They definitely don't need help with their clothes. I like when they wear all black stuff, especially The Edge. I really wish The Edge could dress more like the way he dressed when he went to that premiere of Gangs Of New York (not the Oscars). Sometime this year or the end of last year (can?t remember) Bono had his hair longer than ever since Rattle And Hum, he should let his hair grow kinda like that, maybe a little longer than The Fly. Larry should let his hair grow longer, just a bit longer that the one he had during Zoo TV. Adam should either have that Mohawk back or let his hair grow like during The Unforgettable Fire but don?t bring back that bushy looking thing please. Edge should keep his beanie.
Now on the sound of this new album..... it would be a heavy metal/hard rock/garage album!!!! Most of U2's rock songs are mid-tempo, this album would be 80% up-tempo!!! Most of U2 ropckier songs builds into one hell of a climax in the end (Gone, Last Night On Earth, Bullet The Blue Sky, Until The End Of The World, Exit) that?s one of the things I like the most on their songwriting style and I think they should still do that but most of those songs that build in the end either start slower or are slower during the verses, they should stop that and make the song more frantic during the verses. And the drums would in a lot of case be like Badlands from Bruce Springsteen! I would make them listen to a lot of Metallica (specially Master Of Puppets and The Black Album) and Black Sabbath (Master Of Illusions and Paranoid). Those songs are very well constructed, great songwriting all around!!
A lot of aggression coming from Edge's guitar, really angry and nasty shit! Riffs like the ones on The Fly, I Will Follow, Bullet The Blue Sky, Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me and to name other bands riffs maybe riffs like Metallica?s Seek And Destroy, Master Of Puppets, something like Black Sabbath?s After Forever and Children Of The grave or like Murder Inc. from Springsteen. Guitar epics and really well worked song structures from the guitars like The Electric Co. and Until The End Of the World. Maybe middle sections with a whole new riff like Black Sabbath! U2's middle sections are usually slow, that's cool but lets have a new riff!! There's nothing wrong about doing some solos as long as they keep you interested and Edge's solos always keep me interested, his solos on BTBS and The Fly are the standard here but I would make him try a bit faster stuff but as melodic as before, just let him improvise a lot and see what would happened. Let him be a normal guitar player in this department for once.
A lot of anger from Bono's voice and lyrics, he would write about some pretty disturbing images like Last Night On Earth, Bullet The Blue Sky, Until The End Of The World, Gone, The Fly and Sunday Bloody Sunday!! Africa would be his fuel for anger here. Bono knows how to deliver good and interesting chorus and how to sing the songs in the right way to what Edge is playing. One of the great things about Mick Jagger is that you can totally feel that he is going crazy at the microphone when you listen to The Stones? albums, I want the same from Bono! More shouting like he did on God Part II, in the end of Hawkmoon 269 (that?s great by the way) or like how he sings Sunday Bloody Sunday live!! He would have that Travis Bickle kind of attitude throughout the whole album!
From Larry a lot of attack but Larry doesn?t really need help, he has ALWAYS been an aggressive drummer and you know the way he plays at the end of Last Night On Earth (live), that's how a lot of the songs would be like for most of the time not just in the end, heavy hitting and smashing the cymbals like a fucking madman that he is!! And some crazy time changes to keep the songs more dynamic and interesting too! Maybe experiment something with a double bass during some moments of the songs kinda like God Part II but Larry wasn?t using double bass on the song though it just feels like he is.
The same for Adam, keep coming with original stuff like he always has instead of just coping Edge's guitar like most of the bass players out there do. This man needs no guidance. But I would ask for more riffs like the ones on Last Night On Earth, New Year's Day, Mofo and Dirty Day!!
Aggression and anger are the main feelings here!! I love this thread.