Mac Phisto
The Fly
I think it’s safe to say that the latest Rolling Stone review has once again struck a nerve in this forum regarding U2 in the nineties. It’s a recurring trend ‘round these Interference parts. I've been trying to figure out why...(not-so-clever segue-way alert)...
Let’s start off this way. Kudos to the band for going the road less traveled in the 90s. They could have easily coasted through the decade on verse chorus verse radio hits, but decided as a group there was something more. That said, many fans weaned on the 80s catalog of classics were understandably put off by Zooropa, Passengers and Pop (Acthung Baby was the bridge between the two sounds, it was never truly part of the preceding group). The riffs were clever and unique and Bono was still lyrically powerful, but there was a certain quality to the music missing, a level of heart-on-the-sleeve bravado gone from the mix.
That sentiment returned for ATYCLB and continues with HTDAAB. Coincidentally or not, U2 have once again achieved a level of popularity and relevance that matches up against any era in their career.
As a fan that got into U2 in the 90s, I look back at their input during that time as something of a badge of honor. The greater record-buying public lost track of U2 in America, morphing them into the biggest indie band of all-time. Liking U2 became cool and unique, probably for the first time since the very early 80s. If you didn't like them, you simply weren't getting it. I must say, convincing my friends of the brilliance of "Discotheque" was a fun challenge. I enjoyed being the U2 guy, because suddenly there weren’t so many of me.
The return of the belting chorus, ringing guitar-style ended that '94-'99 indie grace period, vaulting the band back into the deepest end of the mainstream and grudgingly flooding all 90s fans back into the general U2-loving public of today. I believe there is some resentment to that end. Being a U2 fan is still absolutely rewarding, but that "Us against Them" mentality no longer holds.
I miss that...and I don't think I'm alone. So when RS writer Rob Sheffield slags off the 90s period, it's not surprising that he gets thrown under the bus.
After all, some people just don't get it.
Let’s start off this way. Kudos to the band for going the road less traveled in the 90s. They could have easily coasted through the decade on verse chorus verse radio hits, but decided as a group there was something more. That said, many fans weaned on the 80s catalog of classics were understandably put off by Zooropa, Passengers and Pop (Acthung Baby was the bridge between the two sounds, it was never truly part of the preceding group). The riffs were clever and unique and Bono was still lyrically powerful, but there was a certain quality to the music missing, a level of heart-on-the-sleeve bravado gone from the mix.
That sentiment returned for ATYCLB and continues with HTDAAB. Coincidentally or not, U2 have once again achieved a level of popularity and relevance that matches up against any era in their career.
As a fan that got into U2 in the 90s, I look back at their input during that time as something of a badge of honor. The greater record-buying public lost track of U2 in America, morphing them into the biggest indie band of all-time. Liking U2 became cool and unique, probably for the first time since the very early 80s. If you didn't like them, you simply weren't getting it. I must say, convincing my friends of the brilliance of "Discotheque" was a fun challenge. I enjoyed being the U2 guy, because suddenly there weren’t so many of me.
The return of the belting chorus, ringing guitar-style ended that '94-'99 indie grace period, vaulting the band back into the deepest end of the mainstream and grudgingly flooding all 90s fans back into the general U2-loving public of today. I believe there is some resentment to that end. Being a U2 fan is still absolutely rewarding, but that "Us against Them" mentality no longer holds.
I miss that...and I don't think I'm alone. So when RS writer Rob Sheffield slags off the 90s period, it's not surprising that he gets thrown under the bus.
After all, some people just don't get it.
