Tranquility Computers

I’m still weeping like a baby when I play this album! I can’t stop playing it and I can’t stop crying. I thought I might get “cried out” or something after yesterday but I was wrong. I’m pretty sure it’s their mystical melodies and production but their lyrics are also hard-hitting. This will be an instant classic/masterpiece. I’m not just going to buy their CD, I’m buying the collectors edition that has the DVD. Amazon has it here for $32 with free shipping. That’s worth it to me.

I’m also tempted to get “The Complete U2,” a digital box set from Apple but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to convert the media into pure MP3’s with too much difficulty. Here’s what Apple’s offering with the purchase:

“The Complete U2,” a digital box set containing 446 songs, including their iTunes-exclusive latest album, “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb;” all the group’s previous albums, more than 100 rare live cuts, remixes, covers, demos, and b-sides; and 40 previously unreleased tracks. The boxset also packs a digital booklet (PDF) containing album art, track listings, and band commentary.

I’ve been told that the package is $140 and I’m strongly considering it. Eventhough I already have pretty much every U2 CD there is, I just want the unreleased stuff! Ok, not on to the album review:

1 – Vertigo: An instant hit. Actually my first impression of this song was that it was just their obligatory “pop” tune so that they’d get some airtime but the more I play it, the more I like it -especially on my headphones turned up loud!

2 – Miracle Drug: Boy did this next song surprise me when it came up. I wasn’t expecting to get mellow right away on the ablum but it turns out most of the album is this way. You can start hearing a lot of their original sound start to come back and the chorus starts showing off their use of the hammer dulcimer (more of that on another track too). The base is poping on the chorus too. I think the message is summed up in these lyrics: “I’ve had enough of romantic love, I’d give it up for a miracle drug”

3 – Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own: Oh man can I cry when I play this song. It reminds me a lot of their song “One” or “So Cruel” or “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)”. I often wonder if anyone else is as affected by these incredibly sad and passionate songs as me. I now feel a bit hypocritical about making so much fun of “chick flicks”. I would always state that women just like to cry -that’s the appleal. But now I realize that I’m the same way -only towards music.

4 – Love And Peace Or Else: A rockin’ jam of a song that’s pretty upbeat.

5 – City Of Blinding Lights: OMG! I can’t get this song out of my head!!! The use of hammer dulcimers is just amazing. I would have never thought of them used this way but their the perfect sound. The chorus is so energetic that my heart races everytime I hear it. I can’t wait to hear what the DJ’s will do with this song in a remix! Also gotta love that walking bass.

6 – All Because of You: Ehh. An ok song. Still good -just not on par with most of the other tunes in this album. Upbeat and rockin to be sure though!

7 – A Man And A Woman: Great acoustic work here! I also have noticed a lot more acoustic guitar strumming throughout this album but it’s especially well heard here. This is a dreamy floating semi-mellow song that will just drift you off into the air!

8 – Crumbs From Your Table: Classic styling melody and lyrics for U2. Would not have been out of place on just about any previous album -but it reminds me a lot of Actung Baby’s style the most.

9 – One Step Closer: Hopefully this one will grow on me. In the mean time, I’m borred by it -but I think it’s because most of the other tunes are so upbeat. The production of this tune resembles a lot of Joshua Tree -and especially the work of Brian Eno (who produced Joshua Tree) and his own album Apollo back in the early 70’s

10 – Original of the Species: Another tune that just won’t leave my head. Similar feeling to “All I Want Is You” in that it starts quietly and builds up to a very produced sound. I will definitely be learning this song on the piano soon. Strong highs and incredibly soft quiet parts (the even start sneaking in more acoustic guitar again -in places I wouldn’t have expected). Shear musical perfection.

11 – Yahweh: Another tune that would have fit on the Joshua Tree album perfectly. Great message and timeless melody.

I’ve heard that there’s a 12th track called “Fast Cars” that I don’t have at the moment. I’ll be searching for that one this weekend. Hope someone enjoys this review!

I recently got an advanced copy of U2’s new release “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb”. I must be busy ’cause I sat on the disk for a couple of days before getting around to listening to it. U2 has got to be one of my most favorite bands and for me to not cling to the CD with both hands and run to the player immediately is beyond me. From what I’ve heard, U2 decided to produce this album on their own -and get back to the roots of their original sound. I have to admit after playing the album many times now, they sure hit the target there! This album is just incredible!!! “Vertigo” seems to be their flagship tune but I see it more as their one “mainstream” tune so they’ll at least appeal to the Top-40 crowd while the rest of the album is pure musical gold.

I finally got hold of a new copy of one of my favorite albums of all time: Thomas Dolby – The Flat Earth (1984). I hadn’t actually listened to most of this album on sooo long -and I used to play the tape nearly every day through middle school. The lyrics didn’t mean as much to me as they do now but the songs still move me emotionally just as they did 20 years ago! Here’s a sample:

I Scare Myself
======================
I scare myself just thinking about you
I scare myself when I’m without you
I scare myself the moment that you’re going
I scare myself when I let my thoughts run
and when they’re running
I keep thinking of you
and when they’re running
what can I do?

I scare myself, and I don’t mean lightly
I scare myself, it can get frightening
I scare myself, to think what I could do
I scare myself — it’s some kind of voodoo…
and with that voodoo
I keep thinking of you
and with that voodoo
what can I do?

but it’s so so very different when we’re together
and I’m so so much calmer; I feel better
’cause the stars already crossed our paths forever
and the sooner that you realise it the better
and then I’ll be with you and I won’t scare myself
and I’ll know what to do and I won’t scare myself
and my thoughts will run and I won’t scare myself
and I’ll think of you and I won’t scare myself

Mulu The Rain Forest
======================
If I’m not sleeping
it’s because I’m frightened
of what I might find
behind the curtain
there is a signal
there is a warning
I will not heed them
until I hear the morning dew
that trickles down my window
Mulu — the people of the rain forest
believe in dreamtime
real time inverted
along a faultline
below the surface
there is a sequence
there is a reason
for all the nightmares
all this mayhem
Mulu — the changes came before he knew —
the keeper of the rain forest…

Talk to me Mulu
Speak to me Mulu
Walk with me Mulu
Reach for me Mulu

Mulu — the waters came before he know
the prisoner of the rain forest