Clayton Hints of New Direction on Next Record

dismantle · 09-12-2005, 07:11 AM

Note the highlighted section...hint of a new direction on the next record???

How U2 Masters Music and Activism
Adam Clayton credits Bono and band's fans Rock legends in T.O. for four sold-out shows

BEN RAYNER
POP MUSIC CRITIC

It often seems these days that U2, the band, is in danger of becoming completely overshadowed by Bono, the crusader.

One will, however, find no resentment within the durable Irish quartet's ranks over its singer's headline-grabbing habit of hobnobbing with world leaders on behalf of numerous noble causes.

"It's amazing to see somebody who you basically grew up with at school and who you've been in a band with for 25 years going to the White House," says bassist Adam Clayton, nibbling on mixed nuts somewhere in the catacombs beneath the Air Canada Centre, where the band will kick off a sold-out string of four shows tonight. "That's what we all signed up for. What excited us at 16 or 17 was punk, and the reason that turned us on was because (we were) angry about wanting things to change, that frustration. And that's still a part of what we are ...

"Bono gets around. But I think it's the U2 audience that he ultimately carries to those sorts of things, and our fans are very intelligent, they're very proactive, they're very committed."

Thus far, U2 has managed to sidestep the fate that has befallen some other artists similarly juggling pop and politics, such as Bob Geldof or Peter Gabriel, whose musical careers have been notably waylaid over the years by their commitment to activism.

Yet, despite Bono's ubiquitous advocacy, the band still managed this year to produce another hit album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and to sell hundreds of thousands of concert tickets on the first leg of its current Vertigo tour.

"It's a trade and, I think, what's unique about Bono is that he's been very successful at speaking the language of politicians and knowing the numbers and knowing the arguments and making great records, as well," says Clayton, 45. For a band that has held sway at the top of the rock 'n' roll heap more or less consistently since The Joshua Tree broke large in 1987, U2 maintains a commendably rigorous work ethic summed in Clayton's statement: "If we're not in the studio, we're on tour. That's the way it's always been in this band."

The only extensive break the band has taken, he says, was a six-month layoff prior to recording 1997's Pop disc — a critically and commercially maligned album that, sadly, heralded the end of the triumphantly experimental Achtung Baby/Zooropa era and marked a return to the somewhat less interesting anthemics of classic U2 on 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind and Atomic Bomb.

"It made for an interesting record but it wasn't really a complete record," Clayton now says of Pop. "It's always nice to do those experiments, but sometimes you have to make sure you have a song there. And I think what happened with Pop was it became so abstracted that the shows didn't really shine. That was our fault — we abstracted everything out and didn't really finish the songs. I think we're a better band now and I think we would finish the songs, but I think we're also less interested now in being that abstract."

Clayton will confess a personal desire to "expand the sound of U2 a little bit" in its next recording endeavour, as the band has now issued two consecutive records with "a certain kind of sound and theme." U2, he says, is very conscious of not wanting to turn into a listless caricature of itself in old age.

"In a way, though, you can't criticize a band like the Stones for still going because there's still thousands of people out there buying tickets. That's the justification right there. As long as there people out there who will jump up and down in adulation and who are passionate about you, you're not going to turn that down. It's an amazing thing."

Ellay · 09-12-2005, 07:24 AM

What I want to know is if they're going to continue down their

'somewhat less interesting anthemics of classic U2 on 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind and Atomic Bomb.' route

or start being experimental again.

The latter I hope.

U2girl · 09-12-2005, 07:26 AM

"In a way, though, you can't criticize a band like the Stones for still going because there's still thousands of people out there buying tickets. That's the justification right there. As long as there people out there who will jump up and down in adulation and who are passionate about you, you're not going to turn that down. It's an amazing thing."

Aardvark747 · 09-12-2005, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dismantle

"our fans are very intelligent, they're very proactive, they're very committed."

Sken · 09-12-2005, 07:47 AM

Quote:

"our fans are very intelligent, they're very proactive, they're very committed."

translated to, 'they bitch like a mother f*****r'

The Disciple · 09-12-2005, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sken

translated to, 'they bitch like a mother f*****r'

Touche!

dezmaas · 09-12-2005, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sken

translated to, 'they bitch like a mother f*****r'

Well put!

YBORCITY · 09-12-2005, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Aardvark747

Indeed

Sleep Over Jack · 09-12-2005, 02:24 PM

Hmm that is both encouraging and dissappointing to hear from Clatyton..that they don't want to be too abstract anymore probably means the songs won't be as intriguing as the '90s work, but I'm pleased to hear at least that they want to move away from the sound and themes of the last two albums and to prevent artistic stagnation. I think from his remark on wanting to expand the U2 sound, that we will see some more colour in the production next time out, at least.

oliveu2cm · 09-12-2005, 02:55 PM

So when's the new album coming out?

I hope they do continue to mix it up! This tank should have no "repeat" gears, not just no reverse gears!

Carmelu2fan · 09-12-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by YBORCITYOBL

Indeed

OMG that smiley is so fecking hot!!

KiteKate · 09-12-2005, 07:01 PM

EEEK.

That made me happy inside.

kakvox · 09-25-2005, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KiteKate
EEEK.

That made me happy inside.

Me too

Max_theHitman · 09-25-2005, 05:48 PM

sorry- repost - deleted.

Max_theHitman · 09-25-2005, 05:50 PM

U2 have always expressed their desire to be diferent everytime time they do a new record. They have been saying it since they recorded October, then War, then Fire, then Joshua...(etc.) so I do hope they take their music into a new direction once again.
Hopefully the next step is to go beyond what they experimented in Achtung or Zooropa, but then again they could get way too experimental and completely turn around and go "ALL out disco- fever" and do a Pop-Discoteque themed circus-album.
That is what is most interesting in this band, it doesn´t repeat itself. It is always morphing into new sounds and ideas.
Whatever the next record wil be, it ought to be impressive. (once again!)

Zoots · 09-25-2005, 06:19 PM

Clayton wants to expand their sound but does not wanna be abstract anymore? Are they trying to get to a middle ground between Pop & ATYCLB?

Sleep Over Jack · 09-25-2005, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zootlesque
Clayton wants to expand their sound but does not wanna be abstract anymore? Are they trying to get to a middle ground between Pop & ATYCLB?

You could argue Staring At The Sun, IGWSHA represent a sort of halfway point between those two album's sounds.

coemgen · 09-30-2005, 01:35 PM

I can't wait to see what they do next. I'm glad to hear they're possibly going to do something a bit different.

U2girl · 10-05-2005, 04:28 PM

"It made for an interesting record but it wasn't really a complete record," Clayton now says of Pop. "It's always nice to do those experiments, but sometimes you have to make sure you have a song there."

Carmelu2fan · 10-05-2005, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by coemgen
I can't wait to see what they do next. I'm glad to hear they're possibly going to do something a bit different.

This shoud be interesting

09-12-2005, 07:11 AM	#1
dismantle Babyface Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 29 Local Time: 03:32 PM	Clayton Hints of New Direction on Next Record Note the highlighted section...hint of a new direction on the next record??? How U2 Masters Music and Activism Adam Clayton credits Bono and band's fans Rock legends in T.O. for four sold-out shows BEN RAYNER POP MUSIC CRITIC It often seems these days that U2, the band, is in danger of becoming completely overshadowed by Bono, the crusader. One will, however, find no resentment within the durable Irish quartet's ranks over its singer's headline-grabbing habit of hobnobbing with world leaders on behalf of numerous noble causes. "It's amazing to see somebody who you basically grew up with at school and who you've been in a band with for 25 years going to the White House," says bassist Adam Clayton, nibbling on mixed nuts somewhere in the catacombs beneath the Air Canada Centre, where the band will kick off a sold-out string of four shows tonight. "That's what we all signed up for. What excited us at 16 or 17 was punk, and the reason that turned us on was because (we were) angry about wanting things to change, that frustration. And that's still a part of what we are ... "Bono gets around. But I think it's the U2 audience that he ultimately carries to those sorts of things, and our fans are very intelligent, they're very proactive, they're very committed." Thus far, U2 has managed to sidestep the fate that has befallen some other artists similarly juggling pop and politics, such as Bob Geldof or Peter Gabriel, whose musical careers have been notably waylaid over the years by their commitment to activism. Yet, despite Bono's ubiquitous advocacy, the band still managed this year to produce another hit album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and to sell hundreds of thousands of concert tickets on the first leg of its current Vertigo tour. "It's a trade and, I think, what's unique about Bono is that he's been very successful at speaking the language of politicians and knowing the numbers and knowing the arguments and making great records, as well," says Clayton, 45. For a band that has held sway at the top of the rock 'n' roll heap more or less consistently since The Joshua Tree broke large in 1987, U2 maintains a commendably rigorous work ethic summed in Clayton's statement: "If we're not in the studio, we're on tour. That's the way it's always been in this band." The only extensive break the band has taken, he says, was a six-month layoff prior to recording 1997's Pop disc — a critically and commercially maligned album that, sadly, heralded the end of the triumphantly experimental Achtung Baby/Zooropa era and marked a return to the somewhat less interesting anthemics of classic U2 on 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind and Atomic Bomb. "It made for an interesting record but it wasn't really a complete record," Clayton now says of Pop. "It's always nice to do those experiments, but sometimes you have to make sure you have a song there. And I think what happened with Pop was it became so abstracted that the shows didn't really shine. That was our fault — we abstracted everything out and didn't really finish the songs. I think we're a better band now and I think we would finish the songs, but I think we're also less interested now in being that abstract." Clayton will confess a personal desire to "expand the sound of U2 a little bit" in its next recording endeavour, as the band has now issued two consecutive records with "a certain kind of sound and theme." U2, he says, is very conscious of not wanting to turn into a listless caricature of itself in old age. "In a way, though, you can't criticize a band like the Stones for still going because there's still thousands of people out there buying tickets. That's the justification right there. As long as there people out there who will jump up and down in adulation and who are passionate about you, you're not going to turn that down. It's an amazing thing." __________________

09-12-2005, 07:24 AM	#2
Ellay Refugee Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: England Posts: 2,077 Local Time: 08:32 PM	What I want to know is if they're going to continue down their 'somewhat less interesting anthemics of classic U2 on 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind and Atomic Bomb.' route or start being experimental again. The latter I hope. __________________

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09-12-2005, 07:26 AM	#3
U2girl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: slovenija Posts: 21,096 Local Time: 09:32 PM	"In a way, though, you can't criticize a band like the Stones for still going because there's still thousands of people out there buying tickets. That's the justification right there. As long as there people out there who will jump up and down in adulation and who are passionate about you, you're not going to turn that down. It's an amazing thing."

09-12-2005, 02:24 PM	#9
Sleep Over Jack Refugee Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,089 Local Time: 07:32 PM	Hmm that is both encouraging and dissappointing to hear from Clatyton..that they don't want to be too abstract anymore probably means the songs won't be as intriguing as the '90s work, but I'm pleased to hear at least that they want to move away from the sound and themes of the last two albums and to prevent artistic stagnation. I think from his remark on wanting to expand the U2 sound, that we will see some more colour in the production next time out, at least.

09-12-2005, 02:55 PM	#10
oliveu2cm Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Live from Boston Posts: 8,334 Local Time: 03:32 PM	So when's the new album coming out? I hope they do continue to mix it up! This tank should have no "repeat" gears, not just no reverse gears!

09-12-2005, 07:01 PM	#12
KiteKate The Fly Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 186 Local Time: 07:32 PM	EEEK. That made me happy inside.

09-25-2005, 05:48 PM	#14
Max_theHitman Refugee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Planet_Portugal Posts: 1,163 Local Time: 07:32 PM	sorry- repost - deleted.

09-25-2005, 05:50 PM	#15
Max_theHitman Refugee Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Planet_Portugal Posts: 1,163 Local Time: 07:32 PM	U2 have always expressed their desire to be diferent everytime time they do a new record. They have been saying it since they recorded October, then War, then Fire, then Joshua...(etc.) so I do hope they take their music into a new direction once again. Hopefully the next step is to go beyond what they experimented in Achtung or Zooropa, but then again they could get way too experimental and completely turn around and go "ALL out disco- fever" and do a Pop-Discoteque themed circus-album. That is what is most interesting in this band, it doesn´t repeat itself. It is always morphing into new sounds and ideas. Whatever the next record wil be, it ought to be impressive. (once again!)

09-25-2005, 06:19 PM	#16
Zoots Blue Crack Supplier Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: the great beyond Posts: 36,802 Local Time: 09:32 PM	Clayton wants to expand their sound but does not wanna be abstract anymore? Are they trying to get to a middle ground between Pop & ATYCLB?

09-30-2005, 01:35 PM	#18
coemgen Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Black and White Town Posts: 3,962 Local Time: 02:32 PM	I can't wait to see what they do next. I'm glad to hear they're possibly going to do something a bit different.

10-05-2005, 04:28 PM	#19
U2girl Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: slovenija Posts: 21,096 Local Time: 09:32 PM	"It made for an interesting record but it wasn't really a complete record," Clayton now says of Pop. "It's always nice to do those experiments, but sometimes you have to make sure you have a song there."