New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album
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Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
cultural imperialism!
World Cup final is clearly a shockingly dull sport and a non event.
What a shame. Echoing the uproar around the world (apart from America), The Beautiful Game is now being dragged down to the level of dumb American sports. Like U2 the last 20 years when they dilute their quality for the Murican crowds. A terrible infliction.
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OP
OP
dan_smee
ONE love, blood, life
As an Australian - I don’t distinguish the cringe factor between American or English nationalism when it comes to cultural superiority. It’s equally boreish. The country of Are you being served, Steptoe and Son and Father Ted can’t lecture anyone on quality or inherent goodness.
And before anyone mentions Crocodile Dundee or any other ridiculous Australian trope - those things are only recognised or enjoyed by people outside of Australia. But there are some truly shit-awful things here too.
Bottom line - calm the fuck down and let things be things. Who gives a shit about your views gatekeeping culture as if your arbitrary personal tolerances have any authority, interest or relevance to literally anyone else.
And before anyone mentions Crocodile Dundee or any other ridiculous Australian trope - those things are only recognised or enjoyed by people outside of Australia. But there are some truly shit-awful things here too.
Bottom line - calm the fuck down and let things be things. Who gives a shit about your views gatekeeping culture as if your arbitrary personal tolerances have any authority, interest or relevance to literally anyone else.
Hewson
Blue Crack Supplier
ascender_RS
Refugee
A one off single wouldn't be the worst thing they could do, if its any good, it'll get airplay (a la Atomic City).
I'm quite optimistic at the moment about new music coming at some point given all the noises over the last while. I do wonder with Larry's recovery what touring will look like now (was it Edge who made comments suggesting it could be something different?).
Passengers 2 I'm just thinking is the usual lifecycle of how they make music and like Rich says, where we start with 100s of "demos" which then become something tangible, cohesive etc.
Its hard not to think slightly longer term though, I'm still hopeful of a final album with Eno and Lanois onboard.
I'm quite optimistic at the moment about new music coming at some point given all the noises over the last while. I do wonder with Larry's recovery what touring will look like now (was it Edge who made comments suggesting it could be something different?).
Passengers 2 I'm just thinking is the usual lifecycle of how they make music and like Rich says, where we start with 100s of "demos" which then become something tangible, cohesive etc.
Its hard not to think slightly longer term though, I'm still hopeful of a final album with Eno and Lanois onboard.
Same. I still think two more new album cycles altogether (including whatever we're heading into now) and I'm really pulling for that last one to be just an all-out Eno/Lanois production with a "Let's make one more great one" spirit; but more like how the Beatles cranked out their last one in a matter of months and not the 21st century U2 version of great where they have to beat it into submission until it's "great".
JamietheEdgefan
Refugee
I’ll always hold out hope for the band to make another album with Eno and Lanois.
My fear is that it might only be Bono and Edge who are still keen to work with them, as evidenced by the ‘sci-fi Irish folk’ project being distinct from the U2 album work - if the whole band was into it, wouldn't it just be part of the new album sessions?
Then there’s Larry, who, during promo for SoI, said they’d “run out of road” with Eno and Lanois, and that the NLOTH sessions had been miserable for him. I think he also said something similar about how Passengers was overindulgent. Whilst it might have just been a way to make a point about SoI being a fresh start/new direction for the band, it did seem kind of pointed.
There are also rumours that Larry is the one who ‘grounds’ the band and keeps them from getting too ‘out there’ with experimentation - not sure if that’s true, but if it is, I could imagine a ‘sci-fi’ project being the last thing he’d want to do.
I was initially excited about the sci-fi-folk work with Brian Eno, and whilst I’m sure I’d love it if it ever did materialise, I’m definitely less excited about it being a B&E side project vs a full on U2 album. I also agree on the likelihood that they’ll end up with only one or two songs with Eno, and take them through several other producers until they lose their initial identity in the pursuit of being absorbed into ‘the next U2 album’, which tries to do everything, features multiple producers over multiple recording sessions, and by definition can’t fully commit to an initial vision.
My fear is that it might only be Bono and Edge who are still keen to work with them, as evidenced by the ‘sci-fi Irish folk’ project being distinct from the U2 album work - if the whole band was into it, wouldn't it just be part of the new album sessions?
Then there’s Larry, who, during promo for SoI, said they’d “run out of road” with Eno and Lanois, and that the NLOTH sessions had been miserable for him. I think he also said something similar about how Passengers was overindulgent. Whilst it might have just been a way to make a point about SoI being a fresh start/new direction for the band, it did seem kind of pointed.
There are also rumours that Larry is the one who ‘grounds’ the band and keeps them from getting too ‘out there’ with experimentation - not sure if that’s true, but if it is, I could imagine a ‘sci-fi’ project being the last thing he’d want to do.
I was initially excited about the sci-fi-folk work with Brian Eno, and whilst I’m sure I’d love it if it ever did materialise, I’m definitely less excited about it being a B&E side project vs a full on U2 album. I also agree on the likelihood that they’ll end up with only one or two songs with Eno, and take them through several other producers until they lose their initial identity in the pursuit of being absorbed into ‘the next U2 album’, which tries to do everything, features multiple producers over multiple recording sessions, and by definition can’t fully commit to an initial vision.
ascender_RS
Refugee
I think we're pinning too much on the "sci-fi folk" comment... we've been here before. I'm assuming whatever those songs are at the moment, they'll either be absorbed and diluted into the next batch of album sessions or never see the light of day.
The band plays everything so close to their chest that I've no idea where their heads are at or even what's really happened in the past. Look at NLOTH, the direction it seemed to be going in and where it ended up. Who knows what Larry was unhappy about. I'm sure there's lots of differences of opinion and you also have to remember their age, lifestyles etc when we try and guess what they might do next.
The other thing that has me optimistic is some of the new songs we got as part of the Bomb reissue. Treason in particular has got some great music, sounds, rhythms and an attitude to it that's been missing.
The band plays everything so close to their chest that I've no idea where their heads are at or even what's really happened in the past. Look at NLOTH, the direction it seemed to be going in and where it ended up. Who knows what Larry was unhappy about. I'm sure there's lots of differences of opinion and you also have to remember their age, lifestyles etc when we try and guess what they might do next.
The other thing that has me optimistic is some of the new songs we got as part of the Bomb reissue. Treason in particular has got some great music, sounds, rhythms and an attitude to it that's been missing.
ascender_RS
Refugee
Re Larry, was it the AB sessions where it first came to light that there was a division in ideas about where the band should be going (haircuts v the hats?).
They worked through that and ended up with Achtung Baby. But they were also a lot longer.
They worked through that and ended up with Achtung Baby. But they were also a lot longer.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
Crikey!
Irvine511
Blue Crack Supplier
DomCobb
Acrobat
Why just a halftime show? Make the concert run the length of the game and cut out any of the sport entirely and finally soccer/football will actually be worth watching.
The John Tree
War Child
This.
This band is the absolute worst when it comes to accurately describing their own music. I wouldn't put a ton of stock into this descriptor.
Sci-fi punk rock from Irevenus
super fly guy
New Yorker
Stolen from reddit, 2027 it is.
>**Is Breakfast Included [Bernie Guerra]: Is there anything we can expect from you or the band anytime soon? You just said you were recording.**
**Adam** Yeah. You know, we are going to get back in there in a few weeks' time, and we're going to work up to the summer. Once we've kind of got our stuff in order, we will then look at it and say, "Okay, we're going to go for a release date, um, in early next year." But I'm not saying there's a release date early next year because we're just not at that position.
**Bernie** That'll be the thumbnail.
**Adam:** Yeah. If we can do that, that's what we want to do; that's our ambition.
So, seems to be in line with his previous comments but more pointing towards early 2026 now. That said, before Adam said they would evaluate in the summer to pencil in the release date, and as he says here "we're just not at that position". Unless, that means Adam anticipates that they're not going to be in a position by this summer where an early 2026 release is possible. I hope it's more the first one.
>**Is Breakfast Included [Bernie Guerra]: Is there anything we can expect from you or the band anytime soon? You just said you were recording.**
**Adam** Yeah. You know, we are going to get back in there in a few weeks' time, and we're going to work up to the summer. Once we've kind of got our stuff in order, we will then look at it and say, "Okay, we're going to go for a release date, um, in early next year." But I'm not saying there's a release date early next year because we're just not at that position.
**Bernie** That'll be the thumbnail.
**Adam:** Yeah. If we can do that, that's what we want to do; that's our ambition.
So, seems to be in line with his previous comments but more pointing towards early 2026 now. That said, before Adam said they would evaluate in the summer to pencil in the release date, and as he says here "we're just not at that position". Unless, that means Adam anticipates that they're not going to be in a position by this summer where an early 2026 release is possible. I hope it's more the first one.
mikal
Blue Crack Addict
LOL this band is straight up trolling their fans at this point. It'll be their first album in 10 years and if it's mediocre, what's the point? Just open up the vault and give us a bunch of POP outtakes and FULL live concerts.
Apologies if already mentioned, but frig that would be all we need, U2 playing the World Cup Final halftime show 
. Classic U2 move though it would be, the masters of the grand gesture 
. Although I’m sure Bono will still be pissed at Trump by that stage. And Trump probably hates Bono anyway
. Classic U2 move though it would be, the masters of the grand gesture . Although I’m sure Bono will still be pissed at Trump by that stage. And Trump probably hates Bono anyway
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
One hell of a work ethic these guys have.
Not sur U2 are the act they'd be going for.Apologies if already mentioned, but frig that would be all we need, U2 playing the World Cup Final halftime show
They clearly enjoyed playing Sphere and getting out there. It was obvious. I don't understand why they can't just go out and play some shows if they're not ready. Makes zero sense. They act as if they're immortal, instead of a band filled of guys running out of time.
If they’re not ready to go out with a new album and don’t want to do yet another retrospective [or hits] tour, then I’d say it’s the perfect time for a quick run of deep cut shows without the complicated production apparatus. Get out there in front of your hardcore audience and bash it out.
lazarus
Blue Crack Supplier
It always amuses me when people make suggestions that the band will never entertain. Deep cut shows, an EP to whet people's appetites between LPs, big release of archival material, etc.
Not happening. These guys suck and have been following awful instincts and advice for over 15 years. Even the tease about a rotating oldies setlist during the Sphere residency was bullshit and turned into the R&H section. They finally release the long-awaited Mercy and can't even give us the actual version people liked that was about to go to press with the rest of that album. A movie about the JT anniversary tour shot by Anton Corbijn that gets shelved.
Phil Joanou posted publicly about working on a restoration of Rattle and Hum. What do you think the odds are that it gets released any time soon? Or Edge's recent words about revisiting/celebrating Pop in some way. Good luck with that.
Stop having so much optimism and respect for them and you'll be less disappointed.
Not happening. These guys suck and have been following awful instincts and advice for over 15 years. Even the tease about a rotating oldies setlist during the Sphere residency was bullshit and turned into the R&H section. They finally release the long-awaited Mercy and can't even give us the actual version people liked that was about to go to press with the rest of that album. A movie about the JT anniversary tour shot by Anton Corbijn that gets shelved.
Phil Joanou posted publicly about working on a restoration of Rattle and Hum. What do you think the odds are that it gets released any time soon? Or Edge's recent words about revisiting/celebrating Pop in some way. Good luck with that.
Stop having so much optimism and respect for them and you'll be less disappointed.
super fly guy
New Yorker
We fall into the trap every time,Bono speaks about a quick release wanting to get music out ect. Then bang,they start over thinking things and second guessing.
Cue the inevitable delay and vague talk in the press,everytime we think it will be different. But it never is.
Cue the inevitable delay and vague talk in the press,everytime we think it will be different. But it never is.
I honestly don’t care how long it takes for them to release music anymore. I just want it to be good when it finally does happen. I don’t want them to try to force something out asap just for the sake of it because it’s been 8 years. I’m very much over the dull U2 by the numbers direction they’ve been going in for forever now. I wish they would realize that being creative again is the true path to any sort of relevancy.
Give me Pop 2.0 for fucks sake. And I wish they would stop worrying about how the songs translate in a stadium setting. It doesn’t matter how accessible they make it most of the audience doesn’t care about their new songs live. Just make good music again and end your career with renewed dignity
Give me Pop 2.0 for fucks sake. And I wish they would stop worrying about how the songs translate in a stadium setting. It doesn’t matter how accessible they make it most of the audience doesn’t care about their new songs live. Just make good music again and end your career with renewed dignity
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JamietheEdgefan
Refugee
I don’t feel as frustrated by delays as I used to - partly because it’s been so long at this point that tacking on another 6 months or whatever doesn’t seem like such a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
But mainly because the longer they take, and the more times they start over, the more distance they put between themselves and the ‘Songs of’ era.
With a couple of exceptions, I just didn’t love the overall sound or style of that era, particularly the Ryan Tedder style, and the extent to which the attempt to ‘modernise’ the band made them sound less unique and unusual. Not to mention songs like ‘Summer of Love’ that were essentially re-worked One Republic sketches, and didn’t feel fundamentally conjured up by U2 themselves.
And having two ‘songs of’ titles, and near-identical tours may have worked if the albums had been released together, or a year apart, but as a fan, waiting three years to get a continuation of the same, rather than a new era, did leave me feeling underwhelmed and a little disappointed when SoE and the Experience and Innocence tour finally materialised. The whole thing was missing a part of the magic I’d feel when they started a new chapter.
So the longer they take, I reckon the greater the chances are that we’ll get that experience of a new ‘era’. And I’d rather a new, novel album in 2026 than if we’d already had another Ryan Tedder produced ‘Songs of’ album by now.
(… Of course, ideally I’d rather a new, innovative album from them right now. But this is the silver lining I’m trying to find in all this silence.)
But mainly because the longer they take, and the more times they start over, the more distance they put between themselves and the ‘Songs of’ era.
With a couple of exceptions, I just didn’t love the overall sound or style of that era, particularly the Ryan Tedder style, and the extent to which the attempt to ‘modernise’ the band made them sound less unique and unusual. Not to mention songs like ‘Summer of Love’ that were essentially re-worked One Republic sketches, and didn’t feel fundamentally conjured up by U2 themselves.
And having two ‘songs of’ titles, and near-identical tours may have worked if the albums had been released together, or a year apart, but as a fan, waiting three years to get a continuation of the same, rather than a new era, did leave me feeling underwhelmed and a little disappointed when SoE and the Experience and Innocence tour finally materialised. The whole thing was missing a part of the magic I’d feel when they started a new chapter.
So the longer they take, I reckon the greater the chances are that we’ll get that experience of a new ‘era’. And I’d rather a new, novel album in 2026 than if we’d already had another Ryan Tedder produced ‘Songs of’ album by now.
(… Of course, ideally I’d rather a new, innovative album from them right now. But this is the silver lining I’m trying to find in all this silence.)
The World Cup is no Johnstone's Paint Trophy...
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