Shuttlecock XIII - Super Deluxe Edition with T-Shirt

[Mack_Again]

Comparing Nick Cave and U2 isn't really right, I feel like

[Hewson]

So glad I didn't try and stay up for that last night.

[Hewson]

Originally Posted by lazarus

" . For me, I'm not interested in following every move of this band by checking in with this website on a daily basis.

.

See, now I come to this website on a daily basis, but for pretty much the past decade, it has very little to do with following U2's every move (except when something is really going on like a tour or fresh release).
The band have become sloths in the way they work, but I still enjoy coming here because of the folks I've gotten to "know" over the last 15 years.

[cobl04]

I am 100% not still here for U2. 100% just the jibber-jabber with friends. Laz, LM, iYup et al summed it up well.

Originally Posted by Lancemc

I didn't realize people described that album that way, unless by "natural" they just mean it doesn't have gnarly synths and dance beats anywhere in proximity. It's slick and clean pop production is in large part what I like about it, and the one fitting home for Bono's earnest-to-the-point-of-silly lyrics in the past 20 years. There's not a song on that album I don't find pleasurable to listen to for one reason or another.

Originally Posted by GirlsAloudFan

I fell asleep at the moment when namkcuR's alt track lists occurred
It was the worst series of posts I'd ever heard

Originally Posted by iron yuppie

The contrast with Nick Cave is instructive. Two artists of a similar age and experience level, yet over the last decade Cave has produced three excellent to brilliant albums with the Bad Seeds, two primal side band records, a host of film scores, and probably more stuff I am forgetting. He proves that it is possible to be an energetic, creative artistic force into one's 50s - U2 just doesn't want it.

I was going to bring this up myself. It is so fucking depressing. If they had the attitude of Nick Cave we'd still be getting great music and great shows. Regular updates. And the most ironic part is if they went down that path they would get all the love and respect that they want but will never get on the path that they're on now.

[martha]

Originally Posted by martha

One huge reason I don't want U2 to pack it in is that I don't want Interference to fold up because I'd really miss the Cockforce. Seriously. I'd really miss you guys. Not joking here.

Originally Posted by Hewson

S but I still enjoy coming here because of the folks I've gotten to "know" over the last 15 years.

Originally Posted by cobl04

I am 100% not still here for U2. 100% just the jibber-jabber with friends. Laz, LM, iYup et al summed it up well.

[DaveC]

as i said in the thread last night, it's becoming painfully obvious that u2 is full of, and surrounded by, yes-men who are completely in over their heads in today's music industry. from a business perspective, that was a spectacular failure for them not to use this vehicle to promote anything. surely they could have at least one new song to play for this if they had actually made an effort to work for it, but instead it seems vacationing took priority over their careers. it's clear that nobody inside u2 inc. has any clue how music marketing and promotion works anymore. either that or they really genuinely don't care anymore, despite everything they say to the contrary.

the band is doing all the wrong things and everyone around them is enabling them. it's like they're addicted to doing things the same way again and again and thinking it's going to work this time, and it's very frustrating as someone who's been a fan for more than half of my life.

[martha]

They keep selling all kinds of tickets to shows, though. Maybe that's whst they care about.


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

[iron yuppie]

Someone in EYKIW said that the wasted opportunities trend started to rear its ugly head as soon as McGuiness stepped down. Maybe he was more of an ingredient to their success than he is given credit for.

[DaveC]

absolutely. i think paul knew how to push them to work a little harder.

Originally Posted by martha

They keep selling all kinds of tickets to shows, though. Maybe that's whst they care about.

yea, that could be. they may not admit it but it could be that at this point they (consciously or not) just regard new albums as necessary groundwork to allow them to go out and tour, since that's obviously where the big money for musicians is these days.

[david]

They've weathered 4 decades of a music industry that evolved over time. They're no longer the band they were in their 20s where albums came out yearly or every other year backed by constant touring. I think they call the shots and Guy is just there to make things happen for them vs. he being someone that orders them to finish an album and then tells them to tour. If the album comes out first quarter of 2017 that's definitely the quickest we've gotten a full fledge follow-up album Since Zooropa.


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

[bono_212]

Nick Cave is one man. U2 is four men who have managed to stay friends for 40 years, while still being in a band together, despite living in different places, having families, side projects/interests /passion.

I don't expect them to be prolific in releasing music, and honestly don't even need it at this point. I'm tired of the struggle for relevancy because it prevents them touring, IMO, which is the main thing I wish they'd do more of, and if they WEREN'T supporting an album, maybe they'd be more willing to adopt the mantle and start doing fans pleasing shows, ie varied set lists.

It's time to hang THAT part up. I was selfish for a long time in thinking I didn't want that. That I wanted new music, but if Bruce is anything to go by, if you just let that part go, the relevancy part, you end up MORE prolific.

[david]

Well, at least they haven't gotten to a point like The Rolling Stones who have only put out 4 albums since 1989. That's 27 years. I use 89 as a reference point because Jagger and Richards were around 46 years of age when Steel Wheels was released.


Sent from my iPhone using U2 Interference

[iron yuppie]

Why the Stones routinely get trotted into discussions about U2 is beyond me. Unlike U2, the Stones don't make a habit of talking up inventive new albums and distribution methods and insinuating new shit is on the immediate horizon. Furthermore, they seem quite comfortable touring on the back of their tremendous musical legacy, which frankly is considerably more impressive than U2's. The Stones have earned the right to do whatever the hell they want music/touring wise several times over.

[PhilsFan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjnAE5go9dI

[Hewson]

Plus the Stones have a new album in the works, my bet is we see that before SOE.

[prbiker15]

Originally Posted by Hewson

Plus the Stones have a new album in the works, my bet is we see that before SOE.

Also expecting it before SOE.

[cobl04]

Originally Posted by bono_212

I don't expect them to be prolific in releasing music, and honestly don't even need it at this point. I'm tired of the struggle for relevancy because it prevents them touring, IMO, which is the main thing I wish they'd do more of, and if they WEREN'T supporting an album, maybe they'd be more willing to adopt the mantle and start doing fans pleasing shows, ie varied set lists.

It's time to hang THAT part up. I was selfish for a long time in thinking I didn't want that. That I wanted new music, but if Bruce is anything to go by, if you just let that part go, the relevancy part, you end up MORE prolific.

Bruce is the other one I was gonna bring up. Great post. It's infuriating they can't see what they could be.

I too would much rather they tour more regularly than wait interminable amounts of time for new music that doesn't end up being all that great anyway.

[Hewson]

Catching up on some youtube vids from last night, they didn't sound too bad at all.


Also Billy Idol sounded great, hope he embarks on a tour when he finishes his Vegas residency.
And Miley Cyrus needs to learn to shut the F up when Steve Stevens is shredding a solo, that's a Bono-esque move right there.

[LemonMelon]

Really don't get the righteous indignation over the performance either. People are threatening to leave the board and abandon their fandom when, at the very least, we got to see the band at their most unapologetically political in a long time. That's a great thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOV6bf6DzVs

The rest of the show sucked, but this is awesome. It's getting philistines on youtube pissed off too, which is always a nice bonus.

[Axver]

Seriously, that performance of Desire made me think we were in for a classic electrifying set. Following it with Vertigo did nothing to change that. Hell, even Elevation I understood as a decent choice for a festival crowd, but the wheels started coming off then.

I do wish some of the choices after the opening duo (maybe trio) had been different, and that U2 had taken better advantage of the situation. In particular I'm concerned about the obvious questions that have been raised about their interest/work ethic/decisionmaking. But this really wasn't too far from what I expected.