U2 – Songs Of Experience

I paid $25 for this boxset and I still feel like I overpaid. I (mostly) like the album, but this boxset feels pretty pointless.

Numbered 00852, bought in Sydney Australia on release in 2017

Not a huge U2 fan but ran across this album recently while streaming music and liked it with just the first listen. Bought the CD first with the extra tracks on it and then this vinyl pressing. Disappointed with the sound quality on both as they are very flat sounding with lifeless dynamics. Mid-bass is way too heavy and both suffer from substantial compression. This blue vinyl is quite noisy even after a vacuum wet cleaning and sounds almost identical to the CD as this is certainly a “CD pressed onto vinyl.” If you’re looking to buy this, just get the CD but know going in neither one sound great which is a shame because the music is great.

Number 12550, bought from (FNAC), paid 25€, very nice box set

What a record. I can kick myself, who is a BIG U2 fan for not listening to this record when it first came out. It is a FANTASTIC record. Everyone sounds great! Pressing is well done as well. Highly recommended!

For me personally this is amongst one of their best albums conceptually. It mixes a full reflection on life with a mild, and forgiving voice. Maybe it's because of me being in my 50ties, maybe because the music touches me same as the lyrics do.... I find myself and it heals parts of me broken before. Thanks U2. 😊 Due to an unknown reason, however, I find myself listening to the vinyl album always backwards from 4 to 1.

This is not an audiophile album but it sounds somehow nice on its own way, probably because of many very good songs on it. Here we have digital recording and mastering, and it sounds like mp3 or in the best case cd cut quality on vinyl. Hawever as I said, even this has its owen beauty because the sound is heavy, with solid bass and generaly thick sound. I would like that there is more transparent and crisp sound, but there is no, and I would really love to see soon this beautiful U2 album in an audiophile reissue.

I liked this album far more than I thought I would. The band’s confidence comes through: They’re playing whatever they want, blending the Achtung Baby and Pop styles with the classic U2 Edge-based sound. Makes for a stronger-than-expected outing, especially “Red Flag Day.”

My pressing also sounds great.

Found #663 at a local shop and took the punt on it. Overall very pleased with the package and the quality of the pressings. The discs are beautiful. And as a dedicated U2 fan across their whole discography, this album has been a pleasant surprise to me- flows really well and there’s some great songs on it.

In my humble opinion, this is by far the best pressing among all the U2 albums I own. Certainly much better than Songs Of Innocence!