I just realized I love U2

Is it just me, or is U2's early stuff crazy impressive? I've been listening to 'October' lately - I'm listening to "Gloria" right now - and I've never realized how much I was missing out on. I remember reading an article in Guitar World or SPIN or some other such tripe back in the day (this was back when I used to listen to a lot of 80's thrash metal) - Bono was quoted as saying that with their newest record they wanted to get back to making really good "pop music." I remembered being so infuriated by that statement. That made him a sell-out in my book, and I had all but completely written them off as posers.

In retrospect, I can say I was very naive. I missed out on YEARS of celebrating U2's music. I've been exploring some of Coldplay's influences lately, which is what prompted this discovery. I had an urge to listen to "Where The Streets Have No Name" and "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (I've always liked both of those, whatever my feelings for everything else they put out). I was tired of listening to both of those songs on repeat for more than half an hour, so I dug into their older albums. I stumbled on "Rejoice" from 'October' - I say 'stumbled,' but I'm understating how encouraged my soul has been by discovering this music, so when I say 'stumbled on,' I mean 'was led to' - and I haven't been able to stop listening to this album since.

Let me also confess that I didn't realize how deep Bono really was (/is?). Permit me to demonstrate:

I try to sing this song I...I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips
I try to sing this song
I...I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I'd give it to you
I'd give it to you

from "Gloria"

He's building, I'll follow
In my bed when I woke up
To what he has said
Everything's crazy
But I'm too lazy to lie
And what am I to do
Just tell me what am I supposed to say
I can't change the world
But I can change the world in me
If I rejoice
Rejoice...

from "Rejoice"

Interestingly, I L.O.V.E. the guitar part from "Rejoice" as much as if not more than I L.O.V.E. the guitar part from Coldplay's "Talk", although not so interestingly, because the guitars, overdrive and delay and even reverb used are very similar. In fact, most of 'X & Y' sounds vaguely reminiscent of this kind of early 80s pop/rock...

I'm not sure what the point of this first post was. I guess that's the point of the first post.