Exploring U2: Is This Rock 'n' Roll?: Essays on the Music, Work, and Influence of U2

by Scott Calhoun (Editor)

Exploring U2: Is This Rock 'n' Roll? features new writing in the growing field of U2 studies. Edited by Scott Calhoun, with a foreword by Anthony DeCurtis, Exploring U2 contains selections from the 2009 inaugural gathering of "The Hype and The Feedback: A Conference Exploring The Music, Work and Influence of U2." In keeping with U2's own efforts to remove barriers that have long prevented dialogue for understanding and improving the human experience, this collection of essays examines U2 from perspectives ranging from the personal to the academic and is accessible to curious music fans, students, teachers, and scholars alike. Four sections organize 16 essays from leading academics, music critics, clergy, and fans. From the academic disciplines of literature, music, philosophy, and theology, essays study U2's evolving use of source material in live performances, the layering of vocal effects in signature songs, the crafting of a spiritual community at live concerts, U2's success as a business brand, Bono's rhetorical presentation of Africa to the Western consumer, and readings of U2's work for irony, personhood, hope, conservatism, and cosmic-time. Official band biographer Neil McCormick considers U2 as a Dublin-shaped band, and Danielle Rheaume tells how discovering and returning Bono's lost briefcase of lyrics for the album October propelled her along her own artistic journey. This thoughtful and timely collection recognizes U2's music both as art and commentary on personal journeys and cultural dialogues about contemporary issues. It offers insights and critical assessments that will appeal not only to scholars and students of popular music and culture studies but to those in the fields of theology, philosophy, the performing arts, literature, and all intellectually curious fans of U2.

Genres: Music, Theology

304 pages

First published October 13, 2011

Reviews

[Dr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm biased. I am a college professor, avid U2 fan, and co-presented at this U2 conference in 2009. Our conference paper did not make it into this volume. Having read these essays cover to cover, I fully understand why. Most of these essays are heavyweight: brilliantly insightful discussions of U2 from multiple academic disciplines not easily accessible to the casual fan. The book is an intellectual gem with a depth of riches for those willing to mine.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fluff out there when it comes to books on U2. This is not one of them. Pretty heady stuff, so don't read unless you want to work for it. But some fascinating stuff in here.

[Bradley Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains a collection of 16 essays analyzing, critiquing, and intellectualizing the music, politics, and spirituality of U2. These selections were compiled after a gathering of “The Hype and The Feedback: A Conference Exploring The Music, Work and Influence of U2” help in North Carolina in 2009. The topics are varied in their approach to the lyrics and music of the band. There are academic essays studying the bands use of multilayering, vocal effects, signatures, and compositions. Various members of the clergy explore the theological messages of U2 and the optimistic brand of Christianity fueled by humanism which explores concepts such as The Fall and the relationship between Judas and Jesus. There are also philosophical essays covering topics such as Bono’s philanthropy. However, my favorite essay was by Danielle Rheaume documenting how she returned a suitcase to Bono that was stolen over twenty years earlier. This collection of essays is certainly academically dense with rhetoric and analysis. It can be a bit heady sometimes bordering on boring. While there is a lot to love about some of the essays, the topics other essays present are questionable and up for debate.

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

All fans are familiar with the story of Bono losing a case holding lyrics and ideas for the forthcoming October album, while touring America. Years later they were found by a fan during a home clearout, and this book has this fan's account of personally re-uniting Bono and his lost lyrics. This is the standout chapter in this book and why I would recommend it to U2 fans... there is much else of interest, but this particular story is gold.

[Colin Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drivel.