auctioneer69
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Posts posted by auctioneer69
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Maybe it's because I saw the Joshua Tree tour, which was very much focused on America, but I kinda didn't like that the SNL set seemed focused again on talking to America. Hard to not sound preachy coming from a band from Ireland. Kind of a minor complaint. I think they mean well and truly love the U.S. and like performing over here.
All I Want Is You is a great song. The Slane Castle video on Youtube from years ago that is this song followed by Where The Streets Have No Name is one of the greatest things I've ever seen/heard of U2.
The Red Rocks show from the early 80's is great!
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I have had the chance to listen to ´Songs of Experience’ a few times now. IMHO - another middling effort from U2. I like the opening salvo of the first four songs. After that I am less impressed. Overall I’d compare it to ´Accelerate’ or ‘Collapse Into Now’ by R.E.M.. It’s a respectable but not brilliant addition to their overall body of work. It’s obvious a lot of work has gone into making these songs sound catchy for both the radio and an arena. I think Bono’s voice hasn’t sounded this good in ages. His lyrics? A few gems but a lot of platitudes too.
The creative process for the last 2 albums which have been made with multiple producers over extended periods of time shows how desperate U2 are to remain relevant in 2017. I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing based on the results. I am sure, like many, I’d love them to make one more album before they quit that is a lot less calculated.
Lastly, I thought this was a pretty funny article on how U2 are now synonymous with bad song titles:
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ATOP deluxe edition tracklisting:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/poprock/detail/-/art/r-e-m-automatic-for-the-people/hnum/7792245
Wow! Anyone else strugglng to believe that it's 25 years since this came out? I was 2 years out of college and in a transitional period of my life. A friend of mine taped me a copy. Initially, I wasn't that interested in the album as I hadn't liked "Out of Time" and thought they had strayed too far from their early period. But I loved "ATOP" on first listen and still love it today. Doesn't look like this edition includes one of their best covers: "Arms of Love" by Robyn Hitchcock which was an album b-side and which to my ears felt very complimentary to "Everybody Hurts" at the time.
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Exactly! It highlights the worst of what the band has become at times now: trite, cliched lyrics married to a clumsy and dull melody.
I also read the interview with them in the New York Times this morning. Yet more grandiose and pretentious claims about their music which only seems to get worse the harder they try and battle their irrelevance.
I liked the 'Blackout' but really wish they had packed it in a long time ago. You could just about compile a decent album from their last three albums but it would be a struggle. Or why not just focus on touring their classic albums? The ´Joshua Tree' tour has been a hit with critics and fans alike.
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It sounds like a U2 computer was programmed to write a U2-sounding song. I'm incredulous that anyone in the band went through the effort of putting that song out and was excited about the creative process the whole time, like "Nailed it!!"
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Re: the new song 'It's The Little Things That Give You Away', I thought it pretty unremarkable. Not unlike a lot of ´Songs of Innocence'.
I took about twenty minute tonight to try and play some of 'The Joshua Tree' on acoustic guitar. Wow - surprised how basic many of the chord structures are. Which made me realize how important the Edge is to the sound of U2 and the production talents of Eno and Lanois. Which brings me back to their newer stuff. So many of the songs don't sound that fleshed out and are missing the amazing arrangements of the earlier stuff. That for all the time they spend in the studio now much of their recent work seems rushed and/or pedestrian to my ears.
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So I saw U2 for the Joshua Tree Tour for the first-time in 34 years in Seattle at the CenturyLink Stadium (having seen the opening night of the "War" tour in 1983). Overall, I thought it was a fantastic show. I love the Joshua Tree album and it was a genuine treat to hear songs like "One Tree Hill", "Mothers of the Disappeared" and "Exit''. Ironically, I didn't see them in 1987 because I didn't want to see them play in a stadium at the time.
The band opened with "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "New Year's Day", "A Sort of Homecoming", "Bad" and "Pride" on a smaller stage in front of the stage before going to the main-stage for the "JT" played in order. I was genuinely surprised by the nostalgic impact of those opening songs. I remembered very clearly the day of Live Aid whilst listening to "Bad" and was taken back to watching the British TV show "The Tube" for "SBS" and "New Year's Day" . Eddie Vedder appeared for a token and brief appearance and sang the final part of the "Mothers of the Disappeared" to close out the main set. Encores included a smattering of hits and the aforementioned new song and an impromptu version of "I Will Follow" at the very-end.
Best parts of the show - the musicianship of the band. The Edge and Larry Mullen JR were both amazing. The stage was a presence to itself and for several songs added a very worthy additional element especially as this was a huge stadium show. Because of its size there were times when I felt like I was watching a concert movie as opposed to a concert but I actually liked that sensation. The not-so-good bits. These are minor quibbles but Bono's voice has clearly changed over time rendering some songs a little limp. While I probably agree with 95% of his sentiments I don't always appreciate his hectoring. I haven't followed U2 closely for a long-time but sensed his preaching was actually a little less intrusive than at some shows. He kept his comments during the Joshua Tree songs to a minimum and even a song as charged as "Bullet The Blue Sky" was played almost identically to the original version without any vocal ad-libs. Also, and I know this is very subjective, I think playing the album in order is less preferable to hearing all the songs mixed into a broader set.
I have always tried to steer clear of 100% nostalgia but am really pleased that I got to see U2 one more time. If you are a bigger fan than me I'd be amazed if you didn't love the show.
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Maybe, the coldest indoor show I have ever been to. The Moore Theatre’s 100 year old heating system/structure was no match for the frigid cold. Most people around us still had jackets and hats still on. Jeff's first words to the audience last night were "Thanks, you are the warmest cold crowd".
Fantastic show. Great variety in the songs he played. I think only 6 or 7 repeats from the show he played in the same venue 7 years. I love his attention to detail on this. And "God" (with Scott McCaughey and Tad Hutchison of Young Fresh Fellows) was the icing on the cake. It looked like the lights were going to come on so this appeared at least partially spontaneous. For me better than the show seven years ago which was excellent too. The Moore is a perfect venue. 1500 capacity (on three levels so nobody is horizontally that far from the stage) and stellar acoustics - perfect for an intimate set.
And the banter. Brilliant. The crowd took their cues from Jeff and not vice-versa which was perfect. The shouts, comments and requests didn't really start until Jeff engaged the audience after a few songs. "Pecan Pie" was an audible, Jeff changing guitars and saying "well I guess I have only written one good song in my entire career". "Dreamer in My Dreams" was indeed without a PA. Jeff had to restart after some loud clapping by someone close to him that threw him off. He flubbed on "Radio Cure" minutely commenting afterwards that's why he missed playing with the band who cover up his mistakes. I thought the opening sequence was perfect drawing the audience in and rapt with attention. "Sunken Treasure" solo is such a gem for me. Amazing the dynamic he maintains in the song with only an acoustic guitar. "Not For The Season" was a wonderful may to end the main set. Partial sing-a-longs for "Jesus Etc." and "California Stars".
He mentioned the Seahawks twice (and not in response to anyone’s shouts). I will paraphrase here: “Sorry about your team. But you know 11 and 2 isn’t bad is it. Funny thing is that if it was 2 and 11 I’d bet that 90% of you wouldn’t give a shit about football!”. Very funny for me because the last time he played the Moore he chastised a fan for shouting out "Seahawks" in the week before they were playing in the 2006 Super-Bowl.
He then went on later to discuss the televised game last week against the Saints and in particular the Grunge band (playing live and intermittently shown on TV during the game) being used as an indicator of how loud the Seattle fans were. He was very amused by this, asking who the band was and discussed Grunge comically at length (suggesting the band might be the equivalent of the Stray Cats of Grunge and that Jeff's father invented Grunge not Neil Young) and ending up by saying “Maybe, I have invented a new genre tonight please don’t groan too much – Groke” (Grunge and folk) and getting the audience to shout out the name of this.
There were lots of other witty barbs especially directed at those trying to take pictures (“is that your first smart phone? maybe you should get a niece or nephew to help you next time”), a guy who wanted to sing (“maybe you should trying booking your own show or something’) and he made mention of some Germans in the audience (“I can tell they are Germans because they clap on the 1st and 3rd beat, ( he imitates the Goose-Step), it’s ok I can say that, I am German”).
Overall the banter was good-natured, acerbic and very funny. You could tell he was really enjoying himself. Those other fans going to see shows on this tour should be in for a great night too.
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First time I have posted in a long time. As the days go by the sadder I am about the news.
For me, simply the most influential songwriter in popular music. There might be better songwriters (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon) but nobody comes close to his influence for me. He invented alternative music and several sub-genres thereafter. So many of the bands and artists I adore and who set a massive template for many others might never have coming into being or developed the way they did without him. Just a short list: Bowie, Iggy Pop, The New York Dolls, Joy Division, Talking Heads, Nick Cave, R.E.M., The Jesus and Mary Chain.
It really is difficult to overstate his influence: song-wise, sonically, visually and attitudinally. My first love was Punk and New Wave. Whilst musically it was a rehash of R&B based rock and pop, attitude wise it was all Lou Reed and Iggy Pop.
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Saw him in Glasgow in 1990 and 1992. The former one of my top 10 shows of all time. Incredibly powerful maybe even more so since I'd been dragged along by a friend. I'd recommend "Your Funeral,My Trial" as a place to start.
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Wow, she is badass. I am not very familiar with Florence and the Machine, but that was like Florence Welch featuring the Rollling Stones. Any women on here can also attest that the dancing she does in those heels is pretty badass too. Nice performance.Wow, she is badass. I am not very familiar with Florence and the Machine, but that was like Florence Welch featuring the Rollling Stones. Any women on here can also attest that the dancing she does in those heels is pretty badass too. Nice performance.
Wow - great performance except Florence Welch. She confuses screaming with singing here
Way,way over the top. Seen her live in a small venue and thought she could recite the yellow ages and still make it sounds good. She proves me wrong here.Mick looks like a speed freak whose taken up long-distance cycling to shed that difficult last 2 % of body fat. Just shows you that a lifetime of shagging anything that moves and mincing it up royally on stage is incredible for the physique
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new song "doom and gloom"
I like it. Far better than you'd expect at their ripe old age. I hear a bit of the riff from Deep Purple's "My Woman From Tokyo". And there's another familiar riff/melody in there which is on the tip of the tongue and driving me nuts because I can't think of it. Someone help me out here..
Got it - the refrain just before the chorus reminds me of the refrain just before the chorus in "The Ace of Spades" by Motorhead. Drums at the start of the song have the same feel as prime ZZ Top too.
God I am getting old. Everybody I meet looks like someone I know and every song I hear has familiar parts
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9th Wilco show and the 2nd time I have seen them at the Greek. Thought it was a fantastic set-list. Yet again, Wilco showed they can do practically the whole gamut of musical styles. "You Are My Face" and "On and On and On" were wonderful surprises. Loved the run of "Passenger Side", "Forget The Flowers" and "Christ For President". I requested "Kicking Television" with little expectation I'd actually hear it.
For any fans out there who haven't seen a show at the Greek at Berkeley it has to one of the best places anywhere to see a show. Sight-lines are great and the sound incredible for such a large venue. It's obvious that Wilco love playing there.
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Wolves, Lower
Perfect Circle
Sitting Still
Binky The Doormat
You're In The Air
Near Wild Heaven
These Days
Fall on Me
Camera
11th Untitled Song
Find The River
Arms of Love (Robin Hitchcock cover)
Begin The Begin
Good Advices
Auctioneer
Try Not To Breathe
Wake-Up Bomb
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Here's hoping they release a live download of this. Very, very cool!
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I am not a Springsteen fan but appreciate the sentiments of this record. It's reminds me of the situation of Neil Young's "Living With War" about Iraq/Afghanistan a few years ago. Great that these records have been made but where are the younger bands/artists who give a shit or have something to say?
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Just wanted to make sure you knew!
Don't think there are many Gorlllaz fans here so know where you are coming from . Loved "Plastic Beach" and was lucky enough to see one of the amazing shows that accompanied it.
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^Bobby Wolmack released several songs with the Gorillaz in the last few years on both Plastic Beach and The Fall.. He was featured in Stylo and was on Cloud of Unknowing and my favorite Bobby in Peheonix. Yep it is a great voice!
First new material he's released personally and yes, I love the stuff he did with the Gorillaz.
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What a voice! From XL records. Similar idea to what they did with Gil-Scott Heron. First new material since 1994. Album to follow in June.
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Kinda agree. Unfair maybe on first listen. Pretty samey.
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Streaming all day today (Tuesday, March 13) at I-Tunes. Sounds great so far.
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Definitely the '80's. The CD was the worst thing to ever happen to music. Up to about 86/87 bands still had to concentrate of making catchy singles. 45's are the single best musical art-form ever! LOL, yes I know massive blow-hard statement. But growing up in the late seventies/early eighties in Britain and hearing the likes of Blondie,The Jam, Elvis Costello, The Police, The Undertones, The Specials, The Beat, Madness and others releasing fantastic songs every 3 or 4 months kinda spoils you. Even though I wasn't a fan of synth-pop at the time I can't resist a little "First-Wave" now on Sirius when I get a rental car.
Can see how the '90's is so attractive to American given who was President and the good economy.
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1999 seems like so long ago now (remember the pre-millenium worries and internet stocks doubling in value every week).
Look - no camera-phones, Jeff lighting up during a song and worst of all he was so poor he only gets to play 2 guitars on stage.
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Very sad. 48 is very young even for someone suffering from the disease of drug addiction. RIP.
Good news for U2 fans..
in Someone Else's Song
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