U2 "Vertigo"

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Okay, so a radio rip of "Vertigo" is making the rounds. It's pretty interesting - way more rocking than I expected (they kept saying that it'd rock, and I took that with a grain of salt, since they said the same about the last one and they told everyone that Pop was a disco album), almost like Bono fronting the Hives or something. There's one guitar part which reminds of the Stone Temple Pilots, even. The bridge is pretty old school Boy-era Edge stuff. I like the song, but I don't love it. It's definitely got me interested in hearing the rest of the record.

What do you think?

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Thursday, 23 September 2004 18:54 (twenty-one years ago)

This Rocks it definitely reminds me of say their old stuff (I will follow) very rocky a good melody almost clash like. Counting down the days to the new album.

― Justin Contursi, Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I like how it's the "big corpo rock" version of the style from their first 2 or 3 records. I can't imagine they could sustain this kind of vigor for the length of an entire record anymore... they've gotten too comfortable. I'm betting "Vertigo" is a bait and switch tactic.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, from what I understand, three of the songs are pretty rocking, and the rest is mid-tempo stuff and ballads. Which is basically the formula for every U2 album.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:13 (twenty-one years ago)

All I know is that I really hope that "City Of Blinding Light" is good, because it's one of the best titles in their catalog.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember reading that they were claiming is was all Sex Pistolsy. True? I somewhat doubt it.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:39 (twenty-one years ago)

First thought was that I was hearing "Elevation," and I got frightened. These lyrics aren't exactly thick with meaning. Maybe Bono scribbled them down on a napkin between meetings or something.

But that "I can feeeeel" in the chorus is straight vintage U2, like a teenage kid screming in the streets at dawn. Then that bridge hits you, and Edge brings out the church chimes, and you're listening to I-Will-Follow style punk all over again. Fantastic. Not bad for a bunch of grown men.

― sixtoe, Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit, I like it. U2 always does that to me, I never want to like it but I always do.

― molly mcbutter, Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:43 (twenty-one years ago)

thick with meaning

Heh. But, i'm sure they're still plenty "thick".

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 19:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Lyrics here. Oh, they're thick alright.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:03 (twenty-one years ago)

It's gonna be a classic

― Toto, Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

That middle section, the instrumental part immediately following the 2nd chorus, is a bit Sex Pistolsy.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

Right around the 1:45 mark.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Apparently, the b-side to "Vertigo" is a cover of Kraftwerk's "Neon Lights" which is apparently floating around out there too. I just haven't found a source for it yet.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:36 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got a one-minute snippet of their "Neon Lights" but that's it; it's quite pretty.

Would love to keep reading you guys' comments on this, since over at U2log our thread was just shut down by an avalanche of thirteen-year-olds posting VOTE GEORGE W BUSH 2004 over and over again. Sometimes websites just aren't worth the trouble...

― Chris Conroy, Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, so some people are saying this is still not the final version (Bono giving the engineer directions and such in the talkback), but I think taming it down any would really be a bad idea.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

an avalanche of thirteen-year-olds posting VOTE GEORGE W BUSH 2004 over and over again. Sometimes websites just aren't worth the trouble...

That is wildly depressing.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I say it's revenge for Bono calling Bush Sr. from the concert stage every night.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

uno, dos, tres, catorce...
1, 2, 3, 14...

r'n'r forever

superb

― udos, Thursday, 23 September 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

well the lads get damed about if they use meaningful lycrics and if they dont. they get damed if they rock and if they dont, in fact they are damed whatever they they do. but they still do it for me, still showing todays so called bands how to do it. read em and weep. u2 still rock

― NIGEL, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

As far as the song's concerned, I'm not 100% sold -- it's fun (and I'm possibly the only person in the world who really really loved "Elevation" with all of my heart), but it just doesn't sound like a style that fits them, to me -- it seems like "punk" isn't something Bono can just do, it feels like an act for him. It makes the song into a kind of comedy record for me -- when they do the BOY/OCTOBER breakdown (which I love) I actually laugh out loud. I can also see them getting hammered by a lot of reviewers for putting on a punk-rock show 25 years into their extremely lucrative career. But then, if you're gonna hate on U2 as a reviewer, it's not like you need a new reason. I'm sure I'll probably end up loving it eventually, but it doesn't normally take me several listens to get into a U2 track...

And man, Bono's lyrics are mighty iffy, aren't they. This one doesn't have even one immediately memorable line in it beyond the "Ola!" and "Donde esta?"

(I'm reopening the comments at U2log, we'll see how it goes.)

― Chris Conroy, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:06 (twenty-one years ago)

they twinkle as the boys play rock and roll
they know they cant dance
but at least they know....

― nigel, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I can also see them getting hammered by a lot of reviewers for putting on a punk-rock show 25 years into their extremely lucrative career.

yeah, but didn't they dust off all that "we're going back to our Punk roots" rhetoric circa Achtung Baby? Likewise REM circa Monster? At this point, likening your earlier music to Punk Rock isn't something anyone's really going to get up in arms about anymore, somewhat sadly. In a world where Ashlee Simpson and Avril Lavigne are busy appropriating the sartorial trappings of Punk Rock, who could fault U2 (who at least have comparatively credible ties to the genre).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:10 (twenty-one years ago)

At least U2 are old enough to remember what Punk Rock actually was.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:11 (twenty-one years ago)

A flashback to pre Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Treee... The music is great but the lyrics are shite - then again Kraftwerk were great at sound craft and crap at singing. I bet Neon Lights is better than - Vertigo... Still we have an album to come and hopefully it will rock...

― The munt, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:13 (twenty-one years ago)

just listened to it again with lights out. it sounds great after all what else is out there to ROCK to right now. busted (lol) (mcfly) lol
or maybe dry your eyes mate this song might just make me give up on music...

― nigel, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Good - will take several listens. Didn't give me the wow!! feeling of my first listen to Beautiful Day. Goes back to the roots really. Like many others have said, I bet the album is way different.

Still, bet I'll be singing this full volume in the car, come tomorrow night!

― Markus, Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Vertigo sounds like a combination of this: starting with big stomping riffs: Jane's Addiction, Sex Pistols, Warrior Soul, Ac/dc: check 1 min 45 seconds for this whole lotta rosie guitar licks, INXS [a similar uptempo/ melodic swagger tempo], check 2 min 15 for The Comsat Angels and Echo & the Bunnymen and a US band called: Dear Mr President - circa 1988 [who later become: Flesh 'n' Blood] and an 80s irish band: Something Happens: who had a single that also used the Hello chant. Also Vertigo isn't that far from 2004 Interpol.

Indeed this single could almost be U2 taking ideas off the more rockier Irish band Something Happens [an Irish band of the mid 80s - early 90s]and another 80s U2 Clone Irish rock band: Tuesday Blue.

it will be a popular radio song, it lasts only 3 min 11 put there is enough variation packed into this time.

U2 are still way short of the 80s irish rock masters: Cactus World News who released the blistering intense rock masterpiece: Urban Beaches

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Anyone remember Blue in Heaven (Irish band)?

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:36 (twenty-one years ago)

ofcourse: explicit material in 1986

u2 + joy division + the stooges + the furs

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I remember Blue in Heaven.

This song's not bad at all but the count-in's embarassing. But that's par for the course when Bono opens his mouth these days.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Very tough to find their stuff these days.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

um.....i'm having this strange feeling.....could i actually be EXCITED to hear a new U2 song in the year 2004??

i think so.....i'm all confused now.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

it will be a popular radio song, it lasts only 3 min 11 put there is enough variation packed into this time.

U2 are still way short of the 80s irish rock masters: Cactus World News who released the blistering intense rock masterpiece: Urban Beaches

-- DJ Martian (altmartinu...), September 23rd, 2004.

oh for crying out loud.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Blue In Heaven: were a far more convincing rock band than U2 on Vertigo in the Angst dept - the slashing burning riffs and a moody angry vocal display.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

ha, kilian your too young to remember the irish rock 80s.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:42 (twenty-one years ago)

hey, i remember the four of us and the waterboys!

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:43 (twenty-one years ago)

you rightly forgot to mention An Emotional Fish.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i also remeber that u2 band...i quite like them, too

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I knew this thread was going to be at the top...I have to put a vote in for it, it sounds good.

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

A-House in 1988 were interesting though, but even better in the demo days of 86. Plus Fountainhead were ace in the electro-rock stakes.

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt, are you feeling nostalgia?

― 57 7th (calstars), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Less An Emotional Fish and more Fatima Mansions please. Thanks.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:49 (twenty-one years ago)

what was the name of the fatima mansions album released around 1992?

― DJ Martian (djmartian), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha, I was thinking about An Emotional Fish the other day, but why...oh right, I was stuck seeing the Thrills and thinking that even AEF was better than them.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:53 (twenty-one years ago)

a friend of mine worked in the housing estate that fatima mansions were named after. it's a scary place. i have no idea what that album is called, sorry martian.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Less An Emotional Fish and more Fatima Mansions please. Thanks.

Forget ye not Microdisney.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

1992? AMG lists Valhalla Ave and Tima Mansio Dumps the Dead. For me it's still 90's Viva Dead Ponies though.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

That goes without saying, Alex.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

ned the thrills have at least 4 good songs - that's four more than AEF had, at least.

microdisney is sean 'high llamas' o hagan, isn't it?

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Thursday, 23 September 2004 21:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 103 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Monster had hits! It sold 4 million copies!

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:20 (twenty-one years ago)

(3.9 million of which were then sold back to used cd stores, but whatever)

― n/a (Nick A.), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah but let's not pretend Cracker Rear View was a flop! That's revisionist.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Unlike Cracked Rear View, I don't think Monster had much in the way of radio hits, but I could be wrong. I'm sure "Seether" did a lot better at rock radio than anything off Monster.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

"What's The Frequency" and "Bang And Blame" were no. 1 modern rock hits. no. 21 and no. 19 on the pop charts. "Star 69" and "Strange Currencies" also made the modern rock top 20.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"Seether" went to no. 8 on the modern rock charts.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:31 (twenty-one years ago)

"Crush With Eyeliner" made the mainstream rock top 20 but NOT the modern rock one! Cuz it was so raw.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Interesting. How did Elastica's "Connection" do, my 1994 checking cuz?

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Connection made it to no. 2. the info is all at allmusic.com if you register.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

no. 2 modern rock that is.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey, I just realized that I saw R.E.M., Veruca Salt, and Elastica in concert that year (or the next)!

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I had my finger on the pulse, y'see.

― morris pavilion (samjeff), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

My first two concerts ever were the Monster tour in Pittsburgh and at Hersheypark.

― manthony m1cc1o (Anthony Miccio), Friday, 22 October 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i like this song now! help me!

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 22 October 2004 21:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006399FS.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Apparently, dismantling one involves a lot of sitting around in expensive sunglasses and funky shoes.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 31 October 2004 22:08 (twenty-one years ago)

This song sounds like "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by the Supremes. Starting where he goes "hello hello" in the chorus you can just hear it:

Set me free, why don't cha babe
Get out my life, why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on

― wetmink (wetmink), Monday, 1 November 2004 00:58 (twenty-one years ago)

(pssst... download album here.)

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 7 November 2004 00:29 (twenty-one years ago)

this song is currently the no. 1 modern rock track on billboard. I am flabbergasted.

― miccio, Sunday, 7 November 2004 00:56 (twenty-one years ago)

no. 32 on the billboard top 40 already

― miccio, Sunday, 7 November 2004 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

mark my words: by the end of this year u2 will be a big famous rock group.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 7 November 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

and yet lenny kravitz could barely dent the chart with "Are We Runnin." Racism.

― miccio, Sunday, 7 November 2004 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

the jews got lenny in the race draft dude

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 7 November 2004 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

This song sounds like "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by the Supremes. Starting where he goes "hello hello" in the chorus you can just hear it:

YES! YES! IT'S NOT JUST ME WHO KNOWS THIS!!!

― Jimmy Mod always makes friends with women before bedding them down (ModJ), Sunday, 7 November 2004 02:18 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah, but that's a good thing though right?! i mean the supremes connection.

i like this track. it's nicely recorded.

― amateur!!st, Sunday, 7 November 2004 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

(psst -thanks Johnny...)

― dave225 (Dave225), Sunday, 7 November 2004 03:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Apparently, dismantling one involves a lot of sitting around in expensive sunglasses and funky shoes.

Did Corbijn even try with the cover photo?

"Just sit down there."

"Oh OK."

*snap*

"$10 million, send me a check. Excuse me, I have to get the stage set ready for Depeche next year."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 November 2004 04:56 (twenty-one years ago)

"i'm sorry bono - even numbered year. gahan gets to wear the cowboy hat."

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Hahahahaha

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Stuck in a Personal Jesus You Can't Get Out Of"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:31 (twenty-one years ago)

is there anything to that joke aside from mixing the titles of a u2 and a depeche mode song?

― amateur!!st, Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:50 (twenty-one years ago)

*wonders if I should go outside and ask somebody if there's anything more to the road other than tar and gravel*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:53 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.globalhermit.com/ilx/u2-asleep.jpg

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:48 (twenty-one years ago)

:-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Note to all people like me who were really into a U2 track for the first time ever ("Vertigo"): that was a one-off, no need to be alarmed, you can savely skip on the album.

― JoB (JoB), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

"All Because of You" is passable, if you must.

― JoB (JoB), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't recall ever being less enthused about a new U2 album.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Weird, because I'm thinking it's easily the best thing they've made since Achtung Baby.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 7 November 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I've only heard the single so far....which, while fine, is hardly worth jumping up and down about.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 7 November 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

It's really the slower songs on the album that are surprisingly great... lots of Unforgettable Fire-type atmosphere going on.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 7 November 2004 18:32 (twenty-one years ago)

the song isn't exceptional or anything but like i wrote it's nicely recorded, sounds kind of crunchy (not in the california sense). i have to admit that u2 are a fine band, even their sucky records are pretty damn listenable. "beautiful day" was a total instant classic, patchy overblown lyrics and all.

― amateur!!st, Sunday, 7 November 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

sounds like the chorus of "dirty boots" by sonic youth + some random vocals from "down" by 311.

― f ath, Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:53 (twenty-one years ago)

it sounds overproduced as usual
the lyrics read like RockStarBono pretending to be 80's Bono
verdict: ignorable

― Bonobo, Monday, 8 November 2004 01:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, I really like it a lot. I think that "Love And Peace Or Else," "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," and "City Of Blinding Lights" are three of the best U2 songs ever.

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 8 November 2004 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

The video for "Vertigo" is most unfortunate.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 20 November 2004 10:44 (twenty years ago)

I does what it was charged with doing, which is focus the mind on the sheer level of money that U2 have to throw around. It also fucks up the speed of the record at one point, which is always nice.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Saturday, 20 November 2004 13:27 (twenty years ago)

uno, dos, tres, catorce...

I had thought I was hearing things. Couldn't somebody have corrected this? Gordon Sumner wouldn't make this kind of mistake. And, after all, haven't they heard Wooly Bully?

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 20 November 2004 13:36 (twenty years ago)

Has anyone considered that this was Bono's idea of a joke? Lots of bands warp the usual 1-2-3-4 and maybe he thought he was being irreverent here.

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 20 November 2004 18:23 (twenty years ago)

Yes, it might well be a joke, but if it is, it's about as funny as this allegedly funny joke.

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 20 November 2004 20:56 (twenty years ago)

yeah but its shorter and less predictable

― miccio (miccio), Saturday, 20 November 2004 21:01 (twenty years ago)

But thousands of kids around the world will grow up learning how to count incorrectly in Spanish, if we are to believe the Eggman. Who will be laughing then? Or, as Bono and no doubt Sting would put it:

¿Quién ríe ...quién llora?

― Ken L (Ken L), Saturday, 20 November 2004 22:13 (twenty years ago)

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