U2 – Songs Of Surrender

Bono goes busking. As the gilded mast head for a grand ship, he is more than suitable. Attached to a rickety rawney raft, the modest vessel ends up lopsided.

Picked this up on amazon for 50euro. Wouldn't have touched it for the 130 they were looking for in the high street shops.
Packaging is great. Really nice embossed box. Content... So, so. Some good reworkings, some not so good. At the end of the day, I don't think U2 needed this album in their catalogue.

Great if not consumed all at once.
This collection needs to be savored, not devoured to be appreciated.
For those of us who have felt the beat of most of these songs straight into our young gut these versions will not bring back those feelings.
They will however bridge our loud past with our quiet present in a fantastic way.
The pressing sounds great and the packaging is of the best quality.
Pick the right moment to listen to it and you will not be disappointed.

This box set needs context to understand what prompted the creation of these stripped back versions. Could U2 of released a new album with new material to satisfy some of the whinging reviews I’ve read here? Certainly. I’m sure they are not done with the release of future new material. Anyway, back to the context, I believe that the covid-19 pandemic gave the band pause and the ability to reflect on their career. Bono wrote a book entitled “Surrender.” I recommend reading said book. A tv special on Disney was also released. I recommend watching the program. Those two items will provide better depth and insight into why U2 chose to tackle these songs in this manner. I for one enjoy their rendering. The songs are not intended to sound like the original. A great song is a great song when you can play it on a guitar and use a tabletop as your drum set to paraphrase a quip from the book/movie. And for those saying Bono has gone full lounge, he’s always been lounge. You just haven’t been paying attention. And if you complain about his range at 62, you are delusional to think vocal range stays the same. Read the Edge’s words on the inset of the first record. Be thankful a band you like/love/appreciate is still around. Be appreciative for what they are now. If you want to hear how they sounded in the past, go put on those records. Just be thankful and grateful. Quit with the cynicism already.

Past all that. My pressing sounds great. Thank you .

I got two boxes, and in both the record "two side two" came with noises on the surface due to non-fill/stitching. Has anyone else has encountered with this issue? Could you check your record?

I overplayed most of these songs in their original studio album setting, and many of them were the soundtrack of my youth. But overfamiliarity made me also stop listening to them which is, truth be told, why I haven't really listed to U2 in years. So, unlike what many are saying, I actually really like how different these are than the originals. Their unfamiliarity has made for a much more compelling listen for me. I actually appreciate how Bono Vox's vox is in the foreground. Listening to the lyrics again reminds me just how well written these songs are. Personally, I think it shows how these songs stand on their own as compositions without all the effects and (at times) overproduction of the original studio albums. Anyway, my two cents, for whatever that's worth these days...

Mine arrived with the number 41700.
Embossed cover lettering. Nice presentation. I'll still hear it first.

It’s a big ask to uproot sounds and songs that are psychological anchors for many fans and expect them to embrace a completely new take, which often misses the ion and angst of the originals. They swapped their leather jackets and chains for velour smoking jackets, smoked a t, took a Prozac, and then recorded the Muzak version of U2. Don’t get me wrong… there are moments when some nuance grabs you, or you hear something you never heard before. But at other times, it feels like they just sucked the life out of their iconic sound, replacing it with a tired, ‘elevator’ version. I’m happy to own this collection, and it’s a great recording. But all it’s made me want to do is dig out the original LPs to hear what’s missing. Maybe that was the point.

#22453. I truly love everything about this release. The reimagined recordings are gorgeous and the pressing is phenomenal. Five stars from me.

I truly love everything about this release. The reimagined recordings are gorgeous and the pressing is phenomenal. Five stars from me.