# Against U2. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 26, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107 "2009-01-26T19:51:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/61 "2009-01-27T02:39:12Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Man, there’s some snappy guitar work during the second sequence (“If We Ever Get Out Of Here” portion), and the song just (to me) has a generally overall Beatle-y feel to it. > But since you profess disdain for the Beatles too, I guess that’s not surprising. > > I’d still like to hear why you believe their production was awful. You’re nuts. The Beatles became nothing BUT a studio band after 1966, and they were on the cutting edge of recording techniques _for the time_. > > Certainly it isn’t going to sound like modern recordings with digital processing, more tracks, etc. It’s an unfair comparison. No, actually, I revere the Beatles. I just don’t think they’re the Greatest Band in the Universe (that’s Booker T. and the MG’s, for the record). And there’s ALWAYS something in their production that makes me think, “Man, I wish they’d have done that differently.” And it’s not even the use of tape - even today, almost every professional producer worth his salt uses tape to record, and digital to edit. Digital is great for editing, but sounds like crap for recording. I dunno. Maybe if we’re ever hanging out, we can throw on _Sgt. Pepper_ or something, and I can point out what I mean. But for reference’s sake, my idea of a PERFECT album, in terms of production, from the same era, is _Arthur, or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire_, by the Kinks. Everything is just absolutely 100% dead on in that record. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/62 "2009-01-27T02:53:45Z")
> [@KGS](#): > > With or without you? And who’s going to ride your wild horses? Because otherwise, you won’t get there until New Year’s Day ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/63 "2009-01-27T04:54:51Z")
I have to give the OP an A for style, but there should be a rule that whenever someone goes on a rant about how awful a band is, they should have to post their top 5 favorite bands so we get a chance to see what their taste is like. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/64 "2009-01-27T06:06:47Z")
Hello! Some old Celtic bollocks! [Technical failure at a U2 gig.](http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8ipfcIghY1g&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/65 "2009-01-27T06:43:48Z")
> [@Freejooky](#): > > …Every time this turkey shows up in a list of “guitar greats,” I want to blow my own head off… Careful dude, **Ed** might ban you for threatening self-violence. Affectaciously, ~NickInUpperLeftCorner ---
**Author:** ![Jaglavak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jaglavak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaglavak)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/66 "2009-01-27T06:52:42Z")
You know, I can’t agree with the OP. U2 wasn’t bad… the first 10,000 times I was forced to listen to them. The second 10,000 times wasn’t so marvelous. Now I’d rather set my hair on fire and put it out with a sledgehammer. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/67 "2009-01-27T07:32:04Z")
> [@CircleofWillis](#): > > If you replace U2 with Radiohead.. and any U2 band member reference with whoever the fuck the relevant Radiohead member is, you may be on to something. I’m sorry, but what are the U2 equivalents to OK Computer and Kid A? And which guy in U2 is the one with hair hanging in his eyes while he repeatedly keeps plugging up weird electronic equipment in crazy ways to make unique sounds? Your post makes zero sense is all I’m sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/68 "2009-01-27T08:47:22Z")
Also, no matter how many times I hear it, [this](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WphAnAjTspI) will never, ever get old. [This, either](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ISR5SWtsOk&feature=related). U2 had a short career of decent stuff, followed by twenty years of mediocrity. Coldplay was never good, and are rip-off artists, besides. Radiohead has genuine talent. Their huge success has always surprised me, as I think a lot of their stuff is too complex to be readily accessible by casual listeners. Hell, sometimes it takes me a dozen listens to like a Radiohead song, but when I finally do, I fuckin’ love it. e: I just listened to Fake Plastic Trees three times in a row. I never do that with songs that I’ve known for 14 years. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/69 "2009-01-27T08:56:46Z")
**Freejooky** , your favourite band sux. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/70 "2009-01-27T09:01:28Z")
If his favorite band turns out to be your favorite band, will that mean you’ll have to stop listening to them? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/71 "2009-01-27T09:14:26Z")
Seeriously, U2 maniacs. Can’t you just enjoy the snark in a funny rant? Are you all that insecure? Really? ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/72 "2009-01-27T09:26:14Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > For the record - not a fan of U2 > > But seriously **Freejooky** why are you wasting time pissing on Bono while Paul McCrapney continues to write fucking commercial jingles, wastes precious plastic for CDs and passes them off as music? > > Dammit anyhow! **Electric Arguments** is really good. It’s not like most of the work Macca does. It’s like he gave himself permission to be interesting once again. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/73 "2009-01-27T09:34:20Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > If his favorite band turns out to be your favorite band, will that mean you’ll have to stop listening to them? Why would I care about my opinion? I’m just some guy who seems to think some other guy’s favourite band sux, as if that means anything beyond my own trivial, unimportant, overinflated sense of my own taste. I used to be 17, now I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/74 "2009-01-27T09:38:25Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > I’ll grant you that I’ve not listened to either bands entire catalog, but the both come off with that thin voiced, whiney, foppish thing that only skinny little English guys can do. Like Nick Drake writing for Beck. It’s not just skinny English guys, there’s also the Killers. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/75 "2009-01-27T09:42:50Z")
I have no great feelings about U2 either way, but I don’t like Bono. I get sick of him and “Sir” fucking Bob appearing on tv to tell us to save the world while they drive home in stretch limos and put another few million in the bank. Let’s face it Live Aid certainly didn’t do Bono or Geldof’s careers any harm. Both are pretentious and full of themselves. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/76 "2009-01-27T09:43:05Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Why would I care about my opinion? I’m just some guy who seems to think some other guy’s favourite band sux, as if that means anything beyond my own trivial, unimportant, overinflated sense of my own taste. I used to be 17, now I’m not. I’m not sure I completely understand your response, but you don’t know what his favorite band is. That’s kinda where I was going with that. I wasn’t really serious. That said, [it’s fun](http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/) to make fun of music you hate sometimes, and I understand how it can be frustrating when someone you view as utterly talentless is packing arenas, while a band you feel is far more deserving can barely fill a club. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/77 "2009-01-27T09:45:42Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > That said, [it’s fun](http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/) to make fun of music you hate sometimes, and I understand how it can be frustrating when someone you view as utterly talentless is packing arenas, while a band you feel is far more deserving can barely fill a club. Unfortunately that’s the way it is with music, a number of bands I like never get any airplay on the radio, but musically, IMHO, blow away any of the crap that gets in the charts. Not much point in getting wound up over it, as long as they keep releasing albums and touring it’s ok. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/78 "2009-01-27T10:28:30Z")
U2 - check Radiohead - check Coldplay - check Good. Three of my top 100 favourite bands got mentioned in a hate thread. No surprise there. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/79 "2009-01-27T10:53:37Z")
> [@neutron\_star](#): > > I’m not sure I completely understand your response, but you don’t know what his favorite band is. That’s kinda where I was going with that. I wasn’t really serious. Oh fer cryin out loud. I guess if I have to explain it in excruciating detail I’ve failed, huh? The OP is the usual subjective worthless opinionated dime-a-dozen “your favourite band sux” rant from somone who’s opinion means little to me. My post was essentially just a right back atcha “_your_ favourite band sux” directed at the OP. You pointed out (quite logically) that since my post was generic I could be referring to my own favourite band. I responded to the effect that since my own post was _also_ a subjective worthless opinionated dime-a-dozen “your favourite band sux” rant from somone who’s opinion means little, why would I care? See how that works? It was supposed to be kind of humorous and clever. It failed, apparently. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107/80 "2009-01-27T11:39:29Z")
Okay, well, OP, what’s your favorite band? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-u2/483107.md?page=5)