U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
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Free Music Notes for The Unforgettable Fire
Free Music Review: U2's First Reinvention
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1984 U2 were facing a dilemma, they had just come off their successful War Tour and had begun to notice a new element creeping their audience, that of the Hard Rock fan. This was largely due to the War album's success and sound. Difficult as it may seem today U2 at one point in their career were concerned by punk-rock credibility. `The Unforgettable Fire' was their first attempt to try and shed some of their newfound fan-base, `Achtung Baby' being the second.
To those of you who are not familiar with `The Unforgettable Fire' this album sounds like nothing else in their back catalogue. It was a complete departure from their original sound for which I believe credit should be given to the fact that it is their first album with Brian Eno producing. The album was recorded at Slane castle, which gave the album a wonderful reverberating tone, but the significant difference here is the fact that Larry and Adam's playing really starts to shine through. The rhythm section on `The Unforgettable Fire' has an almost unstoppable quality that for me is the strongest of their career. The Edge's guitar playing and Bono's vocals and lyrics take a significant step up also. The Edge really develops his signature 80s playing style by simply laying his spiralling impressionistic playing style over the top of the rhythm section to great effect. Bono's song writing ability shows massive improvement, gone are the standard bulldozer `Sunday Bloody Sunday' type lyrics and instead a more vague, poetic and sometimes improvised approached is used. For this reason his received some criticism at the time.
Of course the highlight of the album was the first single `Pride (In The Name Of Love)' that ensured the album was a massive hit. Ironically if one wanted to shed some of the undesired fan-base then another song would have been a better choice for first single, like `MLK' or `Elvis Presley and America' for example. I think they learned that lesson on `Achtung Baby' by releasing `The Fly' as the first single instead of the obvious `One', but by that time they were so big it made little difference.
`The Unforgettable Fire' is for me U2's greatest artistic statement as a band and definitely the best album in their catalogue. The album has great dynamic width, which would be explored again on `The Joshua Tree' but to less effect. `Indian Summer Sky'; `Wire'; `Bad'; `A Sort Of Homecoming' and `Pride' are genuine gems in the U2 catalogue and certainly some of the best up to that point. I just wish they played them more often.
Highly Recommended.
Free Music Review: Lull before the storm
Hit: 4 Stars
This album was a departure from the first three and was a forebear of the U2 "sound" which has been their trademark ever since. It lacks the drive and energy of the first 3 albums, instead Eno and Lanois bring a different palette of sounds to U2. It isn't "The Joshua Tree" but it certainly shows how they got there. "Bad" is the highlight - used to wonderful effect at LiveAid. "Pride" and "Wire" have a fuller sound but reminiscent of their earlier works. Unfortunately the pace is let drop a couple of times giving an incomplete feel to the album. It isn't one of their classic albums but it is definitely worth checking out and should find its way in to any complete U2 collection. Free Music Review: Maybe not unforgettable, but good
Hit: 4 Stars
OK, first off let me say I'm not a big alternative rock fan - I prefer classic rock nine times of ten. But U2 (along with R.E.M., the Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Nirvana) gave me proof that alt-rock wasn't a total loss. And The Unforgettable Fire is a hell of an album. Highlights include Pride (In the Name of Love) - one of my favorite U2 songs, and certainly one of their best hits; chilling anti-drug ballad Bad; A Sort of Homecoming; the experimental Wire (a good showcase for Brian Eno's production) and the title song. I don't think I'll spin Elvis Presley and America, Promenade, or 4th of July again, and this is nowhere near the level that The Joshua Tree reached. But it's a good album. Free Music Review: 'Unforgettable' Passion
Hit: 5 Stars
'Unforgettable Fire' is a shimmering and passionate masterpiece. Perhaps it is only slightly less brilliant lyrically as 'The Joshua Tree' and at times uneven, but the propulsive energy, the celestial production, and the flowing imagery make this C.D. one of U2's very best.
The familiar ground deserves mention. "Pride," a remarkable tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King is majestic with the Edge's guitar ringing out sonorously and Bono's vocals and Larry's drumming meeting and surpassing the demands of the challenge. "Bad" is another great anthem. It works into a throbbing crescendo, then leaves us satisfied. The title track is mesmerizing in a way that hardly is muzak to our ears. Existential and sociological in its implications to spirituality and nuclear annhilation, it provides food and music for thought. The unheralded songs are accomplished, too. "Wire" is as frenetic and tense as they get. It is simply one of their greatest songs, driven to bring home a first-person drama--a subject from "Amnesty International," whom they support. They bring home more sublime spirituality with "Indian Summer Sky" and the meandering, but excellent "Elvis Presley and America". The opener "A Sort of Homecoming" is an excellent diagnosis and another worthy anthem regarding the "quiet desperation"* of modern life. Then, the album needs some tenderness to avoid overdrive. "Serenade" is beautiful masterpiece as is the reprise-like closer "MLK". "Fourth of July" is evocative of Bono's statement that "America both fascinates and frightens me." It is a short intermission on the threshold of "Bad". On the previous 'War' U2 looked at the world, but specifically at Ireland. On 'The Unforgettable Fire'they look at the world especially at--or through--the eyes of America.
The energy of their early years was matched and surpassed on "The Unforgettable Fire". The lyrics are nuanced, yet direct. Bono was certainly reaching maturity vocally and lyrically on this album. The Edge reaches playing heights and intricacies found no where previous, and Adams bass is more expert, throbbing ably through the mix. Larry's athletic drumming is one of the most idiosyncratic accomplishments one can think of. Then, the perfectionistic production of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, newly at the helm, provide a beautiful synthesis of the music. Perhaps 'The Joshua Tree' represents more variety and maturity, but the propulsiveness of 'The Unforgettable Fire' is a hallmark achievement.
*Henry David Thoreau
Free Music Review: Awesome
Hit: 4 Stars
I have always loved U2 both their new stuff and their old stuff. I bought this CD on a friend's recommendation and I have not regretted it at all. Unforgettable Fire is a stunning song but so are all the others. I would highly recommend this CD to any U2 fan.
PS I have lent the CD to the friend who recommended I buy the it in the first place.