Maybe we don't actually like U2 (or wouldn't actually like any other artist) being honest and sincere, but it's U2's central redeeming value of this latter part of their career.
The problem with this return to irony idea isn't necessarily nostalgia (though the author is clearly guilty of this). The problem is that U2 couldn't pull off the irony anymore. Too much has happened in those 18 years that would have betrayed the 'trick'.
The purpose of irony is to put yourself forward as something you're not in order to say something. 21st century has tried to be 'all of the above'. Combined with previous ironic statements, there is simply no unique irony available to U2. No new ground.
I will give the author of that piece some credit. First this statement regarding U2 in their ironic phase of the 90's.
The band’s great subject became the separation of meaning from meaninglessness.
Well said. Then this...
Aesthetically, U2 has become what it once critiqued.
No question about it. Finally, I wanted to comment on this...
Even so, it’s hard not to miss the U2 of the nineties. The band was a pop phenomenon that acknowledged the limits of populism; it explored the overlap of anxiety and piety; it was in touch with the times; it knew that sincere statements always evoke their opposites, and must struggle to survive them. For that version of U2, the combination of innocence and experience wasn’t more innocence, but irony—a useful attitude in a world overflowing with pop culture, pop politics, and pop spirituality.
It's hard not to miss U2 of the 90's because they were brilliant, especially in the context of the time. They were doing something few other artists were doing and most importantly, doing it amazingly well. But irony has been totally overplayed in the 21st century. It's not the weapon of art it used to be. It's commonplace. From comedy to film to whatever. And even if U2 could be effectively ironic (highly doubtful) there is nothing to gain artistically.
There is nothing left for U2 to do from here on out but create great songs (if they can) and do the best they can to abandon their ridiculous ambition to be more than they can be.
Stop trying to appeal to a bunch of young people that mostly couldn't give a fuck less and even if they do...would rather hear a (rendered) obscure track like Mofo than the nine millionth version of a revisionist "hit". I'm not talking staples that are absolutely vital to the U2 legacy. Average Concertgoer deserves those songs. I could stand to never hear Pride played live again, ever, but I will never blame them for playing it. I will never blame them for playing anything that truly made them the great U2. I'm talking about the pseudo-hits like 'Stuck In A Moment' or whatever, that wasn't much a "hit" but only serves as a supposed relevance bridge between 80's and the new stuff.
Stop trying to revise history. Zooropa, Passengers and POP happened and most of the U2 fans left adore this work. Ignoring it is a function of their idiotic ambition to try and stay relevant in pop music. U2 as mere pop music robs U2 of what always made them great. Also, rediscover "fucking up the mainstream" in a creative way that doesn't scream "we did this just to try and have a hit record". Having a hit record is fine but do it on your own terms...not bending over backwards for it.
I don't know that I see anything they could do in concert that would be a great improvement aside from song selection. I don't see a big problem here. The problem resides in the studio, where they have changed how they write the material - to the way country and pop artists write songs. Seeking "hits" and not incredible musical moments. I think criticizing their live show and calling for more irony misses the point. If they had just made another POP, and were touring to support something great (even if controversial and not universally beloved), nobody of any sort of sophisticated taste is sitting there thinking "what this show needs is Bono in an ironic muscle shirt". I think the author is nostalgic for that music more than the ironic theater. Nobody needed another pure pop song from U2. What everybody needs is a U2 that is creatively relevant. The music would deliver almost all of that package to you...provided it is creatively relevant itself. In other words, whatever they would have done live - would have been hard to screw up.