Danger Mouse being secretive about U2 production...

[coolian2]

that's practically the strangest concern i've heard today.

 

[Earnie Shavers]

DM may push Edge out of the band. That's my only concern. The reason for the concern is that he write all of the music.

You mean similar to how Eno/Lanois (both play a very, very large part in direction, writing etc) push Edge out?

 

[mrex]

I wouldn't worry about that. I'd be more inclined to be very positive that Danger Mouse might take the Edge by the lapels, shake him and say 'Why did you drop those interesting guitar sounds on Pop and drop them for that awful chiming sound that has been so irritating for 12 years now?' Then Edge will head off to the keyboards and pedal shop to produce something as interesting as 'I'm Not Your Baby'. Is it any coincidence that the greatest U2 song since 'Please' (and one of their best of all time), 'Moment of Surrender', has hardly any Edge guitar to the forefront, except that stabbing solo and wonderful woozy sound at the end?

I agree. I feel that Edge has been less than adventurous in the 2000s. I think he's still got it in him, and I'd love to hear him go off and come up with another eye-opening Fly type riff that makes us all think of U2 in a different way.

 

[powerhour24]

I'm not saying I don't want to see Edge try something new, but the chiming sound is pretty much the opposite of irritating. I'd take that over most modern rock guitar any day.

 

[yenlard]

can't we just get some information about the album already?

 

[powerhour24]

No! Meaningless speculation and off-topic banter are much more exciting!!!!!!11

 

[purpleoscar]

can't we just get some information about the album already?

I think Christmas and New Years will have to be passed before that will happen. In the meantime enjoy:

YouTube - U2 - I Believe In Father Christmas ( NEW U2 SONG ) Cover of Greg Lakes

 

[BEAL]

NLOTH was released in March, and we started hearing about the final works of the album in late November, and mostly December.

In January we started hearing about GOYB.

So, if the target date is May of 2011, we should start hearing about the album (if it is a go!) middle or late January, with talk of the single in Feb, and release to radio around March.

So I say if we have nothing in terms of news by 1/31/11, then we're not looking good for a new album before the tour starts up.

 

[powerhour24]

With the Oz tour wrapping up who knows when we'll get new interviews.

 

[coolian2]

With the Oz tour wrapping up who knows when we'll get new interviews.

would be nice if we'd got more interviews similar to the one paul gave in auckland where some information came out.


no actually it would have made this forum a fucking nightmare.

 

[powerhour24]

Most of the excitement came from an interview that appeared before they'd even started the leg.

 

[subnet]

now is a perfect time to sit back and have a cup of tea.



right adam?

 

[U2387]

I'm not saying I don't want to see Edge try something new, but the chiming sound is pretty much the opposite of irritating. I'd take that over most modern rock guitar any day.

xinfinity!!!!!

I want to see Edge try a new and interesting direction of the same level as The Fly as much as anyone.

But people need to lay off the "horrible chimes" b.s.!

Seriously, if that's so repulsive to you, why the hell do you listen to U2?

I have no tolerance for such stupidity anymore, it should've been apparent to them as soon as they released I Will Follow that if they didn't like the chimes,
this wasn't the band for them.

I will give these people the benefit of the doubt, and some time, seeing as IWF was released at such a late stage in their career

NLOTH was released in March, and we started hearing about the final works of the album in late November, and mostly December.

In January we started hearing about GOYB.

So, if the target date is May of 2011, we should start hearing about the album (if it is a go!) middle or late January, with talk of the single in Feb, and release to radio around March.

So I say if we have nothing in terms of news by 1/31/11, then we're not looking good for a new album before the tour starts up.

Thank you for the reminder!

I clearly remember coming home from school on 12/16/08, going to bed that night, waking up around noon time on 12/17/08 and seeing the official U2.com announcement of NLOTH.

I'd say you're exactly right, 1/31/11 is when we hit the panic button!

 

[Muldfeld]

I wouldn't worry about that. I'd be more inclined to be very positive that Danger Mouse might take the Edge by the lapels, shake him and say 'Why did you drop those interesting guitar sounds on Pop and drop them for that awful chiming sound that has been so irritating for 12 years now?' Then Edge will head off to the keyboards and pedal shop to produce something as interesting as 'I'm Not Your Baby'. Is it any coincidence that the greatest U2 song since 'Please' (and one of their best of all time), 'Moment of Surrender', has hardly any Edge guitar to the forefront, except that stabbing solo and wonderful woozy sound at the end?

I don't buy the Coca-Cola trademark sound, classic Edge nonsense of the last decade. We've had enough of it by now. If that's Edge 'on fire', then we're gonna need a bigger furnace.

Well said! Also, there's no "wah-wah peddle" anymore with the guy and no loud and soft. Such a mainstream player!

 

[PookaMacP]

But people need to lay off the "horrible chimes" b.s.!

Seriously, if that's so repulsive to you, why the hell do you listen to U2?

I have no tolerance for such stupidity anymore, it should've been apparent to them as soon as they released I Will Follow that if they didn't like the chimes,
this wasn't the band for them.

I will give these people the benefit of the doubt, and some time, seeing as IWF was released at such a late stage in their career

I take your essential point here that people can harp on a bit too much about one particular aspect of U2's sound and over-exaggerate for the sake of argument. But I do take exception to the idea that just because I don't like a certain element of U2's sound over the past decade or so, I shouldn't bother to listen to U2 anymore. The simple fact is that I don't listen to ATYCLB or HTDAAB or parts of NLOTH (the middle section, or the incredibly boring 'Breathe'). I equate the chiming 'Walk On'/'Crumbs'/etc sound with a lack of ambition and an unwillingness to diversify the sound. I don't mean that in the sense of not liking their more poppy sounding songs nor that I necessarily want another album as heavy as Achtung Baby (in fact, I'd prefer an album that reflected their maturity, along the lines of 'Moment of Surrender' or 'Cedars of Lebanon' - songs they couldn't have written twenty years ago). I simply mean that at times it sounds quite contrived or patched-on. Now when it works - as it does on 'Window in the Skies' or 'Stuck In A Moment' or 'Unknown Caller' - that's fine, but all too often it has become a safety net for songs that in essence just don't come up to the mark.

That, and I don't think you can put 'I Will Follow' in the same bracket as much of the last 10 years in terms of the guitar sound. There are what might loosely be described as 'chimes' on the intro to 'The Unforgettable Fire', in the echo effect of 'Streets' and, indeed, in the guitar on 'One Minute Warning'. That's not what I was referring to. It might be the case that I didn't make myself clear - for which I apologise - but what I was referring to was, as I said above, a fall-back sound that covers a multitude of sins.

I agree. I feel that Edge has been less than adventurous in the 2000s. I think he's still got it in him, and I'd love to hear him go off and come up with another eye-opening Fly type riff that makes us all think of U2 in a different way.

I agree with this in spirit - I don't necessarily want to hear another heavy riff, just something different and inspirational. Something like the soaring intro to 'Disappearing Act', for example, or perhaps get him to sit back down at the piano even, as he has done to great effect in 'Miss Sarajevo' and 'Running to Stand Still' over the last two tours. Fantastic stuff.

Well said! Also, there's no "wah-wah peddle" anymore with the guy and no loud and soft. Such a mainstream player!

 

[BVS]

Such a mainstream player!

Not that you'll answer me, but really what does this even mean?

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

Not that you'll answer me, but really what does this even mean?

probably something along the lines of; Edge really needs to lay off watching TV shows like NCIS Los Angeles or Hawaii 5 0 if he really wants inspiration, and, you know, start watching stuff like

Spoiler

you know where this is going, don't you?

Spoiler

 

[BVS]

but what I was referring to was, as I said above, a fall-back sound that covers a multitude of sins.

I find it interesting that interference fans harp on this so much. Most guitarists may have one or two signature sounds in their career, yet Edge is somehow suppose to have 12 or more. I wonder if Cure fans get upset that they've had one guitar sound throughout their career, or Pearl Jam fans get upset over the use of distortion again, do you think if Led Zeppelin fans had the internet back then they would have complained that Jimmy Page had too much of a signature sound?

 

[KhanadaRhodes]

I find it interesting that interference fans harp on this so much. Most guitarists may have one or two signature sounds in their career, yet Edge is somehow suppose to have 12 or more. I wonder if Cure fans get upset that they've had one guitar sound throughout their career, or Pearl Jam fans get upset over the use of distortion again, do you think if Led Zeppelin fans had the internet back then they would have complained that Jimmy Page had too much of a signature sound?

yeah, i don't get it either. even going into other instruments, oftentimes you can really tell when it's a particular drummer, etc. with bands because they'll have a distinctive sound. i don't see it as a bad thing, really. sure, some people can really seem like they just keep reworking the same song, but you know what i mean.

it's not necessarily a bad thing to be instantly recognisable.

 

[gvox]

I wouldn't trade Edge's signature guitar sound for anything.

I want to be buried (or scattered across the ocean, still haven't decided which yet) to it, frankly.

 

[BVS]

probably something along the lines of; Edge really needs to lay off watching TV shows like NCIS Los Angeles or Hawaii 5 0 if he really wants inspiration, and, you know, start watching stuff like

Spoiler

you know where this is going, don't you?

Spoiler

They could hang out with Nader as they're watching said politically significant show and they would end up writing the best album ever...

I wonder why Daniel Lanois didn't tell the band to watch the show? Does he not want them to be inspired?

 

[Mrs. Garrison]

They could hang out with Nader as they're watching said politically significant show and they would end up writing the best album ever...

I wonder why Daniel Lanois didn't tell the band to watch the show? Does he not want them to be inspired?

i know, right? I think its time Lanois got another earful on said politically significant show. In the meantime...the entire world shall suffer.

 

[powerhour24]

I wouldn't trade Edge's signature guitar sound for anything.

I want to be buried (or scattered across the ocean, still haven't decided which yet) to it, frankly.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I find it interesting that interference fans harp on this so much. Most guitarists may have one or two signature sounds in their career, yet Edge is somehow suppose to have 12 or more. I wonder if Cure fans get upset that they've had one guitar sound throughout their career, or Pearl Jam fans get upset over the use of distortion again, do you think if Led Zeppelin fans had the internet back then they would have complained that Jimmy Page had too much of a signature sound?

it really is a silly thing to complain about. even on pop that chime was easily spotted. it's the edge's sound. it is who he is. it's his signature. they'll never get that far from it. if that sound is a problem for people then i don't know what they've been listening to for the past 30 years.

 

[nielsgov]

And the chiming sound isn't something that Edge started using in the 2000's it's been his sound for 30 years more or less. You can complain about many things in since 2000 but not about that because it's always been the same.

 

[JamietheEdgefan]

And the chiming sound isn't something that Edge started using in the 2000's it's been his sound for 30 years more or less. You can complain about many things in since 2000 but not about that because it's always been the same.

That's exactly a problem that people (like me) have - we know the 'chime' is not an invention of the last decade by edge, and that's why it's frustrating. It's not that i don't love the Edge's trademark sound, but one of my favourite things about the Edge is that even after creating one of the coolest guitar sounds ever, and making beautiful songs like 'streets' and WOWY, he STILL managed to come up with the sounds we hear on the Fly, Mysterious ways, Lemon, Mofo etc - these songs would have been nothing (imo) if they simply used Edge's 'chime'.

Ede's sound is constantly evolving, and terms of him exploring with new guitar ideas, the 90's were awesome. More than that, he never really had a period (up until the 00's) where he stuck with a sound - even his echo effect was constantly changing (it sounds completely different on IWF compared to Streets). Therefore, it isn't that i hate Edge's trademark sound, it's that i'm annoyed he chose to stop exploring new sounds, and depend on that trademark throughout the 00's.

I love u2 to the extent that even songs of theirs i don't think are up to their standard, i still love, but that doesn't mean i'd be content with Edge refusing to explore a bit more.

If he hadn't experimented to begin with, we wouldn't have gotten the sound of Streets or even I Will Follow on Boy, we would have gotten some generic punk or rock n' roll Jimmy Page rip-off sound. So why is it bad that i'd like him to explore some more, and create some more awe inspiring sounds? The Edge's experimentation with effects is one of the coolest things about him!

 

[DoctorGonzo]

Jamie, I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[U2girl]

That's exactly a problem that people (like me) have - we know the 'chime' is not an invention of the last decade by edge, and that's why it's frustrating. It's not that i don't love the Edge's trademark sound, but one of my favourite things about the Edge is that even after creating one of the coolest guitar sounds ever, and making beautiful songs like 'streets' and WOWY, he STILL managed to come up with the sounds we hear on the Fly, Mysterious ways, Lemon, Mofo etc - these songs would have been nothing (imo) if they simply used Edge's 'chime'.

Ede's sound is constantly evolving, and terms of him exploring with new guitar ideas, the 90's were awesome. More than that, he never really had a period (up until the 00's) where he stuck with a sound - even his echo effect was constantly changing (it sounds completely different on IWF compared to Streets). Therefore, it isn't that i hate Edge's trademark sound, it's that i'm annoyed he chose to stop exploring new sounds, and depend on that trademark throughout the 00's.

I love u2 to the extent that even songs of theirs i don't think are up to their standard, i still love, but that doesn't mean i'd be content with Edge refusing to explore a bit more.

If he hadn't experimented to begin with, we wouldn't have gotten the sound of Streets or even I Will Follow on Boy, we would have gotten some generic punk or rock n' roll Jimmy Page rip-off sound. So why is it bad that i'd like him to explore some more, and create some more awe inspiring sounds? The Edge's experimentation with effects is one of the coolest things about him!

Well said.

 

[U2girl]

Rock 101.9 RXP

Click on track 3 on the audio interface...

Says that he will not be talking about the collaboration...

I know that there is no real news here but it is interesting that he wants to keep it quiet. I am guessing this is a decision on U2's part as well.

Why do you think they want to do so?

Maybe they read Interference and they warned their producer...

 

[U2387]

I take your essential point here that people can harp on a bit too much about one particular aspect of U2's sound and over-exaggerate for the sake of argument. But I do take exception to the idea that just because I don't like a certain element of U2's sound over the past decade or so, I shouldn't bother to listen to U2 anymore. The simple fact is that I don't listen to ATYCLB or HTDAAB or parts of NLOTH (the middle section, or the incredibly boring 'Breathe'). I equate the chiming 'Walk On'/'Crumbs'/etc sound with a lack of ambition and an unwillingness to diversify the sound. I don't mean that in the sense of not liking their more poppy sounding songs nor that I necessarily want another album as heavy as Achtung Baby (in fact, I'd prefer an album that reflected their maturity, along the lines of 'Moment of Surrender' or 'Cedars of Lebanon' - songs they couldn't have written twenty years ago). I simply mean that at times it sounds quite contrived or patched-on. Now when it works - as it does on 'Window in the Skies' or 'Stuck In A Moment' or 'Unknown Caller' - that's fine, but all too often it has become a safety net for songs that in essence just don't come up to the mark.

That, and I don't think you can put 'I Will Follow' in the same bracket as much of the last 10 years in terms of the guitar sound. There are what might loosely be described as 'chimes' on the intro to 'The Unforgettable Fire', in the echo effect of 'Streets' and, indeed, in the guitar on 'One Minute Warning'. That's not what I was referring to. It might be the case that I didn't make myself clear - for which I apologise - but what I was referring to was, as I said above, a fall-back sound that covers a multitude of sins.

I understand what you are saying, but I don't get how one decides whether its ok or whether its a fall-back sound.

Its obviously whether one likes Unknown Caller better than Walk On or Window In The Skies Better than Breathe.(which I don't find incredibly boring)

Overall, its not a case of putting I Will Follow in the same category as Walk On or any other song. We are talking about a very general guitar sound here that is the signature sound of the Edge. Songs can be very different and still have some variation of that sound.

You made yourself plenty clear, but what I am saying, along with Headache In A Suitcase and some other people, is that this has always been a part of U2's sound. The ringing, cascading, chiming Edge guitar.

Its present on every album, yes, even Achtung Baby.

It never, ever went away entirely.

Edge explored new things, many times building on that base signature sound(TUF, TJT, R&H) and a lot of times, challenging himself and developing new sounds(AB, Zooropa, Pop, parts of NLOTH).

You yourself pointed out Moment of Surrender and Cedars of Lebanon, there is certainly a willingness to diversify there. I'd even add White As Snow. Whatever effects he is using there, I haven't heard much from him in the past.

So maybe he is using the chimes too much for some people's liking, but to say they are "awful chimes" or that getting rid of them is essential for U2 to move forward, I'm still going to scratch my head.