Well, as long as they dont turn into Mana (latin band) that band is one stringed, there all great, they just play it safe, and that what i think u2 are doing, dont get me wrong i love ATYCLB and HTDAAB, i just dont hear that spark that i got from every other album, a spark of evolution, of a band playing with music, finding out there limits.
After the explosion that was POP (je
) the band needed to get everyone to, well forget about it, and thats the whole back to basics fase, listening to what inspired them, and ATYCLB was a good album, a diferent sound t u2, sure it was like everything else out there, but u2 hadnt played it safe, so it was new for them, for some reason i saw it as u2 singing straight from the heart, not trying to be anything but straight and to the point, tahts why a lot of people dont like the lyrics so much.
The mainstreem loved it, u2 was back, even if they never left, they got the attention of everyone, they were back on top, they toled everyone they were invinseble, not to many bands can keep going after POP, but u2 did, now was the time to wow everyone with an tiemless album in the vein of The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.
What was the next step? HTDAAB, more of an extention f ATYCLB than a master evolution, it was considered better by many, timeless by very few, "punk rock from venus" was promised, but wasnt delivered, the "hand of god" were revelaed
wink: ), and some people lost respect for the band (note: "some people"), and now u2 is tought of as the biggest rock band in the world, and they deserve it, but now, two paths are in front of them, continue the formula and risk overkill, or really ush themselves like they used to.
*(shall we say)disclaimer: this could be seen trough many eyes, maybe they are pushing themselves like always, but, this is whats coming out, and its not bad, it just isnt timeless, it isnt interesting (IMO), and of course, this is most probably the same effect that achtung had on some 80s fans, the change (or lack of) has turned off some people to the point of not caring, but anyway, u2, the ball is (as always) in your court, wow us.
rant over