I think this is a good thread to resurrect, closing in on four months living with the album. So, ahem, “as of today.”
“American Soul” – yeah, I put it at the top, and I’m not ashamed. I keep hearing new things in this song all the time.
“You're the Best Thing About Me” – never thought it'd be anywhere in the top half, let alone #2 today. I keep appreciating this song more and more.
“The Little Things That Give You Away” – didn’t really like this on the last tour, and when the album was released I kind of shrugged it off. Now when it comes up, I just stop whatever it is I’m doing and listen, like it’s a prayer, or something. I wouldn’t be surprised if this song ended up as my #1 eventually.
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“Lights of Home” – I really do like this song, overall. I’m still not sure about the chorus, but there are so many other parts of the song I appreciate that it gets to be up at #4. The second verse might be the best thing on this album.
“Love is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way” – an early favorite of mine. I still love it when it comes on. I don’t have any problem with overblown and somewhat cheesy U2. The bridge still gives me goosebumps.
“Love is All We Have Left” – very enjoyable. It’s got a cool Zooropa vibe. I like the frantic strings at the beginning, and the vocoder effect that makes it seem like a duet. Bono’s vocal delivery is something I wish he’d do more.
“Get Out Of Your Own Way” – there’s such a sing-songy, spritely, urgency to this song. I didn’t know what to make of it for a long time, but it’s quite good.
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“The Blackout” – I probably overplayed this thing before the album came out, because I really loved it. I could see this moving up the list in the future.
“Red Flag Day” – I like this song a lot. It’s a testament to how strong I think the album is when it’s way down here at #9.
“Landlady” – not a big favorite for me right away, and I think I’m still coming around on it. The last minute of the song is quite incredible, really. I enjoy it more and more by the day.
“Summer of Love” – I like U2 trying a song like this. It’s breezy, it’s laid-back, and the last verse turns the whole thing on its head. I can see how some don’t like it and compare it to “A Man and a Woman” (and I really don’t like that song).
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“The Showman” – I don’t know why, but I wake up with this damn song in my head a couple times a week. It’s a fun little song, and I’m glad it’s in U2’s catalogue.
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“13” – it’s fine, and everything… But something has to be last, on both the album and this list. Maybe the only song I’d think about skipping (along with, at times, “The Showman”), if it wasn’t at the end, anyway.
Wow… After typing this, I looked back at the other time I tried this on December 12 and it’s vastly different. I think it’s a great album that continues to gain steam with me. Some of the songs I didn’t like as much a month or two ago have started to show their brilliance, and none of the songs have gotten worse.
