The repeat of SNL with U2 was on today. Made me realize that I don't own any particular CD with "I Will Follow." I might have to pick that up on iTunes.
I'll be the first to admit that not every song and album by U2 has been gee-whiz, but their body of work is so extensive at this point, and covers so much time, that they really are one of the greatest rock bands in history.
I still get chills when I hear the Rattle And Hum version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" with the gospel choir. "Desire" still kicks ass. "Sunday Bloody Sunday," "I Will Follow," "Where The Streets Have No Name," "Pride" are also earlier favorites.
Then the "modern" era of U2, starting with Achtung Baby, has produced a lot of great songs. "The Fly" and "Mysterious Ways" remind me of my start in radio, "Zooropa" and "Numb" got me out of a funk in college, "Discotheque" was my first long-term job, "Beautiful Day" was the bliss of 2000, and now "Vertigo" and "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" are part of the iPod era.
I think the thing that draws me to the band more than anything is the guitar work by The Edge. He very much defines the U2 sound with a style that sounds like several guitars. I imagine that if I knew how to play guitar, I think I'd want to sound like him.
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