Songs of _________________; New album discussion #7

[Hewson]

I also wonder if AB in Vegas with 12 dates will give them the opportunity to test out 12 new songs to see how the audience reacts.

You're incredibly optimistic.

 

[Registered Dude]

Songs of Ascent, lives!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...XL4z8g54c8kISGgxL5M6MpYpuUHwn03BY68UVhUF5bLcw

On a new song Bono plays for the interviewer:
Bono: "Yeah! It’s called “The Bard’s Last Breath.” We have almost finished this album called “Songs of Ascent,” which we’re not putting out. We’re going to put out a rock ’n’ roll album. So we’re not putting this out, but I’m telling you it’s awesome."
Interviewer: So you had a whole U2 album that you scrapped?
B: "Didn’t scrap it, just held it. It’s called “Songs of Ascent.”"
Interviewer: And you decided an angrier album made more sense?
B: "A noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album."

 

[lightmyway91]

Songs of Ascent, lives!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...XL4z8g54c8kISGgxL5M6MpYpuUHwn03BY68UVhUF5bLcw

On a new song Bono plays for the interviewer:
Bono: "Yeah! It’s called “The Bard’s Last Breath.” We have almost finished this album called “Songs of Ascent,” which we’re not putting out. We’re going to put out a rock ’n’ roll album. So we’re not putting this out, but I’m telling you it’s awesome."
Interviewer: So you had a whole U2 album that you scrapped?
B: "Didn’t scrap it, just held it. It’s called “Songs of Ascent.”"
Interviewer: And you decided an angrier album made more sense?
B: "A noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album."

It was also nice for Bono to admit for the first time that the days of having hit single are over and it’s more important to just write great songs. I think that realisation is what’s inspiring the idea of a heavy rock album, or heavier rock. He let the interviewer hear 2 songs from SOA so as you say that album definitely still lives but seems like we could be talking 3 or 4 years for that at least but an albums worth of material in the bank is surely something to be glad about in itself.

 

[Registered Dude]

It was also nice for Bono to admit for the first time that the days of having hit single are over and it’s more important to just write great songs. I think that realisation is what’s inspiring the idea of a heavy rock album, or heavier rock. He let the interviewer hear 2 songs from SOA so as you say that album definitely still lives but seems like we could be talking 3 or 4 years for that at least but an albums worth of material in the bank is surely something to be glad about in itself.

yes, very encouraged by that part

I would have loved to have a pop song on the radio. Probably we’ve run a road on that. So right now I want to write the most unforgiving, obnoxious, defiant, [expletive]-off-to-the-pop-charts rock ’n’ roll song that we’ve ever made. I spoke to Edge about it this week. He’s going, “Is it that call again?” “What call?” “The one about we’re going to write the big [expletive]-off rock song?” And I say, “Yeah, it’s our job!” We can make songs famous now, but I don’t think U2 can make them hits.

 

[ascender_RS]

Ffs, either finish it and release it or stop talking about it. When was the first time they mentioned SOA? I know it’s Bono so you have to take it with a pinch of salt, but is this going to go down as the album we never get to hear until we’re all too old and have definitely, maybe finished with U2?

 

[Registered Dude]

also interesting to note he mentions Smile.. maybe theyve ressurected that one

 

[lightmyway91]

also interesting to note he mentions Smile.. maybe theyve ressurected that one

The lyrics seemed a little different but still could fit in to the Smile we know. I like that song but I’m not overly keen for them to redo it. It maybe is one of they albums though that would feature a few we’ve heard in the past that haven’t been released on studio albums like mercy and North Star, maybe Soon as well?

 

[super fly guy]

Songs Of Ascent is firmly in Chinese democracy territory now.

 

[JamietheEdgefan]

Songs of Ascent, lives!
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...XL4z8g54c8kISGgxL5M6MpYpuUHwn03BY68UVhUF5bLcw

On a new song Bono plays for the interviewer:
Bono: "Yeah! It’s called “The Bard’s Last Breath.” We have almost finished this album called “Songs of Ascent,” which we’re not putting out. We’re going to put out a rock ’n’ roll album. So we’re not putting this out, but I’m telling you it’s awesome."
Interviewer: So you had a whole U2 album that you scrapped?
B: "Didn’t scrap it, just held it. It’s called “Songs of Ascent.”"
Interviewer: And you decided an angrier album made more sense?
B: "A noisy, uncompromising, unreasonable guitar album."

This is really cool - I like that this was a recorded song Bono actually played for the interviewer.

Not that I think SoA is coming any time soon, but it's great that it's beyond some abstract idea in his head, and something they've actually been working on.

I also like that he's used "uncompromising, unreasonable guitars" in two separate interviews. I know Bono reuses soundbites all the time, the album will get polished to all hell before release etc etc, but it's exciting that he's talking about the sonic direction and emphasis on guitars rather than songwriting, making pop music etc.

Big, crazy sounds and soundscapes is where U2 excels, and I really hope that's the direction they follow on the next album, moreso than trying to write songs that can be played on piano.

 

[Registered Dude]

SOA was first mentioned in 2009 I believe

It seems clear that the band, or at least Bono, have a vision for it being their last album. Now I doubt that it'll be largely the same set of songs as they were writing in the late 2000s - maybe 3-4 holdovers.

Really I think they just really like the title and the idea of a final album being called that

 

[lightmyway91]

I’ve always loved the bit at 4.50 into this video
https://youtu.be/TgJUUIgTXeI
Sounds like an AB part 2 almost, i know it’s the tiniest of snippets but it sounds like the kind of music I want u2 to be making.

 

[JamietheEdgefan]

yes, very encouraged by that part

Damn, that quote actually sounds like a huge deal.

They've been so unapologetically pursuing a pop hit for the last couple of albums (remember Bono's post-SoI interview where he said something like "what's the name of the game? Pop music.")

To openly admit they won't achieve that, and are aiming for an aggressive rock album that deliberately rejects pop sounds is the biggest 180 they've taken since NLOTH flopped.

Now if only they'd take this attitude and find an appropriate producer. But based on what we know, it sounds like they've been making this album with Tedder once again...

 

[mikal]

I wonder if they're saving Songs of Ascent for when they retire or die.

 

[JamietheEdgefan]

Ok, so this is interesting:

So we went to songwriting school, and we’re back and we’re good! Over those two albums, “Songs of Innocence” and “Experience,” our songwriting returned. Now we need to put the firepower of rock ’n’ roll back. I don’t know who is going to make our [expletive]-off rock ’n’ roll album. You almost want an AC/DC, you want Mutt Lange.24 The approach. The discipline. The songwriting discipline. That’s what we want

Before this line I figured they were quite far along with the next album, but from the above it looks like they haven't even found a producer yet, but that they're looking for a new one, someone who's more AC/DC than One Republic.

It also suggests that they're happy with their songwriting approach, and want to keep it in mind, but start focusing more on sounds/guitar parts than they have been doing.

So from this it sounds like whatever they recorded with Ryan Tedder over the last few years, and that U2Songs said would be released in March 2023 might have been shelved?

I'd actually be all for them starting again in the vein that Bono is describing. I'd much rather have a unapologetic rock album unconcerned with chart relevance in 2024/25 than another Tedder album in 2023.

 

[mikal]

I hate to play devil's advocate, but the thought of folks in their mid 60's playing "Hard Rock" is laughable. U2 has never been hard rock so it's not like they are suddenly going to turn into that genre.

It has a half baked disaster written all over it.

 

[lightmyway91]

Ok, so this is interesting:

So we went to songwriting school, and we’re back and we’re good! Over those two albums, “Songs of Innocence” and “Experience,” our songwriting returned. Now we need to put the firepower of rock ’n’ roll back. I don’t know who is going to make our [expletive]-off rock ’n’ roll album. You almost want an AC/DC, you want Mutt Lange.24 The approach. The discipline. The songwriting discipline. That’s what we want

Before this line I figured they were quite far along with the next album, but from the above it looks like they haven't even found a producer yet, but that they're looking for a new one, someone who's more AC/DC than One Republic.

It also suggests that they're happy with their songwriting approach, and want to keep it in mind, but start focusing more on sounds/guitar parts than they have been doing.

So from this it sounds like whatever they recorded with Ryan Tedder over the last few years, and that U2Songs said would be released in March 2023 might have been shelved?

I'd actually be all for them starting again in the vein that Bono is describing. I'd much rather have a unapologetic rock album unconcerned with chart relevance in 2024/25 than another Tedder album in 2023.

Good point, it certainly reads as Tedder out, you don’t have a guy there working with you and then say I don’t know who is going to make it so it sounds like at best they’ll take ideas with them but they don’t have many complete songs at all for this next album. Could be similar with what happened for SOI where danger mouse got credit on most tracks but it seems like a lot of his work was reworked. A lot of unknowns but the big take is that it seems like Tedder is out.

 

[digitize]

That NYT interview is fun

I had totally forgotten the existence of Boy Falls From The Sky until just now. Man, what a bop.

 

[lightmyway91]

I hate to play devil's advocate, but the thought of folks in their mid 60's playing "Hard Rock" is laughable. U2 has never been hard rock so it's not like they are suddenly going to turn into that genre.

It has a half baked disaster written all over it.

I think Bono’s idea of heavy rock for u2 standards is the likes of acrobat. Some good guitar work in there, a bit of darkness to the song. There’s no reason why they can’t go there for a full album.

 

[mikal]

I think Bono’s idea of heavy rock for u2 standards is the likes of acrobat. Some good guitar work in there, a bit of darkness to the song. There’s no reason why they can’t go there for a full album.

I wish they'd say it that way then, lol. I cringe every time Bono says they were a punk band or are hard rock.

 

[digitize]

I think Bono’s idea of heavy rock for u2 standards is the likes of acrobat. Some good guitar work in there, a bit of darkness to the song. There’s no reason why they can’t go there for a full album.

Especially compared to what is out there now… rock is sort of dead. I made my gf watch ZooTV Sydney with me the other week and it struck me how much more guitar-y and rock-y even 1993 U2 was compared to basically everything else I listen to (mostly more modern). It’s not hard to sound like “hard rock” to someone like me whose next favorite band is Chvrches.

 

[DeVaul]

Defends Spider-Man but not Pop, FFS.

At least we’ve got this:

 

[Registered Dude]

I think they like Tedder for his brain and ability to help them to shape songs and wouldnt be surprised if they're back in the saddle with him soon

 

[Irvine511]

That was a great interview. I appreciated the reporters tough and also informed questions and Bono’s often unexpected and thoughtful answers.

It’s nice to know that he knows that the answers get harder the more informed you know.

I don’t know what to make of the new music information. I guess we’ll see.

 

[mikal]

Especially compared to what is out there now… rock is sort of dead. I made my gf watch ZooTV Sydney with me the other week and it struck me how much more guitar-y and rock-y even 1993 U2 was compared to basically everything else I listen to (mostly more modern). It’s not hard to sound like “hard rock” to someone like me whose next favorite band is Chvrches.

While not "mainstream" anymore, there is a huge and awesome genre of hard rock and metal out there, and pretty accessible now that we have streaming services. If you have Apple Music, check out "The Riff" playlist. Great stuff.

 

[DeVaul]

I think they like Tedder for his brain and ability to help them to shape songs and wouldnt be surprised if they're back in the saddle with him soon

Or back to saddled with him

 

[DeVaul]

Are they willing to actually put away all the shiny things and get back to the job?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

this is one of the best interviews i've read with him - especially when it comes to late state bono/u2 interviews.

I know now that with youth culture I am kind of tolerated hanging out at the back of the birthday party but the magic show’s going on down here for the kids. I wished to connect with the pop charts over the last two albums and failed.

yes. finally. they have come to grips with not being the old guy at the club.

You’ve never heard us doing those songs. [Expletive] you. “The Boy Falls From the Sky” is an amazing song

true. and hopefully they one day release it.

We don’t mind if we’re humiliated to find a great song. These song-driven people we worked with on our last albums know a lot about songs. You say, “But you’re U2 — you don’t need that.” What’s interesting is that we want that.

i'm convinced bono reads interference and/or has someone who reads it for him and tells him what people are saying.

so, uh, sorry about the fat jokes mate

It is a fair question. Systemic change is required, but I get one eyebrow up when people want systemic change but don’t want to bother to turn up for the town-hall meeting.

i L'Oh'L'd

I’m sure they’re bored looking at my fat arse

oh my god he does read interferene

Interviewer: But I’ll give you your hit. It’s the obvious stuff: the strength of the melodies, the distinct sound of the band, the communication with the audience that your friends see. The only other thing — this is maybe hokey, but there’s an Irish term, yarragh, and it sort of means when a singer can go beyond himself.

please please please take this to heart bono

We were tempted to put them out — out of competition. But we felt that the material was so strong that it deserved time to make sure people heard about them as well as heard them.

okay, so album may very well be done - but also, no dude - just release something. you're contradicting what you said earlier.

I like progressive rock.

We all make mistakes.

I L'oh'L'd again

The progressive-rock virus gets in, and we needed a vaccine. The discipline of our songwriting, the thing that made U2 — top-line melody, clear thoughts — had gone. With the band, I was like, this is not what we do, and we can only do that experimental stuff if we have the songwriting chops. So we went to songwriting school, and we’re back and we’re good! Over those two albums, “Songs of Innocence” and “Experience,” our songwriting returned. Now we need to put the firepower of rock ’n’ roll back. I don’t know who is going to make our [expletive]-off rock ’n’ roll album. You almost want an AC/DC, you want Mutt Lange. The approach. The discipline. The songwriting discipline. That’s what we want.

interesting. so perhaps they aren't ready to put something out after all and everything they recorded is just the alleged Songs of Ascent that will never see the light of day.

i do find it intriguing that he says they want to take a little of the SONGS SONGS SONGS band from the last 10 years and combine it with more of the experimental, guitar driven sounds. sounds good in theory - but we'll see how it all plays out.

I would not be surprised if U2 makes the best album of its life in the next years. Not because the world needs it, but because the band might.

i'm most encouraged here - not by bono's typical bombast - but by the common thread throughout the interview of not necessarily caring about what the world thinks and focusing more on what the band wants.

easy to say - not always easy to do - but it's encouraging to at least see it being spoken about.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I hate to play devil's advocate, but the thought of folks in their mid 60's playing "Hard Rock" is laughable. U2 has never been hard rock so it's not like they are suddenly going to turn into that genre.

It has a half baked disaster written all over it.

the term "hard rock" is not mentioned at all in the article - only more guitar driven.

 

[womanfish]

I’ve always loved the bit at 4.50 into this video
https://youtu.be/TgJUUIgTXeI
Sounds like an AB part 2 almost, i know it’s the tiniest of snippets but it sounds like the kind of music I want u2 to be making.

I love this bit, and I think about it often, and wonder why the hell haven't we been given this song.

 

[digitize]

I’m willing to make a bet that the next U2 album will be better than Midnights by Taylor Swift