david said:
Well, when U2 were young and hungry they were album to churn out albums, great albums, in relatively fast pace.
But come on, they're middle aged now. Priorities change. Things have changed.
Not only that, but it's really insulting to me - yes, me - when someone claims that I'm "forcing" myself to like U2 or that U2 take years to put out some mediocre crap that's half-filler. When I listen to some of these modern bands, I hear songs that all sound the same, with bands that all sound the same - and, surprise surprise, they are imitating U2! Oh sure, they aren't quite the same, but they are close. So many bands have copied elements of U2's style is tiresome. Yet, people praise these new bands for their "novelty" while dissing the current U2. Yes, that's logical.
Over the years, there have been bands that I once loved, but slowly stopped enjoying as much. REM is one. INXS became another. I would listen to the lead single off a new album. I might enjoy it, or I might not. Or I might think it was too similar to past works. And as a result, I passed on the album. Those bands and I were moving in different musical directions. What I once liked, was no longer for me. It happens. Life goes on. People change.
What I didn't do is go onto those groups' fan websites and bitch about these bands "glory days" and how their music is "half-filler" and that people are "forcing" themselves to like the band's newer material. I can't imagine anyone really being this arrogant and condescending in person - yet it happens routinely here on Interference.
It's one thing to discuss U2's music. I'm not a fan of everything they do either. But it's another to just dismiss all of U2's current work as BigMacphisto is doing. I find it personally insulting because I like this newer work a lot and I find it far more inspiring and creative than some of their "glory days".
Still, if one doesn't like what U2's doing now - fine. You are moving in a different musical world than U2 is right now. There's no problem saying that what U2 is doing isn't suiting YOUR life right now. It happens.
Just don't rip apart fans who happen to like newer work. Don't accuse us of "forcing" ourselves to like new songs. I know you may think you're superior than the rest of us - but golly, some of us do have minds of our own and can form our own thoughts and opinions! And some of them may disagree with your views. Shocking, I know.
So to those ripping new U2 and fans who like the new U2, go enjoy the glorious "new music" you've found from other bands and move on from U2. It's time. Here's a goodbye hug.