Marr said:
I'd like to say about a thing that realy striked me a while ago.
Don't you think that U2 run away back to the 80s ?
Nope
Back to the preaching, back to the radio, back to Bono's political work, back to "saint" image.
Nope, nope, nope and nope.
HTAAb sound very traditional, almost 100% non-experimental. Where did the creative energy of AB,ZOOROPA ANd POP go?
Those albums aren't nearly as experimental as you think.
I think that an Achtung Baby is needed now, a radical change is needed. Perhaps the 2006 album? Some people would say they are too old for that. Well are they?
Enough! Enough to all this nonsense about "experimental" and "change" and "new directions". I really can't stand it any more.
Listen to JT and listen to HTDAAB. I don't hear another "With or Without You". I don't hear another "Trip...". I don't hear another "Bullet...". I don't hear another "In God's Country". These are not the same 25-27 year old "kids" that made JT. They are men now, with wives, children and, most importantly, life experiences. This album isn't about "events"; rather, it's very personal. The music now isn't about "fighter planes", but on how to make peace. This isn't about a trip to Africa, but rather, a way to save the continent. This isn't about trying to live with (or without) a love, but rather a reaffirmation of a love while acknowledging the differences.
People hear new U2 music and if it's too experimental, they aren't interested. They whine and cry, "Where's the U2 I loved?" When U2 produce something that sounds like, well, U2, they cry, "Where's the experimentation?" I really can't take it. Sheesh! You can't have both!
The ultimate irony, though, is that you DO have both.
HTDAAB has experimentation with L&PorE and "Fast Cars". It has rocking U2, it has sentimental U2, it has powerful U2. These are some of Bono's best lyrics, IMO. Edge has made this music come alive with sentimental piano and roaring guitar work. Adam is dominant on each track.
I will acquiesce, this music isn't as "innovative" as some past works. But AB-"Pop" aren't nearly as experimental as many claim. AB and "Pop" are full of "verse, chorus, verse, chorus" routines. AB stood out mostly because it was a different sound for U2 only when compared to the highly popular JT era. And, of course, the image change that accompanied AB also made it stand out even more. But when one really listens to AB, it's full of very accessible pop-rock tunes. It's little wonder the album was such a hit. Same with "Pop" (in terms of song structure). Additionally, "Pop" has plenty of "classic" U2 songs - why no criticisms there? Even "Zooropa" - arguably U2's most experimental album (along with UF), has "classic" U2 with "Dirty Day", "The First Time" and "Stay".
Bono isn't "The Fly" any more, but he's not a preacher either. He's probably the closest he's been to his "real" self - a nice cross between the two. And it's this honesty and open attitude that is the most scary - little wonder he wears shades for some "protection". But unlike the JT era, Bono isn't preaching any more. He's DONE. He isn't talking about the injustices of the world, he's correcting them. There's a big difference there - and for anyone to fail to see this is reprehensible. To my ears, this change shows up very powerfully in U2's new music.
You claim this is "back to Bono's political work". Uh... exactly what political work did he do in 1987? Did he meet with Ronald Reagan then? Did he meet with Margaret Thatcher? Did he get debts erased? Did he meet with the Pope? Don't confuse his preaching of that era with the ACTION he's doing now.
People seem to always want U2 to change. What's so wrong with U2 sounding like U2? Some claim that stagnation causes a stale result. Admittedly, that's happened with plenty of bands (e.g. INXS, one of my favorites), but does HTDAAB sound stale to anyone's ears? Many popular artists have made careers sounding like themselves. How many times have Dylan, The Stones, or Springsteen changed directions or sounds? They continue to sound like themselves and fans adore them for it. But not U2 fans - no way! We demand experimentation, as long as it still sounds like the U2 we love from 1987.
There's a reason HTDAAB is selling so well. Sure, marketing helped. But marketing doesn't cause Triple Platinum sales. All marketing does is give an album an initial boost. After that, it's up to the product to either succeed or fail. Clearly, HTDAAB is succeeding because it's a quality product. This is U2 sounding at their absolute U2 best. They toss in some hints of experimentation, but have plenty of their old familiar sounds - all brought forward to this century.
I don't know if U2 can continue to simply "sound like U2" and guarantee big sales, but I will say that having a few token albums that explore U2's own sound sure doesn't deserve this type of negativity. With the reaction on this forum, you'd think U2 made some sort of album entitled "F*ck Our Fans!".