state of wire/its time to move on
[email protected]
Sat, 31 Oct 1998 09:51:39 EST
I am going to try and make this short and simple because I know you all hate
long posts, but please bear with me.
For the past three years I have lurked (and occasionally posted) on the wire
soaking up the vast amounts of U2 information that had been set forth. It was
a dream come true for me; I got to interact with many other U2 fans and music
fans in general. I loved reading people vies and opinions on the music we all
had and still have in common. However, I have realized in the past few months
that my interaction with wire has lessened the value of U2's music for me. It
has made me enjoy it a little less. For some of you, I know this is hard to
concieve, but for others I'm sure it rings true.
When POP was ready to be released, I downloaded all of the files wanting to
hear the new songs. Only now I feel that it was pure madness, I should have
waited for the final product beacuse that is the way it had been with all of
the other albums in the past. Nevertheless, when the album was finally
released on march 4th, I felt the album was brilliant even though I had heard
most of the songs on poor quality real audio. Soon after the album was
released, i witnessed many complaints about POP, such as "It was recorded
wrong," "it's not as cohesive as other U2 albums," "U2 shouldn't have worked
with Howie B; Brian Eno should have been involved, and "POP isn't any better
than Achtung Baby." You know, some of these comments may be valid, but just
reading these comments made me listen to POP with a critcal ear, when I should
have been listening for enjoyment. This had never happenned with another U2
album.
I feel now, too many people on this mailing list spend too much time
criticizing U2's music, when they should be listening for the enjoyment. POP
isn't a perfect record, but it is a good record. What more should we expect
from a group of guys who aren't perfect. They probably do the best they can
do, so why should we be so critical that they didn't make the perfect album.
As far as the Best Of goes, who care if U2 wants to release a retrospective,
I know some of you think its selling out, and it may be, but who cares. If the
music is good then its good, and a compilation disc sounds good on long
drives. Its simply a way to open up more people to your music, something that
U2 seems to have always wanted. I know I (as many of you) would do the same
thing - in a heartbeat.
U2 aren't gods, they are people just like you and I who worked have worked
very hard, and been very lucky at the same time. Their music has touched many
lives around the world, and they have written some legendary songs that people
will listen to years from now. I feel that wire has undermined some of that,
for me at least.
I'm not trying to complain, I'm just simply telling the truth.
So, enough of reading about if U2 has sold out or not, or if U2 has lost
their Christian faith. No more reading about silly chart positions, as if
they really reflect what is or isn't good music. I am going to leave wire,
and get back to enjoying U2's music rather than analyzing it like its some
kind of science. I will miss the vast amounts of info some of you give. I
know most of you are people after my own heart, and this post isn't an attack
on you. It is simply my observation, and the way I feel at this point in time.
When the next record is released, it will be a total suprise for me, the way
POP should have been. U2 will never make the perfect album, its simply
impossible; I hope you all realize this. Enjoy what you have, and don't
listen to music looking for what it could have been; listen for what it is.
Well I'm through.
bye,
vince pinnick
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on Sat Oct 31 1998 - 06:53:25 PST