On the physical release U2’s latest album, Songs of Innocence, their website is asking subscribing fans to share the first gig that they went to that changed their lives. The winning entry will receive a limited edition vinyl press of the new album.
So what is your most memorable gig in? It might be a theatrical performance; it might be a class lesson, a band, or even a sermon.
What made you listen and what got your attention?
As Christians we are often passionate about God’s Word. But this is probably not the only thing that got our attention as we became a Christian. We probably heard or saw something as well. It may have been a girl or being amongst loving friendships or even suffering that brought us in to a place where we would hear God speak. As Bono sings on Cedar wood Road, ‘the heart that is open is the heart that is broken’.
Often when Christians consider a band like U2, we will often reduce them down to the quality of the theology that’s in their lyrics. Though for Jo public, it won’t be on account of the song’s rich theology that he or she sits up and listens. It will be because the music is relevant and entertains the emotions or catches the imagination. Once the band has gained our attention there is an opportunity to share their life experiences and what’s important to them.
The importance of gaining an audience
Gaining an audience, earning that opportunity is surely a primary goal for any gospel presenter. Some might think that all we need to do is present God’s Word plainly but this can be an excuse for being dull and not bothering with the trouble of earning an audience in the first place.
[caption id="attachment_388" align="aligncenter" width="584" caption="Got it baby! But take care as the sleeve is open both sides"]
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Songs of Innocence is an album I want to keep going back to. No, even better, it’s an album I need to play every day at the moment. Now this is a definite improvement on the previous album which I think is still very good but I had to make more effort to listen to.
I’m not going to offer a deconstruction of each song, I still have very little idea what each song is about, I’m just enjoying the moment turning up the stereo, loud. Instead I’m going to give you my gut reaction, my one line reviews, as I listened to the album for its first few weeks after digital release. Oh, btw the first time I played the album my kids were playing in front of the stereo in the lounge room and they each caught on to the chorus line of the first four or five songs. Now I reckon that is a great compliment to any artist!
In the order of what grabbed me first, this is how I heard it:
Miracle – sit up and listen folks we have a concert opener!
Song for Someone – hair raising, goose dimpling, classic U2 ballad
Every breaking Wave – standout piece of songwriting; the best candidate for hit single
California – brilliant, retro vintage rock song - sound of four guys playing like its 1979 but with the experience of 30 years work behind them.
Iris – can’t believe Bono was so generous to share remaining memory scraps of his mother who died when he was 14. Classic U2 sound.
Volcano- way cool, catchy and will be great live
Troubles- whooah is this the best U2 album finisher ever? Moorish, ear worming, ghostly collaboration
Soldier Soldier? Is that even its name? – Great bass track. Possibly the least U2 sounding track on the album, reminds me of the very original sounding ‘Unknown Caller’ for how different it was for U2.
Cedar wood Road – another solid rocky track – will be good live
Sleep like a Baby – sinister sound for such a candy floss lyric – apparently about a pedophile priest. Slow number, gives the album a bit of breathing space.
Wolves – I found this the hardest track to get into, but it seems that kids really like it. Maybe it artistically meant to be a little uneasy on the ears. It does grow on you.
Now that CD sales are plummeting, can anyone point me to a physical store where such dinosaur artifacts as CD’s are still sold? UPDATE : mission accomplished on a trip to Newtown today.
