In The Darkness Where We Learn To See

August 31, 2017 10:15 PM

I don't know if this is a live performance or a music video, but U2 has released a video of a new song: The Blackout [public-facing Facebook video link]. [lyrics] It's from their upcoming album, Songs Of Experience. The first single, which isn't this song, will be released Sept 6.

No clue about first single You're The Best Thing About Me, but they consistently performed The Little Things That Give You Away [lyrics] on The Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary Tour.

posted by hippybear (36 comments total)

[Ed. Note: I personally feel like it's one of the most musically exciting things I've heard in a long time. I'm biased toward U2, but I like it's POP-esque blend of rock and dance.]
posted by hippybear at 10:17 PM on August 31, 2017

This time round, are we all going to wake up with an uninvited member of U2 taking a dump in our bathroom?
posted by gnuhavenpier at 1:43 AM on September 1, 2017

So I was at the Seattle show, where they played The Little Things That Give You Away. I wasn't particularly impressed, though I'll admit that my memory of it was obscured by the rabid fangirl scream I let out when they went on to play I Will Follow.

The Blackout was fucking fantastic. Thank you for getting me to actually watch it.

The last song that I enjoyed as much was Vertigo, but the last music that was as fresh sounding to me was from Achtung Baby or Zooropa. (Though I must also admit that I haven't listened to Songs of Innocence. After the disappointment of the previous album, I couldn't face it.)
posted by monopas at 1:51 AM on September 1, 2017

Are there any U2 podcasts out there? Specifically looking for one that'll teach me the names of the members of U2
posted by incomple at 5:30 AM on September 1, 2017 [6 favorites]

I still haven't found one.
posted by box at 5:47 AM on September 1, 2017 [5 favorites]

I don't know, they kinda appeal less to me since they developed photophobia, sometime in the early 90's
posted by helion at 5:50 AM on September 1, 2017

Aw, look. Some people still care about U2. Bless....
posted by Paul Slade at 5:50 AM on September 1, 2017

Aw, look. Some people still care about U2. Bless....

*checks watch*

Okay, who was keeping the betting for "time elapsed before the 'your favorite band sucks' jerk comes in to take a dump in the thread"? I didn't get a chance to place my bid, but am curious who won...
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:05 AM on September 1, 2017 [17 favorites]

"U2 sent a cryptic note to fans signalling their next iteration is nigh. As with Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, this could mean a new album, ethos or simply haircut."

(Grauniad)
posted by Mister Bijou at 6:05 AM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Aw, look. Some people still care about U2. Bless....

Thank you. We also would have accepted "Yeah, but Negativeland!" or something about their taxes.

I have such mixed feelings about this band. I was obsessed with them in the 1980s, began hating and ignoring them in the 1990s, and then in the past few years I found myself constantly watching live videos of them on YouTube and remembered why I used to love them so much.

The videos I watched from the Joshua Tree 30th tour didn't really impress me much. It very much looked like they were phoning it in. The ones from the tour before that the Innocence Tour, though, looked amazing. They can obviously still pull off some amazing gigs.

This is a pretty good song, a bit of departure from a lot of their stuff. Heavy, good bass. A bit repetitive but whatever. It looks like it would be a good live song.

I appreciate that they've lasted so long, with the same lineup, with no real drama between them, and no long hiatuses. I can't really think of too many bands who have done that.
posted by bondcliff at 6:34 AM on September 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

2 Dope Queens will teach you the names of the members of U2, but I wouldn't call it a U2 podcast, no matter how much Phoebe might want it to be...
posted by rikschell at 7:07 AM on September 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

This is good rock n roll. . . uh. . . music.
posted by R.F.Simpson at 7:10 AM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Are there any U2 podcasts out there? Specifically looking for one that'll teach me the names of the members of U2

It's easy once you finally learn them:

The singer is a guy named Paul. His nickname is "Bono," due to a nasty case of boneitis he got in 1982. He has worn sunglasses ever since.

The guitar player is named Dave. His nickname is "The Edge," as he is the founder and Chairman of Der Straight-Edge Gruppe, A.G. He gets a 2-euro-cent royalty on the sale of every Sharpie marker that teenagers could use to mark an "X" on their hands.

The bass player is famous TV traveling chef Anthony Bourdain.

The drummer is named Larry. He is in the band because 40 years ago he had a drum kit and a house. He's best known as a strong opponent of burying Elvis in the back yard.

Hope this helps!
posted by Huffy Puffy at 7:32 AM on September 1, 2017 [10 favorites]

I must also admit that I haven't listened to Songs of Innocence.

You're missing out, it's good. California.
posted by rory at 7:38 AM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

An acquaintance of mine was at the filming. The band put out a call for people to attend the filming with few details. My acquaintance said that it was more video shoot than live performance and that they went through the song five times, and that it was a lot of fun with some joking around between takes.

I love the song. I unabashedly love U2. I've seen them 18 times and am seeing them three times this month. They're extraordinarily sincere, and I will not poo-poo that. They seem like a darned nice bunch of guys based on my limited experience, and doing GA and getting down there in the thick of it is quite an uplifting experience.
posted by Occula at 8:05 AM on September 1, 2017 [4 favorites]

Okay, who was keeping the betting for "time elapsed before the 'your favorite band sucks' jerk comes in to take a dump in the thread"? I didn't get a chance to place my bid, but am curious who won...

You're quite right, EmpressCallipygos, and I apologise. I personally have always found U2 to be eminently mockable - doubly so since the iTunes album dump - but I shouldn't disparage other people's ability to enjoy them. As Christopher Hitchens one said on another subject, I missed a perfectly good opportunity to keep my mouth shut.
posted by Paul Slade at 8:10 AM on September 1, 2017 [4 favorites]

Are there any U2 podcasts out there? Specifically looking for one that'll teach me the names of the members of U2.

Not sure about a podcast, but if you want to know the band members' names, they are:

Bonobos
Thedge
Adam Claytwothousandpounds
Larry Mullen Sr.'s son
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:56 AM on September 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

rory, thank you. That is good.

I went to Amazon to see if it was available to stream, and I had bought the cd back in May after the concert. I listened to the first 3 tracks last night, before I noticed that it was 3:30 am.
posted by monopas at 9:36 AM on September 1, 2017

Clicked through hoping for a Damned cover. Not bad though.
posted by jetsetsc at 9:54 AM on September 1, 2017

I won't share a self link, but as part of any ongoing project I spent some time last March ranking U2's singles (using the very scientific and democratic method of sorting by "what do I like"). Songs of Innocence 's singles all compare favorably to the rest of their catalog. I'm partial to "Every Breaking Wave" but the whole album is excellent.

This new song is excellent and has me extremely excited for the new album. I admire the hell out of them for consistently creating excellent music and for not getting complacent with their sound from album to album.

Also, throwing love at two lesser known (sic) 21st century U2 tracks - the songs "Ordinary Love" (which recently made me weep) and "Invisible" (which got unfairly lost I think).
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:01 AM on September 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

This time round, are we all going to wake up with an uninvited member of U2 taking a dump in our bathroom?

I don't know about that, but recently the Bluetooth connection from my car to my iPhone believes every single song I play belongs to Achtung Baby (Remastered Edition).

I am not 100% convinced it's coincidence.
posted by JoeZydeco at 10:33 AM on September 1, 2017

TO: The people in love with their own cleverness at the expense of other people's genuine interest and enjoyment
RE: The Blackout

Did you actually go watch the video? Did you listen? Obnoxious that it was released on Facebook, but there are worse things.

I have now listen-watched it several times, and like it more every time. This is the U2 that I love. Rocking, into the music, energized by the audience, interesting lyrics and ideas but not so nagging that I can't enjoy the song. Bono in good voice.

When was the last time you enjoyed something new to you? It feels great! I suggest that you go find something that you can enjoy without irony or shame and revel in it. Or try something new and different, try to see what other people see in it, appreciate it for what it is. Make a Front Page Post about it and share your appreciation with others. There's enough hate and misery going around these days without adding to it.
posted by monopas at 1:47 PM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

U2 fucking rules, this song is fun. There is a lot of good stuff on the 21st century albums, with a few duds on each. Same as most bands. They push their sound a bit further than other classic 80s bands. I think a good comparison is Iron Maiden. Still huge, still putting out good albums that go on a bit long, incredible work ethics and amazing live. And they both have imcredibly tighy rhythm sections.
posted by kittensofthenight at 3:33 PM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Saw U2 live 41 times in the last century - my favorite period is Boy, October, War and my favorite song is A Celebration - but not yet in this century. Will give this album a go when it's out; thanks for the post.
posted by Wordshore at 4:36 PM on September 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Oh man yes! A Celebration is one of their best.
posted by bondcliff at 4:43 PM on September 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Every time I make a U2 post it gets shit on, but I'm going to keep on making them because U2 are awesome. Plus, people enjoy shitting on U2 posts, so it's a win/win for both people who hate them and people who love them.

I've seen them every single tour since I first saw them in Ft. Worth in 1987 on The Joshua Tree tour. They are, I think, primarily a live act who release albums as an excuse to tour. And Every. Single. Tour. is astonishing in some way or another. Not only in terms of the actual design and production of the tour but also in the band's ability to connect with an audience. I think the best example of this was their Elevation tour back in 2001, which had an emotional plotline running through it that was strong enough that it has moved me deeply more than once while watching the video. After 9/11, they completely retooled the show into something else entirely -- a healing service emphasizing humanity and a shared vision of unity and love for the future. And the way they "solved" the problem with arena concerts for their Innocence + Experience tour a few years ago was brilliant.

I think they were most interesting during the Achtung Baby/Zooropa/POP era, but they've been consistent all along and they keep doing what they do and keep trying to push the boundaries of what they do. That makes them worth keeping an eye (ear?) on, because there aren't many actual rock bands left trying to make new music and keep it fresh.
posted by hippybear at 5:04 PM on September 1, 2017 [7 favorites]

Also, from "Vertigo" that "Unos, dos, tres, catorce" thing? The first testement, second book (Exodus), Verses 3:14 "I am that I am," which is the name of God, which is "Yaweh," which is the title of the last song on that same album.

Bono makes mistakes but he knows his way around a cryptic (usually Christian) message every now and again.
posted by Joey Michaels at 6:44 PM on September 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

Oh, and if you want a pretty remarkable recording of The Joshua Tree 30th Anniversary tour, this multi-cam assembly of their Dublin stop is worth watching.
posted by hippybear at 7:36 PM on September 1, 2017 [4 favorites]

Also, on these past two tours, it's obvious that Bono's bike accident in Central Park was no minor thing. He's much more guarded with his physical movements and there are moments of staging that look, to me as someone who has been guarding back problems for years, like he's being careful with body turns instead of torso twists and other such guarding behavior.
posted by hippybear at 7:42 PM on September 1, 2017 [1 favorite]

Yes, hippybear, I notice that about Bono's movement too. After the injury and surgery in 2010 he he came back pretty well, but then with the bike accident, he moves much more carefully now. At the concert and in the live videos I've watched of other dates he'd get caught up in the music, and want to move like he used to, but would check himself.
posted by monopas at 7:50 PM on September 1, 2017 [2 favorites]

Bono kneeling during The Mothers Of The Disappeared!

[this is where the thread turns from the original subject and to discussing the Dublin tour video posted above]

[that's a joke]
posted by hippybear at 8:56 PM on September 1, 2017 [3 favorites]

He was moving better in Dublin than in Seattle. And WOW that is some great footage and editing and the sound!

I have watched The Blackout several more times today. Increasingly annoyed that I will have to wait for it and hoping that the album version is as good.
posted by monopas at 1:43 AM on September 2, 2017

Smart to record it live in front of an adoring audience. Gives the track a little zip that it won't have on record. But, yeah, this is the most promising material I've heard from them in a while. I only ever managed to see them live once — they played a free show under the Brooklyn Bridge for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which was the last album of theirs that connected with me. (The follow-up honestly bored me to tears, and I didn't pay attention to the next one.) But I've always enjoyed their live schtick, which can be earth-moving at its best. And this sounds like it could be solid.

Thanks for the heads-up — I've listened to these guys since The Unforgettable Fire so I like to root for them, especially when they're uncool.
posted by Mothlight at 10:24 PM on September 2, 2017

I am super excited to be seeing U2 in about 19 hours. The first time I saw them was April 30, 1987, at the Pontiac Silverdome. They blew me away.

30 years later, they are still my favorite.
posted by MissySedai at 10:39 PM on September 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

First single from the album: You're The Best Thing About Me. It's a very U2ish song. Some decent guitar.
posted by bondcliff at 7:57 AM on September 6, 2017 [2 favorites]

The new single is good. Agree with bondcliff that it is U2ish, more late U2 than early/mid. Post Pop. Guitar sounds less like The Edge than usual to me, but I think that it is the key the song is played in, as opposed to technique.
posted by monopas at 11:00 AM on September 6, 2017