U2's career from now on - which do you think is more likely?

[U2girl]

a) another masterpice album like JT or AB (hypotethically, even better than both of them?)

b) another groundbreaking tour like Zoo TV

 

[vaz02]

A. ZOO TV will neevr be matched , by anyone.

 

[J_NP]

A

Though to be honest , of course ZOOTV was the 1st one , had this impact , but there are a series of things , that Popmart and Vertigo were superior

 

[susanp6]

I really don't think Zoo Tv can be beaten - in my opinion, it was the absolute peak, esp the outdoor shows

I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been to see it

 

[Zoots]

Even though Zoo TV was phenomenal, I can see Option B happening. But Option A I just don't see it!

 

[Aygo]

I can see another groundbreaking tour, yes, but Zoo TV will never be topped.
Another masterpiece? Maybe, I put my hands in it.

 

[U2Man]

everything is relative.

i could see myself calling the next album a masterpiece, but i can also imagine hundreds of people in here calling it a piece of shit.

regarding the touring thing...is it really possible to do anything 'groundbreaking' anymore in a stadium or an arena? seems like everything has been tried already.

 

[tommycharles]

Honestly? I see "Bomb" being their "Tattoo You." It was a great album, to be sure, but U2 may have reached the end of their relevant rope...I see them producing new stuff that's as good as what they have been doing lately, but tours will become "hits up to 1991 plus Beautiful Day and Vertigo, and 7 or 8 from the new album."

 

[MrPryck2U]

How about C: None of the above

 

[AtomicBono]

I think option A is more likely

on the other hand, live is where they live, so...

I think either could happen. doesnt mean either will. but unlike a lot of people here I don't think U2 are at the end of the rope. they could still wow us.

 

[mandrake]

I'd rather see another big tour. But it has to be different from Elevation/Vertigo (those are very similar)

 

[Bono's shades]

I don't think there's a snowflake's chance in hell of either option happening.

 

[Axver]

I think Option B is more likely. I don't believe U2 have another classic album in them, but there is so much interesting stuff happening with technology that it's conceivable they could embrace something and stage a groundbreaking tour of some description.

 

[xaviMF22]

OPTION B

 

[Earnie Shavers]

My guess is they'll release one or two albums that will be (don't shoot me down here) very very accessible, very very commercially acceptable, very very surface level, diet U2, pop U2 etc. How those are received is hard to tell. May or may not sell shitloads, may or may not win awards, may or may not be deemed successful or great or whatever, probably will satisfy many as long as the songs are catchy and there's lots of U2-porn within them, but I do think more and more people will be asking "What the f*ck happened to U2?" They will take what will be perceived as a dive (perhaps despite sales and awards statistics that may say otherwise) and then, just as they are really being lampooned from pillar to post, the third album will be the almighty critically worshiped, commercially adored "U2 are BACK!" moment and all will bow at their alter again for one last run around the globe. I think it will be a wise old album.

 

[No spoken words]

I honestly do not think either will come to pass, but, if I had to bet, would wager that they'll come closer to option B than option A. And, I want to just say that for me, nothing compares to the Joshua Tree Tour. Yes, Zoo TV was amazing and a spectacle and I loved every minute of all the shows I attended on that tour, truly...but, the one JT tour show I saw was just the most amazing 2.5 hours of music I've ever heard. I should post the set list from that show, was incredible.

 

[Bono's shades]

My guess is they'll release one or two albums that will be (don't shoot me down here) very very accessible, very very commercially acceptable, very very surface level, diet U2, pop U2 etc. How those are received is hard to tell. May or may not sell shitloads, may or may not win awards, may or may not be deemed successful or great or whatever, probably will satisfy many as long as the songs are catchy and there's lots of U2-porn within them, but I do think more and more people will be asking "What the f*ck happened to U2?" They will take what will be perceived as a dive (perhaps despite sales and awards statistics that may say otherwise) and then, just as they are really being lampooned from pillar to post, the third album will be the almighty critically worshiped, commercially adored "U2 are BACK!" moment and all will bow at their alter again for one last run around the globe. I think it will be a wise old album.

I hope you're right.

BTW, what's 'U2 porn'? (I'm assuming you don't mean it in the PLEBA sense ) Is it something like Bono singing "kneel" for the 8,000th time?

 

[enajh2]

A

Unless they play on the moon!

 

[Earnie Shavers]

"U2 porn" is when U2 do anything very stereotypical U2 and people go nuts for it because it's very stereotypical U2. They could release a whole album of songs that are 2/3 Edge flicking between two highly echoed notes, dropping in one 20 second 'soaring' moment near the end, with Bono displaying Oh! So! Much! Passion! all the way through and there'd be a large segment of the U2 fan base who'd just go nuts for it.

 

[Jeffo17]

You would like to think A. I hope A.

 

[Aygo]

My guess is they'll release one or two albums that will be (don't shoot me down here) very very accessible, very very commercially acceptable, very very surface level, diet U2, pop U2 etc. How those are received is hard to tell. May or may not sell shitloads, may or may not win awards, may or may not be deemed successful or great or whatever, probably will satisfy many as long as the songs are catchy and there's lots of U2-porn within them, but I do think more and more people will be asking "What the f*ck happened to U2?" They will take what will be perceived as a dive (perhaps despite sales and awards statistics that may say otherwise) and then, just as they are really being lampooned from pillar to post, the third album will be the almighty critically worshiped, commercially adored "U2 are BACK!" moment and all will bow at their alter again for one last run around the globe. I think it will be a wise old album.

WOW... How boring and predictable this is becoming around here...!

 

[U2Kitten]

Neither, I'm afraid. I think it will be more like the last two, for they are old and have burned out and have settled in to be too rich and satisfied to write anything inspiring. The angry young men are grown and gone. All they want to sing about is their kids and their dead relatives. I feel for them because I have kids and dead relatives too, but it doesn't make for a very fun album. That's okay, we'll always have the past catalogue. They have nothing left to prove.

 

[J_NP]

Having heard "U2 porn " .... and other Interestin things here

I think I should contribute and give the definition of :

The Pornographic 'U2 Fan' ....

 

[Earnie Shavers]

WOW... How boring and predictable this is becoming around here...!

Apologies, I'll try again:

Fuck yes, if the next album has more in the vein of Mercy and Window in the Skies, it will be one of THE greatest creative creations of the decade, if not ever. They are just getting better and better forever and ever.

 

[xaviMF22]

Apologies, I'll try again:

Fuck yes, if the next album has more in the vein of Mercy and Window in the Skies, it will be one of THE greatest creative creations of the decade, if not ever. They are just getting better and better forever and ever.

thats the spirit

 

[u2fan628]

I don't know,Windows isn't all that.They need to go into a deeper mindset.The music has been good but it sounds to safe. they have to "Dream it all up again"! Instead of ZooT.V they should do a ZooTube or something along that line.

 

[Jeannieco]

You know what kinda scares me? Bono recently said that he was listening to the BeeGees and found a new and great appreciation for the harmonies in their old stuff. On the BBC interview he also mentioned going either way a more rock or a bare bones, Springsteen type of direction, but definitely a new turn in the road.
My guess is that we are going to get an acoustic, harmony driven album. But who the hell knows? Bono loves to mess with our minds doesn't he? Also, keep in mind the next tour they will all be on the doorstep of the dreaded 50 yr old mark and I know Bono is thinking about that. I know he says that doesn't really bother him and then in the next breath he will say it does. I just hope that doesn't stop them from putting on amazing shows and touring, but the age thing has got to be on their minds. Geez... he is going to be 47 this year... say it ain't so. Next tour he will be 50. Stop smoking dammit. We need you to stay healthy!!

 

[U2girl]

WOW... How boring and predictable this is becoming around here...!

Poor blind sheep following U2 fanbase for embracing the classic U2 sound after a decade+ of time.

It's funny though: the 80's fans got pissed off in the 90's, the 90's fans are pissed off now, and maybe in the next era the 00's fans will be pissed off.

I don't see them doing Springsteen-y all acoustic album, I think either a full on pop/melody album and as Beatlesque as it gets for U2 (they are, after all, recording in their studio) - or a harder guitar album.

 

[Alisaura]

How about C: None of the above

That's pretty much what I'm thinking, although I try not to have any expectations.

 

[Aygo]

Poor blind sheep following U2 fanbase for embracing the classic U2 sound after a decade+ of time.

It's funny though: the 80's fans got pissed off in the 90's, the 90's fans are pissed off now, and maybe in the next era the 00's fans will be pissed off.

I don't see them doing Springsteen-y all acoustic album, I think either a full on pop/melody album and as Beatlesque as it gets for U2 (they are, after all, recording in their studio) - or a harder guitar album.

Apart a few cons I've been collecting with U2's career... I never got pissed off...
That's for the frustrated that still believe that U2 will ever follow their wishes. Fortunately, U2 will never do that!