Ghost Rider
Footballguy
I guess I can't complain much since I did not submit a list, but Landlady is a good song. Not a standout, but a good song. This list should make for some good comedy going forward if that one is this low.
The interesting thing for me in these lists is the lack of uniformity. I think thats good.I guess I can't complain much since I did not submit a list, but Landlady is a good song. Not a standout, but a good song. This list should make for some good comedy going forward if that one is this low.
Oh and Landlady is pants. None of us have it in our bottom 10, but no one has it in their top 196 eitherI guess I can't complain much since I did not submit a list, but Landlady is a good song. Not a standout, but a good song. This list should make for some good comedy going forward if that one is this low.
It's just sort of ... there.#226 - Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Comes
Comment - As the Vulture comment illustrates this is included on the longer form of the Unforgettable Fire single. It really is useless and not worth a repeated listen.
So I've enjoyed the last few albums. But it was interesting to me that even after trying to dissociate nostalgia in the rankings, the last few albums did come out at the bottom for me too.As one of the song rankers, I admit to being biased against the newer albums. I was big into music when U2 started and a lot less into music the past 20 years. I have way more memories with the older songs. Who knows if that makes the songs any better, but they make me more into those songs.
That being said, I have all their albums and have listened to them a fair amount. But I just can’t get into their last few albums. I am pretty sure I am one of the ones with outlier songs, but that’s probably not totally uncommon. With such a small sample size, it should make for an interesting list.
Overall, there’s about a 50/50 ratio of songs that I like vs those I wouldn’t really jump at the chance to listen to. Based on how I am, that’s a pretty high ratio compared to other artists.
As one of the song rankers, I admit to being biased against the newer albums. I was big into music when U2 started and a lot less into music the past 20 years. I have way more memories with the older songs. Who knows if that makes the songs any better, but they make me more into those songs.
That being said, I have all their albums and have listened to them a fair amount. But I just can’t get into their last few albums. I am pretty sure I am one of the ones with outlier songs, but that’s probably not totally uncommon. With such a small sample size, it should make for an interesting list.
Overall, there’s about a 50/50 ratio of songs that I like vs those I wouldn’t really jump at the chance to listen to. Based on how I am, that’s a pretty high ratio compared to other artists.
I was expecting to dislike the last two albums more than i did. In the end four of my top 50 are from Songs of Innocence and Three of my top 50 are from Songs of Experience. None make my top 25 though. No Line on the Horizon is a different story.So I've enjoyed the last few albums. But it was interesting to me that even after trying to dissociate nostalgia in the rankings, the last few albums did come out at the bottom for me too.
Realistically, though, most bands tend to suck after the first 10 years, if they can even stay together that long. The fact that I can still have some decent new stuff is gravy for me and I'm not expecting that every album is going to be the next Joshua Tree after all of these years.
You are underselling the Stones. They put out platinum selling albums and sold out tours for 40+ years. The last couple probably pale in comparison to their earlier albums, but their staying power and popularity has been up there for decades.I was expecting to dislike the last two albums more than i did. In the end four of my top 50 are from Songs of Innocence and Three of my top 50 are from Songs of Experience. None make my top 25 though. No Line on the Horizon is a different story.
As for U2 generally, their longevity as a commercial entity is almost unparalleled. Rolling Stones stopped after what, 20 years if im generous. No one wanted their new albums. I think U2 got to HTDAAB with strong interest in the new stuff....25 years
This song fits very well in a tight range near Landlady. Mrs APK was disappointed that it was bottom-5, but struggled to name 5 songs that were worse.#225 - Tomorrow
Highest Rank - 173
Lowest Rank - 220
Vulture.com rank and comment - 149/218 -
The first time U2 played “Tomorrow” live, they were in the support slot for Thin Lizzy at Slane Castle — you literally cannot get a more Irish rock-and-roll pedigree than that — and they started their set with this song. “We were ####e,” Bono said. “We failed spectacularly.”
There’s a lot about “Tomorrow” that’s unnecessarily overwrought; Bono described the lyrics as “unconscious rambling.” The lead instruments are uilleann pipes — the Irish version of bagpipes — and some very low-on-the-register bass rumblings. “Tomorrow” is one of those moments that make you grateful the band managed to finish this record and that the record company didn’t immediately show them the door.
Comment - I’m sure there is thought and heart behind this, but its a painful listen. The vulture comment describes it pretty well. Just young men not knowing what they were doing. When Bono is allowed to carry on like a pork chop, it’s hard to enjoy the song.
None of us had it bottom 5, but the way this works is that if all of us agree, it gets punished or praised. If there is 1 or 2 dissenters either way the song gets closer to the middle. Looking forward to further comments from APK and Mrs APK.This song fits very well in a tight range near Landlady. Mrs APK was disappointed that it was bottom-5, but struggled to name 5 songs that were worse.
That was a rushed comment. I agree with your take. I was thinking more critical and commercial viability of an album. Plenty of old timers can do sell out stadiums. Can they still do good albums that resonate with the public? I think U2 did it longer than the Stones, but can’t think of many more bands that are in the conversation. I don’t just mean like Kiss or AC/DC in appeasing their fanbase, but a broader appeal and with critical acclaim.You are underselling the Stones. They put out platinum selling albums and sold out tours for 40+ years. The last couple probably pale in comparison to their earlier albums, but their staying power and popularity has been up there for decades.
I remember when the Duets album came out. Mrs APK was excited because Bono was on the album, so I bought it as an Xmas gift. Man, talk about disappointment. I can’t decide what aspect of the song is the worst……Bono’s falsetto, his lack of any interest in making the song an actual duet……or simply the producer making repeatedly bad decisions about composition of the song. Upon re-listening to the song tonight my first thought was “somebody got paid to produce this song. Jesus.”#224 - I’ve Got You Under My Skin
Highest Rank - 152
Lowest Rank - 224
Vulture.com - Not ranked
Comment - If it wasn’t for my ranking of 152, this would have ranked 228....easily. The other three really did not like this lol. It’s on the B Side to Stay (Faraway So Close). Goodness knows what Sinatra thought of it. While he sleepwalks through his part, Bono carries on like a clown. He tries to hold it together early on but then delivers cringeworthy excitable Bono parts. I’m rating this higher than others, but its not without significant flaws. It is entertaining at the very least and unlike others I have ranked low, I can listen to it repeatedly,
So true.I remember when the Duets album came out. Mrs APK was excited because Bono was on the album, so I bought it as an Xmas gift. Man, talk about disappointment. I can’t decide what aspect of the song is the worst……Bono’s falsetto, his lack of any interest in making the song an actual duet……or simply the producer making repeatedly bad decisions about composition of the song. Upon re-listening to the song tonight my first thought was “somebody got paid to produce this song. Jesus.”
Well, again, it does not stand out, but looking at that album alone, it is miles better than American Soul which is in their pit of crap along with Red Light, Get On Your Boots and Stand Up Comedy.Oh and Landlady is pants. None of us have it in our bottom 10, but no one has it in their top 196 either
I can see what they are trying to do with American Soul. It’s not far off really working well. Doesn’t make my top half and it’s not my style of U2 song.Well, again, it does not stand out, but looking at that album alone, it is miles better than American Soul which is in their pit of crap along with Red Light, Get On Your Boots and Stand Up Comedy.
To me, one of Lillywhite's most remarkable accomplishments is getting Trey Anastasio to sound like an actual singer on Phish's Billy Breathes. So it's weird that he did nothing to harness Bono.Thing is I really like Lillywhites work with other artists like Simple Minds, Ultravox! And XTC. John Foxx and Jim Kerr in particular did their best work with him at the helm.
I've always liked the dynamics of this one, Bono screeching aside. Would it be in my top 50? No. Would I rank it quite a bit higher than the four rankers? Yes.
There's one that I like a whole lot. But for the most part, yeah.I usually like cover songs. And I like U2. But man, most of their covers just suck.
It was my lowest ranked. Is it the worst song in their catalog? Probably not, but I saw that I needed to review this and I got angry that they thought this was a good idea.221 - Pop Muzik
Highest Rank - 160
Lowest Rank - 228
Vulture.com ranking and comment - Not rated
Comment - Probably more apt as an intro to the band coming on stage for the Pop tour. Recording and sticking it on an offical release was unnecessary. As a piece of music its interesting compared to the original. Worse somgs here but is it really U2? This is the first song that was the lowest ranked by one of us. The next ones come in at 213, 167 and 156
Next Up another B side
A few things hereSome of these B-sides i've never heard.......& after hearing them, I can only say that I'm glad I hadn't heard them before. Seems like most are unfinished songs that never got off the ground with lyrics or a chorus.
No offense to JML..........but I kind of wish that we set the cutoff line at Top 200 and left it at that.
And 1 request/question......and 1 comment:
Q: Do you have the release year of the songs? If so, it would be nice to put it in these writeups if not for just context.
Comment: a couple of the youtube links don't work for me (I get a black screen with: "Video unavailable This video is not available")
Back in the '80s and '90s my friend and I collected U2 B-sides and rarities and compiled them on cassette. We thought this one was ridiculous.222 - J. Swallow
Highest Rank - 161
Lowest Rank - 223
Vulture.com ranking and comment - 215/218 - They needed a B-side for “Fire.” “It was done in a mad panic,” the Edge notes. “It was a case of two hours to go, let’s do it.” It sounds like that.
Comment - A b side to an october single is gonna be pretty bad. Expectations lowered. Pretty bad. It’s good that U2 put effort into new material for a B Side, rather than an instrumental of the a side or an album track.
Next Up another B-Side cover
I really like it and feel it's terribly underrated.219 - White as Snow (2009)
Highest Rank - 154
Lowest Rank - 217
Where to Find it - No Line on the Horizon LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment - 174/218 - The melody is ancient; Daniel Lanois was digging into 12th- and 15th-century hymns — as one does, if you’re Daniel Lanois — but when it came time for lyrics, Bono and the band were able to craft a story that could be modern or extremely old. The concept revolved around a soldier in Afghanistan, but the lyrics could have come from one of those hymns. There are also some uncharacteristic ’60s-influenced harmonies.
Comment - All the above is nice and good, but its a very basic track. Unlike most tracks on the No Line on the Horizon album, a little more would be nice here. Just dull. At this stage we now have three of us disliking a track, with one outlier.
Next Up we see our first track exclusively on a movie soundtrack
It's gotta be that one I spotlighted, yes?a track from the Unforgettable Fire.
That isn’t nearly as bad as the other songs in this range, although being affiliated with a horrible movie knocks in down a few pegs.218 - North Star (2011)
Highest Rank - 145
Lowest Rank - 225
Where To Find It - Transformers Dark of the Moon Soundtrack
Vulture.com ranking and comment - Not rated
Comment - From the Transformers Dark of the Moon Soundtrack. I can remember watching this excrement in the cinema with my Transformers loving son and this was the only thing I was interested in. I am the outlier on the rankings on this one. It’s Short, relatively harmless and without charm. It is a pleasant time filler.
Next Up, back to the B sides
If it’s the track I’m thinking of……very few songs that I dislike Bono on more.It's gotta be that one I spotlighted, yes?
A nice song. Not much to it, but an easy listen.219 - White as Snow (2009)
Highest Rank - 154
Lowest Rank - 217
Where to Find it - No Line on the Horizon LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment - 174/218 - The melody is ancient; Daniel Lanois was digging into 12th- and 15th-century hymns — as one does, if you’re Daniel Lanois — but when it came time for lyrics, Bono and the band were able to craft a story that could be modern or extremely old. The concept revolved around a soldier in Afghanistan, but the lyrics could have come from one of those hymns. There are also some uncharacteristic ’60s-influenced harmonies.
Comment - All the above is nice and good, but its a very basic track. Unlike most tracks on the No Line on the Horizon album, a little more would be nice here. Just dull. At this stage we now have three of us disliking a track, with one outlier.
Next Up we see our first track exclusively on a movie soundtrack
That would be „Tomorrow“.A nice song. Not much to it, but an easy listen.
Apologies, but I missed it, which song from October has been listed already?
Fantastic job doing this. I'm a decent U2 fan, but we haven't hit the point where my knowledge would kick in. Although I do like their newer stuff in addition to the classics, at least through No Line.
Hey - a song that I actually know without having to go to Youtube!216 - 4th of July (1984)
Highest Rank - 170
Lowest Rank - 208
Where to find it - The Unforgettable Fire LP
Vulture.com ranking and comment - 178/218 - Another Adam Clayton in-studio improvisation that the Edge joined in on, except this time Brian Eno had tape rolling, so what you hear is what they did in the studio, no overdubs, no multiple takes. It fits, slightly eerie and plaintive, and provides a necessary pause for the listener before the next track, back when records had deliberate sequences that informed most people’s experience of the album.
Comment - Meant to be atmospheric, but it just sounds like they are warming up their instruments. U2 usually throws these kinds of tracks on B Sides on the last minute. No idea who thought it was a good idea to include on a breakthrough album.
Next Up, back to the B- Sides
I haven't heard this in a while but I remember liking it.John Maddens Lunchbox said:215 - North and South of the River (1997)
I might have to listen again a few times to see if i missed something.