U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

I'm even starting to reconsidering a couple Joshua Tree songs. The guitars on "Where the Streets Have No Name" are actually kind of amazing.

Well, let's go through it then, shall we?

"Sort of Homecoming"

Very nice in an old-skool sorta U2 way, but I prefer the live version on Wide Awake in America.

"Pride (In the Name of Love)"

Perfectly nice, but I never really need to hear this one again. How bored must they be of playing it?

"Wire"

One of my favorites on the album. Great plinky riff. Bono huffing and puffing and moaning about heroin. Nice breakneck pace.

"Unforgettable Fire"

Very nice as well.
"Promenade"

Not really a song so much as just an ambient instrumental.
"4th of July"

Filler, but nice all the same.

"Bad"

Hoary and overblow, but still fabulous.

"Indian Summer Sky"

Best song on the album. Too bad they don't sound like this anymore.

"Elvis Presley and America"

Filler.

"MLK"

Filler.

The Elvis cut sounds like bad Peter Gabriel.

(Can't remember much about Boy, it's been years since I've heard it.)

Hmmm. Funnily enough, I always though "Bullet the Blue Sky" on Joshua Tree belonged on War.

the second side ... with the "elvis presley" silliness ... was unlistenable aural molasses, then and now. the live "bad" beats the studio version, though that's the conventional (but true!) opinion.

Brilliantly summed up.

Other than that, I second everything Alex says.

Essential:

Boy
October
War
Under a Blood Red Sky
The Unforgettable Fire
All That You Can't Leave Behind

Good enough to keep:

Wide Awake in America
Zooropa

Disposable except for key tracks:

The Joshua Tree ("With or Without You")
Rattle and Hum ("Desire," "Heartland")
Achtung Baby ("One")

Disposable:

Pop

"Unforgetttable Fire" though is a record I am very fond of, "Promenade" in particular. I've found this to be an album that works really nicely on vinyl, where you have to get up midway and flip it over, so you get that momentary break between halves. "Promenade" is a perfect closer for the first half.

The guitars on "Where the Streets Have No Name" are amazing!

it's a good record. there are two great tracks on the second side, 'Stories For Boys' and 'A Day Without Me' (or 'A Day Without You', I can't remember). And rub folk-mass favourite '40'. the whole album sounds almost Factoryish... was it produced by Martin Hannett?

"The Unforgettable Fire" is also a very good record, probably their best.

Boy is good enough to purchase if you find it cheap, I mean that's what your'e going to find it for I suppose, it's usually cheap. It's good though. I always thought The Unforgettable Fire was kind of "meh", the whole second half is a bit goofy, except the song "Bad" is just about the best thing U2 has ever done.

Geir is smoking crack again, apparently. War, to me, remains U2's definitive album (before Eno started coating the proceedings in....what was it?...ah yes, "aural molasses". Crisp, punchy, spartan. There are, of course, the singles ("New Year's Day", "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and the sublime "Two Hearts Beat as One"), but what about the entirely magnificent "Surrender" and the Stiff Little Fingers-cribbing "Seconds"??? THIS is the record that reminds me of the U2 I used to like.

RE: Achtung Baby!, almost every song on that album is good. The only one I've gone off on is probably "Acrobat". Why is it only a "nice try"?

The best song on _Achtung, Baby!_ is either "Until The End Of The World" or "The Fly"; it depends on what mood I'm in. Their best song overall is probably "Seconds". The song of theirs that I adore all to pieces that I should be all logic despise is "The Refugee".

POX: U2

1. All That You Can't Leave Behind
2. Achtung Baby
3. The Joshua Tree
4. Zooropa
5. The Unforgettable Fire
6. Boy
7. October
8. Pop
9. War
10.Rattle & Hum

I second Gier on this one. I actually mostly agree with that list.

Only Rattle and Hum, Pop and Unforgettable Fire miss the amazing mark, though they're still pretty impressive. Unforgettable Fire's actual *songs* (Wire, Bad, Indian Summer Sky, Pride, Sort of Homecoming) are all awesome, but the ambient stuff mostly misfires, though I've always kinda liked MLK.

1) Zooropa
2) Achtung Baby
3) War
4) The Joshua Tree
5) Pop
6) All That You can't Leave Behind
7) Boy
8) The Unforgettable Fire
9) Rattle and Hum
10) October

At the very least I like them all a whole lot.

Geir's ordering actually seems pretty much the same as mine, with ATYCLB a lot lower and War a lot higher.

Always been my favorite record of theirs. I even love Elvis Presley and America.

I'm 23 and I couldn't care less for this album. Matter of fact don't think I've ever heard it intentionally, pretty sure I could identify some of the songs if you play them to me but U2 has never really grabbed my attention. I kinda liked their song 'Lemon' and also 'staring at the sun' when they were playing on the radio because I found them very catchy but idk, just not enough to make me listen to any of their records. Their collaborations on the million dollar hotel soundtrack and the passengers project were mildly interesting but I get it probably wasn't because of their presence.

Am I seriously missing something or are the U2 fans just deeply immersed in hopeless nostalgia? It seems to me to be a band that inspires a lot of flame wars between music lovers. I've always found them too boring to really care, so I've never understood all the fiery passion and conflict they inspire on some of you.

Am I seriously missing something or are the U2 fans just deeply immersed in hopeless nostalgia?

no offense, especially since your feelings about the band match mine, but that's a seriously flawed binarity.

I meant if there's real value to U2 asides nostalgia. My point is, there are bands and songs which seem to be specifically designed to be listened to at a certain time and place and there are others which stand the test of time.

Is U2 a band which only holds value to those who lived it, or are they a band which will be remembered with joy for generations to come? And if they are, which are the songs or albums which will survive them? And I mean that in a positive way. Not just songs that keep living on even tho they annoy the hell of mostly everyone like idk Hotel California or Wind of Change and shit.

I'm trying to think of something snarky to say but I'm just too old and tired.

I still dont know if most people around here are really old and tired or just love to pretend to be old and tired.

Kinda interesting that they're playing the title song from this (and not "Pride") on the current tour. I'm seeing them at the mega-Rose Bowl show on Sunday - haven't seen them in 22 years.

I sorta feel really weird about U2, for their insuffering BS, this is also a Rad album. If you do not like it, then yes, you do not like these guys guys, and that is cool. I just hope that you all recognize how supported 'The Unforgettable Fire' is. People LOVE This album. I dunno, U2 really is a sort of amazing live band

they are fucking doing "YOUR BLUE ROOM" on this new tour

I'm going to get the five art prints framed and hang them in my hallway.

"The Unforgettable Hallway"

also, for Elvis, can't guarantee that you might see "Your Blue Room", you should get "Unforgettable Fire" tho

I heard that they were doing "Your Blue Room" (and mixing up quite a bit of the set) and that's when I stopped reading anything about it so I can be surprised.

I remember vividly when I heard the news that U2 was going to work with Brian Eno on this - it caused HOURS of discussion between myself and my high school friends at the time. The two theories we came to was either a Remain In Light abstract (using "Two Hearts Beat As One" as the launch pad ) or something more Bowie-esque. In the end, we got both - "Wire" being the key link between everything... I wish they would play that again, I've only seen it live once and it was just thrilling.

unforgettable fire is classic all the way through. for my money, one of the best things eno's ever been involved with, up there with his first four vocal albums and the first couple roxy records
Is U2 a band which only holds value to those who lived it, or are they a band which will be remembered with joy for generations to come?
they've been just about the most popular rock band in the world for the past 25 or so years. curious, if not u2, who you'd consider without question a band that'll be remembered with joy for generations to come
And if they are, which are the songs or albums which will survive them?
albums -- boy, war, unforgettable fire, the joshua tree, achtung baby!, and the new one

One really unrecognized facet of the band is how each of their respective various incarnations has been almost equally influential to different bands/generations. Some acts rip off early U2. Other acts sound like "Joshua Tree." Others riff on "Achtung Baby," some "All That You Can't Leave Behind." In each instance the group probably could have remained in that specific mode for the rest of their career, but specifically chose not to. Yet against all odds, the band just got bigger and bigger, with each album bridging one fan base to the next. I know U2 fans that like everything but "Zooropa." I also know U2 fans that like "Zooropa" and nothing else.

If anything, "The Unforgettable Fire" is their most radical album, though the ubiquity of "Joshua Tree" and "Achtung" sort of overwhelm their own considerable idiosyncrasies.

plus their influence on radiohead, who emulate u2's career trajectory/efforts at transitioning into new incarnations, sort of in response to the role they find themselves playing as avant-gardish alpha-rock band. i mean kid a is pretty much their we want to sound like eno too album

I love this album straight through. Had this and Wide Awake In America on cassette back in jr. high and played them endlessly.

I'm 23 and I couldn't care less for this album. Matter of fact don't think I've ever heard it intentionally, pretty sure I could identify some of the songs if you play them to me but U2 has never really grabbed my attention. I kinda liked their song 'Lemon' and also 'staring at the sun' when they were playing on the radio because I found them very catchy but idk, just not enough to make me listen to any of their records. Their collaborations on the million dollar hotel soundtrack and the passengers project were mildly interesting but I get it probably wasn't because of their presence.

Your lack of interest for U2 may have to do with the fact that you grew up at a time when U2 were at their artistically worst. All your references are from that era - post-"Achtung Baby", post the good noughties comeback.

pre the good noughties comeback, I mean.

If anything, "The Unforgettable Fire" is their most radical album

That would be "Zooropa" or "Pop". "The Unforgettable Fire" may be their most radical album that actually succeeded musically though.

Bah... Miserable sound at the show (Edge was basically inaudible). Left early.

What the hell has happened to live sound these days? I can't think of any large show since 1999-2000 that's had decent sound.

Anyway, continue with Unforgettable Fire talk...

the sound was pretty good where i was at but then again i was between the stage and the ramp. i thought it was a pretty great show. no comment on the black eyed peas.

dude, Moka, you wish. in absolute numbers there are more U2 fans under 30 than over 30. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

agreed; exhibit a: blatantly obviously u2-influenced bands like coldplay, the killers, arcade fire, etc.

dude, Moka, you wish. in absolute numbers there are more U2 fans under 30 than over 30. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

― all yoga attacks are fire based (rogermexico.)

I'm not a dude. And at least by empyrical observation that stat of yours doesn't mean anything to me. The way I see it U2 hasn't been relevant to an amount of the younger generations for years, at least where I live in. The last time I recall anyone under 30 playing U2 was I think 6 years ago in a party and the song was 'beautiful day'. I've lost track because everyone else did.

Ever been to a pub?

Pubs in here don't play any new U2 that I'm aware of, they play 'sunday bloody sunday' and 'where the streets have no name' and whatever other classic 80's and early 90's song they might have. In any case, pub djs aren't particulary young in here.

in where

Mexico.

Actually I was in a pub two days ago. I felt like I was playing Rock Band, half of the setlist were songs on the game. Recent artists I recall hearing where 'empire of the sun', 'eagles of death metal', 'passion pit', 'tv on the radio' and helluva lots of 'flying lotus', seemed like the dj just discovered his music and was obsessed with it. Played 5 or 6 songs of the LA album.

dude, Moka, you wish. in absolute numbers there are more U2 fans under 30 than over 30. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

i doubt that. anyway, the huge amount of mediocre material U2 have done since don't quite eradicate how excellent this record is.

I have such mixed feelings about this album. U2 became my favorite band after hearing War and Under A Blood Red Sky. I remember making plans to listen to KUNI all night one night because I knew they were going to play the new single before the album release. "Pride," sounded triumphantly awesome the first time. And when I started to get sick of it from overplay, there was always "Wire" and the title track. It's the most I'd anticipated an album release since ELO's Time, ha. The album art seemed to perfectly reflect the autumnal/wintery mood. In the documentary about the creation of the album, the castle was just how I imagined it. Yet there's some filler tracks that I didn't think measured up, and soon after the next album I felt I'd OD'd on them. I've rarely listened to anything of theirs after War since. I did see them for a second time in 2000 (which was much better show than 1987 tour), and even met Bono briefly. It's ironic that I didn't care and was more interested in talking to opener Polly Harvey, as the idea of meeting him would have blown my 14 year-old mind. Maybe in tribute to my former 14 yo self, I'll pick up the reissue tomorrow.

i managed to get the deluxe boxset of this for free and the album sounds pretty excellent. loads of extras obviously, haven't had a chance to dive into those though.

Is anyone else a little disapponted by the paucity of decent extra material, I was hoping TUF would have some cool/too weird for the album/Eno-ised stuff but it really doesn't.

Shame really, still love The Three Sunrises tho', the backing vocals are so hilariously flat and it's really flagged up by the remaster.

dudes, is this just eno and the edge? or what?. i dig it. stoner durutti column stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjO0A2hqRyw

Eno sampled a short segment of Adam's bass (hence the "Bass Trap" name) and looped it. Edge plays guitar and (I believe) Lanois plays the slide/pedal steel.

Like it a lot too.

aha...thanks for the info.

My favorite record of theirs. And Elvis Presley and America is probably my favorite thing on it. No, that song doesn't work in any conventional sense. But, it has a real energy to it -- the rambling close-mic'd vocal, the incessant beat, all the different melodic directions Bono takes it in.

The Unforgettable Fire EP has this, Love Comes Tumbling and the Three Sunrises, which are all amazing. God I love that album. You might see if the soundtrack the Edge did holds any appeal for you if you like this... the Captive.

i remember that. although i mostly remember it for the sinead oconnor song.

Herro IIIIIINE Herro IIIIIIIIIIIIINE

My favorite record of theirs. And Elvis Presley and America is probably my favorite thing on it.

True story...a couple months back my buddy was a waiter for Bono and The Edge, and he told them, "Guys, it's not too late, you can still release Elvis Presley and America as a single." He said they started laughing really hard and Bono was playing along saying "I like how you think"

eheh, pretty nice story.
they still have dinner (or drinks) together, though ?
seems pretty rare to still hang out when you've been in a massive band for such a long time (like I guess mick and keith haven't done that in decades !).

I just got The Captive soundtrack! It's very pretty--$2 well spent.

Just a note that Then Play Long has reached this album and I hope I've done it justice: http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/u2-unforgettable-fire.html

Revive because we are in the season of the Unforgettable Fire and it is sounding great right now. Especially Elvis Presley and America!

I found a good bootleg concert from the Unforgettable Fire tour (Four at Four, a Chicago show from March 1985) and I've been listening to that... I tried to find a show where they performed Promenade or EP&A but it turns out they have never played those songs live!

I don't know if Lena still checks ILM but that Then Play Long write-up above of Unforgettable Fire is one of my favorite pieces of writing on music.

I don't know if Lena still checks ILM but that Then Play Long write-up above of Unforgettable Fire is one of my favorite pieces of writing on music.

Just read this piece and totally agree, I was quite moved by the essay. I started going through ILM Unforgettable Fire threads after digging up the album (and the EP) after, maybe, 25 years. I'd totally burned out on U2 by then and have no wish to return to other releases but this stage of their music seems still to offer something that has not been tainted by their later output.