Great juxtaposition between U2 going coffeehouse (good for you for listening. Even as a longtime former U2 fan, I'm skipping!) and Neil Young, who continues to be a pro with his Archives series. I haven't made it all of the way through both of this week's releases, but have to say I'm enjoying that double album from The Ducks much more than the Santa Monica Flyers.
Two thoughts came to mind regarding your excellent thoughts on U2:
1) Where was this piece in the late-'80s, when artists got into slowing down every cover and making it as "intimate" as possible? 😄 No thank you, Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane."
2) U2 is all about the bombast. I like them well enough and hoped this album would shed new light on their music. As you say, they don't improvise, and they don't have a broad songwriting and sonic palette. Outtakes of U2 would probably sound like another U2 record.
Hahaha Jim Slade -- forgot about that cover and just went back to Cowboy Junkies. Sigh. you are right. That version does not expand the ongoing protracted conversation about "Sweet Jane." And re U2's sonic palette: I'm in the minority as one who enjoyed Pop and really all of the electronic-leaning attempts at an expansion. This band has grown so tetchy about its audience, so concerned about offending its faithful.....and as a result doesn't experiment or stretch at all. Wish I'd written that last line because it is true: Outtakes of U2 *would* sound like another U2 record.
Great juxtaposition between U2 going coffeehouse (good for you for listening. Even as a longtime former U2 fan, I'm skipping!) and Neil Young, who continues to be a pro with his Archives series. I haven't made it all of the way through both of this week's releases, but have to say I'm enjoying that double album from The Ducks much more than the Santa Monica Flyers.
Also, no Larry Mullen Jr. for Vegas? Yeesh.
Two thoughts came to mind regarding your excellent thoughts on U2:
1) Where was this piece in the late-'80s, when artists got into slowing down every cover and making it as "intimate" as possible? 😄 No thank you, Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane."
2) U2 is all about the bombast. I like them well enough and hoped this album would shed new light on their music. As you say, they don't improvise, and they don't have a broad songwriting and sonic palette. Outtakes of U2 would probably sound like another U2 record.
Hahaha Jim Slade -- forgot about that cover and just went back to Cowboy Junkies. Sigh. you are right. That version does not expand the ongoing protracted conversation about "Sweet Jane." And re U2's sonic palette: I'm in the minority as one who enjoyed Pop and really all of the electronic-leaning attempts at an expansion. This band has grown so tetchy about its audience, so concerned about offending its faithful.....and as a result doesn't experiment or stretch at all. Wish I'd written that last line because it is true: Outtakes of U2 *would* sound like another U2 record.