NLOTH
MOS
Breathe
Fez/Being Born
Great songs from NLOTH. All have the magical U2 touch.
I think the one thing needed on NLOTH was a solid U2 ballad. MOS is a ballad in some ways but doesn't sound like U2.
I agree with this, but to throw my 2 cents in about what qualities new u2 music might need to be successful:
Sure, age comes into it - it's probably harder for u2 to have a hit when they're in their mid-50's and trying to connect with a young mid-20's (and younger) audience, but hey, they had a hit with vertigo in their mid 40's, which was pushing it. Maybe i'm too optimistic, but i think if a song is good enough, under the right circumstances it'll do well regardless of how old the artist is.
I think U2's most successful tunes (e.g. ISHFWILF, With or Without You, One etc) have a few important qualities: They have great/memorable guitar hooks and vocals, that i feel just have that 'spark' that immediately grabs you. They have a unique (especially for the time) sound. And, they have a 'feel good' factor - I can easily see people singing their hearts out to the aforementioned songs at a u2 show, or hearing them at a party, at a radio, at a bar etc, because classic u2 songs just have that upbeat, spirit lifting vibe.
Now, i think U2 have some
beautiful new material. NLOTH (the title track), MoS, Every breaking wave, all incredible songs in my opinion. But i believe they lack the same 'spark' that their other, more successful songs have.
It's hard to describe because it's kind of intangible and obviously subjective, but to me they lack that kind of feel good vibe, and i think they (mostly) lack memorable riffs and lines to sing. Every breaking wave and Invisible are probably the closest they've come for me recently to sounding like 'hits', but i feel they each lack something - EBW has a beautiful and catchy chorus, but is a very dark song. Invisible sounds more upbeat, but doesn't have a catchy hook on the same level as say, Beautiful day.
This is something i literally just thought of, i'm sure i could be proven wrong, but maybe what U2 could need is a song with a big upbeat vibe? Melodically, everything on SoI and NLOTH sounds so
dark to me, with no vocals/riffs (with a couple exceptions) really hitting me in the chest the way that Beautiful day, One, Pride etc do.
Take ISHFWILF: Instantly recognisable (and catchy) guitar riff, very catchy chorus vocal, and generally very upbeat mood. Newer u2 material has real beauty, but i find it's not quite reaching these criteria, at least never all 3 at the same time.
