I'm kicking this off as a counter-tonic to the "best U2 songs" thread. Because – let’s not forget - the lads have released some corkers over the years. Here's a few to kick it off: “The Refugee” from 1983’s War. I always completely hated this track. Sonically obnoxious. And the fact that it is the only song by U2 ever produced by Bill “Riverdance” Whelan is probably not a coincidence. “Ocean” on their debut Boy. Sits ajar on their splintering debut. Which is quite likely the reason they put it there. Murky and stickly, it’s probably resembles what a Massive Attack track sounds like as you drown in a vat of congealing manure. But, then again, back around 1980 then they used to often open their live set with this, which was bit of a clever manoeuvre: get your audience thinking at first you’re an appallingly indulgent act and then blow them away with the rest of your set list which is nothing short of blistering. “Peace on Earth” from 1997’s Pop. I am fully aware of the risk I run here of greatly offending some people considering the song’s sensitive subject (the innocent people killed in the Omagh bombing) but I thought that while this track was well-intended it just ended up sounding like drivel. Usually U2 (or Bono more to the point) are highly dependable for a bit of sophisticated reflection and perspective when it comes to lyrics on serious war / political topics (compare this to ‘Please’ from the same album which was also inspired by the situation in Norn Iron). If it had been Delores O’Riordan who had penned these lyrics I would not have been surprised. But she was nowhere near this track during its genesis. And the syrupy backing track was nothing in anyway special. As yer man Thom Yorke once said “don’t get sentimental, it always ends up drivel”. eoghan