How many U2 fans would rank "Grace" as one of the worst U2 songs?
That, to me, is subtle U2, now, I like it, but most people at least here, don't.
If it were up to the U2 fans, I don't think 'Grace' would've been seen the light of day on a U2 album. Not even a b-side on a single but on the studio album.
It's a quiet, sorta meditative song, no bombast, no epic big sound.
"A Man & a Woman" doesn't have that big epic sound. It's not a big hit on this forum, at least from a jokey thread I saw I'm lead to think that.
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I wonder if part of the reason RHCP is so fresh, is because you listen to U2 a lot more.
Have you spent considerable amounts of time re-working a tracklist for the Chili Peppers previous album? Creating the perfect setlist for a Peppers gig?
Immerse yourself in anything and at some point, whatever isn't that thing will sound new and fresh.
Perhaps it's partly on your end Jras that makes you feel like U2 is missing something.
I've heard "Danni California" a number of times on the radio, it's good, but ye know, U2 could come up with a song like that with little effort.
U2's lyrics speak to me more than most, so often I like other bands for their music, whereas the lyrics, sometimes I listen to them sometimes not really.
I don't listen to U2 all the time, but I do listen to them more than any others, sometimes just listening to the radio brings me back.
Their biggest musical weakness may be self-restraint.
I dunno, for once I'd like to hear Edge really go for it, like the solo on "Bullet" from ZooTV, but on an album. He can, but too modest to do it?
Adam actually said he was a little bored with playing standard 4/4 rock as early as 1985, I'd like to see him really show what he can do with those 4 strings. It'd be a little uncharacteristic for him to to just, bust out into a mad solo but after a year working with a top bass instructor, he could probably do something that would make his harshest critics reconsider his abilities.
Larry, well he probably can't because of his tendonitis but from his early work, he could go all out.
But that's just me.
Guess I want them to show off a little bit but not sure it's something they'd bother doing.
If people don't see the weakness in the Bomb or in the last 2 albums, it's their opinion.. however wrong it may be. 
, i think of another reason you feel the songs in HTDAAB sound too simple. it's that the melody line of the songs are too much in harmony with the instrumental part. (i don't know it's the correct way to say it 
) for example the guitar chord in the chorus of ABOY goes D-A-D-A-D-A-E. along with it Bono sings the chorus in the same notes as the chords. so it virtually sounds like we are listening to a simple chord in any point in the chorus. and the same thing for Vertigo. i think this happens too many times in HTDAAB, so it gives you an impression that the music is too simple.
i still like the album, COBL is a great song i think 
but i agree with you that it's kind of too simple 
