Little sister...How about some crumbs from my table?

Yeah so I decided to post some thoughts about the U2 ablum. Big surprise, eh? But wait...I've decided not to do one of those popular song-by-song run-throughs that gives some arbitrary numerical rating to each song. Instead I aim to share my thoughts.

When I listen to HTDAAB, the thing that strikes me the most is that it's good. I know that's not quite profound but it's how I feel. I think it's widely held that ATYCLB had its weak spots (and I won't name any names). Perhaps the weakest spot of HTDAAB is "One Step Closer" and even that one has grown on me. There are certain songs that stick out in my mind and the album is certainly full of catchy hooks and memorable choruses. That these tracks get stuck on my head doesn't mean they're "better" than other ones...well, it could, but it could also mean that they're just catchier. These include "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own," "Mircale Drug," "Love and Peace or Else," "A Man and a Woman," "City of Blinding Lights," and "Original of the Species." Funny enough, perhaps the least "innovative" song on the ablum (in that it resembles the "sound" of ATYCLB more than any other) is also one of my favorites: "Crumbs From Your Table." I know, I know, "how can you like that one best," you ask. Well I'm not saying I like it best, I'm just saying that's the one I often go back to for a good listen. It's strange in that it sounds familiar (see ATYCLB) but yet is lyrically an altogether differant ballgame. And, now that the band (or someone related to the band) has released the whole album to radio stations - who needs singles anyway - it seems that CFYT is getting quite a bit of airplay. Well, on the stations I listen to at least. While the "biggies" around here are just now catching on to Verigo, the smaller more independent stations (WXRT 93.1 "Chicago's Finest Rock" and WRZA 99.9 "Nine FM - We Play Anything") are spinning SYCMIOYO, CFYT, and LAPOE. And, funny enough, the more I hear CFYT on the radio, the more "radio-friendly" it seems. Weird, huh? You'd think the stations would jump on the "All Because of You" bandwagon after a first single like "Vertigo."

So, those are my mainly incoherent thoughts. Yes, I like the album. No, not like. Love. And it's very consistent, even the Zooropa/Passengers-sounding "One Step Closer" included. Lyrically Bono is at the top of his game and Edge is doing his thing very well. I know I didn't mention every song and I apologize to those I missed (sorry "Yahweh") but as I've said numerous times (ok, maybe only once in this journal) that I'm not ready for a full review. I'm still forming my mostly positive opinions.

In other news...

I probably shouldn't be posting this but I feel the need to vent even though my mom doesn't want the word getting out just yet. Today my dad was on a business trip to Shenandoah,, Iowa. While at the grocery store picking up some supplies for dinner, he apparently had a seizure and collapsed in the dairy department. Luckily an EMT was shopping in the vicinity and got things moving quickly. He woke up some time later in the hospital. My mom called me to tell me around 8:45PM. My sister got home 20 minutes later and I was still on the phone so she was able to hear it from my mom as well. We also talked to my dad. He's fine and in the hospital in Shenandoah for "obeservation." What we know: it wasn't his brain or heart. No stroke, no heart attack, no brain tumor. And, for a smoker, the doctors told him he as good "air sac capacity." All signs right now are pointing to a blood-sugar imbalance but he'll need more tests to rule out other causes. My mom is driving to Shenandoah today to pick him up. At least it seems like he'll be ok. I just wish I was closer so I could be with my family at a time like this. It's tough.

I'll post more about this when I know more...