Simple Minds vs U2
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: General Music Discussions
Forum Description: Discuss and create polls about all types of music
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=71409
Printed Date: August 09 2025 at 08:57
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Topic: Simple Minds vs U2
Posted By: someone_else
Subject: Simple Minds vs U2
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 15:39
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Which of these great 80's non-prog bands do you like most? If you can put it into words, be welcome to tell me why. I am rather curious what the results of this poll will be. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 15:42
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Simple Minds by miles and miles and miles; always better than the overrated U2
BTW why is this under "topics not related to music"; it needs to be moved at "general music discussion".
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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 15:45
YouŽre obviously right and I have looked for it, but there is no "New Poll"-button in this section. -------------
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Cristi wrote:Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 15:59
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I have the entire U2 discography; I've never looked in to Simple Mind other than a couple of random songs. So I guess the answer for me is U2 easily. ------------- 
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Posted By: yanch
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 16:45
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U2, but only up to Joshua Tree. After that they got too poppy and boring. Personally, I think there first 3 albums: Boy, October, and War are better than everything else-heavier, edgier, more powerful. Saw the War tour twice and the energy and power put out during those shows was as good as it gets.
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: September 17 2010 at 16:58
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Simple Minds released very good stuff in the late 70's - early 80's, 'Reel to Real' (their most proggy album), 'New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)' and 'sparkle in the rain' are 5-star albums. The follozing albums are rather forgettable.
U2 recorded some very good albums : 'war', 'The Unforgettable Fire', 'The Joshuah Tree', 'Achtung Baby', and 'How to dismantle an atomic bomb'. U2 members shine also on other artists' albums : Daniel Lanois, Clannad, Robbie Robertson...
It's difficult to vote actually. ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: Formentera Lady
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 05:56
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Simple Minds made sound layers slightly reminiscent of the bombastic sound of the 70ies art rock/prog rock bands that I like. I like 'New Gold Dream'. U2 made catchy rock tunes with good and sometimes socio-critical lyrics. I like a few of their albums, probably the same albums that lucas above mentioned already. Especially I like 'WarŽ. I think I vote 'I like both equally'. |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 06:19
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I voted for both, totally different bands and sound. U2 for me peaked at War & Unforgettable Fire. But All That You Can't Leave Behind is a great return to form. Since then their sound is OK. For some reason people like to sl*g them off and find Bono pretentious. I major disagree.
Simple Minds were also one of those great epic " Big Music" bands especially from Sparkle In The Rain thru to Street Fighting Years ( Their peak IMO), Real Life is also excellent, since then however releases have been very pleasant but at times a bit diluted and their epic tag long gone. I still buy every new release they make even if Jim Kerr's great voice left him around 1995.
Now what about World Party and The Waterboys???? ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: LinusW
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 07:09
Never really been able to get into U2. Simple Minds on the other hand is rapidly climbing my charts and they have been since some time before the summer. Great band! I agree about Street Fighting Years being their peak. Truly epic and evocative atmosphere on that album, with splendid layering and a big, swirling production. One shouldn't neglect their early output, especially Reel to Real Cacaphony (a strange and feisty little postpunk'y adventure, quite a lot of electronic yum-yum).
Relatively new discovery. So far a bit hit and miss seen to the whole, but some truly spectacular songs. |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 10:39
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I like both, but with a slight preference for the Simple Minds. My favourites among their albums are Sons and Fascination and Street Fighting Years. Sons and Fascination is IMHO a 4.5 star album. -------------
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Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 14:30
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I don't care for Simple Minds at all, but I like pretty much everything U2 have done. How is this not related to music by the way? Should I have based my vote on their image?  |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: September 18 2010 at 14:44
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As far as records are concerned Simple Minds made a couple of half decent ones when they first started off where as U2 continued to make decent and some excellent albums up untill quite recently. Both the lead singers can be a real pain in the posterior sometimes. I saw both live in the early 90s and u2 were fantastic where as Simple Minds was quite probably one of the worst gigs I have ever been to - it was outdoors and it was pissing down (rain) mind you so my opinion might be coloured by this.
U2 by far. ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: September 20 2010 at 16:43
| Easy, almost anything is better than U2 |
Posted By: WalterDigsTunes
Date Posted: September 20 2010 at 16:49
| Both started off a pretty good post-punk bands, and they both managed to blow it. U2 lost it circa 1987, Simple Minds lost it circa 84. Tough call, since both had moments of greatness and steep declines. |
Posted By: Deleuze
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 23:04
My last name is Bono...i can't vote against U2 sry...
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Posted By: Kazuhiro
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 23:18
| I listened to Simple Minds well for student's time. It listens to Sons And Fascination and Once Upon A Time still often. |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: September 21 2010 at 23:20
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Bono wears his glasses much too often- so I can't vote for them.
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Posted By: paganinio
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 10:53
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U2 are legends, inspired billions of people. Simple Minds are ... who are they? ------------- 
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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 10:58
best reply ever. |
Posted By: Pelata
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 13:27
| U2 by several gazillion miles... |
Posted By: crimhead
Date Posted: September 23 2010 at 19:15
Even Lady Gaga? |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 01:52
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Simple Minds if only for Waterfront but they also made several other very listenable tracks.
Nowadays the only U2 song I really like is Sunday Bloody Sunday and thats for the fiddle playing more than anything else!
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Posted By: WalterDigsTunes
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 01:57
Since U2 didn't even motivate you to look up what guitar effects are, their ability to inspire isn't particularly powerful now is it? |
Posted By: Triceratopsoil
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 01:57
| I thought for a second this thread was about the appeal of U2 for people who oh, nevermind |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 07:39
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U2 bore me rigid these days. I've liked selected songs over the years. I even saw them on their 'Achtung! Zooroppa' tour, whuich was thoroughly underwhelming, and sounded awful in the old Wembley Stadium.
Simple Minds get my vote, therefore. This is based inly on what I know of Simple Minds, which is about 4 albums. I've always found them to be more melodic, more dynamic, and not nearly as annoying. Aside from their worthy involvement in the Mandela concerts, Simple Minds have not tried to be politicians or the second coming, which Bono clearly thinks he is from time to time. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: harmonium.ro
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 07:57
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I haven't had the occasion to listen to any Simple Minds. Or I didn't notice it. Did I miss anything? I do like most of U2's music from until the 00s. |
Posted By: ExittheLemming
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 08:37
This is right on the money.  I liked U2 up till about War and Simple Minds up till about Sparkle in the Rain - (whereupon the Simple Minds became so brazenly derivative they were nicknamed U3 in some quarters  )------------- 
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 09:10
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I like some of the U2 stuff, songs throughout their '80's and '90's career. These days they leave me indifferent. I like them especialy in the Rattle And Hum / Achtung Baby period, but I think there is no U2 album which I like from A to Z.
I like Simple Minds especially because of songs during their '80's period, also songs, not whole albums. I still have to listen to Street Fighting Years, which is produced by Trevor Horn, but I keep forgetting to check it out.
I like both bands about equally.
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Posted By: catfood03
Date Posted: September 24 2010 at 20:35
| Simple Minds. Their late 70's/early 80's albums were really cool, but my interest in the band wanes after that Breakfast Club song |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 25 2010 at 02:35
Bono's political posturing irritates me as well. Plus those bloody sunglasses that he has to wear regardless of the weather.
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 25 2010 at 02:37
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