U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
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Free Music Notes for The Unforgettable Fire
Free Music Review: The Key to Future Success
Hit: 5 Stars
U2's 1984 release, the Unforgettable Fire, has proven to be the key to U2's timelessness. The album proved to be a shock to those fans who had come aboard during the Boy/October/War era as it was nothing at all like the band's first three albums. It's a very moody, atmospheric piece that has proven to be timeless, something much music from 1984 has not proven to be. It is this album that forever removed the possibility that U2 would be just another guitar band or protest band and paved the way for the landmark 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, which vaulted U2 to the pinnacle of the music world, a place they've inhabited ever since.
U2 had experimented before. The previous effort, War, featured more politically oriented lyrics (U2 had been very personal on the first two LPs) and introdduced more vocalization, keyboards, and even brass and strings on some tracks. The Unforgettable Fire would go far beyond the attempts of war, changing the sound completely.
So what do we have? Pride (In the Name of Love) is well known. Much else here is not recognized by the casual listener. A Short of Homecoming comes with beautiful imagery and a beat that moves it forward. Pride is what it is, a great rock anthem. Wire is much more kinetic and confused, though I think this is intentional. The Unforgettable Fire is a beautiful song that contains more poetic imagery. Promenade is a personal favorite. 4th of July is a moody instrumental. Bad is one of the best songs U2 has ever written. Indian Summer Sky is akin to Wire - very kinetic. Elvis Presley and America is often hammered, but it may be favorite track. The lyrics was improvised at the behest of Eno and the imagery is fantastic. I also find the song to be full of raw emotion. MLK is an atmospheric tribute to Dr. King.
Throughout the album the lyrics and sounds are imprecise and not as firm as the U2 of the previous three albums. This lends a real timelessness to the album. I'll admit, it took me several listens to really get into the album - the most of any U2 album - but the rewards are even more satisfying. This album takes you somewhere and leaves you with a smile as opposed to U2's darker works that would come after it. This would be U2's brightest effort until All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Most of their catalog is somewhat optimistic albeit dark. This one is not so and is a joy to listen to; give it a chance.
Free Music Review: A few things to keep in mind
Hit: 4 Stars
1. IT'S NOT A POP ALBUM -- And U2 were not originally a poprock band. U2 rose from the ashes of the punk explosion, into what we Americans call "new wave." But it was a different type of new wave without synthesizers or glossy production. People complain that there aren't enough choruses or catchy hooks on the Unforgettable Fire. In case you didn't know, that's the tired pop format, a commercial format preferred by the music industry because they believe that you the listener cannot absorb, let alone comprehend any song that's longer than 3 minutes or doesn't have a memorable chorus or repetetive melody. The Unforgettable Fire isn't a rock record or a pop record. Those terms are too simple and limiting. Instead, U2 created a MUSIC PIECE. It's experimental, sweeping, majestic, ambient and beautiful. Most of the songs have an untraditional arrangement and follow odd formats. The familiar verse/chorus/verse/chorus formula doesn't apply here. This is the album where U2 first reinvented themselves and first truly challenged mainstream rock and pop. WAR was a fierce, straight ahead rock record. Instead of recording a WAR Part II, U2 instead released an album that defied convention at the time. If you're used to commercial music, then you're going to have a hard time understanding the significance of this album. That is why college radio loved The Unforgettable Fire album, but mainstream American radio was tougher to win over, and that didn't happen until The Joshua Tree was released with it's more mainstream format.
2. REMEMBER THAT THIS IS 1984 -- Music that was making the airwaves at this time was relegated to the glossy "haircut bands" like Kajagoogoo, Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, OMD, etc. The only alternatives to this kind of romantic synthesizer pop was The Smiths, The Cure, REM and of course The Clash. The Smiths, The Cure and The Clash followed a format that was punk inspired, while REM hailed from the indie scene. U2 on the other hand were in a category unto themselves. Making another WAR album would have trapped them into a category and stunted their growth as artists. The Unforgettable Fire with it's classical and European influences was the only real answer to that kind of artistic stagnation. That's when you start to appreciate what Brian Eno brought to the table during the recording sessions. The majority of the album was recorded in a castle, making use of natural materials and acoustics, a locale which was then unheard of at the time. There's a sense of space, a natural ambience that helps to paint a mental picture within the listener. It's cinematic music, slightly vague in lyrical content, but emotionally vivid. The music of the Unforgettable Fire and Brian Eno is those things. It's also about artistry, experimentation and nullifying categories. So was David Bowie's music, which Eno produced in the 1970s. People are quick to call this kind of music "weird." It's only weird because YOU don't understand it. Bono or The Edge were once quoted as saying something like "Art rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s went to art school. We went to Brian Eno." This album was ground breaking for 1984, and it still holds up today as a classic because few bands have made anything like it since.
THIS IS AN ALBUM, NOT A COLLECTION OF SONGS -- What I mean is, you have to look at the entire collection as one canvas, one piece of art. How do you view a piece of art and properly appreciate it? I believe you research the making of the piece, the history behind it, the locale, what else was going on at the time, the story behind it, etc. The audience is supposed to actually THINK about it, not just look at it because it's a "pretty picture" or listen to it because it's a "cool sounding CD."
Free Music Review: Definitely needs a remaster!!!
Hit: 3 Stars
Though I agree with the last reviewer that this album definitely needs a remastering, it is one of U2's more overated efforts, but still miles better than anything U2 have done in the 2000's, especially All that you can't leave behind, ok that wouldn't be hard anyway, I know, but The Unforgettable Fire also includes some favourite U2 songs of mine too!!!!
A Sort of homecoming is a great track, kinda similar to what was to come on The Joshua Tree, whilst Pride (in the name of love) is definitely one of the best U2 anthems. It also includes the punk like Wire, the title track The Unforgettable Fire & one of my other favourite U2 tracks Bad. This song was also performed by the band in their Live Aid performance!!!
The rest is kinda mediocre, not for lack of invention though, it just that some of the ideas didn't quite come of here as well as the others, they must have saved their best for you know what. But I suppose the other songs still make it a great listen especially for die hard U2 fans, and the great songs really are great!!!!
To conclude The Unforgettable Fire is definitely a change from its stronger predecessor, the U2 breakthrough album War, although brave it didn't quite work as an album, but it includes some smashing great tracks as I forementionedn, and if anything it was a sign of things just coming down the road. I say it's definitely worth a listen!!!
Free Music Review: One of my favourite U2 releases
Hit: 4 Stars
This magnificient album 'The Unforgettable Fire' showcased what would become some of the most endearing and popular U2 songs through the early and middle 90's to even now the mid 2000's. This album deals with racism and prejudiced views and highlights the works and wonderful words of Martin Luther King, a warrior for peace and equality. The words of King are sprinkled here and there throughout the album and for the listener it is a time to reflect and think about the legacy of this great man. For he had the courage to speak out in a time that racism was vagrant. U2, especially Bono has always been a band that has taken world issues and brought them to the spotlight of public view and this album is no different. 'Pride' and 'That Unforgettable Fire' are touching songs and even to this day and age are requested by people of all ages.
If anything, this album is a enjoyable 45 minute journey through thought provoking views in a musical sympthony that promotes hope and desire in the human race to succeed and overcome its own embarrasing shortcomings.
Free Music Review: It has it moments
Hit: 3 Stars
But I can only name 5 classics on this album, A Sort of homecoming, Pride, Wire, Unforgettable Fire, and Bad.
Though the rest is ok, it is hardly anything special. Still I think it's worth buying for those tracks alone because they are that good and you certainly don't feel cheated!!!
P.S
3 stars means good!!!
5- Classic 4- Excellent 3- Good 2- Average 1- Poor