Struggling

[Zoon]

I'm new here but not a new U2 fan. I've been aware of the band since New Year's Day was on MTV. I became a fan with Joshua Tree and a dedicated fan with Achtung Baby. I loved Zooropa, Pop, ATYCLB. From HTDMAAB, I've felt like U2 records are more a collection of songs than albums. SOE is a bit better as a cohesive whole. I just don't see it having much lasting power in my rotation. The songs don't really mean much to me.

I love all sorts of music. This year I've been to all sorts of concerts:

Spoon, New Pornographers, Elvis Costello, Imelda May, Shovels and Rope, Mastodon, A Perfect Circle, Soundgarden (one of their last), The Avett Brothers, Occam's, Daddy Issues, Diet Cig, The Flaming Lips, clipping, Son Volt, Johnny Irion, Jason Herring & The Mystery Plan, Knives and Daggers, Junior Astronomers, etc.

I'd say none of those artists would be so desperate for radio play as U2. And none are near as successful. I'm not saying what U2 does is wrong, it's just nothing I'm really into. I don't listen to pop radio and that's what U2 seems to want.

I'm also annoyed at the fan club thing. I paid $50 bucks for the chance to roll the dice and maybe get good tickets. It took me 30 minutes of the site crashing to finally be offered $300 tickets. The apology from the fan club was a set of dates that would require me to travel hundreds of miles and spend even more money on hotels. Great, thanks.

The fan club for tickets is almost a form of gambling illegal in my state. I can't think of any big tour act that treats their fans this way. Except for maybe big giant, shallow, pop acts. U2 has moved into that category for me.

This hurts because U2 has meant so much to me over the last 25 years. But I'm sick of being preyed upon by the richest band in the world. Maybe I've got it all wrong but I fear I'm near the end of my fandom.

Apologies for using the intro for this, not sure where else it should go.

 

[BGD75]

I think that lots of fans are feeling disappointed with how the pre-sale thing went and how it has been handled. Vertigo was the last time I felt anxious about getting tickets. Last 3 tours were pretty straight forward and never an issue getting GAs I wanted. I am still convinced ticket sale fiasco has more to do with live Nation and Ticketbastards, but still wish that the band would do something about it.

sorry to hear you are not enjoying the new music. But that is a personal thing I guess. No artist / band in the world can come out with an album that will please every-single-fan(!!). Personally, I am quite happy with the new release.....and from what i have read on this board, most fans seem to dig the new release.

 

[Iggy Fizz]

Most of my struggles with this band stem from Bono and his insufferable need to be the biggest and best band in the world, and all of the embarrassing self promotion that has come with it. Not to mention the incessant political/activist noise.

But I gotta say, I keep staying with this band because musically, they usually deliver. And boy, have they ever delivered with this album. Not clear just yet how it will hold up over time for me but right now it is sounding brilliant to my ears.

 

[trevgreg]

Welcome aboard! Hope you stay awhile

I'm new here but not a new U2 fan. I've been aware of the band since New Year's Day was on MTV. I became a fan with Joshua Tree and a dedicated fan with Achtung Baby. I loved Zooropa, Pop, ATYCLB. From HTDMAAB, I've felt like U2 records are more a collection of songs than albums. SOE is a bit better as a cohesive whole. I just don't see it having much lasting power in my rotation. The songs don't really mean much to me.... I'd say none of those artists would be so desperate for radio play as U2. And none are near as successful. I'm not saying what U2 does is wrong, it's just nothing I'm really into. I don't listen to pop radio and that's what U2 seems to want.

Like BGD75 sort of hinted at, after 14 or so albums and a few hundred songs released since they started, it's pretty much impossible to impress every single fan or make everyone happy with whatever they release. A lot of bands, even the ones you listed, aren't going to necessarily reach that point or are at the age this band is. Personally, even if I got a few consistent songs to listen to every release, I'd be a happy camper for the most part. Not every fan base is that lucky either. Or even us... some of us come and go from these places once life or other things take over. I don't think music means the same thing to me it did when I was a teenager, but I'm still at a point where I"ll hear new songs when I can and take them for what they are. For some bands, I still keep track of new releases after all these years. For some, I fell off the bandwagon and don't keep up with them as much since it doesn't click for me anymore. And that's fine too.

I don't think it would matter if most of these albums were geared towards a rock/pop/ambient/country vibe or whatever it would ultimately be. SOE isn't quite clicking with me as much as SOI did on the initial listens, but hey, these things are fluid over time. Maybe that'll change and maybe it won't?

As for "airplay" and such, it's worth pointing out that this is one of the few groups or acts out there which will put out tons and tons of interviews over the years. We're going to overanalyze every intention and take things on face value, etc. I wouldn't put too much stock in it myself. If they truly wanted to go the contemporary pop route, we would have had the collaborations with Chainsmokers and hip-hop beats album by now.

I'm also annoyed at the fan club thing. I paid $50 bucks for the chance to roll the dice and maybe get good tickets. It took me 30 minutes of the site crashing to finally be offered $300 tickets. The apology from the fan club was a set of dates that would require me to travel hundreds of miles and spend even more money on hotels. Great, thanks.

The fan club for tickets is almost a form of gambling illegal in my state. I can't think of any big tour act that treats their fans this way. Except for maybe big giant, shallow, pop acts. U2 has moved into that category for me.

I guess I was lucky in that the Verified Fan thing was fairly painless and allowed me to go to the two shows I wanted to. A lot of people had trouble though, so you're certainly not the only one. I don't know if it helped that I kept my subscription up-to-date over the years, but yeah. It could be worse, I guess... GA tickets could be $150+ or have even more fees for early entry. Most tickets could be running around $1000+ on StubHub, et. al.

They're not going to be an act with a small fan base playing the 930 Club or First Avenue anymore though. So for that reason alone, I never really expect to have the easiest experience getting tickets each time. Especially arena shows. But it's usually worked out for me in the end, so there's that.

A lot of us are surprised that they're even touring to the extent they are this year after such a big tour last year. At least they're still touring, unlike Prince or Soundgarden or whoever else... so I'll catch them if and when I can, even if a seven-hour road trip is required or not.

 

[Yahweh]

Welcome