Beautiful Day kicks arse.
On the "same shit, different decade", I can see that, or at least understand that argument.
Circa Achtung - "U2 are trying too hard to be something they're not". Musically you can hear the differences straight away. New style, new sound, new influences, almost a new band. It also moves outside of that into the sorta moral issues a lot of people had. Open sexual references in the lyrics. Bono smokin' and swearin'. U2 lost loads of fans from the 80's on image alone. They wanted their stern little hillbilly Christian boys and there's Bono dressed as the devil singing about one night stands.
Post 2000 - "U2 are trying too hard." Musically again you can hear it straight away. Pop singles a plenty. Lack of depth sonicaly and lyricaly etc. The extended arguments outside the music revolve around the continuing commercialisation of the band to even newer, greater levels. People want the band that releases unpredictable Zooropa and Passengers into the market, but what they see they're getting is purely dollar driven decisions at every turn.
That's a very narrow view and summary of the two arguments, but it shows the similarities there. I don't think you should palm one off by using the other though. There are some key differences there. One is really a fear of expansion, the other is a hate of narrowing. Both are an assault on morals in a way. Some people hate to see Bono spruiking Apple as much as some back then hated seeing him 'selling' debauchery, but then those are both very very different worlds.
In the end, what has happened is a cross over. From what I've found, it's those that hated the 90's that have welcomed the 00's the most. To them, U2 took a hard left turn in 1990 and went off road down a path that meandered into nowhere, and now they are happy to find them back on the freeway. I'm sure they would have adored ATYCLB if it followed R&H, but the band would be dead in the water today. Those that took in Achtung with the most open arms are generally those who now shun the 00's stuff the most. To them, U2 put the foot on the brake around 1998, launched the car in reverse and we're all just watching the same scenery go past again from the backseat of a car that has more experienced drivers. That is NOT an 80s/90s/00s generalisation argument there either, because nothing annoys me more.
One of the earliest threads that dared speak out against The Bomb in a serious way, post the initial review stage (it took a little while after it's release for the first mega-arguments to start up) was about how U2 overcompensated after Pop and swung too far into actual pop. If you look at the above arguments and how the two sides have essentially switched places, that may be true. U2 really could go for that middle ground and make an outstanding record. There is absolutely no reason why U2 can't make records with great depth in soul and spirit, musically interesting and original, that still keep hold of a 'market' fan base. The big killer singles they desire can easily come from there, the really interesting music can stay there as well. They don't have to be simply one or the other. Excusing the obvious stylistic and thematic differences, there's absolutely no reason why Stay and Beautiful Day couldn't be on the same record. If that makes sense.
Experimentation? Whatever. To me, that's just growth, and U2 have needed it since Boy onwards. If they stalled in any period, they'd be long gone. Continual growth has kept the band at the forefront, be it atmosphere of The Unforgettable Fire or the traffic jam of Pop. To me, my want of more experimentation means I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER ALBUM THAT SOUNDS LIKE ANYTHING FROM THE 90'S. I think I just want U2 to go for a higher challenge. They are challenging themselves now to make great 'songs', and are mining their past for their best talents in creating those. The results do nothing for me, but it's a noble challenge all the same. If they can go one better - amazing songs that also happen to be new, interesting, intelligent, groundbreaking - then they've fucking nailed it for all time and I will forgive these last two albums forever, probably appreciate them in a way. I think that's actually something ALL U2 fans would love to hear.
Don't tell me you weren't disappointed with ATYCLB on the first listen or as soon as you heard track 2! 
over 90's U2. (Axver - AB or MrBrau1 - Pop to name only two examples in this subforum) 
while many others think I´m a U2 basher, an Anti-U2 man, etc, etc 
