Axver said:
I think it's blatantly obvious that the whole trilogy idea just doesn't work.
Agree with some of what you're saying, but disagree with your perspective.
I think the trilogy theory is valid because it's delineated by sharp breaks, in sound. It like a story, the intro, the exposition, the climax. Then onto the next story.
Yes, TUF and R&H are rather dissimilar. But not as dissimilar as War to TUF. TJT sounds like a natural progression from TUF. And while R&H is different that TUF, it's not that different from TJT. And it's night and day from AB; God Part II notwithstanding (and I think that's a major reach anyway but willing to give you that one).
Same for the 90's. AB is so different than R&H, and Pop so different than ATYCLB; but not so different from each other, it makes for bookends of an obvious trilogy.
Vocally, Bono sounds different in all of these as well.
1. Boy - War he's got that young voice, because well, he's young
2. TUF-R&H - the Kermit Voice comes out as well, you hear it in the first verse of A Sort Of Homecoming and the last verse of All I Want Is You.
3. AB-Pop - Kermit's gone, replaced by prevelant Falsetto and his voice is noticabley weaker
4. ATYCLB-? There's a definate rasp in his voice now. The Falsetto is weaker, and he's somehow got that fuller sound back, without the Kermit crutch.
Wanna talk Edge too?
1. Boy-War; Edge has a definate punk style. Lot of staccato notes, power cords, big solo's.
2. TUF-R&H; The punk riffs are all but gone, replaced by echo/delay induced atmospherics. He develops a chiming/bell like sound.
3. AB-Pop; The atmospherics are still there, but the Echo/delay is used much more sparingly; power cords return with the big solos and Edge branches off to a wide variety of pedal induced sounds. The chiming/bell like sound is completely abandoned.
4. ATYCLB-?; This is almost a pure mixture of the three previous periods. You can find songs with punk riffs, metal power cords, chiming notes, and wide use of pedals to create unique sounds. What seems to be predominately missing are the atmospherics.
Oh, and if Passengers: OS 1 was a U2 album, they would've called it a U2 album. It's not; your personal preference notwithstanding.