U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
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Free Music Notes for All That You Can't Leave Behind
Free Music Review: Beautiful satisfaction . . .
Hit: 5 Stars
I want to first say a few words about 'Pop', which was an absolutely heavy-hitting recording. Bono's spiritually lyric undertow with his constant references to God, Higher powers and saviors, etc. should have made them title that CD "Hymnal", but then again many would've complained about the lads being pretentious. This is the problem from what I can see in the reviews - all over again.
All that you can't leave behind ... is exactly that, it's spiritually dumbfounding as any good body of music should be, like any Charlie Parker recording or even Bob Dylan's 'Blood On The Tracks'.
I can't think of any other band out there, that has weathered so much negativity from all corners of the music world and still survived and be able to pull off what's been done here. It's down-right mythical, they have produced a body of music that is the idea that if the 'sound' from each of their albums can be captured and used to produce one more song, ... what would that song be, and what would all those songs sound like? Well, folks, this would be it. This is a complete study and exercise in sound, but a sound that has been developed over a 20 year period, constantly changing, evolving and always improved. The mastery in music that is displayed for us here, is something that we should introspectively consider, sift and appreciate.
This work may be as historically important as Bach or Mozart, even though our contemporary time and paid critics may not regard it as such, we should stop what we are doing and give a listen to the boys who told us that 'Please' was a prayer, paid tribute to MLK and gave us Joshua Tree to physically consider when the evening sky over Los Angeles grows dull and sapping. We need to make that drive out to Joshua Tree one more time.
Many things will NEVER be the same because of the influence of U2, whether it sits well with us or not, we should indulge in this offering on the singular experience and benefit therein. Like a Hanblechia (Vision Quest). Use your headphones for one more moment in this lifetime, make that road trip again. Don't be afraid to leave LA, take the 10 FWY to the 62 and follow it all the way out, but do yourself a favor and leave at dusk; and by all means take this one with you, you can't leave it behind.
For yet another album ... I am in awe.
Free Music Review: Stealing honey from a swarm of bees . . .
Hit: 5 Stars
I've read most of the reviews here about this album, I've also been listening to this album for about two weeks solid. It's hands down a great collection of music. I'm a little concerned though about what's been said about the song: 'Wild Honey'. This song is totally different than some of U2's other work for sure but, it's definitely not fluff by any means. This song could of very easily found it's way onto the first half of Achtung Baby, and when the boys actually wrote this, I'd be curious to know.
'Wild Honey' is a very worthy song all the way around. I love the fact that has a very acoustic sound, which no one has yet mentioned. This is definitely getting back to their old styles, but it's also moving into new ground. I don't believe 'Wild Honey' was designed for radio play, which most of us here don't care about, but there is a great call in the song, which Bono makes to all the lovers out there. This is a very layered song and has a great bridge towards the end. I recommend giving this a long listen. I actually found myself singing the opening chorus to this one quite often.
Should I mention the song that follows: When I look at the world? What a brilliant song. This is very reminiscent of Zooropa, and it brings out a lot of those feelings that I felt hearing Zoo for the first time. I was floored when I first heard Zoo, because that may stand to be in the running as their absolute best. This cut though is a great example of how far Larry has progressed. His playing here is seamless. I put this one through my studio equipment and messed with it to listen to it better, and it reminds me of some of his work on Achtung Baby! and Joshua Tree.
Can we expect an acoustic album from them, like an 'unplugged' perhaps? Probably not, but don't rule it out.
My favorite? As a big fan of Pop, and all the others, I'd have to say 'New York', which continues from the 'Million Dollar Hotel' sound. I really like 'Miami' off Pop as that was a really cool cut and this is a great follow up. This song builds so beautifully that it floors you in the peace of your car, cruising at 3am with the windows down.
New York should have been released as the first single, but the record label probably didn't have the guts.
Free Music Review: The modern masters of rock have done it again.
Hit: 5 Stars
After the luke-warm "Pop" album, U2 is back with the red-hot "All That You Can't Leave Behind." It's been quite a while since I've purchased an album in which every song is pleasing to listen to, and are almost all masterpieces. The opening track "Beautiful Day" rocks harder than most songs on the album, and is as catchy as U2 gets. "Stuck in a Moment..." is a hit worthy ballad, in which Bono's beautiful lyrics take command over the music, a rarity for U2. "Elevation" is the most fun to listen to on the entire album, a hard-rocking anthem with a bit of "Pop"'s electronica lurking in the background (but in a totally great way). One of the two highlights of the album is "Walk On," which almost instantly enters into the same ranks as "One" and "With or Without You." It's just one of those songs that you have to close your eyes and take in its pure perfection of Bono's heartfelt lyrics and the band's stellar chemistry. "Kite" is a bit of a strange song, but beautiful regardless. Edge's guitar work is overwhelming on this one, and lulls you back to the "Joshua Tree" era. "In a Little While" and "Wild Honey" are probably the lows of the album, but are rhythmic and catchy in their own right. The second standout on the album is the heartbreaking "Peace on Earth." Bono has always expressed his political opinions through his songs, but this one hits home like few have in the past, and is possibly one of U2's best tunes ever. "When I Look At The World" is just another wonderful, spacey rock song, that is a single-worthy instrumental masterpiece. "New York" goes in several different directions, yet is very enjoyable if not a bit chaotic (nothing like the messes on "Pop", mind you). "Grace" is a very sweet song and a great way to end U2's third masterpiece album. "The Joshua Tree" was the album of the 80's. "Achtung Baby" defined rock music in the 90's. If "All That You Can't Leave Behind" is a hint of things to come this decade, we're in for an incredible 10 years of music. If not, then U2 has simply made themselves the greatest rock band in the world again.
Free Music Review: U2 informed by all of their pasts
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great album. The one thing that I missed most about U2 over the last few years is the fact that they really care about what they are doing and have an obvious social conscience, which is a refreshing change from the fast-dollar skin-deep pop and rock that dominates the radio now. They don't generally make albums that they don't believe in, and they definitely believe in this collection. It has been said that this album is a return to the band's roots, but that is an oversimplification. In reality, this whole disc is very much informed by everything they have learned during their trysts with the techno-industrial during their last three studio albums, using this as the backbone of each track here while also returning their original sound of delay-laden lead guitar, solid rythm from bass and drumkit, and Bono's honest vocal delivery to the fore.
The first single and opening track, Beautiful Day, is a catchy euphoric rocker, but it is not the strongest song here. That is maybe Peace on Earth, where Bono continues his tradition of an obvious but not blind faith and which also exhibits the bands interest in social woes. Stuck in a Moment... and In a Little While are also very strong, both of these exhibiting a huge amount of soul and optimism. Elevation is an extrovert rocker with borderline-throwaway standard lyrics, but with some great gutiar riffs and some really phenomenal playing towards the end (but way down in the mix). The song Grace closes the album with a quiet and poignant flourish where Bono seems to tell us all that God's grace is so deep and profound that each and every one of us owes it to others to also exhibit this trait.
There are other great songs on All That You Can't Leave Behind and the album holds together in a remarkably organic way, progressing pretty clearly from the first track to the last. Only the track Wild Honey is a real disappointment for me, but I must say that there have been dozens of U2 songs that just didn't do anything for me at first that I have grown to love. Even if that doesn't happen here, this album would still be surpassed in my view by only The Joshua Tree and maybe Achtung Baby as an absolute masterpiece in U2's impressive canon.
Free Music Review: U2 informed by all of their pasts
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great album. The one thing that I missed most about U2 over the last few years is the fact that they really care about what they are doing and have an obvious social conscience, which is a refreshing change from the fast-dollar skin-deep pop and rock that dominates the radio now. They don't generally make albums that they don't believe in, and they definitely believe in this collection. It has been said that this album is a return to the band's roots, but that is an oversimplification. In reality, this whole disc is very much informed by everything they have learned during their trysts with the techno-industrial during their last three studio albums, using this as the backbone of each track here while also returning their original sound of delay-laden lead guitar, solid rythm from bass and drumkit, and Bono's honest vocal delivery to the fore.
The first single and opening track, Beautiful Day, is a catchy euphoric rocker, but it is not the strongest song here. That is maybe Peace on Earth, where Bono continues his tradition of an obvious but not blind faith and which also exhibits the bands interest in social woes. Stuck in a Moment... and In a Little While are also very strong, both of these exhibiting a huge amount of soul and optimism. Elevation is an extrovert rocker with borderline-throwaway standard lyrics, but with some great gutiar riffs and some really phenomenal playing towards the end (but way down in the mix). The song Grace closes the album with a quiet and poignant flourish where Bono seems to tell us all that God's grace is so deep and profound that each and every one of us owes it to others to also exhibit this trait.
There are other great songs on All That You Can't Leave Behind and the album holds together in a remarkably organic way, progressing pretty clearly from the first track to the last. Only the track Wild Honey is a real disappointment for me, but I must say that there have been dozens of U2 songs that just didn't do anything for me at first that I have grown to love. Even if that doesn't happen here, this album would still be surpassed in my view by only The Joshua Tree and maybe Achtung Baby as an absolute masterpiece in U2's impressive canon.