POLL : Will there be a new album in 2002?

[ultraviolet353]

U2 fans are some of the smartest most informed fans on the planet. This is why I ask if you think there will be a new album in 2002. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and why you think YES or NO. If you have evidence (even if it is only hearsay) that backs up either please let us know.

 

[hippy]

Oh lord I hope so...

I actually do think that there will be an album, it seems like our lads have been working hard this year and have a lot of motivation to write and perform. I saw an interview (I think it was the one Bono released about his dad's last words) where Bono mentioned that they would be working during the end of this year and really writing and trying to get things together.

I really hope that there is a new album in 2002, would be a great thing to see.

------------------
One love, one life...
Give peace a chance!
Don't let the bastards grind you down!

Bono: I don't walk, I swagger! I sashayed once, but just once. It wasn't for me.

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Believe me, it would be great if there were, but I really, really doubt it. Why do I say this? U2 have historically taken much longer to write albums than they say they will/should take. Pop was a few months late, and we all know the story with ATYCLB: a whole YEAR late! Even Zooropa -- their quickest recorded album to date -- was originally supposed to be only an EP with 4 songs. Of course, it turned into an album when things got interesting. The point is, when U2 begins to get into an album, a whole lot of things can change, and time limits are usually thrown out the window. Bono likes to go off at the hip, and when he says things like they're going straight into the studio, what he really means, they're going straight into the studio -- after a few pints of Guiness and everything else in between. Trust me: Edge can verify this!

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The Tempest

[This message has been edited by Michael Griffiths (edited 12-10-2001).]

 

[WHYWHY]

Well it's actually quite complex really. If Bono listens to Edge and Paul McGuiness, and basically does what's best for him and takes a LONG time off- like 9 months- it will really do him some good, and we'd have a new album around August of 2003, but the from the looks of things- based on their sudden creative flow, and the fact that they had MANY songs from the ATYCLB sessions that were not released eg. "Original of the Species" and in particular the possible B-side "The sun, the moon and the stars", I reckon they have a VERY good chance of bringing out a new album. Ofcourse I have a feeling that if they bring out a new album too quickly, it will be like a second installment to the ATYCLB series or something like that. They need to take it another place again.....which I'm sure they have, but no matter how hard they may have worked on it during the tour or any breaks, songs and esp. albums need time to develop, especially for a band like U2, who just made an album that is based on their own styles and skills.
Anyway, after all that....yes, I think U2 will put out anotheralbum next year- very late next year- based on the fact that they've done so in the past (RnH, Zooropa). Hopefully this time, it will be received a bit better whether critically or popularly (both will probably be the case).
The thing I've been wondering about is, that seeing that U2 have had so many tracks that they did not release, why don't they use them as B-sides? I mean, they used ALWAYS, which was never in contention of being on the album, it was always going to be a b-side, if released at all. Always is a very raw sounding song, which frankly, needs a LOT of work. I like it, but it just doesn't have the fullness of a complete song.
So, after reading that, you may be wondering what my point is- well, U2 have some 9 tracks left over from the ATYCLB sessions that were in contention for a spot on the album, based on that information, I think that if they release a new album next year, it will be too much like ATYCLB, besides, U2 need a break anyway, they haven't had one since 1994.
Just my opinion

WHYWHY.

 

[Dorian Gray]

There will be! Mark my words...

My reasoning..

New spin mag has several quotes to that effect. They are in the studio now.. they're planning on touring Europe this summer (Swedish radio has already leaked the fact that negotiations for a summer concert have been finalized) and they've got song's already written...

Look for the new album in July! Trust me.

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And I felt like a star...

 

[WHYWHY]

Yeah, I was an idiot to make it so complex. I mean, U2 will most likely come out with new stuff next year. But I'm hoping it's developed. I don't want it to be rushed, and it shouldn't, based on what happens to many U2 songs during their recording sessions. I don't want U2 to crash after lifting off again, from landing in POP (fantastic album by the way- don't understand why some people don't like it). Zooropa was a flood of creative ideas, which is what U2 have right now. It needed some development for eg. Dirty Day, Lemon, Daddy's gonna pay, and Numb.
They sound good, but just take a look at them two months after the album was released. Lemon was a so much more structured song. Numb was so complex, Dirty had matured, and all that happened due to 3 weeks of practising of the Zooropa songs in San Fransisco (I believe) and Sydney.
I hope U2 do take this into account
Anyway, I hope I've made a relevant point.
WHYWHY

[This message has been edited by WHYWHY (edited 12-12-2001).]

 

[Matthew_Page2000]

No way, no how. It'll never happen. It takes U2 about a year to make an album nowadays. Both Pop and All That You Can't Leave Behind took MORE than a year. Using this formula the earliest that we could expect a new album would be December 2002. But we all know that that will never happen. U2 are likely touring this summer which will take up months of potential recording time. U2 are also playing at the Super Bowl and at the ABC New Years Eve concert and that will take up lots of rehearsal time as well.
Moreover the boys are writing songs for Martin Scorcese's next movie which will take up potential recording time and potential songs for a new album.
By the time the boys are done touring next summer they'll be exhausted and creatively tapped. There's no way that they'll want to go back to the studio for a year, record a new album and then go on tour again for two years. It won't happen.
Expect a new album around October 2004 at the soonest.

Sigh. That's a REALLY long way away.
MAP

 

[Lilly]

As much as I want it, I don't want them to be rushed. They should (and I'm sure will) take their time, they have a HUGE record to follow up. ATYCLB adds a lot of pressure, but I'm sure whatever they release I shall love and live with. Though, while I say "no rush" I don't mean 2 years!! That's just too long.

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Go lightly down your darkened way.

 

[WHYWHY]

Yes, I know, I'm posting a lot, but this is a very controversial topic....-goes with my nature

.
Anyway, Bono said at the end of the European Leg that he'd been writing for new songs non-stop. He also said he'd nailed down quite a few new songs, so they had already started and obviously had a number of new songs and tunes. Now that U2 have been in sessions for the past 1-2 weeks, with a sudden creative flair, and Bono STILL writing more lyrics, I'd say they'd been close to 5 new songs and 5 or 6 other new tunes.
I think U2 are pretty crazy right now. They just can't be stopped. ANyway.....here's to putting it off! (Until December at least)
WHYWHY

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Matthew,

How's it going? Thanks again for the greatest concert of my life last April!! Anyway, back to the topic... Though I can understand your reasoning, I don't think U2 will have to worry so much about wasting any studio time recording for the new Scorcese movie, as I believe U2 have already recorded the songs? Have you heard evidence to the contrary? The last thing I read was that the soundtrack was already complete, and U2 only contributed one song. Now, what I read may be totally out to lunch, but if it is accurate, obviously it won't be a factor. The last time Bono mentioned anything about it in print was from the Spin article, and that interview was a couple months ago (just after the Montreal concert, 3rd leg I believe). At the time I think the the work was still in progress, but now it could be finished. Just something to ponder...

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The Tempest

[This message has been edited by Michael Griffiths (edited 12-13-2001).]

 

[Matthew_Page2000]

Hey Michael! Life is great right now.
I'm still happy the ticket went to a real U2 fan.

Regarding a new album; I'm so used to U2 delaying things for months (and occasionally years) that I'm reluctant to get excited this early. I don't want to get my hopes up only to have them cruelly dashed by an extended band vacation in the South of France.
Besides, if I convince myself that the album is coming out in 2004 and it actually comes out next year it will be a heck of a pleasant surprise.

MAP

 

[Michael Griffiths]

And speaking of the South of France, Bono is there right now, according to U2.net, so I see what you're driving at!

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The Tempest

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Sorry, I meant YOUTWO.net...

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The Tempest

 

[hippy]

*wishes she still lived in the South of France....*

Damn, why didn't I decide to stay?

Argh!!!!Life is sooooo frustrating sometimes.

------------------
One love, one life...
Give peace a chance!
Don't let the bastards grind you down!

Bono: I don't walk, I swagger! I sashayed once, but just once. It wasn't for me.

 

[Pate20]

PLEASE!
Well, if there is one, what do you think, what will it be like?

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Friday night running to Sunday on my knees.

 

[WHYWHY]

Personally i think it would be premature to try to guess what U2's next album will sound like, but I will act contrary to my thoughts.
i guess that means i'm the kind of person who makes assumptions with no evidence.
i reckon this next album is going to be a fair bit like ATYCLB, except a bit more experimental- I believe it will be closest to Unforgettable Fire in sound, but definitely in material.
Ofcourse these are all baseless assumptions.
WHYWHY

[This message has been edited by WHYWHY (edited 12-15-2001).]

 

[WHYWHY]

Ok, so that last email may have been a bit strong. Please, no one take offense by it....
WHYWHY

 

[Michael Griffiths]

Well, I'll attempt to use some evidence, albeit miniscule. From the Spin article, Bono said a few things:

* some of the songs on ATYCLB were "too structured," and in some ways lacked what U2 can do really well -- ie, the slightly abstract things.

* that ATYCLB was introduction to a whole new way of writing songs. That they want to pursue this new way (seems contradictory to the first point, doesn't it?)

* That he wrote a few new songs while in Bali, one of which was about his Dad. (This would probably imply rather peaceful, soulful music.)

* That they still want to write songs that are so good that radio pretty much has to play them.

What Edge has said:

*Though Bono wants to get right back into the studio, it never ends up that way. They have to record it over a period of time, and plug away at it.

* Wants it to be a guitar record.


So, what can we take from all of this? Given that the band are on fire right now, and have a lot of tour energy built up, I think there will be an interesting mish-mash between the tranquil ideas of Bono and the rawness of the guitar sounds that Edge wants to employ. I think these two forces, rather than extinguishing each other, will -- much like what happend on Achtung Baby -- take each other for a ride, and end us giving us an album that lifts the spirit, but does so very loudly. I think this is the album that combines joy with earnest punk energy. Kind of like Achtung Baby's in your face attitude, but with a much more optimistic result. Hope will permeate this new record (so, in that sense, it will be similar to ATYCLB), but sonically it will blow the roof off your head. The songs won't be as structured as ATYCLB, meaning there will be extra leeway and flexibility in the delivery, but the songwriting will still be crafted very well (think 'New Year's Day', for example). The music will give you the impression that it *could* go anywhere, but it will still have clear purpose and direction. The fact that they still want to write songs that will get radio airplay isn't necessarily a bad thing. 'One' is a song that radio pretty much HAD to play. That's what I think Bono means. You don't have to write in the same style as your contemporaries to get played. As long as it's stands out, and gets people grooving...

Will it be ATYCLB part 2? No. Will it be an extension of ATYCLB? Yes. But before you panic, if you really listen next time, you'll realize that Achtung Baby is an obvious extension of Rattle and Hum. It's not as much of a shocker as people make it out to be (I'm of course speaking of the attitude Bono started to take up during R&H, mostly lyrically but even musically -- think 'God Part 2' and 'Hawkmoon' for the most obvious).

Just my 21 cents...

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The Tempest

[This message has been edited by Michael Griffiths (edited 12-15-2001).]

 

[Holy John]

I predict the album will be out in the spring/Summer of 2002, let's say in MAY..

cheers

------------------
United Nations : www.un.org - UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) : www.unicef.org
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) : <A HREF="http://www.unesco.org

?Je" TARGET=_blank>www.unesco.org

?Je</A> suis le dernier homme. Contre tous, je me d?fendrai...?
"I am the last man. Against all, I shall defend myself..."
- 'Rhinoc?ros', Ionesco

 

[Holy John]

And the first single will be a summer-like song, to fit the mood of may....

cheers

and a return to guitar, real one, with a new world-wide tour and a live video being the first non-edited U2 released video.


cheers

------------------
United Nations : www.un.org - UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) : www.unicef.org
UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) : <A HREF="http://www.unesco.org

?Je" TARGET=_blank>www.unesco.org

?Je</A> suis le dernier homme. Contre tous, je me d?fendrai...?
"I am the last man. Against all, I shall defend myself..."
- 'Rhinoc?ros', Ionesco

 

[popkidu2]

Maybe if they really are on fire and they don't start back on tour until april or may they could do it. Or, if they are just touring Europe for the beginning of the summer they could tour and record in france or dublin fairly easily. If they tour for another year, doing south america and australia, I doubt it.

My guess is August 2002 at the earliest, more likely January 2003.

But who knows. Maybe U2 has finally reached the point where they can release an album quickly...

 

[Blue Room]

I think Holy John is right on the money. U2 plans out their schedule like a well oiled machine. They have concrete and tentative plans for the next 2 years already set. Count on a new album this spring/early summer and a European stadium tour from there. Tentatively they may tour Australia, Japan and S. America in the fall and if the new album and tour are doing well they will return to the U.S. in spring 2003 for a stadium tour(Spring 2003 is very tentative though). Supposedly half of the songs are already written and some are left overs from ATYCLB that just need some re-tooling. It only took them 6 months to record Zooropa, it only took 7-8 months to record the Unf. Fire and they started from scratch for that one. Since they are obviously not starting from scratch it is very feasible for them to do an album in 6 to 7 months.

I remember hearing the same doubdts during the Zoo TV tour when reports started circulating during the Outside Broadcast tour (equivelant to the Elevation leg 3) that U2 were going to make a new album and tour Europe and Australia the following summer and fall. We wound up with a 2 1/2 year tour that covered most of the world and a new album. So it is VERY possible.



[This message has been edited by Blue Room (edited 12-21-2001).]

 

[Mr EDGE]

U2 is currently working on a new studio album, as well as the soundtrack for the upcoming Martin Scorsese film Gangs Of New York,

Among the new songs being worked up is a track called "Electrical Storm," the report said.
http://www.atu2.com/news/


[This message has been edited by Mr EDGE (edited 01-04-2002).]

 

[Kieran McConville]

Not a chance. This train never runs on time.

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"It wouldn't be a cry from the heart
or a high, hurtin' wail
we could look down and laugh now
I'd be all together
I'd be totally removed..."

 

[Kieran McConville]

Originally posted by Michael Griffiths:

Will it be ATYCLB part 2? No. Will it be an extension of ATYCLB? Yes. But before you panic, if you really listen next time, you'll realize that Achtung Baby is an obvious extension of Rattle and Hum. It's not as much of a shocker as people make it out to be (I'm of course speaking of the attitude Bono started to take up during R&H, mostly lyrically but even musically -- think 'God Part 2' and 'Hawkmoon' for the most obvious).

Just my 21 cents...

[/B]

Oh, definitely. In retrospect, Achtung Baby is clearly an extension of what came before, particularly lyrically. If there ever was a shocker (in a good way) it was Zooropa.

I hope to God they do 'loosen up' on this next record. Just as life is not a dress rehearsal, an album shouldn't just be a dress rehearsal for what might go down on tour (though we all know they are transcendent live).



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"It wouldn't be a cry from the heart
or a high, hurtin' wail
we could look down and laugh now
I'd be all together
I'd be totally removed..."

 

[mad1]

No, Claytons brother told me Spring 2004.

 

[Dorian Gray]

Originally posted by Blue Room:
I It only took them 6 months to record Zooropa, it only took 7-8 months to record the Unf. Fire and they started from scratch for that one. Since they are obviously not starting from scratch it is very feasible for them to do an album in 6 to 7 months.
(edited 12-21-2001).]

Get yer facts straight!

Zooropa was recorded in 6 weeks... check out u2.com

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And I felt like a star...

 

[ultraviolet353]

Now I am worried. @U2 is reproting that the BEST OF 1991-2001 will be released later this year. It is just a rumour at this point, but if it were to be true, there would definitely NOT be a new U2 album. Let's hope this isn't true.

 

[Salome]

I think there will be a new album this year

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Salome
Shake it, shake it, shake it

 

[camiloj]

I definitely think that they are going to release an album this year and I would say it will be done and mp3s leaked on the internet BEFORE they start the summer tour.

If this was a normal time, I'd say no way would they have another album out yet. But we are in an era with U2 similiar to the one in the 80s and very very similiar to the point in the huge Zoo TV/post Achtung Baby success where they 1)Had left over ideas/songs from AB 2)Wrote songs on the tour and 3)Recorded in the studio during breaks from touring and then BOOM, yes, in less then two years after the release of AB, we had a NEW U2 album. And did it sound just like AB? Absolutely not. SO I think that those of you say "oh it will be rushed" or "it will be ATYCLB Part 2" are not looking at U2 history. Historically, it is very very possible for them to have this album out by July 2002. They were in the studio back in late November 2000 when they did the My VH-1 awards while in L.A., their security told me (for those of you who dont know I worked closely with U2's security at that show as a talent escort). I asked him "oh filming a video" and he said "no, recording". And I thought maybe it was a B side (personally I think it was Big Girls Are BEst but everyone seems to think that is from the Pop era, has U2 ever said that?). But I think (now I am theorizing) that U2 has been recording and jamming in a studio and maybe doing some recording whenever they have had the chance to since ATYCLB came out. It came out 10/31/2000, it is entirely feasibnle to have a new ablum out by 7/2002. News reports have had them in a studio in Monte Carlo prior to the holidays. I think they will wrap the album up in the next couple of months and do some final production stuff and have it out by Summer. They are on a roll, just like they were after Achtung Baby and I think they can do it again (record an album in six weeks).

This is what I think at this point. If they have delays, I am sure we will hear about it and it will make the news and we can re-theorize on the release of the new album. For now, I think we can trust the press reports.