Axver said:
I'm generally excited about the band's future, just because they were just down here and I still have the tour vibe. I'm hoping the obvious pleasure the band has been taking from their music during the current concerts translates over to recording sessions, because I'm sure it would produce something inspired. I'm nervous that they'll kill the vibe and go hyper-perfectionist on everything. And I won't really start getting excited about the next album itself until we know record sessions are over, the album's on its way, beach clips leak, the lead single is released, etc.
I enjoy ATYCLB and HTDAAB. After years of U2 going more and more "out there", even I was happy to see U2 stop focusing on the "experiment" just for the sake of it. I was happy to see U2 focus more on the song structure. I was happy to see U2 hungry again, as they realized they couldn't just produce any album and see the masses rush to get it (even though "Pop" sold very well).
I've had a few U2 midnight purchases, but not all of them were good. For example, I adored AB, so when I learned that "Zooropa" was coming, I was interested, curious and excited. My friends and I went to a store in the Chicago area where a radio station was not only broadcasting (special appearance) but they were giving away prizes and were playing "Zooroopa" non-stop. I won no prizes (not shocking), but as I listened to "Zooropa" again and again that night (they started playing the album early in the store, before it was released for sale), I found myself very disappointed in it. I'd walk by the U2 section in the store and sigh over U2's former sound. I feared I lost the band I loved. I was so disillusioned that I didn't even buy "Zooropa" that night!!
Of course, I later relented and now feel "Zooropa" is a brilliant album, that has some flaws. Of course, I feel this way about all of U2's albums.
But I bring up this story because as much as I enjoyed U2's last two albums, even I'm hoping for something more edgy. As I wrote above, I started to feel with "Zooropa" that U2 were experimenting just for the sake of experimenting - not focusing on the music. Now, I feel that U2 is focusing a bit too much on the "soft music" or "hit song" aspect of the music. Granted, this produced two of U2's best hit songs (IMO) with "Beautiful Day" and "Vertigo", but other times I felt it was pushed.
For me, I'd rather they leave songs like "A Man and a Woman" and "One Step Closer" as b-sides. And as brilliant as songs like "Walk On" and "City..." and "Beautiful Day" and "Elevation" and "All Because of You" are, this sound has been done now - twice. I don't want another album of those types of songs.
Instead, I'd rather see U2 focus on more edgy songs, like "Love and Peace or Else" and "Fast Cars". WITS blends in with the "easy listening/hit song" aspects of the last two albums. It's a fine song and there's nothing wrong with that. But I'm ready for something a bit more edgier (no pun intended).
Edge says U2 are being influenced by the melodies and musicianship of the artists of old. That's great - but recall what made those artists so great. The Eagles could do rock and country. They created "The Long Run" and "Hotel California". The Bee Gees weren't only a disco band. Their early hits, like "Massachusetts", were fantastic ballads. They were talented enough to create more upbeat songs that helped define the disco era. In fact, if you listen to a lot of the disco era songs, the Bee Gees' music stands out because of the strong musicianship and lyrics that have a bit more meaning than "dance, dance, dance".
In other words, I don't mind if U2 completes the trilogy of this era. But I do hope that the push the limits, as they did with prior trilogies. "War" pushed that boundary, compared to "Boy", just as R&H and "Pop" did to UF and AB, respectively.
Like Bonochick, I'm not excited yet. But I am curious to see what Rubin does. I'm hoping he forces U2 to abandon some of the sugary sweet that has been on the last two albums in favor of some of the more interesting songs that we know they have in them. And given Rubin's schedule, I know he won't stand for U2 being "perfectionists" and trying to over-tweak each song. This is good as it might leave some of the "raw" aspect I feel the recent music needs.
So right now, curious is where I stand.
If U2 do release another "11 pop songs" type of album, I may be a tad disappointed, but I will also give the album a fair chance. After all, if the album has 11 or 12 outstanding tracks, even if they are "pop" in sound, then it deserves praise. I won't dismiss a great album just because it's not what I want to hear.
Excellent post, and I agree with much of what you said.
