1001 Albums Summary

The American experience The streets have no name - creates a feeling of openness , opportunity, youth, travel, and uncertainty. Feels like it’s always building to something grander… I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For - maybe connected to the idea of finding something grander, but then you don’t. There’s always something else, but maybe there isn’t. Longing for living in the moment as before…or maybe it’s worn thin With or Without You - favorite song of this album. Finally found what he was looking for but it’s a conflicted feeling. Truly loves the person but has taken away their freedom. Bullet in the Blue Sky - honestly the 1st 3 songs are iconic and have a distinct sound that is uniquely u2. This is a more American style pulling from blues. Lots of natural elements again. Really letting edge have a moment. Running to Stand Still - loved that transition. I don’t hate hit. It’s a nice break and bridge to the rest of the album but so far my least favorite song. Sounds like u2 attempting to be Bruce but Bruce is much better at it. Red Hill mining town - love the bono vocals. Get Irish/alppalchia connections of Industrial Revolution and workers rights.

Sometimes it’s hard to listen to an album decades after, forgetting how edgy and groundbreaking it was at the time. It’s amazing how Gaye took his trauma and used this album to focus on the thing that brought him fear but reframe it in a way where sex between people who Love one another is beautiful and should be celebrated. Sonically, there are so many things here that not only influence slow jams, R &B, and hip hop. This a funky soulful album that I listened to with new ears and beyond the cliches. Maybe bc of Kanye’s sampling of it, but Distant Lover is by far my favorite track on this album but I absolutely love the usage of Keep Getting in On midway through this album.

An album of lost dogs that just casually drops “Kashmir”.

This album takes me straight back to high school. I don’t think I could listen to a new Coldplay album start to finish and “Parachutes” is Far from the best album in the world but I still enjoy a listen.