Search - U2 :: Unforgettable Fire (W/Book) (Dlx) (Slip)

U2's Quantum Leap

D. A. Rich | Boston, MA | 10/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a review of the 2009 Deluxe Edition (2CDs) of U2's The Unforgettable Fire.



As a college DJ, I was one of the first Americans exposed to, and to play, the music of U2 when their debut album Boy was released in 1980. That album, together with their third album, War, cemented U2's status as a major rock band. But it was their next studio album, The Unforgettable Fire, that catapulted U2 to superstar status. The experimental nature of U2's first of many collaborations with producer Brian Eno and engineer Daniel Lanois and the strong songwriting on the album, together with a growing awareness that U2 was a unique, politically conscious band, gave U2 a special cache and took them to another level. The following year, U2 was one of the most highly anticipated acts at the 1985 Live Aid concert, and their follow-up studio album, The Joshua Tree, was probably the best album of the 1980s. The groundwork for that masterpiece, however, can be found on The Unforgettable Fire.



Unlike U2's prior, more straightforward, work, The Unforgettable Fire had an atmospheric feel to it, undoubtedly as a result of Brian Eno's involvement. I always felt, however, that the album sounded somewhat muddy, and the initial CD release of the album certainly was. This new re-mastering cleans up the sound without compromising the atmospheric feeling that pervades the album. The album has probably never sounded better than it does here. Larry Mullin's drums, Adam Clayton's bass, the Edge's guitar and Bono's voice just leap from the speakers. The albums closing song, MLK, is just phenomenal.



The second bonus disc is not too shabby either. It includes various B sides and outtakes, including all of the Wide Awake in America EP. That EP's "live" versions of Bad and A Sort Of Homecoming are actually superior to the studio versions, and they sound terrific on this new re-mastering. The second disk also includes a cameo appearance by Peter Gabriel on another version of A Sort Of Homecoming.

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The Deluxe version is very nicely packaged in the same manner as U2's prior "deluxe" releases (The Joshua Tree, Boy, October, War and Under A Blood Red Sky). The CDs are housed in a booklet that contains the lyrics to the songs on the original album as well as some nice pictures and essays by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Bert van de Kamp (commenting on the album) and the Edge (commenting on the bonus material).



So is the deluxe version worth ponying up the dough if you already own copies of the music? That depends on how big a U2 fan you are. There is no doubting that this is a nicely packaged much better sounding version of a classic album with some excellent and some interesting bonus material.

"

U2's Unforgotten Fire (The Spark that Set the Flame)

Boy | 10/31/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This pristine remaster, supervised by Mr. The Edge himself, is a must for all fans of U2's 1984 breakout album. A number of great bass lines and synth parts are much more audible now, while the more familiar guitar and vocal parts are even clearer and more nuanced.



As with any great remastered record, there will be moments you feel you are hearing for the very first time, even if you've listened to it countless times before. Remember how it first felt to upgrade your favorite albums from old cassette tapes to CD? (Dating myself, aren't I?) Well, that's how it felt when I first listened to this remaster.



For those who are not yet familiar, UF contains some of the band's all-time greatest efforts, including the soaring "A Sort of Homecoming," the all-time classic "Pride (In the Name of Love)," and the stirring title track. The album is a heady hybrid of dreamy and abstract alt-rock experimentation, side by side with propulsive and impassioned rock anthems. UF was easily the band's best record to date, and clearly paved the way for their epochal '86 masterpiece, THE JOSHUA TREE.



But I think most buyers are already familiar with this classic record, so I'll get to the bonus disc.



PROS:



The brilliant new song, "Disappearing Act," recorded this year between concerts in France, is truly a grower - a song that keeps getting better after even a dozen or more listens. Complex, melodic, and featuring a distinctive metallic drum beat, this was originally an unfinished track from the '84 Slane sessions.



The WIDE AWAKE IN AMERICA EP is included in full here, with the songs shuffled to flow better. The classic live version of "Bad" is far better than the original LP version, and "Three Sunrises" should not only have been included on THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE, but it should have been the first or second single!



The previously unreleased instrumental track is fantastic, a sort of sonic bridge between "New Year's Day" and "The Unforgettable Fire," with Edge once again doing double-duty on guitars and piano. Curtains of howling electro-feedback and a great performace from the rythym section make "Blossom" a total winner.



The B-side "Sixty Seconds in Kingdom Come" has always been a favorite of mine, although it is often regarded as a throw-away. See what you think....



But Danny Lanois' stupendous remix of "A Sort of Homecoming" is what makes this disc an absolute must for all U2 fans. Lanois essentially replaced Edge's ethereal guitars with driving acoustic rythyms and a brilliant recontextualizing of the "Oh come away" chant. Listen hard and you'll hear Peter Gabriel lending his powerful and distinctive voice to the track. It's hard to believe, but this version is even better than the real thing.



CONS:



The inclusions of "4th of July" and "11 O'Clock Tick-Tock" are completely uninteresting, as they are virtually identical to the original versions. The single version of "Pride" is also almost identical, although its extra repetition of the chorus is something of a treat.



The rarely heard old-school remixes of "Wire" are good, but not great. One is pretty similar to the album version, while the "Celtic Dub" mix shakes things up a bit more.



The b-sides are all interesting, if not spectacular. The ambient "Bass Trap" is almost unrecognizable as a U2 song, and the "Boomerangs" never seem to go anywhere...kind of like actual boomerangs, really....



SO...



All in all, this is probably the best bonus disc that U2 has included on any of their recent Edge-supervised remaster series (BOY through JOSHUA TREE). The unreleased material is absolutely brilliant, WIDE AWAKE IN AMERICA sounds better than ever, and the "Homecoming" remix is beyond the beyond.



Very much looking forward to the RATTLE & HUM and ACHTUNG BABY remasters next year. No line on the horizon, indeed..."

Amazing!!!

Harvie fan | los angeles, CA | 10/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With so many albums getting the so-called "deluxe" treatment, it's so exciting to see this incredible album finally get the same. "A Sort Of Homecoming (Live)" has to be one of my favorite U2 tracks ever and along with all the other bonus material here, it's the perfect addition to my U2 collection. This one will be on repeat for awhile."