Between Midnight and Dawning vs. NLOTH

[The Exile]

As some of you know, I'm a big fan of tweaking U2's albums by creating alternate playlists and even edited and remixed versions of their songs (what can I say, I'm bored). Last night I was listening to my NLOTH playlist, which is called Between Midnight and Dawning, and I have to say, as disappointing in parts as U2's latest album is, this playlist is pretty solid.

In addition to omiting/editing certain tracks, I also included some that at first glance may seem odd, but actually fit quite well. Here's the track list:

1. Fez - Being Born
2. Get On Your Boots (FOOW Remix, which has a slight HMTMKMKM vibe)
3. Never Let Me Go (a track without a true home, but which fits here nicely)
4. Disappearing Act (an edited version I have shared here before)
5. No Line
6. Moment of Surrender
7. 3:33 (this is what I call my chantless edit of UC)
8. The Ground Beneath Her Feet (this track has more of a Morroccan feel than most of what ended up on NLOTH, ironically)
9. Winter (Linear version)
10. White as Snow
11. Breathe
12. Stateless (same as #3)
13. Magnificent
14. Cedars of Lebanon

So as you can see, it's similar in places to NLOTH, but also different and (I think) an improvement on what we actually got.

Here's my question: If U2 had released this, would it have been better than NLOTH? And if so, where would it land in your list of favorite U2 albums?

[The Exile]

Here's the cover art:

[Tumbling Dice]

I think it should have opened with Fez/BB, included Winter and omitted SUC.

Other than that, I don't know.

I certainly prefer the album version of UC to your chantless version.

[Bads316]

Yeah, same with me. Without a doubt 'Fez/BB' should of opened the record and every single 360 show. Prefer your tracklisting but prefer the edited tracks as they are, I know the chants are hit or miss on here but I personally quite like that track. 'Disappearing Act' is perfect as is.

Your version though is much more consistent in tone and atmosphere despite using tracks from 10 years previous.

I think 'Soon' would be a nice addition to it.

[The Exile]

Yeah, same with me. Without a doubt 'Fez/BB' should of opened the record and every single 360 show. Prefer your tracklisting but prefer the edited tracks as they are, I know the chants are hit or miss on here but I personally quite like that track. 'Disappearing Act' is perfect as is.

Your version though is much more consistent in tone and atmosphere despite using tracks from 10 years previous.

I think 'Soon' would be a nice addition to it.

The hard thing with Soon is that it has to be track #1, but so does F-BB.

And even though the MDH tracks are ten years old, they could havebeen sung by Bono in 2009. His voice hasn't changed that much since 2000.

[Bads316]

My point about the MDH material is that it's better suited to the album than the NLOTH stuff you've omitted - but obviously you already know that

Taking a cue from the tour I think 'Soon' could make a nice transition into Breathe.

[The Exile]

My point about the MDH material is that it's better suited to the album than the NLOTH stuff you've omitted - but obviously you already know that

Taking a cue from the tour I think 'Soon' could make a nice transition into Breathe.

Another thing I did was create two EPs, one called Midnight and the other Dawning (each with distinct artwork). Being Born opened Midnight and Soon was the first track on Dawning.

[Bads316]

Yeah I remember you doing that, twas good!

[THRILLHO]

yea my playlist opens with Fez as the album should of, but Soon is without a home. I tried it as the closing track and that failed. I excluded SUC and WAS from the playlist, too.

But no, Dis. Act edit or not has no place in this. and the chanting is the least offensive part of UC. Edit out the "password YOU! enter here NOW!" lyric and ill be on board

On a side note, your Pop Muzik/Mofo mix still proudly opens my Pop Redux playlist. My NLOTH, Pop, R&H playlists are far preferred to the "real" albums.

[johno11]

Can we get a link to the songs again Exile ?

[Thunder Peel]

Soon is such an interesting track. I really like it but agree that it would have been hard to find a place for it to fit in on the album. Using it as lead-in music for the tour was pretty sweet, though.

[The Exile]

Can we get a link to the songs again Exile ?

I can't share MP3s, they yell at me when I do that.

[johno11]

Ok no problem, 

[DGordon1]

I think Soon right after MoS would work well. MoS is a heavy song and Soon would work as an effective transition piece to a new stage in the album, maybe follow onto fez

[Mercurial]

The Exile had posted this playlist a while back and I tried it in iTunes. It does work well together. I love that period of U2 from Pop to just before ATYCLB.

However, the songs are from different era's in U2's catalog and they don't sound like they're from the same sessions, (which they aren't) but it just sounds like a bunch of old and new songs put together and not a cohesive album. Great playlist though, I love Stateless.