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U2 — Staring At The Sun
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randyblew
(Raleigh, NC)
Posted: May 23, 2013 - 05:04
 
A rare 5 for me, a big U2 fan. Probably my least favorite of their works. Still stronger than 80% of bands can pull off any given year though.

MackStar
Posted: May 23, 2013 - 05:01
 
Not one of their best.

The RP rating of 6.3 (as of 23 May 2013) is exactly correct.

Would be a sub 5 if not for the trippy guitar in the middle. 

garrettb
(Vancouver, Canada / Dublin, Ireland)
Posted: May 13, 2013 - 10:00
 
I suppose this could be considered an experimental album, with some tracks very difficult to listen, some are reasonable - like this one - and one or two absolute gems like track 7 "Gone".

Dinges,_the_Dude
(below sea-level, N52°37', E4°88')
Posted: Apr 12, 2013 - 04:10
 
Bono's voice is starting to annoy me...!

max_p
Posted: Feb 08, 2013 - 08:42
 
This is musically different from most of U2 and somewhat welcome in comparison to the typical  'chunka chunka' electric guitar, imo

Euskadita
(MX)
Posted: Feb 08, 2013 - 08:41
 
Same year as Ok Computer, now we see what really had weight.

Proclivities
(Paris of the Piedmont)
Posted: Feb 08, 2013 - 08:41
 
 shakitten wrote:
Am I the only one who compares this song to U2's earlier work and found the lyrics to be lame? Bono used to be able to do so much better.
 
Apparently, Bono had to have those wrap-around sunglasses surgically removed for that cover photo.

bc
(It's everything. Location, Location, Location.)
Posted: Jan 17, 2013 - 16:56
 
 shakitten wrote:
Am I the only one who compares this song to U2's earlier work and found the lyrics to be lame? Bono used to be able to do so much better.
 

It's not just the lyrics.

ziakut
(Slightly North of Obvlivion)
Posted: Dec 07, 2012 - 15:40
 
Done. With. U. 2.

shakitten
(Trying to get back into a good dream)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 07:48
 
Am I the only one who compares this song to U2's earlier work and found the lyrics to be lame? Bono used to be able to do so much better.

lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: Sep 04, 2012 - 07:45
 
Some great songs on this album.  This may be the best of them.

The production, hype, etc. for this album overshadowed the fact that there were many strong tunes here.

And as I've stated before, I think that each of the subsequent record have four or five really terrific strongs.

jasonv
Posted: Aug 13, 2012 - 14:11
 
I really like this U2 album, it's really unfortunate that they released it early and under-finished because it got bootlegged and was going to be released without their authorization.

But I haven't been able to listen to any albums they released subsequently...

Anyway, at least a 7 for me. Maybe even an 8.

demenshea
(Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Range)
Posted: Feb 05, 2012 - 14:31
 
OMG, I can't believe I am giving U2 a 3, take the keyboard away from me...I realize that there are some good and some bad songs, but seriously they are worthy of so much more than inane silliness. 

shakitten
(Not where I want to be yet)
Posted: Jan 04, 2012 - 19:35
 
{#Yes} master_betty wrote:
To me, this album is the beginning of the end of U2. 
 
Yep. Totally agree. The lyrics are even lame...so NOT worthy of earlier U2.


EssexTex
(Above and Beyond)
Posted: Nov 24, 2011 - 05:23
 
Apalling

master_betty
Posted: Nov 02, 2011 - 10:27
 
To me, this album is the beginning of the end of U2. 

pushkinjim
(IKEAland)
Posted: Oct 01, 2011 - 20:59
 
Love this song and the whole album. This is one of the under appreciated albums by U2.

ckcotton
Posted: Aug 31, 2011 - 11:31
 
 pinnyrat wrote:

Even U2 themselves are unhappy with it, apparently, but I'm with you.  I really like this album, and I don't care what ANYONE says about it.
 
In many ways Pop was as cutting edge and daring as Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby were..... 

Unfortunately, I think most people had become tired with the U2 OVEREXPOSURE back then and didn't really get the concept. When I first heard Discotheque I was amazed at how different it was from the "typical" U2 sound. I loved it then and still do now. 

Pop may have been their last GREAT album... the rest have just been radio friendly same ole same ole. I still enjoy it but miss the U2 that was unpredictable and trend setting....  

MiracleDrug
(Earth)
Posted: Jul 21, 2011 - 05:44
 
what a WONDERFUL song...{#Sunny}

pinnyrat
Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 15:59
 
 fimo wrote:
i hate to say this (big fan really), but the best thing about their recent live gig in Gelsenkirchen
was the supporting act: Snow Patrol! {#Rolleyes}
 
Huh...that's what's playing right now, 2 songs later.  And the comment above is from 2 years ago.


pinnyrat
Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 15:55
 
 colleen wrote:
This song, and Gone, are my two favourites on their most underrated album.

 
Even U2 themselves are unhappy with it, apparently, but I'm with you.  I really like this album, and I don't care what ANYONE says about it.


colleen
(Toronto, Canada)
Posted: Apr 17, 2011 - 09:18
 
This song, and Gone, are my two favourites on their most underrated album.
It's sad that some people on this thread need to make personal attacks on each other to make their point. {#Beat}
In attacking the person, you are not attacking the opinion, but revealing an ugly aspect of yourself.

GuiltyFeat
Posted: Jan 23, 2011 - 03:32
 
Always liked this track. Still do.

oenyaw
Posted: Oct 20, 2010 - 09:00
 
I would write what I think about the letter U and the number 2, but they night send their lawyers after me.

lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 13:00
 
 kevinc wrote:

If this song/album are downhill, then you couldn't have ever liked his writing, because Pop was easily the most cohesive set of lyrics Bono has ever written.  For my money, it was the last great U2 album.  And not coincidentally, it was the last time U2 made any meaningful effort to do something different. 

 
This comment just shows why opinions are like arse holes - everybody's got one

Your professional critics are quite dismissive of Pop, but hailed ATUCLB and HTDAAB as valiant attempts to return to the glories of Achtung Baby and Zooropa.  In other words much better than Pop.

I have tended to agree but — I think kevinc is on to something regarding the lyrical clarity and quality of Pop — there are some really great songs here - some of which I think could use a better arrangement - some have been arranged to great results live.



peter_james_bond
(West Of The Burg)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 12:56
 
They do a very nice version of this number on the concert DVD - U2 Go Home - Live From Slainte Castle. Great concert DVD!

lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 12:53
 
So.. we have to Bat our Lashes when we Stare at the Sun.

 I get it.

ziakut
(Chicago, IL)
Posted: Sep 08, 2010 - 12:51
 
Oh my...can we be done with U2 for awhile?

planet_lizard
(Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy)
Posted: Aug 07, 2010 - 12:30
 
 Razz wrote:
The worlds most boring band.
 
This page's most boring comment.


kevinc
(Richardson, TX)
Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 15:50
 
 fredriley wrote:
"stuck together with god's glue"? Yeesh! St Bonio's songwriting skills are in decline...
 
If this song/album are downhill, then you couldn't have ever liked his writing, because Pop was easily the most cohesive set of lyrics Bono has ever written.  For my money, it was the last great U2 album.  And not coincidentally, it was the last time U2 made any meaningful effort to do something different. 


horstman
(Syracuse, New York)
Posted: Jul 06, 2010 - 15:42
 
 Razz wrote:
The worlds most boring band.
 
That's a bit harsh. Have they gone downhill? Perhaps. But more than likely, they have simply changed directions (many times) and are not what was the same band as the Joshua Tree and Unforgettable Fire.

Is REM the same greatness as they were in the 80s and 90s? No, but they are still pretty good and entertaining.

Of course, this means nothing if you already dislike these bands (or others to begin with). Then the point is lost since your mind(s) are either made up or closed.{#Think}


plaice3
Posted: Jun 14, 2010 - 20:20
 
 arighter2 wrote:
To me, it's the weakest song on an otherwise underrated album.
 
I like it well enough, but agree completely that this was an underrated album.  I loved it.


arighter2
(dubuque)
Posted: Jun 04, 2010 - 19:37
 
To me, it's the weakest song on an otherwise underrated album.

araujokrl
(the county)
Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 16:37
 
c'mon, stop being so childish. I mean, 2012 is coming, right?...
 fredriley wrote:
"stuck together with god's glue"? Yeesh! St Bonio's songwriting skills are in decline...
 



fredriley
(Nottingham, UK)
Posted: Feb 08, 2010 - 03:49
 
"stuck together with god's glue"? Yeesh! St Bonio's songwriting skills are in decline...

gregr79
(If you chooose not to decide you still have made a choice)
Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 08:02
 
drone 1 (drn) n. 1. A male bee, especially a honeybee, that is characteristically stingless, performs no work, and produces no honey. Its only function is to mate with the queen bee. 2. An idle person who lives off others; a loafer. 3. A person who does tedious or menial work;
drone 2 (drn) v. droned, dron·ing, drones v.intr. 1. To make a continuous low dull humming sound: "Somewhere an electric fan droned without end" (William Styron). 2. To speak in a monotonous tone: The lecturer droned on for hours. 3. To pass or act in a monotonous way.  A continuous low humming or buzzing sound. Music a. Any of the pipes of a bagpipe that lack finger holes and produce a single tone. b. A long sustained tone. c. Any of various instruments that produce only a constant pitch.

Just Sayin

Fables85
Posted: Jan 29, 2010 - 07:59
 
This album doesn't deserve to be lambasted... But I can't say much to defend this track.

ubastard
(Comox, BC)
Posted: Dec 28, 2009 - 21:34
 
 Razz wrote:
The worlds most boring band.
 
Agreed!


Razz
(Denmark)
Posted: Dec 07, 2009 - 08:22
 
The worlds most boring band.

sdn
(Philadelphia)
Posted: Dec 07, 2009 - 08:22
 
Thank you RP for playing more U2 than just the horribly-overplayed stuff!

I haven't heard this one before.  Nice.

Frater_Kork
(Uppsala, Sweden)
Posted: Oct 27, 2009 - 02:28
 
 EssexTex wrote:
Why's Boner staring at the sun....he'll go blind the fool
...
 
Mine does every morning...


peter_james_bond
(Lunenburg, NS)
Posted: Oct 05, 2009 - 09:54
 
Not their best but it's better than a slice of steak and kidney pie.

EssexTex
(Gitche Gumee)
Posted: Oct 05, 2009 - 09:52
 
Why's Boner staring at the sun....he'll go blind the fool

Unless it's a son he's staring at...could get locked up for that.

h8rhater
Posted: Oct 05, 2009 - 09:50
 
 Leslie wrote:
I'm really tired of this group.
 
You're really tired


jkoopman
(Hamilton, Ontario)
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 12:56
 
if you write one better I promise I'll listen to it.
 Jelani wrote:
First time I've listened to the lyrics of this song, or this song in it's entirety.
Dumb ass piece of songwriting.
Hope I don't have to hear it again.
 



sdn
(Philadelphia)
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 12:54
 
At least it's not the same ol', same ol'.

fimo
(up in the Eifel hills, Germany)
Posted: Sep 25, 2009 - 12:52
 
i hate to say this (big fan really), but the best thing about their recent live gig in Gelsenkirchen
was the supporting act: Snow Patrol! {#Rolleyes}

Leslie
(Antioch, CA)
Posted: Jul 24, 2009 - 10:52
 
I'm really tired of this group.

jkoopman
(Hamilton, Ontario)
Posted: Mar 29, 2009 - 14:33
 
I love this album, but I think this is the weakest track.

Baby_M
(a 100-year old building in downtown Akron, Ohio)
Posted: Feb 10, 2009 - 07:54
 
 aquadonia wrote:
I can't believe this... You played PorcupineTree - Trains and then followed it with this ....

 
That was a lovely, lovely transition, Bill.