New U2 Album Discussion (alt title: Lose Your Will To Live Here)

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BVS said:
Yeah, artists should never step out of their comfort zone and try other things...

Don't worry, there's a 99% chance you are.
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That's not really his point, I don't think.

The question (to me) is why are Bono and Edge stepping out on their own for such a huge, prolonged project? This isn't a one-off song like 'Alex Descends' or even a more group-oriented MDH soundtrack, this isn't even a solo project.

B+E, together, clearly need a creative outlet away from U2.
And that is perfectly understandable to me.

We all know about the creative division between the two groups.
Larry and Adam even did the MI theme together.

Boy Falls From the Sky is a U2 tune, appropriated into a B+E tune.
Could it have been that, even though this song predated NLOTH, that either Larry or Adam said 'no' to it being an album track? Probably so. And like most of the other Rubin stuff, just didn't mesh with where they wanted to go.

But rather than break-up the band because Bono and Edge can't do some things they want to do - together - they're doing this. I think we could all agree with that.

Which absolutely suggests that - should U2 not be able to agree - ONCE AGAIN - on what to do - there is nothing short of 'delusional romanticized U2 mythology' that requires them to always be together and make music until they are 60 years old. Or even for the next five years.

The argument they always have/and the question they always ask is; why are we doing this? And the agreed upon 'narrative' has lately been "relevance".

But what if the writing is on the wall and certain band members know it? And this relevance cannot be attained? Is it 'greatest hits' tour from here on out?
I severely doubt it .

I don't know how likely this scenario would be but your "99%" number is ludicrous. They did, according to themselves, almost break up - twenty years ago. And had ATYCLB 'tanked' then maybe they'd have to ask themselves 'is it worth it?' then and would have broken up then.

If U2 can't be relevant like they want - and they were to realize this - then where can they go from here? What is the new answer to the question "why are we doing this?" It won't be for money. Or fame or any of that. If they can't be 'happening' and 'hip' (or whatever) they'll hang it up.

So you're saying there is a 1% chance that U2 won't be relevant again? I might put it at 50/50.
 
I don’t see the Bono/Edge-Only Spider-man as any evidence of a rift or division in any way. It’s totally in line with U2’s history.

Adam/Larry seem to only ever be either in U2, or on holiday. Nothing else. Anything/Everything extra-curricular has always been only Bono/Edge. Whether that’s music, film, theatre, politics, charity – anything. The only example otherwise is just that one song – Mission Impossible. Which was, well, not exactly a creative stretch. Otherwise, occasinally they go along with it (e.g. MDH), but more often they don’t, and it seems – with whatever it is, be it a side music project, or a side political project – the ruling is: do whatever you want, just don’t let it fuck with U2.

It’s probably just as much a matter of Bono and Edge ‘needing’ creative outlets outside of U2 as it is Larry and Adam being totally satisfied by ‘just’ what they get from U2. I mean, they don’t do anything else professionaly. They don’t do anything else creatively (formaly), have no involvement politicaly, no public involvement with charity beyond publicity support, it’s obviously just of no concern to them, but is to Bono and Edge who have always thrown their net pretty wide, and historicaly there’s never ever been an issue with that, as long as there is no effect on U2.

And up until perhaps the last couple of months, there is zero evidence to suggest that Spider-man has in any way effected U2. I’m sure there are plenty of niggles internally with these ‘major’ projects – whether that’s Spider-man now or Bono’s crusades in general – but U2 get their major albums out, U2 get their major tours done.

And even right now, lord knows what effect – if any – its having on U2. This Danger Mouse album; the studio work would have been finished ages ago, before Spider-man well and truly blew up. That period in between ‘delivering’ the album and hitting the promotional/release blitz is actually very quiet. Have a think back – during this time the members of U2 generally, effectively, go into a bit of a calm-before-the-storm holiday mode. The real work is in the hands of others – the wider U2 maching and Universal - and only requires an occasional checking in for some yays or nays on various things from the band members. Otherwise, usually, we see a little burst of activity immediately after the album is wrapped (evidence of photo shoots, video clip filming, bit of banter-hype from Bono) and then about a month of complete silence. It’s a small window of time off between recording and a heavy promo blitz leading straight into a long tour. This is probably exactly the same, except Bono and Edge are missing their usual South of France pre-storm chill out.

And remember, there’s a massive red line in place already. Spider-man either requires Bono and Edge’s full time attention – and thus could effect any album - or it doesn’t – and thus, doesn’t. Right at this moment, there should be effectively no crossover issue. And the truth is that either way, they can only offer it their full time attention for a couple of weeks, because of the looming SA360. For whatever needs their full time, on the ground, complete attention – that’s the red line. MUST be sorted by then. It can’t drift beyond then. They can delay an album, but not a tour. From then, its either something they are going to have to handle part time, or you fast forward another month until they can return to it full time. And of course, the reality is that Spider-man does not have that kind of time to give. It won’t survive broken for anywhere near that long. Its barely breathing right now.

So fast forward to the end of the SA leg. Spider-man then will be in one of three positions: It will either be effectively running full strength and working, or close enough that it only needs their minor, part time attention, or it will be dead and buried. No way it will still be in a stage like this – requiring full time, detailed, on the ground commitment.

Point being: Right now, Bono and Edge probably do have loads of time to commit to Spider-man without effecting U2. And by the time they need to return to being commited to U2, Spider-man will either be working, or dead. There won’t be a commitment crossover.

Everyone should manage their expectations to a reasonable level (extremely low), but not get all hysterical due to silence alone. There is at the moment nothing to suggest that Spider-man has killed a U2 album, and absolutely nothing to suggest that Spider-man is killing U2. CHILL!
 
ChargedVT said:
Here's what will happen. There will be no announcement of any sort about the album between now and the South American shows. Then in an interview for these shows one of the band members will mention they are working on new music but won't have a clear answer as to when it's coming out, saying "Perhaps by the end of the year", which everyone on here will immediately recognise as bullshit because they won't have much time to work on an album due to touring commitments. After a wave of angry and frustrated outbursts everyone will resign themselves to the fact that we are at least 18 months away from the next U2 album.
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You are spot-on! Why is it so tough to be a U2 fan? Well, at least I have U2.com that is feeding my obsession daily with new stuff for the dedicated fan. Oh, wait... :|
 
Inner El Guapo said:
I think we could all agree with that.
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Um, no, not even close...


Inner El Guapo said:
I don't know how likely this scenario would be but your "99%" number is ludicrous.
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You still haven't given me any shred of evidence that a one off side project that ONLY has them writing is a sign of a rift. You don't seem to understand U2, or artists for that matter.

Now if the side project was a band or had them doing what they normally would do in U2, THEN you and iota may have a small point. But this project has NO crossover with U2.
 
kingofsorrow said:
how's this relate to what i said?
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Your and iota's comments re: rift in the band. I don't think there is a rift right now, or that after 30+ years any rift will destroy them...but there has been proven dissent in the band twice in their career. Just saying.
 
lazarus said:
I agree with your general thought, but I'm not sure about your examples aside from MOS. SUC is just a cock-rock diversion along the lines of Love & Peace or Else, but not as good, and the "up with people" bullshit of the lyrics is what Boner had been dishing out on the last two albums. I like White as Snow, but it's not like they hadn't done stripped down recently; both Wild Honey and One Step Closer feature a similar acoustic minimalism, though the latter is closer in aesthetics.

Cedars of Lebanon doesn't sound like anything on ATYCLB or The Bomb, and would fit more on Pop. Fez clearly harkens back more to the UF days. And the dirty atmospherics of the title track are reminiscent of AB, as well as a distinct similarity to Zooropa's title song in the beat. Unknown Caller isn't exactly experimental, but it sounds like something a little more complex than the previous 00's work, with the dark guitar work on the verses and the group chanting on the chorus. Edge getting a long solo is also out of step with the back-to-basics modus operandi.

You won't get an argument from me on Magnificent, Crazy Tonight, and Breathe, though at least the former has a club beat going for it. Let's not forget the original title was "French Disco".
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With SUC, I was mostly referring to the Led Zeppelin-ish riff. And while the general idea is similar to the 00's lyrics, at least some attempts at humour are made. It gets bashed here but I don't mind it. At this point, I'll take a quasi Page sound over the chimes. :shrug:

They did do it; but Wild honey is a nod to 60's pop (Simon and Garfunkel with that electric/acoustic guitars interplay), and OSC feels like a classic UF-esque song. WAS has that spaghetti western guitar that makes it different. I would love an album in vein of MOS, Cedars and WAS - but I'm not sure they'd settle for that type of sound for a full record.

I agree with the rest of your notes, though UC suffers from the chimes. And with Breathe I always like the drums and the vocal delivery. Bono channeling his inner Michael Stipe ?
 
PennyLanePHINS said:
Well is that Spider-Man EP going to be recorded by them? Or the people in the show?

They've performed "A Boy Falls from the Sky" and it sounds pretty good. The IEM version is on Youtube.
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... with Julie Taymor leaving things are looking even more rocky for SM:TOTD... Looks like being a U2 fan these days is just full of failure every direction we turn. Can't we catch a break?
 
This thread:

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Sorry, my attempt of this thread was to point out that it is getting lame as far as speculating etc. when we haven't heard anything concrete on the actual album... just the stupid Spider Man play. I get tired of checking the other "official thread" (if you want to call it that) and there is no REAL news just ramblings etc. Sorry if I offended some. Jeez... have a sense of humor people.
 
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