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U2: the greatest rock band ever . . .

U2: the greatest rock band ever . . .

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t
True X X Xian

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Even if you don't care for their particular style, you still have to admit that U2 is tops.

When you consider their attitude, the work Bono's done to fight AIDS, the bands political message, the fact that they always play live, etc.

I watched SNL last night, where U2 proved once again that they are the coolest rock band ever.

w
Jo

Moving on...

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i'm sorry but i really think they stink

L

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Originally posted by telerion
Even if you don't care for their particular style, you still have to admit that U2 is tops.

When you consider their attitude, the work Bono's done to fight AIDS, the bands political message, the fact that they always play live, etc.

I watched SNL last night, where U2 proved once again that they are the coolest rock band ever.
what does the work bono has done for aids have to do with their music???
if hitler would have made the music you would suddenly not find it beautyfull anymore???

t
True X X Xian

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Originally posted by LordOfTheChessboard
what does the work bono has done for aids have to do with their music???
if hitler would have made the music you would suddenly not find it beautyfull anymore???
Notice I didn't say that U2 played the best music of any rock band.

I said that they are the greatest rock band ever. Musical style is just one important component. Consider the other attributes I listed. Think of their legacy.

Thus, off-stage performance is an important factor. Take Metallica for instance. Great music. Worthless sacks of crap off-stage.

shavixmir
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Originally posted by telerion
Notice I didn't say that U2 played the best music of any rock band.

I said that they are the greatest rock band ever. Musical style is just one important component. Consider the other attributes I listed. Think of their legacy.

Thus, off-stage performance is an important factor. Take Metallica for instance. Great music. Worthless sacks of crap off-stage.
They peaked with 'the unforgettable fire' and 'the Joshua tree', before that they were okay (especially War and Under a blood red sky), ALL their albums after 'the tree' sucked, besides that last one...which was okay.

So, taking into account they're over their top, they have made 2 brilliant albums and 3 okay sort of albums. Let's compare...

Bruce Springsteen and the E-street band:
- The wild, the innocent and the E-street shuffle
- Born to run
- Darkness on the edge of town
- The river
- Nebraska

That's 5 brilliant albums... and Born in the USA is okay. One could argue that the live box was brilliant too, I guess....especially if you're listing 'under a blood red sky' (live album) as well.

Springsteen has recorded for Live aid, toured for Amnesty and toured against Bush as well.
Springsteen always plays live and is much better live too (and since I've seen Bruce and U2 multple times, I know what I'm yacking on about).

I'm too ill to list any other bands, but I reckon I've already proven my point. U2 is not the best rock band in the world.



t
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Well, I like Bruce and E Street so I cut you some slack. "American Skin" chokes me up whenever I hear it.

Achtung Baby came after Joshua Tree and every song on the album is great.

As good a band BS and ES is they lack the international popularity to be the greatest rock band. I mean U2 played for the the US presidents and their families at the Clinton Library event, and U2 is not an American band! That says something given the ultra-nationalistic atmosphere here in the states. Then they followed up last night with one of SNL's best live band performances.

And what guitarist from E Street has the edge on The Edge?

d

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Did you hear Bono and Edge perform acousitc for the opening of the Clinton Library? Stunk worse than a mushroom farm.

Shavi, you really love the Boss, eh? Have you ever seen him live? There's a saying I have amongst my friends. "If Bruce Springsteen is the Boss, then I quit!" But seriously, he is definitely legendary - more so than U2 in my eyes.

p

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Originally posted by telerion
Even if you don't care for their particular style, you still have to admit that U2 is tops.

When you consider their attitude, the work Bono's done to fight AIDS, the bands political message, the fact that they always play live, etc.

I watched SNL last night, where U2 proved once again that they are the coolest rock band ever.


For some reason I doubdt U2's sincerity regarding charity. I think Chris Eubank said it best when he described certain celebrities who tend to always 'help the homeless' when there is a camera and microphone nearby. U2 IMO (and I do hope I am wrong) comes across as a group that tries to be 'cool' in everyone's eyes. I think my bias comes from seeing a picture of Bono with 'Jesus Christ' printed on his knuckes. Where normally I would be pretty glad to see a famous figure displaying this faith, his on stage behaviour the following day certainly was in tight contrast to his faith. Compare Bono with someone like Cat Stevens and I can but only say one does it for the fame, the other for his faith. Even though we share different faiths, for Cat I have the world of time.

Again however I do hope I am wrong. The certainly do have some awesome songs.


shavixmir
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Originally posted by telerion
Well, I like Bruce and E Street so I cut you some slack. "American Skin" chokes me up whenever I hear it.

Achtung Baby came after Joshua Tree and every song on the album is great.

As good a band BS and ES is they lack the international popularity to be the greatest rock band. I mean U2 played for the the US presidents and their families at the Cli ...[text shortened]... 's best live band performances.

And what guitarist from E Street has the edge on The Edge?
Wasn't it that crappy album with BB King that came after Joshua tree?

Springsteen sells at least as many tickets as U2 here in Holland.

I find the Edge very repetitive in his guitar playing. Less so in the 90's (ironically enough on the albums I dislike most by U2), but generally it's high pitch toggling over and over again.

I won't say Steve van Zandt or Lofgren are as good as the Edge(far be it for me to judge), but they certainly have more stage presence.

shavixmir
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Originally posted by darvlay
Did you hear Bono and Edge perform acousitc for the opening of the Clinton Library? Stunk worse than a mushroom farm.

Shavi, you really love the Boss, eh? Have you ever seen him live? There's a saying I have amongst my friends. "If Bruce Springsteen is the Boss, then I quit!" But seriously, he is definitely legendary - more so than U2 in my eyes.
Yeah. I've seen him live on every tour since 88.
I like his live performances better than his music (especially his recent music).

If we want to talk 'best rock band ever' I'd have to go with The velvet underground, The Stones or Tom Waits (although he's technically not a band and technically not rock).

d

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Originally posted by shavixmir
Yeah. I've seen him live on every tour since 88.
I like his live performances better than his music (especially his recent music).

If we want to talk 'best rock band ever' I'd have to go with The velvet underground, The Stones or Tom Waits (although he's technically not a band and technically not rock).
VU, really? Even those crappy Nico songs? *shudder*

I'm a firm believer that the Beatles are the greatest band to have ever been hugely popular - be it either rock, soul, blues, etc. Nobody has matched their creativity and changed the face of modern music like them. The Stones were great at several points in their 100 year career but their refusal to die has disappointed me.

S

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IMHO I'm afraid U2 really aren't all that. Certainly over in the UK, they're starting to be seen as has-beens. I'll give em credit for the Joshua Tree, but Bono's aid work has nothing to do with how good a rock band they are, nor should it in all reality. I agree he may come in a top ten of altruistic celebs, but in terms of music I couldn't care less what his extra-curricular activities are. Their new song Vertigo is just a reproduction of everything they've done before and that Spanish backing vocal rubbish really grates on my nerves. Sorry, but I really wouldn't notice if they retired tomorrow.

As to Springsteen, well if you can stand that self-righteous little jean wearing 80s throwback and his particular brand of self indulgent dross, you're a better man than I.

Finally Metalica, well, yeah, err... whatever. When they were less well known they rocked, since they found fame and learnt where the pop-hit production button on a mixing desk is, they've sucked. Have you seen the Philharmonic Orchestra performance? *sigh* And any band with a drummer whose name is Large Oil-rig has to be doing something wrong.

Well, there ya go, I'm fully aware that loads of you will disagree/flame but that's what's so wonderful about music, it's entirely personal.

Health and better music taste to you all 🙂

shavixmir
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Originally posted by darvlay
VU, really? Even those crappy Nico songs? *shudder*

I'm a firm believer that the Beatles are the greatest band to have ever been hugely popular - be it either rock, soul, blues, etc. Nobody has matched their creativity and changed the face of modern music like them. The Stones were great at several points in their 100 year career but their refusal to die has disappointed me.
Crappy Nico songs? Isn't that a contradiction?
The Velvet Underground and Nico (the banana album) is surely better than any other single album ever made??

Even Sgt. Peppers, Swordfishtrombones and Dark side of the moon aren't as fresh.

d

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Originally posted by shavixmir
Crappy Nico songs? Isn't that a contradiction?
The Velvet Underground and Nico (the banana album) is surely better than any other single album ever made??

Even Sgt. Peppers, Swordfishtrombones and Dark side of the moon aren't as fresh.
Ah, the album is good except for the crappy Nico songs 🙂

You know she only sang on the album because she was Andy Warhol's little heroin buddy. Once Lou Reed cut ties to Warhol, Nico was gone. The band never wanted her there in the first place.

shavixmir
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Originally posted by darvlay
Ah, the album is good except for the crappy Nico songs 🙂

You know she only sang on the album because she was Andy Warhol's little heroin buddy. Once Lou Reed cut ties to Warhol, Nico was gone. The band never wanted her there in the first place.
Femme fatale?
All tomorrow's parties?

They just aren't the same without her!
Although Cale singing the later on his own with a piano backing is excellent too.

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