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New Stories:
Irish Echo: Irish bands can take a lickin' (10-23-2002)
Irish Times: Bono on manufactured music (10-23-2002)
U2log.com: Bono writes song for Sheridan film (10-23-2002)
U2log.com: Mailing list established for 'U2 Live-A Concert Documentary'
contributions (10-23-2002)
YouTwo.net: U2 grace cover of MTV Japan publication (10-23-2002)
Ananova: Nelly set to hold on to number one (10-23-2002)
Dotmusic: Timberlake at Two? (10-23-2002)
MTV UK: U2 to chart in Top 5 in UK (10-23-2002)
Express & Echo: Triump for Top Bands with City Links (10-22-2002)
Launch: U2 Streaming Songs From New Hits Set On Band Website (10-22-2002)
U2Swisshome.com: Best of 1990-2000 screen saver (10-22-2002)
TheBear.net: Ottawa radio station offers chance to see 'U2 Live at Slane
Castle' on big screen (10-22-2002)
MuchMusic: U2's Stamp Of Approval (10-22-2002)
Dotmusic: U2 Get Stamp of Approval (10-22-2002)
Irish Mirror: U2 Tipped for Top (10-22-2002)
Independent: A Quiet Year for Radiohead, But They Are Still the 'Best
Act in the World' (10-22-2002)
Stylus Magazine: Part 2 - Review of U2's 'Best Of 1990-2000' (10-22-2002)
Stylus Magazine: Part 1 - Review of U2's 'Best Of 1990-2000' (10-22-2002)
The Guardian: Pop music and protest: just blowin' in the wind (10-22-2002)
Stuff: Radiohead named Best Act in World (10-22-2002)
ChartAttack: Radiohead win 'Best Act In The World' (10-22-2002)
Sky News: U2 lose to Radiohead at Q Awards (10-22-2002)
Hits: Best Act (10-21-2002)
Net Music Countdown: Best Acts in the World (10-21-2002)
ITV: Radiohead are 'world's best act' (10-21-2002)
U2achtung.com: Universal France Launches Marketing Campaign (10-21-2002)
Belfast Telegraph: Taking it easel (10-21-2002)
MTV UK: Win Limited Edition U2 Greatest Hits CDs (10-21-2002)
Newsweek: Cries From the Heart (10-21-2002)
Rock & Pop FM: 'Electrical Storm' Number One in Rock & Pop Ranking
(10-21-2002)
Ananova: U2 feature on new Irish stamps (10-21-2002)
Es Mas: New U2 next summer (10-21-2002)
Datafull: U2's new album (10-21-2002)
Estado de Sao Paulo: U2 back to the basics (10-21-2002)
U2 Satellite Television: Mp3 of 'The Hands That Built America' (10-21-2002)
U2tour.de: German U2 tribute band to perform this Friday (10-21-2002)
U2tour.de: German TV station ZDF to broadcast U2 concert (10-21-2002)
U2exit.com: U2 MEGA re-Mix (10-21-2002)
Reuters: Radiohead named 'Best Act in World' (10-21-2002)
Ananova: Radiohead win 'best act in world' for second year running
(10-21-2002)
RTE: Radiohead are Q's Best Act again (10-21-2002)
RTE: U2 album tracks available online (10-21-2002)
ShowBiz Ireland: Listen to U2's 'best of' online (10-21-2002)
The Express: Review of 'Great Britons-The Top 100' (10-21-2002)
Billboard: U2 on Adult Top 40 Chart (10-21-2002)
Music OMH: 'Electrical Storm' review (10-21-2002)
Sunday Mirror: Review of 'Electrical Storm' (10-20-2002)
Sunday Mirror: Reader's Letter (10-20-2002)
Sunday Life: JJ72 comment on being compared to U2 (10-20-2002)
U2sevilla.tk: 'The Hands That Built America' MP3 (10-20-2002)
YouTwo.net: Review of 'The Best of 1990-2000' (10-20-2002)
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Irish Echo: Irish bands can take a lickin' (10-23-2002)
From The Irish Echo:
Irish bands can take a lickin'
By Eileen Murphy
Fans of Irish music have some news to write home about this week. An
Post, the Irish postal service, has introduced
its line of rock and roll-themed stamps, in a collection called "Irish
Music Legends."
Featured performers include U2, Van Morrison, Thin Lizzy and Rory
Gallagher. You can pick them up the next time
you're in Ireland, or you can order them from An Post's official
website: www.irishstamps.ie.
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Irish Times: Bono on manufactured music (10-23-2002)
From The Irish Times:
Vox Pop
What do you think of manufactured music? Bono of U2, Justin Timberlake
of 'N Sync,
George Michael, Damon Albarn of Blur and Liberty X's Tony Lundon have
their say
Bono
People are sick to the teeth of processed and hyped pop bands. It's
crap. They want something
real again and that's where we come in. The tide is turning. Normally,
people want big rock bands
to fall flat, but what I'm picking up is that they want us to do well
because we are flying the flag
for bands who can really play.
Justin Timberlake
It's gonna suck for the next Nirvana or whatever 'cool' rock band comes
along in 10 years from
now. The next generation of critics are being raised on 'N Sync and
Britney Spears and
Backstreet Boys. Their measurement of quality is going to be different.
It's going to be interesting
to see the next Nirvana blasted for not having a big stage show."
George Michael
The corporate guys have spent the past 15 years doing their best to
relieve artists of their art, and
by now they have pretty much succeeded. Stars like John Lennon and Paul
McCartney wrote
their own songs, sang them with a variety of untrained voices, marched,
looked ridiculous and
made amazing, beautiful music.
Damon Albarn
Bands like A1 should be banned. They won a Brit award which sends out
the wrong message.
Even those that claim not to be (manufactured) are, in some way. Bands
such as Coldplay are
a little bit too clean to be real. Then there's Westlife, A1... Gorillaz
is about trying to destroy
(manufactured pop) and take it further, to manufacture something with
real integrity.
Tony Lundon
For someone like me, being in a manufactured pop band is the easiest way
to get into doing
what I want to do, singing songs, writing... For people my age it's very
difficult to get a record
deal when you don't know anyone and don't have any friends in the music
business. Going to
an audition is the easiest way of getting into the music industry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U2log.com: Bono writes song for Sheridan film (10-23-2002)
From U2log.com:
Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer and Bono have written a song called "Time
Enough for Tears" for the upcoming Jim Sheridan film "In America". Vocalist
on the track is Andrea Corr. Says Friday: "Bono saw the film and was blown
away by it. He wanted to work with us and something happened, organically."
The song has 40's Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald feel to it and is likely to
surprise anyone who expects something along the line of the previous
collaboration, "In the Name of the Father". Friday: "It's very poetic, very
romantic. Very vulnerable and naked. It's a beautiful song." The film, "In
America", will premiere next year, April/May at the earliest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U2log.com: Mailing list established for 'U2 Live-A Concert Documentary'
contributions (10-23-2002)
From U2log.com:
A mailing list has been set up for people who wish to contribute to the
upcoming update of P.J. de la Parra's "U2 Live - A Concert Documentary".
The authors of the book are thinking of fans who saw multiple concerts on
the Popmart and Elevation tours, people with photographs and people who had
on or off stage interaction with the band. Anyone who think they can help
us by answering questions on concert details, venue and other local
information is welcome to subscribe.
To join this moderated mailing list, visit the list's info page at:
http://lists.dreamhost.com/listinfo.cgi/u2live-u2collectormania.com
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YouTwo.net: U2 grace cover of MTV Japan publication (10-23-2002)
Thanks to Hirorin for the following.
U2 is on the cover of the November issue of "Paper," a music magazine
published by MTV Japan:
http://youtwo.net/pictures_archive/papernov02.jpg
The accompanying article is a rather negative review of U2's promo video.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ananova: Nelly set to hold on to number one (10-23-2002)
From Ananova:
Nelly set to hold on to number one
Kelly Rowland and Nelly look set to hold on to the number one spot
at the weekend.
Their single Dilemma is currently ahead of Justin Timberlake's debut
solo single Like I Love You according to midweek sales figures from
Virgin Megastores.
Timberlake should enter the chart at number two, followed by Blue at
three and U2 at four.
The Ketchup Song by Las Ketchup should drop to number five.
In the album chart the top three places look set to be filled by new
entries. Foo Fighters are on course for number one with One By One.
Feeder's Comfort In Sound is heading to number two and Richard Ashcroft
should enter at number three with Human Conditions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dotmusic: Timberlake at Two? (10-23-2002)
From Dotmusic:
TIMBERLAKE AT TWO?
Nelly and Kelly Rowland look set to hold to the top spot in this
week's singles chart, fending off stiff competition from 'NSYNC star
Justin Timberlake.
According to midweek figures, their hit single 'Dilema' is currently
outselling Timberlake's debut solo release, 'Like I Love You', which
is expected to enter the UK singles chart at number two.
Meanwhile, rock giants U2 take on boy band Blue for a top three chart
placing, with Spanish pop act Las Ketchup fighting to stay in the
top five.
New entries look set to dominate the top of the UK album chart, with
Foo Fighters' 'One By One', Feeder's 'Comfort In Sound', and Richard
Ashcroft's 'Human Conditions', all on course for high positions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MTV UK: U2 to chart in Top 5 in UK (10-23-2002)
Condensed from MTV UK:
In a week of several big-gun new releases, Nelly is currently on
course to hold onto the top spot in the UK singles chart on Sunday,
October 27, with Dilemma - his duet with Destinys Childs Kelly Rowland
. However, Nelly best not crack the second bottle of Cristal just
yet, as there are new releases hot on his heels, and the week is yet
young. Currently the closest behind Nell and Kell is high-pitched
hotstuff, Justin Timberlake with his solo debut Like I Love You,
while not much further behind are ripply four-pack Blue with One
Love, and very narrowly behind them are the solar systems biggest
rock band, U2 with Electrical Storm. Whichever order they come in,
its probably safe to bet your bottom pre-hatched chicken that all
the above, plus Las Ketchup, will occupy Sunday's top five.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Express & Echo: Triump for Top Bands with City Links (10-22-2002)
From Express & Echo:
TRIUMPH FOR TOP BANDS WITH CITY LINKS
BY JO BARR
12:00 - 22 October 2002 Two bands with Exeter links have hit the
right notes at a national music awards ceremony.
Guitar band Radiohead, whose lead singer, Thom York, is an Exeter
University graduate, were yesterday named the best act in the world
for the second year running at a respected music awards show.
Despite releasing only a live album in the past year, the band beat
heavyweights such as Oasis and U2 to the title at the Q Awards.
Coldplay, whose lead singer, Chris Martin, comes from Exeter, won
the prized best album title for a Rush of Blood To The Head.
The band also scooped the same title in 2000 for its debut album,
Parachutes.
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Launch: U2 Streaming Songs From New Hits Set On Band Website (10-22-2002)
From Launch:
U2 Streaming Songs From New Hits Set On Band Website
(10/22/02, 4 p.m. ET) -- U2 is now streaming tracks from its upcoming
November 5 release, U2: The Best Of 1990-2000 , on the band's official
website (U2.com). The site is offering one or two different tracks
daily, including B-sides and remixes that will only be featured on
a bonus CD packaged in a limited-edition version of the new collection.
U2 guitarist the Edge talked to LAUNCH about the decade covered on the
greatest hits set. ''The period from Achtung Baby right through to All
That You Can't Leave Behind is kind of the story of us taking the idea
of a rock-and-roll band and abstracting it as far as you possibly could
and then reconstructing it again. And y'know, I think that's really
in a nutshell what we did during that period--at every turn it was
really an attempt to find inspiring places to go as songwriters and,
y'know, artists.''
In other U2-related news, NHK, a Japanese television broadcasting
corporation, has announced its plans to broadcast U2 live at Slane
Castle, from the band's 2001 tour, on its BS2 Channel on November
29. According to NHK's website, the show is titled U2: Live In Ireland.
-- Gary Graff, Detroit and Darryl Morden, Los Angeles
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U2Swisshome.com: Best of 1990-2000 screen saver (10-22-2002)
U2Swisshome.com has the Best of 1990-2000 PC screen saver
at their website. A Macintosh version will follow soon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TheBear.net: Ottawa radio station offers chance to see 'U2 Live at Slane
Castle' on big screen (10-22-2002)
Thanks to Limech for the following.
From TheBear.net:
U2 Live at Slane Castle
106.9 The Bear presents U2 LIVE IN CONCERT!
Keep it locked to Ottawa's Best Rock Mix for your chance to see "U2 Live
at Slane Castle"! An exclusive late-night screening
of the last show in U2's triumphant "Elevation" tour!
You and a handful of other Ottawa U2 fans will rock the Famous Players
Coliseum, November 4th. With U2 LIVE on the
big-screen and the opportunity to get your hands on lotsa winning
including limited edition CD's and samplers, posters, box
sets and more! Better still, HMV will be on-site for you to pick up "U2
Best of 1990 - 2000" before you can buy it anywhere
else!
"U2 Live at Slane Castle" Win to get in with Ottawa's Best Rock Mix
106.9 The Bear!
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MuchMusic: U2's Stamp Of Approval (10-22-2002)
From MuchMusic:
U2's Stamp Of Approval
U2 are being immortalized in the form of a new series of Irish stamps,
called Irish Rock Legends. The collection is
available in stores and newsagents throughout Ireland and includes a set
of four stamps and Miniature Sheets for
each honoured artist. The specialty stamps can also be bought online at
Irishstamps.ie. As for the band's new
single, Electrical Storm, the single can be bought in stores as of today.
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Dotmusic: U2 Get Stamp of Approval (10-22-2002)
From Dotmusic:
U2 Get Stamp of Approval
Celebrated faces from Irish music past and present are to be honoured in
a collection of stamps,
dotmusic can report.
Ireland's most famous sons U2 head the list of rockers that also honours
the talents of Thin Lizzy's
late frontman Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison.
Entitled Irish Rock Legends, the stamps are available individually, in
miniature sheets and in special
presentation packs from www.irishstamps.ie.
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Irish Mirror: U2 Tipped for Top (10-22-2002)
From The Irish Mirror:
IRISH DAILY MIRROR COMMENT: U2 TIPPED FOR TOP
U2's new single Electrical Storm goes on sale this week.
The supergroup are tipped for success after an eight-month absence from
the charts.
And no doubt the popular song will blow away the opposition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Independent: A Quiet Year for Radiohead, But They Are Still the 'Best
Act in the World' (10-22-2002)
From The Independent:
A Quiet Year for Radiohead, But They Are Still the 'Best Act in the World'
By Louise Jury
Radiohead were yesterday named best act in the world for the second
successive year despite only having released a live album in
the past 12 months.
They beat Oasis and U2 to the title at the annual Q magazine awards in
London where other honours went to the Liverpool post-punk
veterans Echo and the Bunnymen for inspiration and Tom Jones for merit.
Radiohead enjoyed enormous success with their last two studio albums,
which even cracked the American market. But the Oxford
quintet have spent the past year recording new tracks, appearing in
public only for a handful of festival dates. Thom Yorke, their frontman,
who collected the prize with guitarist Ed O'Brien, said such awards made
their efforts worthwhile. "After you've been in the studio, you
come out and think, 'Could we have done the most stupid thing we could
possibly have done?' Things like this mean a lot to us, otherwise
we wouldn't have the confidence to carry on because that's what we're like."
The Q awards are largely voted for by readers, who tend to pride
themselves on their musical appreciation.
Oasis received the most nominations for awards - three - but won none.
Sugababes beat them to the best single title for the chart-topping
"Freak Like Me" and the Swedish punk-pop act, the Hives, beat them to
best live act.
The innovation title went to Depeche Mode, best new act to Electric Soft
Parade and best video to Pink. Jimmy Cliff won the classic
songwriter honour and best album went to Coldplay for A Rush of Blood to
the Head.
Ian McCulloch, of the Echo and the Bunnyman, thanked Coldplay for
"putting us back on the map" by featuring them on their album.
He clearly relished his moment of glory yesterday, wondering why his
band had not won a prize before despite being one of the most
influential acts of the past 20 years. "Cheers, it's not before time,"
he said, as he accepted his award at the ceremony in Charles Saatchi's
former gallery in north London.
Tom Jones said his merit award meant a great deal to him because it was
about the music alone. "You get a lot of awards from magazines
but they could be about planning, you know. Last time I was up for a
merit award, I was in the Boys Brigade for something like that - and I
didn't get it."
Guests at the event included Gary Numan, whose song, "Are Friends
Electric?" was the basis of the Sugababes' winning single.
The former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire, the Seventies chart act
Sparks and the singer Tori Amos also attended the ceremony.
THE WINNERS
Best new act: Electric Soft Parade
Q merit award: Tom Jones
Best single: Sugababes, "Freak Like Me"
Best video: Pink, "Get The Party Started"
Best producer: Moby (for his own album, 18)
Q innovation award: Depeche Mode
Best live act: The Hives
Best album: Coldplay, A Rush of Blood to the Head
Q inspiration award: Echo and the Bunnymen
Q classic songwriter award: Jimmy Cliff
Best act in the world today: Radiohead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stylus Magazine: Part 2 - Review of U2's 'Best Of 1990-2000' (10-22-2002)
One of the cooler selections is Until The End Of The World from
Achtung Baby in place of the hit single, Whos Going To Ride
Your Wild Horses. However, since this song was used heavily in
NFL spots, it may not be all that cool. In fact, I know its not
cool. Not anymore. U2 ruined one of their best songs and for what? A
little bit of money. Anything connected to their NFL tie-in would be
forever tarnished. Its funny that some fans thought U2 sold-out when
Bono started wearing fly-glasses and their music started to possess
sensuality and wit. The big sell-out didnt come until All You Cant
Stomach, when they started sounding like Train and they played the
NFL show sponsored by E-Trade. U2 has brought new meaning to the
phrase corporate rock. After End Of The World is another new track:
The Hands That Built America. Read that title again. Moving on.
Finally we get another hit of Zooropa with Numb. I always thought
this song was a clever little ditty; if the Beatles had done it,
critics and fans alike would have praised it for its eccentricity;
but living in the age of dulldom, many people just thought it was
shallow and that U2 should return to their Hallmark posturing. In my
opinion, Numb reflects our culture far better than Where The Streets
Have No Name. Of course, since a lot of their old school fans were
weirded out by the more cutting-edge Zooropa tracks, U2 decided to do
a new mix of this one as well (I wonder: when four songs are remixes,
does a Best Of become a Re-Mix album? Perhaps I should give P.Diddy
a ring and ask him). My prediction for this remix is this: the cool
synth breakdown is replaced with an inflated guitar solo, Bono sings
the song instead of the Edge and he belts out the following chorus:
Its really numb, dont it make you dumb!
Another Zooropa track concludes the CD, but The First Time is
definitely an unexpected and questionable choice. Which has been
typical of U2s actions in recent years, Zooropa gets the biggest
screw-over with this so-called Best Of. The First Time is a nice
enough song in the context of the Zooropa album, but for some reason
Im reminded of the Pop-Mart Tour in which they had a giant lemon but
failed to perform the song Lemon. In fact, they failed to perform
any song from Zooropa on that tour, even though the material worked
better with the Pop-Mart theme than any of the songs they played. It
wasnt a question about representing the songs live either, because
Ive seen a recorded performance of them doing half the Zooropa album
live during their European Zooropa Tour (the one where Bono became
Macphesto) and the songs sounded great. Im also reminded of Bono
being on Charlie Rose, during the promotion of All You Cant Stomach,
and being disgusted by Bono feeling the need to justify the Zooropa
period and explain that it was the band getting too European. Too
European! Call me close-minded, but I like my Europeans acting and
sounding European; to me that seems honest and sincerenot humping
Americas leg like a capitalist dog in heat. But Bono is obsessed with
making Americans love him and as such, Zooropa cannot be represented
properly on their Best Of. By choosing, Stay and The First Time
(the only two songs that echo U2s traditional sound on Zooropa) and
re-mixing Numb (a song that was consistent with the overall Zooropa
aesthetic), U2the politicians they now arehave heeded the polls and
covered-up their past controversies. The weird album that was too
European shall haunt those Joshua Tree fans no more.
Between the retooling of Pop and the misrepresentation of Zooropa,
U2 has really become the George Lucas of pop music with Best Of
1990-2000. Although George Lucas would never be pals with the likes
of George Bush Junior, who Bono has publicly praised and politicized
with; all in the name of saving the world of course. I dont forget
the good ol days when Bono cranked called George Bush Senior from
the Zoo TV tour. Back then it wasnt about being a gaudy politician;
back then it was just about being a smartass rock star.
Alas, Bono is no longer smarthes just an ass.
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Stylus Magazine: Part 1 - Review of U2's 'Best Of 1990-2000' (10-22-2002)
From Stylus Magazine:
Review of U2's 'Best Of 1990-2000'
U2 Even Better Than The Real Thing
Interscope 2002
Reviewed by: Edwin Faust
By no means am I a model U2 fan. With the exception of War, I never
particularly cared for their 1980s work. I was in Junior High when
they blew up with the Joshua Tree and I considered them to be a
girlie bandakin to INXS but with the annoying addition of fervent
self-righteousness. My opinion of them was further lowered by Rattle
& Hum, which was a pitiful display of unoriginality and unrestrained
ego. Jump a couple years later to High School and myself catching the
premier of The Fly video; the first single from their forthcoming
album, Achtung Baby. The video and song was rocking and hip. I
dug the whole Fly image and Zoo TV. In my opinion, U2 had finally
stopped taking themselves too serious and started to take their music
seriously instead. The Brian Eno influence was audible on Achtung Baby
as it had been for David Bowie and the Talking Heads in the past. U2
was tackling satire and sexuality and most importantly, a new sound
for pop rock. Zooropa was even better, displaying a band that was
in a creative spree and had the backbone to fully embrace it. They
werent doing what was expected of them; they were experimenting
and reinventing their sound and I was all about that. Jump a couple
more years and you have the band already showing weariness on the
over-worked yet under-delivering, Pop. Probably due to old age and
greed, U2 decided to throw in the experimental towel after that and
the result was their return to heart-on-sleeve declarations and arena
rock anthems: All That You Cant Leave Behind or as I refer to it, All
That You Cant Stomach. Recently, there was a press release announcing
the bands upcoming Best Of 1990-2000 compilation and I decided to
write a review on the album based solely on the track listing. Being
that U2 became one of my favorite bands in the early 1990s only to
become one of my least favorite acts today, I felt I could give the
most objective review an ex-U2 fan could give.
Even Better Than The Real Thing leads off the disk and remains a
groovy piece of pop rock; proving that U2 did INXS far better than
INXS ever did. There is a definite logic in selecting this song as the
first song on a Best Of album; its the same logic that bestowed Pride
(In The Name Of Love) the honor of leading off Best Of 1980-1990. Like
Pride, Even Better Than The Real Thing is a hit that wasnt the first
song on the album it was originally on. Also like Pride, Real Thing
is a what its all about song. Not what its all about in a what its
all about sense; I mean what U2 is all about or more specifically,
what U2 is all about within the confines of the selected chronology
of this compilation. Anyhow, thats how I think the focus group put it
to U2. Not surprisingly another hit from Achtung Baby followsperhaps
the biggestMysterious Ways, which features the Edge playing funk
guitarfunk guitar that actually sounds good! Remember in Rattle
In Hum when Bono screamed, play the blues and the subsequent sound
from the Edges guitar was whiter than Martha Stewart going antiquing
in a blizzard. Apparently, between Rattle & Hum and Achtung Baby,
the Edge smoked himself some phat chronic. Then comes their most
recent smash hit: Beautiful Day. The first verse of this song isnt
bad at all; I remember when I first heard it and was happy to hear
the return of Brian Eno in the bands production. Smooth, subtle,
sophisticated. Then they hit that god-awful chorus, which had the
Edge pounding out those lunkhead, arena rock power-chords and Bono
yelping out lyrics Corky from Life Goes On could have come up with. I
had the same impression when hearing the song, Last Night On Earth
(from Pop). An atmospheric opener and Sonic-Youth-esque first verse,
then a lunkhead rock out chorus that made me go what the fu!?
ELECTRICAL STORM is the mandatory new song that always inhabits a
greatest-hit compilation, equipped with pointless and pretentious
capitalization (kind of a reverse nine inch nails thing going on
here). I saw the video for this song and managed to also hear the song
while watching. Similar formula as Beautiful Day; in fact, I think U2s
focus group dropped the ball on the track sequencing herewhy juxtapose
two songs that sound similar? U2 must have used the same team that
decided the lopsided track sequencing for Pop. Subsequent is another
Achtung Baby hitthe moving and frequently played One. Obviously, U2 and
their focus group were conscious in stacking all the big hits early on
the album. Why? Dont ask me. My thinking is the person who bought the
album is the last person you need to be selling to. Next is a bit of a
surprise, a track from The Passengers album: Miss Sarajevo. Many people
forget that whole endeavor. Heck, I even remember Larry and Adams new
Mission Impossible themeI have too much meaningless information in my
head. Miss Sarajevo is a nice bite off the Velvet Underground, though
VU wouldve had the good sense to keep the obese opera-singer away from
the recording studio. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) is a horrible title,
but a decent pop rock ballad. U2s middle-of-the-road attempt at light
soul, Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of has a superior title,
but lacks the spark of Stay. When they did the NFL tie-in video for
this song, I knew without any doubt whatsoever that U2 had becomewell,
whores. Probably thinking All That You Cant Stomach hasnt moved all
the units it still has potential to move, the U2 team decided to
give cynical listeners like myself a break by placing only two cuts
from that maudlin collection, which Rolling Stone inanely declared
a masterpiece.
The Rest of Best Of 1990-2000 focuses primarily on their 1997 effort
Pop or more appropriately, Pop: The Special Edition. Gone is a
non-offensive yet forgettable song; Flood produced this Pop track
sans Brian Eno (who was so disgusted by the Edges mid-life crisis
guitar playing, he refused to produce the album). Do you want to
hear my impersonation of Flood at work in the studio? Okay. Flood:
Sounds great, but let me intentionally overheat the track with loads
of fuzz. After Pop received mix reviews from critics and record-buyers,
U2 started bitching about the production in the pressa production they
had several years to work on. I find it hysterical that every track
from Pop on the Best Of is a new mix; clearly, since Pop was considered
a failure (even though it still went platinum) the band had to blame
it on something, being the politicians they have become. Dont even
ask me why four guys who have been professional musicians for over
twenty years are so reliant on the right team of producers. I guess
U2 and Aerosmith have more in common than most would think. Youll
notice that the songs from popular albums like Achtung Baby and All
You Cant Stomach dont have the new mix surgery performed on them. My
prediction for the new mix of Gone is this: lower fuzz, higher Bono.
(Continued)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Guardian: Pop music and protest: just blowin' in the wind (10-22-2002)
From The Guardian:
Pop music and protest: just blowin' in the wind
October 22 2002
Politics has become distinctly uncool among a generation of apathetic
rocks stars and their style-obsessed fans, writes Dorian Lynskey.
Oasis' Gallagher brothers are not the first port of call for
illuminating political insight, but they voiced a widespread sentiment
when asked recently about the Stop the War campaign championed by
Blur's Damon Albarn and Massive Attack's Robert ''3D'' Del Naja.
''My opinion means nothing,'' says Noel Gallagher. ''The people in
the White House can change this. I play guitar in a band and we're
really good. Arsed about anything else.'' Liam Gallagher is more
brutally succinct: ''Nobody's gonna listen to knobhead out of Blur
... no one even listens to Bono.''
While this may relate as much to Oasis' continuing feud with Blur, the
tone of impotent defeatism is not unique. The shortage of musicians
supporting Stop the War confirms it. Although writers and actors are
amply represented on the organisation's website, Albarn, Del Naja,
Brian Eno, Billy Bragg, Kevin Rowland and Elbow's Guy Garvey are the
only well-known rock performers.
The mood is beleaguered, battered and embittered. ''Perhaps us who
still believe there's some point in being involved in political action
are being old-fashioned,'' says Eno. ''Perhaps they (other musicians)
think the whole conversation isn't going to achieve anything. And
sometimes I have to agree.''
The music industry's engagement with politics has always ebbed
and flowed. In the 1960s, when rock was part of a counter-culture,
protest songs were credible and glamorous. In the punk era, the top10
included a string of polemical singles by the Jam, the Clash and the
Specials. Since then, thrilling music and political engagement have
rarely coincided. Public Enemy was the exception, influencing a wave
of acts in the early '90s.
''The protest songs that really work are imbued with glamour,'' says
Manic Street Preachers lyricist Nicky Wire. ''You're not going to
get better than (the Sex Pistols') God Save the Queen. I mean, Billy
Bragg's golden jubilee song made me embarrassed to be a republican.''
The editor of Britain's NME music magazine, Conor McNicholas, agrees
that, without glamour, political music has no broad appeal. ''A lot
of the stuff which is much more direct and worthy and practical just
tends to be desperately uncool,'' he says. ''Rock'n'roll is still
largely about getting laid.''
Key issues are too complicated to be summed up in an incendiary slogan,
but nobody ever wrote a protest song called It's a Complex Issue
(With Strong Arguments on Both Sides).
Those musicians who have stuck their necks out have the bruises to
show for it. Lee Ryan of Blue has received 20,000 death threats since
his post-September 11 outburst: ''Who gives a f--- about New York
when elephants are being killed?''
George Michael was savaged for his anti-Bush song Shoot the Dog,
and Steve Earle's John Walker's Blues , an attempt to understand
''American Taliban'' John Walker Lindh, was widely condemned, with
one British broadsheet critic branding it ''despicable''.
Many bands with a conscience choose the path of least resistance:
the charity record. This week, NME marks its 50th anniversary by
releasing 1 Love, on which current bands cover classic number ones.
The proceeds go to the charity War Child, which cannot be explicitly
political in raising money for children in war zones but is implicitly
pacifist, so contributors can show their hearts are in the right
place and achieve something without taking a controversial stand. Even
Oasis felt sufficiently ''arsed'' to appear on 1 Love.
Del Naja featured on War Child's first record, Help!, in 1995, but
turned down 1 Love because it seemed to be publicising NME as much
as War Child. ''It's a politically safe thing to do,'' he says.
James Topham, War Child's director of communications, considered asking
bands to reinterpret protest songs, until he realised most of them were
''absolutely terrible''.
''It's always been in the hands of young people to speak out about
this kind of thing and nobody gives a f---,'' he says.
McNicholas believes that, among the current generation of music fans,
politics is simply out of vogue. ''Blur and Massive Attack are almost
part of an intellectual old guard. New bands are much more interested
in rediscovering rock'n'roll excess than making political points.''
''Most musicians are thick,'' says Wire. ''They're more interested
in bass amps and guitar strings than politics. There's nothing beyond
the music.''
But Del Naja suggests a different, equally paralysing, malaise among
conscientious bands. There are several examples of musicians making
political points: Bono's campaign for debt relief or Coldplay's
support for fair trade. Even Robbie Williams signed Eno's petition
against America's efforts this year to fire Jose Bustani, head of
the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
Yet when it came to support for Stop the War, Del Naja was turned down
even by U2, the Manics, Primal Scream and Asian Dub Foundation. Paul
Weller - whose latest album features the anti-war song A Bullet for
Everyone - also refused, citing his experience with the pro-Labour
Red Wedge movement.
Disparate bands can hardly be expected to speak with one voice on
every issue, but the fragmentation of rock's left makes it difficult
for anything significant to be achieved. Come together? Not likely.
''I think the problem is vanity,'' says Del Naja. ''Bands like to
attach themselves to pet causes. What me and Damon tried to do was
rise above all that but, as it went on, we gave up thinking about
the bands and thought about the people, which was the only way that
really made sense.''
Hence, the pair's double-page advertisement in NME before the
anti-war demonstration on September 28. Eno, too, is committed yet
doubtful. ''It's about creating a place where people can get informed,
in the hope that the democratic process still works, and it's a hope
that's fading quite fast, I have to say.''
A more revealing sign of the times is the Prodigy's revamp of the
Specials' Ghost Town on 1 Love. Released in 1981, as riots raged on
Britain's streets, Ghost Town was one of the most searingly eloquent
protest songs ever written. The Prodigy's version is instrumental.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stuff: Radiohead named Best Act in World (10-22-2002)
Condensed from Stuff:
Radiohead named Best Act in World
LONDON: Radiohead have won Q Magazine's Best Act in the World Today
award for the second year running.
The five-member band from Oxford warded off stiff competition from
U2, Stereophonics and Coldplay to win the magazine's most prestigious
award for their critically acclaimed album Amnesiac.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ChartAttack: Radiohead win 'Best Act In The World' (10-22-2002)
Condensed from ChartAttack:
The Gallaghers' arch rivals, Radiohead, won the top award, Best Act
In The World Today. Apparently ''The World'' is restricted to the
U.K. and Ireland in the land of Q the other nominees included Oasis,
Coldplay, Stereophonics and U2. This is the second year in a row that
Radiohead have been named World champs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sky News: U2 lose to Radiohead at Q Awards (10-22-2002)
From Sky News:
Sugababes' Sweet Success
The Sugababes, Radiohead and Jimmy Cliff were amongst those in the
music industry honoured at the Q Awards.
Teen pop sensations the Sugababes' track Freak Like Me scooped the
award for best single, Jimmy Cliff was named best original songwrtier
and Radiohead won best act in the world for the second year running.
The group beat off competition from Oasis and U2 to scoop the Q Award,
despite only releasing one live album in the past year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hits: Best Act (10-21-2002)
From Hits:
Best Act
Radiohead won Q Magazine's "Best Act in the World Today" award Monday
for the second year
running. The band warded off stiff competition from U2, Stereophonics
and Coldplay to win the
magazine's most prestigious award for their critically acclaimed album
Amnesiac. (10/21a)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Music Countdown: Best Acts in the World (10-21-2002)
From Net Music Countdown:
Best Acts in the World
Q awards
By Sheila Green
LONDON, UK Monday 10.21.2002 /netmusiccountdown.com/ -- Is Radiohead
the best band in the world?
The UK's Q Magazine sure thinks so. They've named Radiohead the best
band in the world for the second year running. This time around they
beat favorites like Oasis and U2 to the title.
The best album title went to Coldplay for A Rush Of Blood To The Head,
and the best video award went to Pink for Get The Party Started. Other
winners included Moby, Depeche Mode and The Hives.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITV: Radiohead are 'world's best act' (10-21-2002)
Condensed from ITV:
Radiohead are 'world's best act'
Guitar band Radiohead have been named best act in the world for the
second year running at a respected music awards show.
Despite releasing only a live album in the past year, the band beat
heavyweights such as Oasis and U2 to the title at the Q Awards.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U2achtung.com: Universal France Launches Marketing Campaign (10-21-2002)
From U2achtung.com:
Universal France has launched a comprehensive marketing campaign for the
release of "Best of U2: 1990-2000,"
which includes television commercials, print advertisements, interviews
on French radio, and articles in Compact,
Le Parisien, and Le Monde. Scans of Universal France's marketing
material are located at
http://www.u2achtung.com/04/galerie/index3.php3.
Universal France has confirmed that U2's Slane 2001 concert will be
shown on French TV channel Canal+ on
December 7, 2002.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belfast Telegraph: Taking it easel (10-21-2002)
From The Belfast Telegraph:
Taking it easel
Belfast-born artist Terry Bradley and wife Ashleigh are planning a well
deserved break in France soon after two hectic shows in
Dublin and at home.
While the launch of the Great Ceili War was taking place upstairs in Ten
Square's China Club, Terry and co were downstairs in
Bar Red for his Paris du Nuit 2002 show.
Among the guests who attended the exhibition were film director Mickey
O'Neill, author Annie McCartney and fashion
photographer Jim Crone.
Top hair stylist Paul Staford and wife Leisa Meli were there too, and
even Corrs singer Andrea, staying at Ten Square last week,
popped in to check out Terry's paintings.
The Belfast show came hot on the heels of a Dublin event at Samsara in
Dawson Street.
The British Ambassador called in for a while, along with members of
Irish band Hothouse Flowers, U2's The Edge and members
of the Keating family.
Ronan, unfortunately, was unable to make the event himself, but he sent
along several magnums of champagne to help Terry and
Ashleigh celebrate the success of the shows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MTV UK: Win Limited Edition U2 Greatest Hits CDs (10-21-2002)
From MTV UK:
Win Limited Edition U2 Greatest Hits CDs
U2 are the biggest band in the world, which means their greatest hits
are huge...
The second volume of U2?s Best Of collection is out on November 4, and
covers the ten year period between
1990 to 2000. That takes in the albums: Achtung Baby, Zooropa,
Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1, Pop and
All That You Can?t Leave Behind.
In addition to this, the limited edition release features a second CD
which covers all the best B-sides from the same
period, and a special behind-the-scenes DVD.
This special edition will only be on sale for one week and are
guaranteed to sell out faster than... well... faster than...
something that sells out really fast.
But not to worry. We've managed to get hold of a few a we're giving them
away. Simply answer the question below
and you could be the proud owner of the greatest hits of the greatest
band in the world...
Competition closes: 18 November, 2002.
Here's the oh so hard question:
Only one of the below titles is actually a bonafide U2 song. Which one
is it?
Beautiful Night
Beautiful Morning
Beautiful Day
The online entry form is located at
http://www.mtv.co.uk/mtv.co.uk/en/dynamo/features.jhtml?id=30020420.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsweek: Cries From the Heart (10-21-2002)
From Newsweek:
Cries From the Heart
It's Nirvana's moment again with a 'new' hit--and a raw,
revealing book of the late Kurt Cobain's diaries. An exclusive excerpt.
By Lorraine Ali, NEWSWEEK
Oct. 28 issue -- Kurt Cobain introduced me to karaoke. In May 1991,
Nirvana was promoting its upcoming major-label debut ''Nevermind''--an
album that would sell more than 10 million copies, revitalize rock and
roll and teach Michael Jackson, who had an album about to be ejected
from the No. 1 spot, the real meaning of the word dangerous. But the
scrappy Seattle trio were still staying in low-budget motels (a step
up from sleeping in their tour van) and ordering the cheapest items on
coffee-shop menus.
OVER GREASY ZUCCHINI sticks at a Holiday Inn Express outside L.A.,
we talked about what it took to hold onto your punk-rock ideals in a
very unpunk
world. On a small stage in the bar, a busboy was setting up a mike stand,
speakers and wide-screen TV. I wondered out loud if we were going to hear a
bad lounge act. ''No, it's worse,'' Cobain said, blowing the hair out of his
eyes. ''It's karaoke.'' Karaoke? ''Yeah, you know, when drunk secretaries
get up and sing 'Feelings'.'' Cobain, the Nirvana frontman who'd go down
in history as the angsty, nihilistic voice of the postboomer generation,
had cracked a joke.
Anyone who thought Cobain was an easy read probably wasn't a Nirvana
fan. Next month, however, he'll become an open book, as Riverhead Books
publishes ''Journals,'' a collection of handwritten diary entries,
letters, band memos, drawings, screeds and cries from the heart that
editor Julie Grau culled from stacks of the late singer's notebooks.
Riverhead is said to have paid the Cobain estate--i.e., his widow,
Courtney Love, and his 10-year-old daughter, Frances--in the
neighborhood of $4 million for ''Journals.'' The book is already
controversial among some fans, who worry that it's an invasion
of Cobain's privacy, his suicide in April 1994 being tragic,
irrefutable evidence of his desire to be left alone. (Love declined
to be interviewed for this story.) ''Journals'' can be tremendously
raw and unsettling, as Cobain spirals from an ambitious kid in
a garage band to a disillusioned pop star with a deadly heroin
addiction. The book also illuminates Cobain's sweet, whimsical
side. These contradictions may enhance the way we listen to Nirvana,
especially now that the previously unreleased single ''You Know You're
Right'' tops rock-radio playlists and the band's greatest-hits album
waits just around the corner.
Not that Nirvana ever sounded anything less than revolutionary. They didn't
just make Michael Jackson seem as over as the '80s, they made a mockery of
Skid Row, Poison, the declining Guns N' Roses--and all the other rockers
with
more hair than your mall-rat sister. It was an unwitting coup by a band who
often hit the stage in the clothes they'd slept in. Their songs were searing
and vitriolic, but beneath all the reverb and distortion were perfect pop
tunes. Much to Cobain's chagrin, Nirvana would spawn a movement with a name
(''grunge''), paving the way for bands like Pearl Jam and, later, inspiring
corporate labels to take chances on weirdos like Beck. But more important,
Nirvana would prove that the best moments in rock are not created in labs
or test-market meetings. They are sloppy mistakes that grow into sonic
revelations. ''I remember watching Kurt come through and thinking, 'God,
this music is nuclear','' says Bono, of U2. '' 'This is really splitting the
atom.' They raised the temperature for everybody. Manufactured pop never
looked so cold as when that heat was around. Nirvana made everything else
look silly.''
After Cobain shot himself, fans camped out in the park next to his lakeside
Seattle home, some staying for weeks. Inside the gates, there was chaos. An
ever-changing cast of guards patrolled the property, and a cavalcade
of long-lost friends and distant family members moved in and out of the
house at will. It wasn't long before the remnants of Cobain's life began
disappearing. Journals, tapes, equipment. Cobain's grieving friend Eric
Erlandson, who played guitar in Love's band, Hole, saw what was going on and
moved to safeguard valuables, including Cobain's notebooks. ''From day one
I treated the whole situation the way I would have for any friend--keeping
their stuff safe,'' he says. ''But from a historical perspective, I treated
it like I would have treated John Lennon's legacy. I guess I knew even then
it was important.''
Fans have been awaiting the release of ''Journals'' for months, some posting
breathlessly on Web sites, others calling the ever-controversial Love
things like ''a blood-sucking leech.'' Nirvana's drummer, Dave Grohl, and
its bassist and cofounder, Krist Novoselic, recently settled a lawsuit with
Love over control of the band's legacy. Still, the waters are not entirely
calm. Novoselic preferred not to speak for this story, his band manager
Cory Moore saying, ''He just feels it's wrong to talk about something
this private. He doesn't want to be involved with these diaries on any
level.'' Even Erlandson is ambivalent about seeing the journals that he
saved become public property. ''I just pray that the benefits received by
the world outweigh the negativity caused,'' he says. ''But if my journals
were made public, I would make sure I was reborn as a thorn in the side of
the perpetrator. That's the least I could do.''
There's no way that Cobain intended all these entries to end up on
somebody's coffee table. (The 800 number for Nordic Trac? The recipe for
''Mom's Seashell Shrimp Salad''?) But then Cobain never thought he was
worth as much as we did. ''A lot of the older generation don't look at
him as anything special,'' says Erlandson. ''They don't get it. But
future generations are already looking up to him.'' Cobain probably
would have hated that idea. ''Hope I die before I turn into Pete
Townshend,'' he wrote in his journal. The tragedy is, he got his wish.
Š 2002 Newsweek, Inc.
To hear Bono on
Cobain's evolution past grunge http:/
/www.msnbc.com/news/asx/audio/28/nwk_bono_first_seeing.asx
Cobain's genius as a pop artist ih
ttp://www.msnbc.com/news/asx/audio/28/nwk_bono_kurt_as_pop_star.asx
Struggling with celebrity http:/
/www.msnbc.com/news/asx/audio/28/nwk_bono_on_celebrity.asx
What Cobain may have accomplished htt
p://www.msnbc.com/news/asx/audio/28/nwk_bono_what_could_have.asx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rock & Pop FM: 'Electrical Storm' Number One in Rock & Pop Ranking
(10-21-2002)
U2's new song "Electrical Storm" is Number One on Rock & Pop Ranking, a
chart created by
by the listeners of Argentina's major radio station who vote for their
favorite songs.
Top 10 Songs
1- U2, ELECTRICAL STORM
2- ROLLING STONES, DONT STOP
3- OASIS, LITTLE BY LITTLE
4- DIVIDIDOS, CAJITA MUSICAL
5- PETER GABRIEL, THE BARRY WILLIAMS SHOW
6- LUIS ALBERTO SPINETTA, ANA NO DUERME
7- CHARLY GARCIA, INFLUENCIA
8- DIE TOTEN HOSEN, AUSWARTS SPIEL
9- CATUPECU MACHU, ORIGEN EXTREMO
10- RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, THE ZEPHYR SONG
More details available at:
http://www.fmrockandpop.com/ranking/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ananova: U2 feature on new Irish stamps (10-21-2002)
From Ananova:
U2 feature on new Irish stamps
U2, Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher and Van Morrison are to feature on Irish
stamps.
The new collection will be called Irish Rock Legends.
They include a set of four stamps as well as Miniature Sheets for each
act. Fans can also buy special
Presentation Packs.
They are available to buy over the internet at Irishstamps.ie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Es Mas: New U2 next summer (10-21-2002)
The site Es Mas reveals that U2 is working on new material for an album
to be released next summer. The article
is based on The Edge's comments to Hot Press, and give details of three
new titles: Sometimes You Can't Make
It On Your Own, Original Of The Species and All Because Of You.
Full article (in Spanish) at:
http://www.esmas.com/espectaculos/musica/rock/259621.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Datafull: U2's new album (10-21-2002)
The Argentinean site Datafull has published an article based on The
Edge's comments to Hot Press, mentioning the titles of
3 new songs: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Original Of The
Species and All Because Of You.
Full story (in Spanish) available at:
http://www.datafull.com/mp4/noticias.php#nota136
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estado de Sao Paulo: U2 back to the basics (10-21-2002)
The Brazilian newspaper Estado de Sao Paulo has published an artic le
about the new material U2 are working on.
The article states that, according to The Edge, the new songs sound like
U2's early records.
Full story (in Portuguese) available at:
http://www.estadao.com.br/divirtase/noticias/2002/out/15/99.htm
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U2 Satellite Television: Mp3 of 'The Hands That Built America' (10-21-2002)
U2 Satellite Television is hosting an mp3 of "The Hands That Built
America" at:
http://home.cogeco.ca/~u2_satellite_television/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U2tour.de: German U2 tribute band to perform this Friday (10-21-2002)
From U2tour.de:
U2 tribute band Achtung Vorsprung will be performing in Aschaffenburg,
Germany this Friday (Oct 25) at
the Colossaal (http://www.colossaal.de).
The band told U2tour.de that they plan to show U2's Slane Castle special
after their show, in collaboration with
Mercury Records Germany. The show is nearly sold out, so hurry to get
your tickets.
You may find more information on the band's web site at
http://www.u2germany.com.
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U2tour.de: German TV station ZDF to broadcast U2 concert (10-21-2002)
From U2tour.de:
German TV station ZDF will begin airing a series "ZDF in concert" on
November 9th. The series
will include a concert from the last U2 tour, which will be broadcast in
December. The U2 concert
could be either the Boston or Slane Castle performance. Details about
the series will be announced
soon.
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U2exit.com: U2 MEGA re-Mix (10-21-2002)
If you are a fan of remixes, you may like the "U2 MEGA re-MIX" by Ronald
Kuipers. The remix is 33 minutes long and includes 30 U2 tracks. It is
available in RealAudio at http://U2exit.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reuters: Radiohead named 'Best Act in World' (10-21-2002)
From Reuters:
Radiohead named "Best Act in World"
LONDON (Reuters) - Radiohead have won Q Magazine's "Best Act in the
World Today" award for the second year running.
The five-member band from Oxford warded off stiff competition from U2,
Stereophonics and Coldplay to win the magazine's
most prestigious award for their critically acclaimed album "Amnesiac".
Coldplay, one of the few current British bands achieving success in the
U.S. charts, picked up the Best Album award for the
second year running for "A Rush of Blood to the Head" on Monday.
Sugababes took Best Single Award for "Freak Like Me", Best Video award
went to Pink for "Get the Party Started" and the
Best Live Act went to the Hives.
There was no joy for Oasis who walked away empty-handed after being
nominated for Best Single, Best Live Act and Best
Act in the World Today. They won Best Act in 1996 and 1997.
The Q Awards, now in their 13th year, celebrate what readers believe is
the best music of the year and tries to avoid the
influence of the traditional mainstream music industry.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ananova: Radiohead win 'best act in world' for second year running
(10-21-2002)
From Ananova:
Radiohead win 'best act in world' for second year running
Radiohead have been named best act in the world for the second year
running at the Q Awards.
Despite releasing only a live album in the past year, the band beat
heavyweights such as Oasis and U2 to the title.
Oasis were left empty-handed even though they had headed the nomination
tally by making the shortlist for three titles.
They lost out in the best single category to Sugababes for Freak Like
Me, while the best live act title - for which Oasis were also
nominated - went to The Hives.
Radiohead enjoyed huge success - particularly in the US - with their
last two studio albums.
The best album title went to Coldplay for A Rush Of Blood To The Head,
beating Doves, Beth Orton, Red Hot Chili Peppers
and The Vines. They have now won the title for both their albums with
debut Parachutes taking the prize in 2000.
Among the winners of honorary titles were Tom Jones who landed the Q
Merit Award for his career stretching nearly four decades.
Depeche Mode were given the Q Innovation Award while Echo And The
Bunnymen got the Q Inspiration Award.
Simon Cowell collected the Q Unwanted Award, having received the most
votes for the person music fans want to see banned
from the awards.
The full list of winners for the Q Awards 2002 is: Best new act -
Electric Soft Parade; Q merit award - Tom Jones; Best single -
Sugababes, Freak Like Me; Best video - Pink, Get The Party Started; Best
producer - Moby (for his own album, 18); Q innovation
award - Depeche Mode; Best live act - The Hives; Best album - Coldplay,
A Rush of Blood to the Head; Q inspiration award -
Echo And The Bunnymen; Q classic songwriter award - Jimmy Cliff; Best
act in the world today - Radiohead.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTE: Radiohead are Q's Best Act again (10-21-2002)
From RTE:
21/10/2002
Radiohead are Q's Best Act again
Radiohead have beaten U2, Stereophinics, Oasis and Coldplay to won Q
Magazine's Best Act in the World Today for the
second year running.
The Oxford quintet won the prize for their critically acclaimed album,
'Amnesiac'.
Coldplay took Best Album, also for a second year running, for 'A Rush of
Blood to the Head', beating Doves, Beth Orton,
Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Vines.
Best Single went to girlband Sugababes for 'Freak Like Me', while US
singer Pink took Best Video for 'Get the Party Started'.
Best Live Act went to Swedish punk-pop act The Hives, while Best New Act
went to Electric Soft Parade.
Welsh chart veteran Tom Jones took the Q Merit Award, while Depeche Mode
won the Q Innovation Award. The Q Inspiration
Award went to Echo and the Bunnymen.
Moby won Best Producer for his own album, '18', while the Q Classic
Songwriter Award went to Jimmy Cliff.
Oasis, who had topped the nominations, did not triumph in any of the
three relevant categories.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTE: U2 album tracks available online (10-21-2002)
From RTE:
21/10/2002
U2 album tracks available online
U2 are streaming tracks from their new compilation, 'The Best Of
1990-2000' on their website every day this week.
Each day one or two new tracks will be made available on U2.com, as the
4 November album release date approaches.
The rare b-sides and remixed tracks, which feature on the strictly
limited edition release 'The Best Of The B-sides', will
also be streamed online.
U2's new single 'Electrical Storm' goes on sale today.
Two versions of the new single, including a remix by William Orbit, are
also available on the official U2 website.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ShowBiz Ireland: Listen to U2's 'best of' online (10-21-2002)
From ShowBiz Ireland:
Listen to U2's "best of" online
U2's official site www.u2.com are offering fans the chance to listen to
their new 'best of' compilation album online for free.
The award winning Web Site is allowing visitors to stream a new track
everyday approaching the release of U2's new
Best of 1990 - 2000.
They are also offering a selection of tracks from U2's limited edition
The Best Of The B-sides featuring some rare remixes.
U2's album will be released on the 4th of November and their new single
(Electric Storm) taken from the album goes on
sale today.
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The Express: Review of 'Great Britons-The Top 100' (10-21-2002)
From The Express:
TVEXPRESS
ROBERT GORE-LANGTON REVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND'S TV
WHAT A farce is this GREAT BRITONS - THE TOP 100 (Sunday, BBC1). The
idea is that the top 10 candidates will be given a programme
each over the next six weeks and we'll all be able to vote for the
ultimate winner. Apparently, Maggie Thatcher hasn't made the top 10, which
has caused one of the programme's presenters, Anne Robinson, to have
kittens off-screen. The list is quite unbelievable. Take the bottom 25
candidates. John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) is above Field Marshal
Montgomery. Can you believe that? You thrash Rommel, become a
wartime icon, only to be ranked below some oik with a talent for
gobbing! At 86 is the musician Bono. Why? What's he ever done? He's not
even British. Then there's singer Robbie Williams at 77, whose
contribution to British culture is rated above that of Geoffrey Chaucer!
Once I
calmed down, I clocked the problem. The voters - and this is the fault
of our celebrity-crazed culture - have confused talent, wealth and fame with
greatness. Richard Branson isn't great - he's rich. Cliff Richard isn't
great - he's nice. I was, though, pleased to see Tony Benn on the list
(though
he himself wasn't, which is typical).
Touchingly, one of the candidates was nameless. The Unknown Soldier was
voted 76th but, I suspect, many older viewers would like to see
him win first place. As for the number one slot, my guess is that
Churchill and Shakespeare will slug it out for champ. Mind you, I
wouldn't rule
out Basil Brush the way things are going.
The really amazing thing is just how many dead great Britons there are
to choose from. Can you imagine a programme on 100 Great Belgians?
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Billboard: U2 on Adult Top 40 Chart (10-21-2002)
U2's ''Electrical Storm'' is at #19 on the Billboard Adult
Top 40.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music OMH: 'Electrical Storm' review (10-21-2002)
From Music OMH:
U2 - 'Electrical Storm' (Universal Island) release date: October 21 2002
So this is the single thats going to launch the upcoming 'Best Of U2
1990-2000'. At least its not a recycled version of an old B-side. However,
there is no sonic surprise, no transformation of U2 from rock band to some
other genre. We're not ready to see them going away from rock again after
their safe return two years ago from their Pop adventure.
The Edges haunting Memphis chords are here mingling with a sort of
spellbinding sound. It draws you to beyond the U2 looking-glass, the other
side where lurk the ghosts of The Passengers Your Blue Room and the eeriness
of When I Look at the World.
It's produced by William Orbit, one of those in producers, yet Electrical
Storm doesnt steer too far away from Brian Eno, whose ambient influence is
audibly present. And it is good after about two or three listens.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Mirror: Review of 'Electrical Storm' (10-20-2002)
From The Sunday Mirror:
HYLAND'S VERDICT: SINGLES
By Ian Hyland
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Like I Love You (Jive) - The tune Jacko turned down.
Muppet. 9/10
TOM JONES: International (V2) - Boyo is backo with a crackero. 8/10
ROMEO: It's All Gravy (Relentless) - Christina Milian boards the groovy
train. 8/10
BLUE: One World (Virgin) - Heartfelt tribute to Mother's Pride bread
products. 7/10
U2: Electrical Storm (Island) - Lazy prelude to new greatest hits album.
6/10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Mirror: Reader's Letter (10-20-2002)
From The Sunday Mirror:
YOUR SAY: READER'S LETTER
It was hilarious to read of how the artist Guggi and his U2 mates use to
eat left over chips from McDonalds.
It is good to know that even the rich and famous struggled as well.
S Kenny
Galway
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Life: JJ72 comment on being compared to U2 (10-20-2002)
Condensed from Sunday Life:
JJ72 - Music's next big thing Irish group gain further acclaim with new
album
By Andrea McVeigh
Watch out Bono. Young Irish rock trio JJ72 are being hailed as the next U2,
and Bono and the boys have good reason to be concerned.
The band, who hail from Dublin, are all aged just 22, but they're just
released their second album, I To Sky, to critical acclaim, and have three
Top 30 hits under their belts.
''People are always asking us if we're the next U2,'' says the band's
gorgeous
bass player, and only female member, Hillary Woods.
''Maybe it's because we've supported U2, and when we're asked what Irish
bands we look up to, obviously, it's them.
''We have huge admiration for the band, but I don't think there's any such
thing as the next U2.
''I don't think we sound like them at all, but then, I don't know what we
do sound like,'' she laughs.
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U2sevilla.tk: 'The Hands That Built America' MP3 (10-20-2002)
U2sevilla.tk is hosting an mp3 of U2's "The Hands That Built America."
The mp3 can be found at http://noticias.host.sk/noticias.html.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YouTwo.net: Review of 'The Best of 1990-2000' (10-20-2002)
YouTwo.net staff have heard a promotional copy of U2's 'The Best of
1990-2000'.
Many of the tracks are the same as they appeared on the original albums,
but a few have been newly remixed for the new Best Of.
Mysterious Ways 2002:
Features the new line ''She's the wave, she'll turn the tide, and no
question,
she knows why'' instead of ''She's the wave, the turns the tide, she sees
the man inside the child''.
Miss Sarajevo 2002:
About 90 seconds has been dropped from the song by cutting out several
instrumental parts. The end of the song also appears to be different,
however, this may just be due to a faster fade out at the end of the song.
Gone 2002:
This is the first song that is completely revamped for the Best Of release.
An emphasis is now placed on instruments instead of the background mix.
A second guitar is also heavily prevalent throughout the song.
Discotheque 2002:
It looks like they really weren't happy with the original Discotheque
release. The song has been changed with the slick guitar bridge now coming
to the forefront of the song. The end of the song no longer includes the
''Ooo-ooo-boom-cha'' portion. The song has a new feel, however, those in
the room listening to the CD were unhappy with new version for a variety
of reasons.
Staring At The Sun 2002:
It sounds like the background vocals have been brought up throughout the
song, however, this might only be due to the remastering of the song.
New drumming was added to the song -- which completely ruins the song.
The original ''SATS'' was MUCH better.
Numb 2002:
This premiere song off of Zooropa sees a lower ''I feel numb'' added to
the chorus. Unfortunately, it drowns out Bono's vocals during the chorus.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Releases:
October 22 2002 NA/October 21 2002 EUR New U2 single "Electric
Storm" commercial release, three versions: CD1 - Electrical Storm (William
Orbit Mix) plus two remixes of New York, Nice Mix and Nasty Mix both by
KLF's
Jimmy Cauty. CD2 - Electrical Storm and a live medley of Bad, 40 and Where
The Streets Have No Name recorded in Boston on the Elevation tour. DVD -
Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix) and video, exclusive sound bites from
the band and a collection of photographs by Anton Corbijn.
November 4 2002 NA/November 3 2002 EUR U2's 'Best of 1990-2001' UK
2CD&DVD set
release (Limited Edition)
Tracklisting:
Disc: 1
1. Even Better Than The Real Thing 2. Mysterious Ways 3. Beautiful Day
4. Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix - NEW TRACK) 5. One 6. Miss Sarajevo
(Single Radio Edit) 7. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) 8. Stuck In A Moment You
Can't Get Out Of 9. Gone (Mike Hedges Mix) 10. Until The End Of The World
11. The Hands That Built America (Theme From Gangs Of New York) (NEW TRACK)
12. Discotheque (Mike Hedges Mix - NEW MIX) 13. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss
Me,
Kill Me 14. Staring At The Sun (Mike Hedges Mix - NEW MIX) 15. Numb (Mike
Hedges Mix - NEW MIX) 16. The First Time 17. The Fly (UK BONUS TRACK)
Disc: 2
1. Lady With The Spinning Head ((Extended Dance Mix)) 2. Dirty Day
((Junk Day Mix)) 3. Electrical Storm 4. Summer Rain 5. North and South
Of The River 6. Your Blue Room 7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun ((The Gun Mix))
8. Salome ((Zooromancer Mix)) 9. Even Better Than The Real Thing ((Perfecto
Mix)) 10. Numb ((Give Me Some More Dignity Mix)) 11. Mysterious Ways
((Solar
Blexus Club Mix)) 12. If God Will Send His Angels ((Big Yam Mix)) 13. Lemon
((Jeep Mix)) 14. Discotheque ((Hexidecimal Mix)) 15. Side : C History Mix
((Video)) 16. Best Of DVD Promo 17. Video - 'Please' (Mural Cut) (Bonus
Video)
18. Video - 'Beautiful Day' (Eze Version) (Bonus Video)
Disc: 3 DVD
1. History Mix (Video) 2. Best Of DVD Promo 3. Video - 'Please' (Mural Cut)
(Bonus Video) 4. Video - 'Beautiful Day' (Eze Version) (Bonus Video)
November 5 2002 NA U2's 'The Best of 1990-2000' 2CD set release
Tracklisting:
Disc: 1
1. Even Better Than The Real Thing 2. Mysterious Ways 3. Beautiful
Day 4. Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix) 5. One 6. Miss Sarajevo 7. Stay
(Faraway, So Close!) 8. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of 9. Gone
(New Mix) 10. Until The End Of The World 11. The Hands That Built America
(Theme From Gangs Of New York) 12. Discotheque (New Mix) 13. Hold Me,
Thrill
Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 14. Staring At The Sun (New Mix) 15. Numb (New Mix)
16. The First Time
Disc: 2
1. Lady With The Spinning Head (Extended Dance Mix) 2. Dirty Day
(Junk Day Mix) 3. Summer Rain 4. Electrical Storm 5. North And South Of The
River 6. Your Blue Room 7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (The Gun Mix) 8. Salome
(Zooromancer) 9. Even Better Than The Real Thing (Perfecto Mix) 10. Numb
(Give Me Some More Dignity Mix) 11. Mysterious Ways (Solar Plexus Club
Mix) 12. If God Will Send His Angels (Big Yam Mix) 13. Lemon (Jeep Mix)
14. Discotheque (Hexidecimal Mix)
November 12 2002 NA U2's 'The Best of 1990-2000' 1CD set release
Tracklisting:
1. Even Better Than The Real Thing 2. Mysterious Ways 3. Beautiful Day
4. Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix) 5. One 6. Miss Sarajevo 7. Stay
(Faraway, So Close!) 8. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of 9. Gone
(New Mix) 10. Until The End Of The World 11. The Hands That Built America
(Theme From Gangs Of New York) 12. Discotheque (New Mix) 13. Hold Me,
Thrill
Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 14. Staring At The Sun (New Mix) 15. Numb (New Mix)
16. The First Time
December 3 2002 NA/ December 2 2002 EUR "Best Of 1990 - 2000" DVD release
features promo videos of tracks from the A-sides cd, complete with
commentary
by the directors, who include Wim Wenders, Kevin Godley, Stephane Sednaoui,
Anton Corbijn and Jonas Akerlund. Six bonus tracks are included on the
DVD -
Please, If God Will Send His Angels, Wild Horses, Lemon, Last Night On
Earth
and MoFo. In addition, many of the tracks feature alternative versions
of the
clips made for different countries, as early cuts or to accompany different
mixes. Further exclusive content includes a mini documentary, The Road To
Sarajevo, filmed in the Bosnian capital in the run up to U2's historic 1997
concert and complete with performance footage.
December 24 2002 "We're a Happy Family", Ramones Tribute Album
--------------
TV/Live Events/Appearances:
February 21, 2003: Bono to accept 2003 MusiCares Person of The Year
Award at N. Y. Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City
February 23, 2003: Bono to accept special Grammy Award at 2003
Grammy Awards in New York City
---------------
Vote:
Spin: Vote for U2 http://spin.com/spin_poll_2002.html
MTV Europe Awards: http://ema.mtv.co.uk/ema2002/
In Print:
Modern Drummer, features Larry Mullen Jr. in ''Ask a Pro'' column
Q magazine, December issue, U2 on cover
--------------
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