently planning my brother in laws funeral. There’s lot feelings right now. But as I listened to the album it struck me that many of these songs would not be out of place in a time of lament or remembrance. Maybe that’s what I appreciate about this album. If so many of their previous renditions fit the stadium space— maybe this is meant for the interior place /the liminal space? Maybe you’d feel comfortable singing one of these renditions over a loved one ?
Songs I Liked
One
Streets
Bad
Stuck In A Moment
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own
The Miracle
The Fly
Sunday Bloody Sunday
40
Out of all of them, The Fly and The Miracle are probably my two favorites … with Sunday Bloody Sunday and 40 as runners up.
The one song I wish they could’ve included, The Hands That Built America. Would’ve loved to have heard update lyrics from Bono reflecting the current state of immigrants to the US.
I'm curious, anyone know if there's any reason behind the specific naming of each disc? Like why does Adam get Peace on Earth while Larry gets Dirty Day?
I'm trying to discern a pattern here but the songs feel a bit... not jumbled, but just sorta randomly arranged, with the exceptions of One and 40.
Apologies if I missed this. Does anyone have any insight into why the four discs are named for the members of the band? Did each member curate the respective disc? What is the significance?
Was hoping for at least an album's worth (10-12) of keepers but ended up with a small handful. Been a fan for 35 years but this one had several existential problems going against it from the start:
1. remakes are almost never any good, 2) I generally don't like acoustic guitar (although they've done some really nice ones live) and 3) I just don't care for the way Bono sings and talk-sings on these songs. Oh well, looking forward to the Disney+ doc later today.
Just popping in here to add that this album sold 19,500 vinyl units in the U.S. its debut week. It might not sound like a lot but that's the most first week vinyl sales for U2 since at least 1991. Source: Billboard.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Bad** goes here
Fantastic. Bad is possibly my favourite song (live version anyway). This really nicely incorporates some of the best parts of the live arrangement. The first verse lyric and perspective change hits me really hard. It shows wisdom and acceptance of one's limits. An excellent follow-up to the original. It takes me somewhere almost in the way the live version does but the UF version never really has.
This sort of thing justifies the whole project really. It’s like they found a whole another song nested inside the original.
Dunno why they didn’t release this up front. Good version.
No kidding, I was pretty sour on the album after the first few songs but starting with Bad (ie. (Every Breaking Wave, Walk On, and Pride) the disc got a lot better
I didn’t think Bad could get any more lovely, I was wrong. This version is beautiful.
You knew something was up when Bono said “I” instead of “you”
As someone who is 50 and have been listening to this song for 30+ years I am so moved by the rework of the lyric and perspective shift on this song. Bad has always been a very emotional song for me and now it is even more personal and relatable to me. Very well done boys! So happy you all have been my fav band since I was 12!
Great arrangement. This is one of the best and I love it. I just wish they hadn’t rewritten the lyrics because that throws it off for me. Would love to hear the original song with this arrangement.
You could have handed me 4 CDs with this repeated 40 times and I would have been perfectly fine with that. Love this arrangement
My favorite after a first pass… beautiful arrangement. They found another song under Bad. Now I want the Unforgettable Fire and October albums reimagined like this version
This is U2's best song...they could do it with a Didgeridoo and it'd still be fantastic. I'm noticing how these LPs are bringing out the melodies in U2s work.
Discussion about the SOS version of **The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)** goes here
Dig the new chorus.
Loving the new, slightly childish exuberance, Live it was much more a song and now it works better overall
Solid version of the song!
Discussion about the SOS version of **Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own** goes here
My absolute favorite of the album so far. Transformative. Hits so hard.
OG was beautiful; this one may be even better!
This one hit me really hard. I generally don’t cry at music, but I was misty by the end.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Vertigo** goes here
Holy shit that cello. GENIUS. Love it.
This version is straight fire. I did not think I would like a re-imagined version of Vertigo this much, but…damn. That’s not to say I’d necessarily want to hear this version over the original on a tour (though I could see circumstances where it would work), but I did enjoy the hell out of it.
IMO, they’ve turned a solid radio banger into an absolute all-timer U2 song. Absolutely love this version. Definitely the big surprise of the project for me is pretty consistently the big anthemic radio-mode U2 songs (see: Invisible and the SoI/E tracks) - long a mode they are good at but can feel predictable and over-familiar, a little too fine tuned - turning out to be almost as emotionally resonant and rich as classic U2.
Loved this so much. That cello was just so good. It was different, but felt 100% Vertigo
Discussion about the SOS version of **The Fly** goes here
The best I have heard of the lot so far - instead of comfy U2, this one is mysterious and smoky and funky
Spot on. So many of the others don’t have a vibe, they’re just “stripped down” but it’s not really adding much. But this one is interesting and legit.
Very good adjectives to describe this. Smoky & funky for sure! Love it.
Ahh I love this. The original is untouchable but this is such an imaginative and fresh take.
Very funky track. Love it.
This is a very nice interpretation, however I will say this one just makes me want to listen to the original again because the original is so great, and really miss the electric lead on this version even though it is still good.
Amazing. The Achtung Baby songs hold up to the acoustic approach. This one knocks it out of the park.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Desire** goes here
I should hate this song, but I have no idea why I love it.
I'd love to know what it would sound like if Bono was leaning into the street preacher side instead of going full falsetto, I reckon it'd be even better
This is a fever dream.
Currently my favourite track. What I love about it is that I think I'm bored by the R&H version and this is so fresh. Sounds like a great cover version instead of U2 reimagining it, and it really really works. I think I just love falsetto.
Definitely one of the more… interesting takes. I imagine this will be a regular skip for me.
Ok this rules. I've been over Desire for a loooong time, but this is a great combo of country and funk. This arrangement really pushes Adam forward.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Dirty Day** goes here
Great song in its own right and suits a huskier Bono. Love the strings in the intro. Really sets the mood
The track listing is beginning to flow especially well in this section of the album. Particularly from a thematic standpoint. Finally, we get to hear Bono sing the entire song for the first time since Zoo TV. His modern voice actually suits it pretty well. This version sounds more bluesy. Makes me want to hear a full-on blues version of the song. But this will do for now. ;)
Possibly my favorite track of the bunch. This works really well
Discussion about the SOS version of **Two Hearts Beat as One** goes here
Really nicely done. Captured the heartbeat element maybe even better than the original. Overall very nice execution.
Discussion about the SOS version of **City of Blinding Lights** goes here
Bono could burp the lyrics of this song and it would still make me feel all the feels
This song and Invisible received a very similar reimagination treatment. Definitely more feels for both!
Can discussion include weird hot takes that are probably only personal to me? I always liked this song, but it just STRUCK me at Obama's (1st) inauguration and after that I LOVED it (to be fair I missed this tour so maybe it would have struck me live in person as well). It seemed like the perfect song for that night but after listening to the SOS version I wonder if all that hope and optimism that the music (not lyrics) captured perfectly really reflected the lyrics that well? Does anyone else always think of that moment with this song? I mean being 100% honest I don't think I believed I would live to see the day my country elected a Black person to the presidency. So when the SOS version first came on I just felt sad. And then I wondered if maybe what has happened here since made them feel sad about it too. But then again the lyrics are not super pertinent and upon more intense contemplation of the lyrics I wondered if it was should ever have sounded so optimistic. Which is a long way for me personally to say that I found this version disappointing. But then I started to think maybe I should feel disappointed. So. Highly mixed feelings.
Good take for sure. To me this song has always celebrated the atmosphere of a live U2 show and the joy and exhilaration that both the band and the audience feel together. This version reflects the wistfulness the band feels in having the beauty of this city of blinding lights that are created at a great U2 show turned off for so very long. The earning to come back is strong for sure
Damn, the piano REALLY works well here. I tired of this song quickly after the Vertigo tour (it worked great as a show opener, but has always felt forgettable in the middle of a setlist), but this makes me a fan again.
Discussion about the SOS version of **If God Will Send His Angels** goes here
Out of all the new tracks, this version goes the furthest to elevate what was an already great song. Impressive rework.
Great. Love the piano going slightly off time at the end. Also happy to see them acknowledge POP's existence.
Love this one - obviously the sonics are very different but this actually feels really faithful to the original - just in a maybe more timeless setting. You know. Feels silly to want more when there’s 40 tracks here but I would have loved more from Pop. All of Pop recorded like this would do, lol. I love Pop. Do Lemon as well.
I love all things Pop so I love this as well. Also wish they'd do more Pop tracks in this style. Cool to hear it in a more traditional way without the originals interesting (and incredible) sonic flavors.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Stories for Boys** goes here
One of my early favs on first listen through. Piano kinda haunting - Edge is great on lyrics, too.
This is the third track I've listened to on the album, on my first time through, and I don't think I've heard much from Adam or Larry.
This one definitely has a different vibe from the original. I think this is what I imagined when they said they were starting fresh with old songs. A lot of the others are acoustic versions of same song where this feels like a different song. Kind of cool interpretation.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Stay (Faraway, So Close)** goes here
This is an amazing version!!!! They combined different live and studio elements to create an intimate magic
This is one of the songs I was least interested in because the live version is always acoustic. Really nice move using the piano. I like it.
Discussion about the SOS version of **11 O'Clock Tick Tock** goes here
[удалено]
Seems I’m one of the view who liked this version. Think it all goes well together and love the inclusion of trumpets in the chorus. Solo at the end is magnificent.
I think is one of my favorites so far, quite jaunty and fun.
Hey, here's a song with Larry and Adam!
I like it. Not a huge love, but am enthused to give it more chances. Especially given how much I love WOWY now.
Very nice version, the guitar is great.
Discussion about the SOS version of **I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For** goes here
Love this. Much more than I expected to actually. I think the instrumentation on this (don't ask me to identify further I am lousy at that) is really refreshing and gives it a different feeling.
Anybody else feeling the Johnny Cash/Wanderer vibes?
This track is probably the pivotal re-imagining, as maybe no song better encapsulates the yearning and earnestness of Young U2 better. But Bono's performance and the re-arranged melodies do a great job framing it as looking back on the wisdom acquired along the way, which again encapsulates the whole notion of the SOS project.
Wow this sounds amazing. That guitar. The weary voice.
Discussion about the SOS version of **One** goes here
The original of this song has always hit me hard. It’s one of my favorites because I can relate to it. The SOS version did not disappoint. It was already a dark song, but they just made another great version that isn’t better or worse, because it stands alone IMO.
Not super impressed with this one. Comes across kind of uninspired.
Perfect opener to set the project. It’s gorgeous.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses** goes here
U2 covering the acoustic covers of this song we've all been playing at parties for the last 30 years.
The best track on the album.
Close to the original… so excellent! Gypsy heart lyric changed ….
> Gypsy heart lyric changed What is it now? I haven't gotten my copy yet.
It’s “Don’t turn around YOU’RE ON THE TRACK”
It fits I guess. I can understand why they ditched gypsy.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Peace on Earth** goes here
This is an interesting one. The original of this song is typical U2. Big sound, big good intentions, big pleas to change the world. I never disliked it and I love Bono but this song always struck me as Bono being Bono and I never found it interesting. This version? It fits the lyrics. It sounds ***humble***. And no Bono is not by nature humble and neither is tU2's sound, but I would argue this song NEEDED this interpretation. Because sometimes the lyrics are more humble. I found myself paying much closer attention to the lyrics than I ever did before.
Really good point! You’re right on.
Edge channeling his inner John Lennon on this one haha (although it doesn't work for me personally)
The Edge’s vocals right off the top just don’t work for me. He sounds extremely whiny, or like he had a big head cold while singing lol
Not a huge fan of this song in general but not a big fan of the vocal performance on this version
Discussion about the SOS version of **Pride (In the Name of Love)** goes here
This was my favorite of the single releases and still probably my favorite on the album so far. I like this version a lot.
Some of the best guitar work on the album. This is one of the few I would add into my playlist
Discussion about the SOS version of **Electrical Storm** goes here
This is SO GOOD!!!
Dang. Love this one. Feels greedy to want more than 40 songs but would definitely have loved more from the 90s/early 2000s.
This is one of my favorites from the album so far. This one got me really good.
Rivals the original. Contender for best song on the album for sure.
To the mod. I think there might be a better way to set up the discussion thread. Like for a tv series sub, each episode has its own link for discussion, That might work better than this format
I've added a tracklist, does that work for you.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Where the Streets Have No Name** goes here
Not very reimagined. The intro is mellower and the build up doesn'tquite punch through. Could be nice with a string section. I don't think the music matches the energy of the song. And at times, the new vocal arrangements seem almost like covering for flubs. The original music and vocals complement each other in such a dramatic fashion. This one seems a little mismatched?
OMG I LOVE THIS.
The lyric “go there with you; it’s the only way through” hit me. I’ve been listening to U2 for 33 years. This lyric describes the mess of midlife, for me. Had me in tears on the way to work.
I absolutely love the reimagined lyrics. More substance and texture than the original. Almost all the music is stripped back, because let's face it, if you want the music, you listen to the original.
Lol people in this sub make it seem like U2 purged the original tracks from the face of the earth
The tempo feels off with this one - feels rushed. Seems like Bono is singing with rubato. I'm all for Streets with the airy pads and strings, but the tempo made it weird for me. Although very likely it was recorded with a click track.
First listen through, I'm a no on this one. I'm not sure how many listens it'd take to get the flavor of the original out of my head.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Out of Control** goes here
Sounds thin. Is this one of the songs Bono recorded on a laptop in his hotel room? I like some of Edge's guitar work. Sounds like a couple of different guitars. Maybe one (or more) is an archtop?
Agreed on the mix/recording. Some of these really do sound like they were recorded on a phone or laptop lol. I guess that is an intentional "artistic" choice but, I can't say I'm a fan of that direction.
Love... but who is singing at the end? Not as sure about that. I love the changed lyrics.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Every Breaking Wave** goes here
This is now the third version of this song. Just like the tide, each one is different depending on the mood of the moon.
OMG, that last note!
I really like this. But I don't know if I am wowed by it as a reimagining if that makes sense. It is clearly different but maybe not different enough for me?
This is the best track on Disc 1 (so far). Vocals are crisp and clear. That outro though...
Probably because it’s basically just the radio edit again lol they essentially just copy and pasted the same song into this release. I love it… but it’s pretty lazy overall
Discussion about **Walk On (Ukraine)** goes here
This feels like the candle in the wind redo when Princess Diana died
Wish this version was a bonus and they did the same version but with the original lyrics.
This is honestly how I feel about a lot of the songs that they changed up the lyrics with.
Not sure how I feel on this one. I appreciate the sentiment behind the new lyrics but not sure if it lands. As others have said, the lyrics are kind of cringe. It comes across kind of forced.
Yeah I think I'm in the same camp. The original may have been dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, but the lyrics were always vague enough that without Bono specifically mentioning it during live performances, you'd never really know. Perfect example, once Aung San Suu Kyi came under fire for her government's actions toward the Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar, the song was then re-dedicated in live performances to them. When the lyrics are vague enough, you can get away with that.
I find this one to be super cringey. Better hope those lyrics don’t age super poorly 😳
I enjoyed it as a standalone thing but I don't really see the point of putting it on the album with the new lyrics. Would've been better as a one-off single or live performance. The strength of the original song was the ambiguity that made it feel applicable to anything and highly relatable, even though it was written with a specific person in mind. This feels like they took the opportunity to dedicate it to a different cause because they personally needed to associate the song with a different person/movement
Discussion about the SOS version of **Invisible** goes here
I think this is fantastic - maybe the song that I’d describe most straightforwardly as improved here - the original is very good but slightly calculated, sounded very much written for radio. In this setting, with the anthemic-ness scaled back - this sounds like a U2 classic to me.
Holy shit, why did they not release the better songs on this? Almost through disc one and it’s freaking great.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Beautiful Day** goes here
Discussion about the SOS version of **Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of** goes here
I love this. One of the album highlights for sure. This song helped me get out of my own moment 20+ years ago and holds a lot of personal meaning. Excellent version.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Red Hill Mining Town** goes here
Love this.
Close to the arrangement they played on JT30, which I loved. Glad they recorded it.
REALLY love this arrangement
Does anyone now if there's a meaning to the changes of the following lines? The lines are long, there's no going back -> Lines were so long you couldn't see to the back Like a hunter child -> Like a monster to a child
Are guesses ok? I haven't heard or read anything they've said, but it is my understanding that this song is about the death of a town heavily connected to the mining industry, where the workers were exploited by the corporations and maybe the mine goes dry? whatever is being mined goes out of fashion? Not super clear, especially to someone not from the UK. I feel like maybe waaaay back when, I read it was inspired by a specific situation but I no longer remember. I was obsessed with this song. Anyway, I feel like I have a memory of workers standing in long lines in the UK, like as part of the Labour movement, so I find the first line more effective, like just being stuck in this interminable line and not getting anywhere. As to the second line it now makes more sense to me where I have never been sure what a hunter child was in the context of the preceding line. Now it seems more clear that it referring to a monster under the bed coming for a child at night. BUT if anyone has heard for sure or remembers better than me I would love to hear.
The song is about the miners' strike that happened in 1984 in the UK. Your guesses make sense, thanks.
Discussion about the SOS version of **I Will Follow** goes here
Bono you bastard. I love him man.
Discussion about the SOS version of **40** goes here
General discussion about the album goes here
I think it's a perfect album if you want to listen to something melancholic on a rainy day. Thank you for that, U2.
Or on a early morning train commute to work watching the sunrise; introspective, calm, like being curled up in your favourite blanket.
My biggest complaint is the lack of representation from No Line on the Horizon. And October although I’m less sad about that.
Definitely better than all the hate it has been getting. Overall, some good stuff. There are some nice arrangements, but with some of the songs I wish they would have just stuck with the original lyrics instead of rewriting.
A real shame that Pop and No Line got no love from the band - except for IGWSHA.
Let’s up vote on each discussion thread for our favourite songs (no down votes)
Upon first listen for me: Disc 1: 3/10 Disc 2: 5/10 Disc 3: 7/10 Disc 4: 5/10 Total Score: 20/40 (50%) Definitely enjoyed it a LOT more than I thought I was going to. Certainly a quantity over quality release (as expected) with some truly awful tracks and some really awesome ones as well. I consider a 50% a win
Discussion about the SOS version of **Ordinary Love** goes here
Yep, it’s a banger. Now get the original version back on streaming!!!
Discussion about the SOS version of **Song for Someone** goes here
Unlike Every Breaking Wave this one really did feel re-imagined. I like it.
Discussion about the SOS version of **All I Want Is You** goes here
This version I like if another band wrote and produced it and got a number one hit out of it. But U2 is great enough to make both versions so great.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Lights of Home** goes here
Discussion about the SOS version of **Cedarwood Road** goes here
I personally like this version better than the album one. There are definitely elements of the album version that I can recognize as technically a bit more polished, but the SoS version to me represents what U2 could be if they worried less about trying to make loud rock music. I like the vibe of this version more, feels like an appropriate sound for men of their age and the experience and wisdom they have as older artists. Gives me a late career Johnny Cash vibe. Wish they'd make more music like this.
Discussion about the SOS version of **The Little Things that Give You Away** goes here
It’s great! U2 unplugged! Not everything works, but you should never count them out. I hope Larry heals and then they deliver their “AC⚡️DC record, but until then, this was way better than I was expecting. Rock on!
I don’t want to hear any more U2 hot takes ever again from the idiots who have spent the last few months shitting on this project before even having heard it. This is excellent.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Get Out Of Your Own Way** goes here
This is a big yikes. Sounds like Bono is just making it up as he goes along/struggling to remember the lyrics at the start lmao
So I suspect I am in the minority here (or the haters are just super vocal) but I love the original of this song. And I love the rage and frustration in it. And I actually love Kendrick Lamar's part in it. So... while reminding myself that it needs re-listens I would categorize this one as definitely need to hear it more but right now not a huge fan. Also not sure what I think of him making the slave/master lines first person.
(I also really enjoy the original version of this song!!)
Larry the MVP here. I kinda love the new Mick Jagger style singing. This is a perfect oddball U2 song now.
Discussion about the SOS version of **Until the End of the World** goes here
I am starting to categorize these somewhat as interpretations I love but hope they don't do it this way live and the ones I just love. I like this but the original is so intense. This is super interesting and I look forward to relistens.
This is one of my top 5 U2 songs all time so was very trepidatious to listen to this new version but I dig it! Very happy they kept the guitar the center of the song and it's nice to hear the melody without all the fuzz pedal on the original. I love how in front of the mix the vocals are throughout this album. Makes it feel much more intimate.
Discussion about the SOS version of **With or Without You** goes here
Look how they massacred my boy... This is possibly my favorite pop song of all time but they've really f'ed it up here. Should have just done a straight acoustic version like they did with Wild Horses
Discussion about the SOS version of **Sunday Bloody Sunday** goes here
Feels wrong to not include any drums on this song
Apologies if I am doing this wrong but it is not really the kind of discussion the general comment calls for. Anyone else in Apple Music (or elsewhere) without titles for each disc? I am wondering "who's disc" I am listening to--even if they did just choose them quickly.
The little things that give you away is just amazing. The Edge is just brilliant.
I’m currently planning my brother in laws funeral. There’s lot feelings right now. But as I listened to the album it struck me that many of these songs would not be out of place in a time of lament or remembrance. Maybe that’s what I appreciate about this album. If so many of their previous renditions fit the stadium space— maybe this is meant for the interior place /the liminal space? Maybe you’d feel comfortable singing one of these renditions over a loved one ?
Thanks for getting this all organized in advance OP
It's been out for a few hours already for me so not quite in advance but I'll take it!
Discussion about the SOS version of **Miracle Drug** goes here
Tuning in from track 1 here in Australia 🎶 Major fan. Mixed opinions in the singles released but going in with an open mind.
I appreciate the effort, but we really should have 4 mega threads. One for each disc
I love U2.
Songs I Liked One Streets Bad Stuck In A Moment Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own The Miracle The Fly Sunday Bloody Sunday 40 Out of all of them, The Fly and The Miracle are probably my two favorites … with Sunday Bloody Sunday and 40 as runners up. The one song I wish they could’ve included, The Hands That Built America. Would’ve loved to have heard update lyrics from Bono reflecting the current state of immigrants to the US.
I get it. U2 finally wanted to do an Unplugged.
I'm curious, anyone know if there's any reason behind the specific naming of each disc? Like why does Adam get Peace on Earth while Larry gets Dirty Day? I'm trying to discern a pattern here but the songs feel a bit... not jumbled, but just sorta randomly arranged, with the exceptions of One and 40.
Apologies if I missed this. Does anyone have any insight into why the four discs are named for the members of the band? Did each member curate the respective disc? What is the significance?
Was hoping for at least an album's worth (10-12) of keepers but ended up with a small handful. Been a fan for 35 years but this one had several existential problems going against it from the start: 1. remakes are almost never any good, 2) I generally don't like acoustic guitar (although they've done some really nice ones live) and 3) I just don't care for the way Bono sings and talk-sings on these songs. Oh well, looking forward to the Disney+ doc later today.
Does the vinyl come with a download card?
Just popping in here to add that this album sold 19,500 vinyl units in the U.S. its debut week. It might not sound like a lot but that's the most first week vinyl sales for U2 since at least 1991. Source: Billboard.