Originally posted by Flying FuManchu:
I remember Bono saying ATYCLB was going to be U2's "Rubber Soul." Remember the Titanium Soul comment. Bono made the statement in Rolling Stone that he thought U2 was a better band than the Beatles- this was back in the 80s. Arrogant. Hmmmmm. I don't know. Confident. Yes. If people are going to bash Creed for saying they wanted to make an album that was as big as the Joshua Tree or a Joshua Tree, they should take it as compliment directed toward U2. To bash them for just being arrogant is ridiculous when U2 in the past and even now "appear" even more arrogant.
Let's compare the comments, shall we?
U2 on Rubber Soul:
U2 Speak about New Album
U2's Bono and The Edge have described their forthcoming album as 'titanium soul.' Through their new website, U2.com, the pair say 'It's not plastic, it's not silk. It's heavier than that. But, it's like a Beatles record in that every song feels like a single. The new stuff has fire and it has spunk. It's ecstatic music.'
Bono adds, 'You can download an atmosphere and dial up a groove but there's a certain magic when three musicians and a dyslexic get together and play in a room ... it's about the pure joy of playing in a band with or without an audience.'
(Source:
http://www1.******.net/news_archives.adp?newsid=850 )
Creed on The Joshua Tree:
Creed have finished writing songs for their third album, which their manager promises will have the epic scope and impact of U2's classic The Joshua Tree. The band and producer John Kurzweg rented a house in Florida on Sunday and have begun setting up a studio inside, according to manager Jeff Hanson. The band will begin recording there soon, he said.
"People will be very surprised," Hanson said of the new material. "We look at this album as our version of The Joshua Tree. This is the album we feel will set us apart."
(Source:
http://creed.sonicnet.com/artists/ai_singlestory.jhtml?id=1444927&ai_id=1243 )
I admit that it could be personal bias on my part, but I feel that U2 was speaking the language of comparisons while Creed spoke the language of imitation: 'our album is like Rubber Soul,' compared to 'we're
making the album to be the next Joshua Tree.'
What I said about Radiohead in relation to U2 can also be said about U2 in relation to the Beatles. Bono has often asserted a greatness on the level of the Beatles, but there did not seem to be a concerted effort TO COPY the Beatles. U2 strove to be as great and has become so great because they DID THEIR OWN THING.
I've read a lot about the making of the Joshua Tree (and hope to get the Making Of DVD at some point), and I've always gotten the sense that they were following their hearts -- and the public just happened to follow them. From Behind the Music, I have the sense that Creed is in large part following the paths of its influences -- and following the demographics.
It's one thing for U2 to assert that they're as good as the Beatles, and even for Creed to assert that they're as good as U2. It's another entirely for Creed to try follow in U2's footsteps to greatness.
No two people walk the same path to greatness, and it's arrogant and foolish for Creed to try.
Finally, to add fuel to the fire, here's the apparent cover for "Weathered", the forthcoming album:
Shockingly, the central image is
A TREE.
Achtung Bubba