Please note: as of now, we won’t be using “The Edge” scoring system – please read Post #8: Scoring Method, 2nd Draft for an update, or look at the Sample Scoring Tablet page.
The following can be read as a hypothetical of what an “edge” system would look like… Thanks, everyone!
.
SAMPLE SCORING TABLET: “THE EDGE” VERSION
Here’s a theoretical scoring tablet, between The Beatles and U2.
“The Edge” version doesn’t use ‘points’ – simply a category-by-category breakdown of which band gets the edge in which Element.
Whoever tallies more ‘edges’ overall is the winner, and the Greater Band.
_________________________________________________________
THE BIG BOYS
Impact Albums:
U2 has come at us in waves, with each ‘period’ of their career providing at least one critical/commercial smash – the most significant being War, Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and All That You Can’t Leave Behind. Even their biggest mis-steps are beloved by fans, and dissected by popular music culture. Simply, they are at a point where every album makes an impact.
However, we’re talking about the Beatles.
Please Please Me, A Hard Day’s Night, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s, The White Album, Abbey Road…
Nobody beats the Beatles in this category. They are the top selling rock act of all time, with the highest level of critical appreciation, and the largest cultural impact across the globe.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Impact Singles:
From “I Will Follow” to “Vertigo”, U2 has peppered the landscape with impact singles for over 25 years. Their body of work can compete with anyone.
Anyone but the Beatles, that is – who have 27 (count em, 27) Number One hits in the US and/or UK. Their singles compilation album, #1, was the highest grossing album of 2007 worldwide.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Musicianship: Virtuosity:
Neither band really does much “jamming” to show off their chops – both get flack from the shredder types for being too simplistic.
But Larry and Adam are an underrated rhythm section, The Edge has created an iconic sound, and Bono has the operatic pipes to satisfy anyone.
And Ringo is an underrated drummer, George is a classic guitar but also brought the sitar to the table, Paul is a solid bass while showing extraordinary vocal dexterity, and Lennon is Lennon.
Both bands are better musical talents than they get credit for.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Musicianship: Alchemy:
Both bands make beautiful music as a unit, both play off each other’s skills masterfully, both bands are impossible to imagine with any fill-in replacements, and both showed they are greater than the sum of their parts.
I’m tempted to call this a draw, but the fact is: you watch George and Paul strumming on a grassy knoll in the Anthology extras, with Ringo slapping his leg, and it’s the most mesmerizing thing you’ve ever seen. And it sounds like the heavens.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Live Performance:
The Fabs grade incomplete here: after a notable run in the early days, they played to screaming adolescents for a couple years then quit altogether.
U2 is a legendary live act, from the cries of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in 1984 to the flashy Zoo TV tour to the flag-jacket at the Super Bowl after 9/11 to this year’s 360 stadium spectacle. As a friend once said: “Seeing U2 is like going to church.”
If you’ve had the pleasure, you’ll get what that means.
Advantage: U2.
.
Influence:
It’s hilarious to hear hipsters reject the obvious: U2 is the modern blueprint of an internationally successful rock band – from the way they do business to the way they make music – soaring guitar, structured build-to-crescendo songwriting, falsetto melodies, dramatic bombast … unfortunately, acknowledging their impact just isn’t ‘cool.’ At least Coldplay openly admit they’re copycatting the lads.
But again, the Beatles are the progenitors for so much it’s hard to accurately measure. In fact… despite U2’s early inclinations toward the Ramones…
Who else have they been looking up to if not the Beatles?
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Versatility:
The Beatles made so many sounds, and made them so well. But ‘versatility’ is arguably U2’s greatest strength – they have covered so much ground over the last 25 years, and they have an infectious appetite for every new sound, adding something different to almost every album they’ve made.
I may be affected by a bias here – but fuck it, some things will pan out subjectively.
Advantage: U2, but not by much.
.
Individuality:
Another toughie. When either band comes on… you know it’s gotta be them. Nobody sounds like Bono, and perhaps nothing in rock is more recognizable than The Edge’s shimmering guitar echoes.
However, the Beatles came first. Each band-member has a distinct, flavorful personality, and they never let fame corrupt their style, or their sense of humor. Their stamp is unique and impossible to deny – as people, as songwriters, as lyricists… We’ll never see anyone like them again.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Consistent Quality:
My goodness, this is painful. The Beatles started out better than anyone in history, and then just kept getting better. Naysayers like to pick on Let It Be, but my God, it’s an album any other band would kill to release.
U2 deserves special recognition for caring so much, working so hard, to make every album an event, make every release “great” for their fans… and they’ve been doing it for three decades.
But The Beatles highest moments were higher than U2’s, and their lowest weren’t really that low. They always do it right, they always satisfy … even now, with the Rock Band phenomenon.
And many of U2’s fans were unhappy in the mid-90s. Let’s face it.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Icon Status:
Let’s cut the shit. This is The Beatles.
John. Paul. George. Ringo.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
So, if you’re keeping score, this would be:
BIG BOYS: The Beatles lead, 8 – 2. A whipping so far.
.
_______________________________________________________
THE LITTLE BRUTHAS
Innovation:
The Beatles brought a shitload to the table, and opened a thousand doors for rock and roll throughout the world. Studio innovations, world instruments, concept albums, music videos… good lord.
For U2, I must say, nothing quite touches a nerve like the opening swell of “Where the Streets Have No Name”, so all due credit to Edge’s aural nigglings… and “With or Without You”, easy to forget, was a highly atypical song at the time.
Whatever.
Advantage: THE BEATLES.
.
Unity:
Both bands are perfectly unified – four fellas, start to finish. No changes to the line-up, no cheesy reunions with somebody’s kid…
The Beatles couldn’t handle each other past a certain point, however, while U2 have worked through any bumps in the road, kept the egos aligned, and know they need each other to make good music. 25 years is a long time for managing to stay on the same page. It’s remarkable, really, and part of what makes them Great.
That said, they never had to deal with Yoko.
Advantage: U2.
.
Longevity:
Did I just say 25 years? Well, it’s technically 30 and going strong.
Advantage: U2.
.
Recommendability:
Both bands can go on any road trip, with any family member in the car, on any mix to any sweetheart, and on and on till the sun goes down.
I’ve peppered every mix tape since adolescence with U2. They can make a mood, go with many landscapes. The Beatles tonality can get relentless after a while.
I’ll let my childhood bias win out on this one.
Advantage: U2.
.
Replayability:
Another subjective category for the most part.
The Beatles made more timeless music than U2 overall…
But in my house, no album by any band will be played so often as Joshua Tree. It has been the soundtrack of my life, and nothing will ever truly replace its meaning.
And I’ve worn out too many other of their albums not to admit it here.
Advantage: U2.
.
Cross-Gender Love:
Both bands kick ass on the cross-gender front. You’ll rarely see a crowd so co-ed balanced as a U2 concert… and the Beatles are for everyone.
Advantage: DRAW.
.
The Bar Test:
Frankly, I’ve never gone into a bar without hearing a U2 song, whereas the Beatles are a once-in-a-while occasion.
I think it must be the Irish = alcoholism corollary.
The Beatles will make any room tap their feet and sing along. But U2 can bring the maudlin to help stir your booze.
Advantage: U2.
.
Impact Outside of Rock:
Beatles dominate the cultural effect, the music-industry impact, as well as the socio-political element – they sang most memorably about love and peace. They encouraged a generation to try drugs and watch cartoons. Tack on Lennon’s solo career, and the mountain looms larger.
However, this is also a category of strength for U2 – they wrote the definitive Martin Luther King anthem with “Pride”, and Bono has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his legitimate work in Africa. They are on every charity album of note. Bono now writes columns for the New York Times.
I think the Beatles are larger icons and representatives of a cultural shift… but U2 are the poster-boys for “making a difference” outside of rock. They care, they show it, they sing it… and they are more active about it, more savvy about the politics – as opposed to Lennon sitting in a bedroom in white robes, pissing off Christians everywhere.
Out of respect for U2 doing it right:
Advantage: U2.
.
________________________________________________________
SO, WHAT DO WE FIND?
Total: 9-8-1 … Beatles.
Big Boys: 8 – 2, Beatles.
Little Bruthas: 6-1-1, U2.
Beatles have the overall margin just barely – but they dominate the Big Boys. Technically, they’ve won already. But just for kicks:
.
TIEBREAKER:
MY PERSONAL PREFERENCE:
I am a U2 fan from my youth, and so they have special meaning – I’ve probably given them a couple categories other voters wouldn’t.
However, in terms of this conversation, I don’t believe it’s really so close.
My personal vote for Who’s Greater is easy: The Beatles.
________________________________________________________
FINAL SCORE
The Beatles win out over U2 in our rankings:
They are a Greater Rock Band.
.
Nobody recognizes U2’s contributions and overall Greatness more than myself.
I believe they should end up in the top handful of All-Time Rock Bands.
But the Beatles are undeniable.
I hope, looking through the ‘edge’ scorecard, you can agree.
If not… TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.
.
And now…
START DOIN’ THIS SHIT YOURSELF!
I can’t wait to hear all about it, my loves.
.
This is Eddie Varese, telling you to turn it on, and turn it up.
