The Panther
Refugee
I see, so I think this is where we differ -- you are thinking of "importance" as how the band perceive their career profile, whereas I am thinking of "importance" as how U2 will be perceived in the grand scheme of things a hundred years hence.When I'm talking about a records importance, I'm referring to the importance in their career....not how much you like, or respect, the type of music they're making at any given time.
I dunno, but I seriously doubt that anything they did after Zooropa (so far) is really going to matter to their lasting legacy. For me, U2's success and profile with ATYCLB is comparable to the Rolling Stones' with Tattoo You, a monster album in 1981-82 that also topped the charts twenty years into their career and led to a ginormous US stadium tour. People were talking and writing books about how the Stones' had lasted and were now into their third decade with a huge profile, etc., etc. But today, even thirty years later (never mind a hundred), who rates Tattoo You as one of The Stones' 3 most important recorded moments?
But yes, you have a point, because I do think Bono and Edge nowadays sit around and feel satisfaction at how they sold a lot of product in 2000-2001. (I'm not sure that's a good thing, but I do think it's a thing.)