With a promotion plot involving so much TV and radio as would be the envy of several political parties at election time, the new U2 album is being heralded as a masterpiece and on its way to save the record industry single handed.

The good news is that to these ears and indeed many others I have talked to , the record is full of brilliant things-the sound of a band at the height of their game and top of their form. The first single is easily the weakest track and "Magnificent" is simply that-magnificent. Expect a sale of 250 k plus first week.

I like it, some tracks are growers for me - the more I listen the more I like! Great production...

I thought the single was really bad on the Brits and sounded like a bad Dylan imitation.
But I'll check out the rest of the album.
Anything on it as strong as Angel of Harlem? (My favourite U2 track).

My reaction to seeing U2's rooftop performance this week was the same as George Harrison's in The Simpsons. "Nah, it's been done!"

The Beatles set the example.
The Simpsons paid tribute.
U2 reaked too much of gimmick.

Sorry guys .. maybe if you'd been on top of a double decker bus.
Oh no .. The Rubettes did that already.

Wrong.

The Beatles did NOT set the example. That honour goes to Jefferson Airplane who performed on a rooftop in New York in December 1968 just over a month before The Beatles did their rooftop jamboree. And like The Beatles, it was filmed for a movie, in this case one by Jean Luc Goddard who ended up giving the film to someone else to use.

U2 on the BBC roof? How very original... just like the music.

'Scuse me, but I think I can feel a yawn coming on...

Sorry I think the album's not got much to it. Thank god for Spotify that I can hear it and make that judgement. The single's weak and I can't hear another one on it. It actually sounds like their early albums before they learnt to write proper songs. They're big and rich enough to do what the hell they want but this is their worst album since POP in my eyes.

I just don't get all the publicity this is getting at the moment on the BBC.... is someone getting a backhander??

I liked the U2 track they did with BB King, but the rest of their stuff is a bit same-ish. It's not awful, I just get bored with it fairly quickly.

I did not know Jefferson Airplane had done a rooftop concert, but I think it's possible to set an example without being first, especially as the Beatles are known by more people of all generations than Jefferson Airplane.

I often find that overly long intros are a clue to self indulgence. Some on this album are over 2 minutes before they reach the song.
I hear no hits.

I stopped listening to U2 after "War". I have since heard nothing from them that makes me regret that decision!!

because you are talking about it on here.

they've just repeated thier own trick from 87 (?)
i believe it was the where the streets have no name video....

the best ideas in life are someone elses, but with a bit of tweaking they're yours to keep, until someone else tweaks yours!

Oh, come on.



M

I'm a fan of the band and always have been.

But, whoever is telling Bono et al that this is their best work ever is clearly deaf or deluded.

It's a decent enough effort but nowhere near the level of Joshua Tree or Acthung Baby.

Can't wait to see them live again though...