I feel a little out of place. I can't think of a single U2 song that I don't care for. I recently wrote this in response to a post on another message board, which proclaimed that U2 had sunken to the lows of adult contemporary pop, and their last two albums had been uninspired, uncreative fluff. BTW, I'm new here.
I would like to take this opportunity to voice my thoughts on the last two U2 albums. Keep in mind that this is entirely subjective and I am in no way attempting to impose my thoughts and feelings on others in an effort to join some elitist ranks.
Let me start with "Pop." I think many people misunderstand this record. Most will see the glossy, kitschy image that the band assumed during this period and find themselves unable to disassociate the actual music from the image. "Pop," like "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa," were records constructed on an idea of irony within rock music. U2 was slammed for "Rattle and Hum" and its companion film. Consequently, they stopped caring about pleasing critics, and threw it back in their faces with the outlandish rock spectacle known as Zoo TV. While "Achtung Baby" was a more dance-oriented and progressive record, the actual songs contained a depth unlike previous records. Emotions were stripped to the bone, exposed in their barest and at their most vulnerable. "Achtung" was the darkest album that U2 had ever created. After being criticized so heavily on the misconception that they had ingratiated themselves with the likes of Elvis and Johnny Cash, U2 turned it around on the same critics that had lambasted them by conceiving one of the most over the top and visually assaulting rock tours in recent memory. That same idea lay behind "Pop." The cover to "Pop" looks shiny and kitschy, as do the liner notes and the band itself. Take a listen to the record though. There are elements of dance beats and industrial noise absent from other U2 record (at least to this extent), yet "Pop" is essentially a rock record with traces of dance and trance mixed in. The lyrics are dark, the lyrics are questioning, the guitar work is absolutely mindblowing, and the rhythm section is as tight as it has ever been. "Pop" showed a great deal of maturity in U2's music: the songs were meticulously crafted and played with an urgency unlike any past U2 record. People see the band during this period of their career, and view them as being ridiculous, arrogant, and desperate to draw attention to themselves. As a result, I feel most people are distracted from the content of the record, and do not want to recognize that this is a great record. It's easy enough to dismiss, but by giving "Pop" a chance and truly immersing yourself in it, it is a fantastic piece of work, ranking up there as one of U2's best.
I see "All That You Can't Leave Behind" at the opposite side of that spectrum. The lyrics seem less poetic, the music is stripped down and much more rooted in '60 rock (see "Wild Honey," "Stuck In A Moment"). I heard many claim that this was a return to the band's older sound; however, I feel that U2 has never released a record quite like this. Is it so bad to want to craft a record built on hooks and melodies? I don't think so. Many will find this music too commercialized (by U2 standards), or geared specifically towards adult mainstream pop audiences. I personally love what the band has done. They've moved past their post-ironic tendencies and have recorded an album founded on melodies and heartfelt lyrics. These songs are to the point. I simply do not feel that they have sacrificed any artistic integrity in doing this. I have listened to this album probably 100 times since October 31st, 2000. I find something new with each play. Is Bono's voice shot? It obviously lacks much of the depth and passion evidenced in previous albums, but he can still convey more emotion with his voice than 90% of other rock singers. This is a band entering its fourth decade. They have changed, they have evolved, and I eagerly anticipate what they next have to offer. As corny as it sounds, I feel as if ATYCLB is almost a background for the events of September 11. This is music many people need right now, and U2 realize this. They are proud of what they have done. And fifteen years after initially being exposed to this great band, I am eternally grateful for the contributions they have made and for the many, many lives they have touched from a "Sunday Bloody Sunday" right on through to a "Beautiful Day."