I caught one of the shows from the Classic Albums tv series on BBC 4 last weekend - this one was about Primal Scream's 1991 record
Screamadelica. What struck me most of all was the close correlation between what U2's thought process seems to be now - from what we can guess from this remove - and what Bobby Gillespie et al were thinking back in the early 1990s. The basic premise started with Gillespie's growing obsession with the dance music scene sweeping Britain, and extended to Andrew Weatherall remixing a single from Primal Scream's second album called 'I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have'. That remix proved so good it became 'Loaded'; 'Loaded' inspired them to try and replicate that 'club'/'rave' sound, and work with Weatherall and The Orb as producers on the full-length LP that became
Screamadelica. The basic lesson for U2 in all of this was the role that the producers played in the process. According to the band, the songs were generally written and recorded before being handed over to the producer - primarily Weatherall, but also The Orb and others - to re-sculpt into the sound that became 'Come Together', etc. Hey presto: guitar band slightly alters its way of working, keeps its writing credits, enlists canny producer, and produces massive club hits.
Of course, you could argue that U2 have already partially tried this on
Pop but I think if they're serious about going down the club route, this might have to be the path that they follow. Oh, and forget about David Guetta; given the amazing job Justice did on 'Get On Your Boots', they'd be better off handing the whole record over to them instead.
Here's the evidence from Primal Scream:
From 'I'm Losing More Than I'll Ever Have':
YouTube - Primal Scream - I'm losing more than I'll ever have
To 'Loaded':
YouTube - Primal Scream - Loaded (lyrics)
In one simple step...