So I realized what makes U2 what they are - it's the Edge.

[Wat_Tyler]

I firmly believe that if U2 did not have Edge as a guitarist, they would never have risen above the status of Echo and the Bunnymen or The Waterboys - Edge is the secret weapon that distinguishes them from other bands. The great U2 albums are the ones where they let Edge get textural, where he creates extraordinary patterns with his guitar - The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, Zooropa.
What would a song like With or Without You be like without the high infinite guitar, e-bow and keyboards? What Even Better Than Real Thing be like without Edge's futuro-Harrison guitar? Not As Good As The Real Thing.
Frankly, Bono annoys me, and Adam is merely a competent bassist. What makes U2 what they are is Edge's guitar and the subtle limbs of Larry Mullen.

[StopTheMorans]

1. a agree wholeheartedly

the Edge does a lot with the chops that he has, and Bono's whining and flailing annoy the crap out of me...

[Wat_Tyler]

2. Yeah - he is their key guy.

Bono gets more unbearable the older he gets.

[StopTheMorans]

3. not to mention that his fashion sense somehow keeps getting WORSE

the glasses, the stupid shirts...

[9119495]

5. and clearly the clothes make the man in your world

What's next, "fat people should die?"

[StopTheMorans]

13. no, he sucks on his own, but nice try.

the "fat" comment was totally brought in by you, and has nothing to do with my comment. bono is a shitty musician, and IN ADDITION to that, he dresses horribly. how's that?

[9119495]

20. Just having some fun with you. I forget that sometimes the

sarcasm isn't clear for those that know the history of my postings. I do think U2 rocks though.

[Wat_Tyler]

8. He's never really had any fashion sense.

Recall the boots with 'SOUL' written on the sole? The muscleman shirt? The weird outdoors pilgrim look of 1987? He should've stuck with the Fly outfit.

[StopTheMorans]

14. i agree, the Fly outfit was his best and most coherent look

goes along with Achtung Baby being their best work. the muscleman shirt was nauseating, and, if you have to write "Soul" on your clothing, it clearly follows that you have no soul. the whole Joshua tree look was pretty lame too...

[kick-ass-bob]

4. It took you that long?

:eyes:

[sniffa]

6. he's ok in my book

[CrownPrinceBandar]

7. FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........................

The Edge gets his due! Dave Evans is a guitarist for the ages. Totally self-taught and distinctive in sound.

[asthmaticeog]

9. Jeez, Wat,

it's been like 17 years since they've released an album that was even worth shitting on, and NOW you get it?

[Wat_Tyler]

10. Yes.

My opinion on the post-Moon Who will soon follow.

[asthmaticeog]

11. Kenney Jones was way underrated.

Not as a drummer - as a drummer he was fuckin' dull. But apparently he's quite an accomplished cyclist!

[Wat_Tyler]

12. So much so, he nearly joined Kraftwerk.

[XNASA]

15. And what is it that they are, Wat?

There's only one true musician in the band and he's the drummer. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

The best thing about U2 is that they have a reasonable amount of taste and they've always worked with great Producers (see avatar). And they're not afraid to push the boundries of sound within the context of Pop Music.

They're OK. I'd rather discuss Julian Cope.

[Wat_Tyler]

19. They are a competent rock band with flashes of genius.

Obviously Eno is a huge influence on all of this.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

16. most of their producers cite U2 as one of the few bands...

who truly record and write as a group. U2s rythym section really adds to the band. and though i understand how his messianic posturing could annoys some, u2 just wouldn't be u2 without Bono and his theatrics



--adenoid hynkel, DU's resident U2 apologist

[fishwax]

25. They'd be better with Bono but without his theatrics

:evilgrin:

[redqueen]

17. Watch out!

The Edge will cut you!

[StopTheMorans]

18. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I wonder if he'll bring Spike along too :evilgrin:

[Susang]

21. I don't think you can exorcise Bono from the Edge or U2

Rather like the opposite poles of the band, their styles complement each other, they've said so many times themselves.

Bono may indeed annoy you, but I really don't think U2 would have produced the work it did without him, the good as well as the bad.

But I'm just a singer, what the hell do I know? ;-)

[no name no slogan]

22. U2 would be nowhere without the Comsat Angels

Go listen to the first two CSA albums ("Waiting For A Miracle" and "Sleep No More") and you can see EXACTLY where Edge stole his reverb-soaked sound.

"Oh, but U2 didn't know who CSA were?" Yes, U2 DID know who CSA were. In fact, the two groups toured together before U2 hit it big-- and a VERY attentive Edge was closely watching Steven Fellows much of the time.

Too bad the CSA never got any of the media publicity U2 has gotten. It's a damned crying shame when you compare their catalogs, too.

www.comsatangels.net

[tjdee]

23. Bono's lyrics and voice, hello?

The band is what it is because of all of them.

I don't think With or Without You would have been as good had the lyrics been written and sung by, say, Joey Ramone.

[fishwax]

24. I listened to Echo's "Flowers" while traveling over Christmas

and was struck with the same thought. Voice sounded similar to Bono, lyrics seemed like they might have come from similar roots, but while it was listenable and familiar, it was vaguely unsatisfying. Throw in some Edge guitar, and it would have been a much better album.