Songs of Ascent - Part III

[Niceman]

i could see it happening, especially if they feel that there are some songs that just aren't ready yet.

Well, all I can say is that there is no history of u2 doing what you suggest they will. that doesn't mean they definitely won't - but I think it's a strong argument...

 

[andyuk]

what about doing something completely different and release 6 brand new singles throughout the whole of 2010 one every 2 months. No album as such just 6 brand new tracks for radio/download only

 

[mikal]

history shmistory.

 

[nirniva]

I fucking hope not.

Not a fan of Jay-Z at all, and I hate the fact that he ruined one of the only Coldplay songs I like - 'Lost'.

I LIKE Coldplay and I can't listen to the Jay-Z mix of "Lost!" Seriously, aaaaaaaaargh.

 

[subnet]

WAIA equals EP
SOA does not equal WAIA
Therefore, SOA does not equal EP

 

[Streets613]

I LIKE Coldplay and I can't listen to the Jay-Z mix of "Lost!" Seriously, aaaaaaaaargh.

Jay-Z's verse makes the song so much better!! Just because he's not singing doesn't mean that his lyrics aren't powerful and brilliant. Making generalizations about rap just because most of it is about nothing is neither fair nor intelligent.

 

[powerhour24]

On paper Magnificent and Crazy Tonight were hit singles waiting to happen, the fickle hip hop loving radio disagreed, so I doubt they'll be rushing out their material just to pimp EBW on the hope it'll be a hit single.

 

[LyricalDrug]

i don't see how U2 could tour stadiums for another year without new material.

Ordinarily I'd agree, but the thing is, tickets are already going on sale for next year's shows and they're selling out. Here's hoping, though. My fingers are crossed that U2 is still on such a high from the last leg that they want to get right back in the studio and get cracking on SOA.

 

[Streets613]

On paper Magnificent and Crazy Tonight were hit singles waiting to happen, the fickle hip hop loving radio disagreed, so I doubt they'll be rushing out their material just to pimp EBW on the hope it'll be a hit single.

Crazy: maybe
Magnificent: definatally not

 

[powerhour24]

Ummm, ringing Edge guitar, soaring vocals, catchy chorus? On paper that's a hit, given how positive it is and how negative and poppy the radio is, maybe not.

 

[Screwtape2]

I don't think we'll get an EP. I believe it will be album or nothing. Bono seems invested in this album and thinks there is something to the material. A passionate and invested Bono will go a long way.

 

[yenlard]

maybe they can do a song with lady gaga......that will get airplay

 

[dan_smee]

what about doing something completely different and release 6 brand new singles throughout the whole of 2010 one every 2 months. No album as such just 6 brand new tracks for radio/download only

cant see it happening given that they are being raped in the charts.

They need albums to sell units

 

[FlamingRudy]

If they don´t manage to finish SOA somehow, then this was our last chance to hear experimental, deep U2 once more. Otherwise the next regular album will be another singles collection in the vein of HTTAAB, begging for radio airplay and immediate (and flat) hit singles.

 

[dan_smee]

If they don´t manage to finish SOA somehow, then this was our last chance to hear experimental, deep U2 once more. Otherwise the next regular album will be another singles collection in the vein of HTTAAB, begging for radio airplay and immediate (and flat) hit singles.

Can you also tell me what tonight's lottery numbers are?

 

[djerdap]

My entire point is that it may be the same result (ie no album) but there is plenty of evidence suggesting this time is at least a different process and a different starting point

Based on talk man. Talk, talk, talk. As soon as they start doing something in Vancouver, than we'll see. And I hope you're right. A Zooropa-like project (without giving it too much thought) may be a perfect step for U2 right now. Artistically, that is. Commercially, based on some descriptions, it could be a nightmare, which is why this one may not be out there as soon as Bono said it would be.

 

[loudreamer]

I think they will finish and release Songs Of Ascent come march/april 2010.
I say this without bashing anyone here who thinks they will release an EP or they will keep touring without new material, because I understand the logic of their reasoning.
But...
The way I see it, when U2 were working on No Line On The Horizon they had so much material that they could have released a double-album, but opted to make an 11-song album balancing their love for "future hymns", their search for innovation, and their vision of what makes an album feel like a classic. They wanted to create a new masterpiece (and in my opinion they did ).
What can they do with all those songs that didn't make it? It was revealed in Rolling Stone that Eno was hard at work on that material even as the band were finishing the final mixes for No Line On The Horizon...
The same source revealed that the band already had a plan in place for that material: a new album, with the name of Songs Of Ascent, with a chosen lead single in Every Breaking Wave, with the concept of making it a sister album to NLOTH to be released in the break of the tour, as they had already done with Zooropa.
Ok, I guess it's fair to say that in the last decade U2 has showed that they work quite different from what we were used to, and now they need more time to release their albums.
But as Dan Smee has said many times in this thread, there is so much evidence this time around that points to the contrary.
In my opinion, the band is creating a new chapter in their history, and Songs Of Ascent is vital to fully achieve this. I can't imagine them abandoning the plan to release a sister album to NLOTH when there's so much work already made for this to happen and Bono and Larry both have shown confidence about this happening.
But of course anything could happen...this is just speculation and wishfull thinking that our beloved band will give us more of their extraordinary music!
I'm making this post with the sole intention of keeping our positivity!

 

[nielsgov]

I think they will finish and release Songs Of Ascent come march/april 2010.
I say this without bashing anyone here who thinks they will release an EP or they will keep touring without new material, because I understand the logic of their reasoning.
But...
The way I see it, when U2 were working on No Line On The Horizon they had so much material that they could have released a double-album, but opted to make an 11-song album balancing their love for "future hymns", their search for innovation, and their vision of what makes an album feel like a classic. They wanted to create a new masterpiece (and in my opinion they did ).
What can they do with all those songs that didn't make it? It was revealed in Rolling Stone that Eno was hard at work on that material even as the band were finishing the final mixes for No Line On The Horizon...
The same source revealed that the band already had a plan in place for that material: a new album, with the name of Songs Of Ascent, with a chosen lead single in Every Breaking Wave, with the concept of making it a sister album to NLOTH to be released in the break of the tour, as they had already done with Zooropa.
Ok, I guess it's fair to say that in the last decade U2 has showed that they work quite different from what we were used to, and now they need more time to release their albums.
But as Dan Smee has said many times in this thread, there is so much evidence this time around that points to the contrary.
In my opinion, the band is creating a new chapter in their history, and Songs Of Ascent is vital to fully achieve this. I can't imagine them abandoning the plan to release a sister album to NLOTH when there's so much work already made for this to happen and Bono and Larry both have shown confidence about this happening.
But of course anything could happen...this is just speculation and wishfull thinking that our beloved band will give us more of their extraordinary music!
I'm making this post with the sole intention of keeping our positivity!

I hope so much that you're right.

 

[Niceman]

I think they will finish and release Songs Of Ascent come march/april 2010.
I say this without bashing anyone here who thinks they will release an EP or they will keep touring without new material, because I understand the logic of their reasoning.
But...
The way I see it, when U2 were working on No Line On The Horizon they had so much material that they could have released a double-album, but opted to make an 11-song album balancing their love for "future hymns", their search for innovation, and their vision of what makes an album feel like a classic. They wanted to create a new masterpiece (and in my opinion they did ).
What can they do with all those songs that didn't make it? It was revealed in Rolling Stone that Eno was hard at work on that material even as the band were finishing the final mixes for No Line On The Horizon...
The same source revealed that the band already had a plan in place for that material: a new album, with the name of Songs Of Ascent, with a chosen lead single in Every Breaking Wave, with the concept of making it a sister album to NLOTH to be released in the break of the tour, as they had already done with Zooropa.
Ok, I guess it's fair to say that in the last decade U2 has showed that they work quite different from what we were used to, and now they need more time to release their albums.
But as Dan Smee has said many times in this thread, there is so much evidence this time around that points to the contrary.
In my opinion, the band is creating a new chapter in their history, and Songs Of Ascent is vital to fully achieve this. I can't imagine them abandoning the plan to release a sister album to NLOTH when there's so much work already made for this to happen and Bono and Larry both have shown confidence about this happening.
But of course anything could happen...this is just speculation and wishfull thinking that our beloved band will give us more of their extraordinary music!
I'm making this post with the sole intention of keeping our positivity!

I agree 100%!

 

[popacrobat]

Well, the latest report (rumor) about the south Pacific leg being in the fall/winter next year rather than Spring gives more hope to releasing an album prior to the start of Leg 3 in June. But they could still add South American dates or something for May, but still - that's more time to work on an album rather than going to Australia in say February or March.

 

[dan_smee]

Based on talk man. Talk, talk, talk. As soon as they start doing something in Vancouver, than we'll see. And I hope you're right. A Zooropa-like project (without giving it too much thought) may be a perfect step for U2 right now. Artistically, that is. Commercially, based on some descriptions, it could be a nightmare, which is why this one may not be out there as soon as Bono said it would be.

what else could we base it on?

The point people continually miss is that the talk is DIFFERENT.

a) it started right after the album was released, not after the tour ended.

b) it originally came from Bono, then Edge chimed in. Larry has spoken about it. As has Sam O'Sullivan and Stuart Morgan. And Eno. And Lanois. Also u2.com has NAMED songs of ascent a few times. Can't remember any mention of HTDAAB on u2.com in 2001. Or Mention of NLOTH in 2005.

c) they may not need to do much more to get it in shape. They have a great launching pad, but we dont REALLY know how far on they are. They may not be very far. They may be all but finished, so the Vancouver thing isn't as revealing as the collation of the rest of the material is.

 

[Rich79]

My guess is that they have 10 or so perfectly amazing finished songs that they are going to go and "finish" some more because they got nervous after NLOTH didn't meet their own crazy expectations.

This band could be truly amazing once again if they stopped feeling so much like they have to prove themselves as the biggest, best, etc. with every album. It's too forced, anymore. Just let it happen and the strength of the songs will prove themselves. SOA doesn't need to be anything more than a Zooropa-style release. Trust me, fans will be happy enough that they're getting 2 U2 releases within less than 4 years of each other. Don't try to make it into a "comeback" album, please.

 

[subnet]

YouTube - Living Colour performing "Cult Of Personality" on Arsenio

 

[powerhour24]

My guess is that they have 10 or so perfectly amazing finished songs that they are going to go and "finish" some more because they got nervous after NLOTH didn't meet their own crazy expectations.

This band could be truly amazing once again if they stopped feeling so much like they have to prove themselves as the biggest, best, etc. with every album. It's too forced, anymore. Just let it happen and the strength of the songs will prove themselves. SOA doesn't need to be anything more than a Zooropa-style release. Trust me, fans will be happy enough that they're getting 2 U2 releases within less than 4 years of each other. Don't try to make it into a "comeback" album, please.

 

[Gonna Run 2 U]

Ugh, I'm tired of reading the "I guess", and "I think", and "they should"....I want "THEY ARE"

 

[Vlad n U 2]

They are going to release Songs of Ascent in March.

Confirmed rumour.

 

[andyuk]

cant see it happening given that they are being raped in the charts.

They need albums to sell units

Yes but think about it. If these singles were not available on an album then they would sell loads more singles!

 

[nirniva]

Ugh, I'm tired of reading the "I guess", and "I think", and "they should"....I want "THEY ARE"

Agreed. If someone from the band just flat-out said "We're workin' on it!" it would make my day.

 

[The_Edge89]

Say what?!

U2's secret new album - By Dan Wootton, 01/03/2009
It's a Beautiful Day when I can dish out the biggest goss from inside the U2 camp - the boys have secretly recorded a BRAND NEW reggae/dub album.

Source: U2 | Celeb XS | News Of The World

Now, it seems as if someone deperately wanted attention!

 

[Gilead12]

We need some more people in here to see this!

Reggae/dub