purpleoscar
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
What I have seen is people get sick of the band. In 04 with HTDAAB, it was a nice treat to welcome U2 back, and everyone was liking them, but by the time 06 grammys were over, pretty much all the casual fans and non fans were sick to death of the band. Than they decided to collab with the worlds most overplayed rock act Green Day, and it was pretty much U2 overload at that point.
This is the reason why success breeds haters. Anything that repeats too much is naturallly irritating. U2 had the album, Bono AFRICA campaigning, the long Vertigo tour that was extended due to family health problems, and U2 3D. There were also DVD releases of Chicago and Milan. U2 was also making people sick after the Joshua Tree/Rattle & Hum/R & H movie era. Too much. I think that's partly why U2 change their sound. From an article I read U2 knew what Coldplay were up to and could sense their "territory" being encroached on so they turned a corner on the new album. When U2 went towards POP a lot of music got more electronic (especially Radiohead) and then U2 turned a corner when Kid A came out just so they can be different. You have to stay on your toes if you want to be on top.
Here's what Adam said during the Moroccan sessions:
"Whatever comes of these Moroccan sessions, and those that preceded them in France, Adam agrees that they seem to be a conscious departure from All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. "By the end of the last tour everyone thought that for us to come back with a "part two" of the rock record would not be right.
"Partly it is important for us to surprise people, but partly it is about the mood that is out there. For example there are a lot of young rock bands out there at the moment doing really great stuff and it feels to us like let them do that..."
And for those who hate Coldplay for trying to take on U2, just remember those interviews where The Edge called The Rolling Stones "unimpressive" live, and that [U2] were better? He WAS right, but you know what is going on? It's competition. Get used to it. I think U2 will ride out the Coldplay thing, because they make nice music but it's doesn't last on repeat listenings the way U2 does. Chris Martin is more a big U2 fan with some talent than a real competitor.
The best band is the one that can be listened to more often without fatigue.