New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album
- Thread starter dan_smee
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that follows U2.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
ferball415
Acrobat
By “virtually” I didn’t mean “digitally” (though we have seen some of that), but they have reissued plenty on physical formats, starting with JT20, now that I think of it.
I’m personally not really a reissue guy. But yea they could’ve done more and/or better with a lot of them.
i understand the need and want by those in the fanbase for physical reissues... but i think a much bigger misstep is that much of what you're discussing is NOT available digitally on the most popular audio and video streaming apps.
THAT's where the masses consume their media and that's where people from other generations will find the band.
they put upscaled versions of Slane, Vertigo/Chicago, Popmart, Sydney up on YouTube during COVID... and then they disappeared. why? leave them there - or put them on Netflix of Apple TV. why isn't audio of the full shows available on Apple Music or Spotify?
the JT30 film was supposedly being prepared for a theatrical release before COVID struck. well... where the **** is it? put it out there! let the world see it. the moment has likely passed for a theatrical release... so drop it on Apple TV or Netflix.
why are there no complete songs from the Sphere shows on YouTube? i get they had the U2:V movie at Sphere on the way - but come on. Phish has a half dozen full, live songs from Sphere on YouTube. every official U2 video is half a song. how dumb is that?
THIS is where they've seriously missed the boat.
physical reissues will make the diehards and collectors happy. but if the goal is to find new fans and cement their legacy, they need to do a much better job of showcasing their greatest live moments on digital services.
Last edited:
RE the above, the band’s management has been piss poor since Paul McG vacated. His reasoning, at the time, was that someone else better suited to the digital era would be a better guide…..Where the **** is this guidance and where is the digital strategy? If it was a public limited company, the shareholders would be in absolute revolt. Instead, the fanbase gets bored and the band forgotten
ferball415
Acrobat
I don't even like the idea of a "strategy", I think they just need to be more organically human online and be like "hey, here's an HD version of our 1984 concert in Dortmund, Germany, enjoy" (though, this would've had maximal power last year as part of a #UF40 celebration). It just seems so relatively easy to do, would make freaks like us obviously happy, and yea, might/should be a revelation for people under 30.
Last edited:
It's money over legacy for them. With hold all that great content from accessible modern media and, as far as the younger generation are concerned, you don't exist.
I don't buy that at all.
The money is in touring, not physical media reissues for diehards. They may be dumb and lazy, but they certainly know this.
If it was merely a cash grab, they would have been back on the road by now.
They just have shitty management at the moment and nobody they trust is willing to tell them so. The shitty management is, or course, in that they have NO management. They're their own private entity. They bring a guy like Azoff in to sign some contracts, but they're otherwise managing themselves. Even Oseary was just a yes man. Principle Management is owned by Live Nation. They care about the touring side and nothing more. They're probably pissed that U2 hasn't been on the road since before COVID, and the only time they played was exclusively at a venue that wasn't owned or managed by Live Nation.
The music and legacy part is all on the band. And they've dropped the ball.
The money is in touring, not physical media reissues for diehards. They may be dumb and lazy, but they certainly know this.
If it was merely a cash grab, they would have been back on the road by now.
They just have shitty management at the moment and nobody they trust is willing to tell them so. The shitty management is, or course, in that they have NO management. They're their own private entity. They bring a guy like Azoff in to sign some contracts, but they're otherwise managing themselves. Even Oseary was just a yes man. Principle Management is owned by Live Nation. They care about the touring side and nothing more. They're probably pissed that U2 hasn't been on the road since before COVID, and the only time they played was exclusively at a venue that wasn't owned or managed by Live Nation.
The music and legacy part is all on the band. And they've dropped the ball.
Last edited:
AndrewCowley
Refugee
To be fair, the lack of a tour must surely be down to Larry. The Sphere shows were bespoke and in that context replacing Larry made sense. But it seems they still haven’t given up on touring with him, despite the long delay.
In lieu of a tour, and in lieu of new material, it is a no-brainer that over the past couple of years they should have pivoted to releasing old stuff. This is where I think they and their organisation (if there still is such a thing) has been lazy.
From here they should just go all in on one final tour. Make it a greatest hits tour and be done with it. Doing one of their traditional album / tour cycles from here makes zero sense. It would just be another painful “these are some of the best songs we’ve ever written” but nobody cares exercises.
In lieu of a tour, and in lieu of new material, it is a no-brainer that over the past couple of years they should have pivoted to releasing old stuff. This is where I think they and their organisation (if there still is such a thing) has been lazy.
From here they should just go all in on one final tour. Make it a greatest hits tour and be done with it. Doing one of their traditional album / tour cycles from here makes zero sense. It would just be another painful “these are some of the best songs we’ve ever written” but nobody cares exercises.
Last edited:
david
ONE love, blood, life
Bono should read Jeff Tweedy’s book called “How to Write One Song”.
I was told around that time that Larry had agreed to do one more cycle - i.e. album and tour - and that's it.
It was third hand information... a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. But it's been reliable in the past.
Who knows. They seemed to be getting on just fine in that most recent video, and the few things that have come out in the media regarding Larry. But I guess we'll find out soon enough.
It's entirely possible that the tip was complete bullshit AND they only have one your left if only due to age and medical status. So I dunno
It was third hand information... a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy. But it's been reliable in the past.
Who knows. They seemed to be getting on just fine in that most recent video, and the few things that have come out in the media regarding Larry. But I guess we'll find out soon enough.
It's entirely possible that the tip was complete bullshit AND they only have one your left if only due to age and medical status. So I dunno
I think the tip is probs right. Larry is a home bird, always has been. I think Larry has been done for a while but his dedication and sense of duty kept him. Those things begin to ebb away when the body says no. Also, on a personal note, he has mentioned his son’s struggles recently. He probably feels guilty for being absent for long periods
phanan
Blue Crack Addict
Yeah, I bet it was pretty accurate at the time. When you get to be their age, the situation is fluid and bound to go through numerous changes of minds along the way.
With his redundancy package, Larry went on to release a cover of “if you don’t know me by now”
trevgreg
Rock n' Roll Doggie
I also think of that Larry quote where he mentioned a “different” way of touring the next time around? One of the ideas was that it hinted at less cities, but more shows in specific spots. Would certainly fit with some of those other quotes or rumors.
pacemaker
Refugee
I hope it’s a mobile Sphere but Lemon shaped that they take on a road trip.
David Byrne is working with a somewhat similar approach although the effect is more to surround the band than the audience. Impressive nonetheless
PookaMacP
War Child
Radiohead are also playing multiple nights in a small number of cities this autumn.
You'd like to think that at some point these mega bands would try to take account of the carbon footprint of all these private jets, trucks, and massive amounts of electricity they're using. I won't hold my breath though...
You'd like to think that at some point these mega bands would try to take account of the carbon footprint of all these private jets, trucks, and massive amounts of electricity they're using. I won't hold my breath though...
Go full on with 'sci-fi Irish folk' experiment with Brian Eno, go and do guerrilla gigs unannounced in pubs around Dublin. Not 'accessible' in a touring sense but connecting with an audience in its rawest and purest form. Imagine the attention they'd get.
**Actually, now thinking of it, some absolute whoppers would compare it to forcing their music on people ala the free album debacle. That and somebody probably shouting '**** you Bono' would go viral. Scratch that idea.
**Actually, now thinking of it, some absolute whoppers would compare it to forcing their music on people ala the free album debacle. That and somebody probably shouting '**** you Bono' would go viral. Scratch that idea.
That is exactly how it would go down
That, and the media would say “U2’s fall from grace as they fail to sell out pub gig”
That absolutely would not be the reaction
ascender_RS
Refugee
If they do the usual cycle of album & tour, this is optimistically going to be their second last time out. So far they seem to be talking about new music rather than any noise that its something focusing on their 50th anniversary, so I can't see if being anything other than a big, statement U2 album. I can't see there being any room for something experimental in terms of the music.
Some sort of side project released as a companion album or under the Passengers moniker ( which I'm guessing would finally push Larry over the edge) is the only hope I have that we'd see that sort of material.
Unless of course Eno can persuade them to go with he music, wherever that takes them and depending on how its received, they could still take a right turn and do an anniversary greatest hits tour - although not sure their egos would cope with that which also makes me think they just won't take a risk.
Some sort of side project released as a companion album or under the Passengers moniker ( which I'm guessing would finally push Larry over the edge) is the only hope I have that we'd see that sort of material.
Unless of course Eno can persuade them to go with he music, wherever that takes them and depending on how its received, they could still take a right turn and do an anniversary greatest hits tour - although not sure their egos would cope with that which also makes me think they just won't take a risk.
ferball415
Acrobat
“Sci-fi Irish folk music” = “punk rock made on Venus”. Meaning “nonsense one shouldn’t expect”.
super fly guy
New Yorker
''The Edge is on fire'', noy heard that......YET!
JamietheEdgefan
Refugee
In defence of the ‘sci-fi Irish folk’ description, it’s been used multiple times by the Edge, whereas its typically always been Bono using the more outlandish/irrelevant ‘salesman’ descriptions of their music.
Edge also used that description at a point when they actually were working with Irish folk musicians (Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Dermot Sheehy among others were name dropped by the Edge). So this wasn’t just poetic license to advertise the next album, at least not in the same way “punk rock from Venus”, or “real molten metal” were; rather there was at least some grounding in the actual music they were making. Couple that with Eno’s spacey/experimental/atmospheric style, and the ‘sci-fi’ descriptor probably isn’t entirely outlandish.
I have no doubt that as they near the end of the album recording process, they’ll likely sand off the more experimental edges, and redevelop key elements to be more radio/stadium friendly - I’d imagine the next project ends up sounding far more like another 2000s u2 album than it does Passengers 2 - but if they end up sticking with Eno and the above folk musicians to the end, there will probably be a lot more ‘sci-fi Irish folk’ to it than there was Venus punk rock found on HTDAAB.
Edge also used that description at a point when they actually were working with Irish folk musicians (Colm Mac Con Iomaire and Dermot Sheehy among others were name dropped by the Edge). So this wasn’t just poetic license to advertise the next album, at least not in the same way “punk rock from Venus”, or “real molten metal” were; rather there was at least some grounding in the actual music they were making. Couple that with Eno’s spacey/experimental/atmospheric style, and the ‘sci-fi’ descriptor probably isn’t entirely outlandish.
I have no doubt that as they near the end of the album recording process, they’ll likely sand off the more experimental edges, and redevelop key elements to be more radio/stadium friendly - I’d imagine the next project ends up sounding far more like another 2000s u2 album than it does Passengers 2 - but if they end up sticking with Eno and the above folk musicians to the end, there will probably be a lot more ‘sci-fi Irish folk’ to it than there was Venus punk rock found on HTDAAB.
TinKnight
Refugee
As much as I'd love to blame Larry for all the band's recent problems (because he's had one foot out the door since SoI), I can't imagine the rest of the band are pressuring him too hard to **** or get off the pot. It's not like it's been a year, it's been several years of waiting for seemingly one person to make a decision.
If Bono or Edge or Adam really wanted to tour, they'd be touring. I think Larry is both the real reason for delays and a convenient scapegoat.
If Bono or Edge or Adam really wanted to tour, they'd be touring. I think Larry is both the real reason for delays and a convenient scapegoat.
trevgreg
Rock n' Roll Doggie
That and it's pretty hard to generally describe anything music-wise unless it's absolutely in some sort of box. Maybe something along the lines of "acoustic guitar and vocals," which kind of shows you hard it would be to define anything beyond that without trying to make some sort of genre fit onto it. And a lot of those definitions will depend on the viewpoint of the person saying what it sounds like.
"Punk rock on Venus" and "Edge on fire" really never drove me nuts, mostly because any off the cuff remarks are going to be just that. All I hear from those things is Bono saying that he heard some guitar riffs or effects that sounded really cool to him on a state-of-the-art studio sound system - or got him excited as a friend and musician to hear and maybe having something inspiring to write to. Not surprising! And of course, that's long before fitting anything sounding like that into an actual song, plus mixing it properly with vocals, bass-drums and synths or whatever else along side it. Odds are pretty good that it's not going to jump out at me on, say, a pair of Edifier speakers or a car system as much as it would in its original form inside a million-dollar studio!
When I hear "sci-fi Irish folk," I'm gathering that they must have a demo or three with Eno that have prominent synths with acoustic guitars and maybe some dramatic vocals or toplining from Bono (heck, maybe something along the lines of what he used at the Sphere with the Sean-nós phrasing?). And of course, that's subject to change over time or pretty quickly!
The perspective kind of gets lost, but every band has some form of this going on. One I think about is Keith Richards and people in the Rolling Stones saying how the original form of "Start Me Up" was "reggae-infused" or their attempt at a reggae song. Below is one recent time where Keith expanded upon it...
“The story here is the miracle that we ever found that track," Richards told Guitar Player. "I was convinced, and I think Mick was, that it was definitely a reggae song.
"We did it in 38 takes – ‘Start me up. Yeah, man, cool. You know, you know, Jah Rastafari.’
"And it didn’t make it. And somewhere in the middle of a break, just to break the tension, Charlie and I hit the rock and roll version. And right after that we went straight back to reggae.
Over the years, an early version of the demo version apparently leaked. And a version of it was also later released by the Stones with some of the final versions of the vocal thrown on, a la the "Kindergarten" versions of Achtung Baby in 2011. Now whether any of those were the actual version of the band's "reggae" attempt at Start Me Up still seem up for debate. But with the quotes describing that as such being repeated over the years, some of the fan comments about it on YouTube sound awfully familiar!
- Reggae as played by people who don’t know reggae
- On what planet is this "reggae"? Lmfao!
- Not one single thing "reggae" about this early Start Me Up demo. Not the beat, not the groove, not the bass, not the guitar, not the vocals. Nothing at all.
- In what way is this reggae?
- This isn't reggae at all. Just a studio jam trying to develop an idea.
- This got all kinda groove, but this ain't reggae.
- Their style got on their way, maybe they were trying to get a reggae sound, but ended with a pure Rolling Stone sound.
Last edited:
DancingBrft
The Fly
I would settle for “Edge has some smoldering embers”. Marshmallows anyone, with your “sci fi folk”??
PookaMacP
War Child
This reminded me of what Eno said about working with African musicians in Morocco during the NLOTH sessions - specifically how these kinds of collaborations don't always play out the way you think they might.
Taken from this piece on Pitchfork:
Brian Eno: You know what? It's very funny, because on the last U2 album we spent time in North Africa, recording.
Pitchfork: In Morocco, right?
Brian Eno: In Morocco. And the reason none of that really appeared on the record, even though we did quite a lot of stuff there, was because it sounded kind of synthetic. It sounded kind of like "world music" add-on. I'm sure it would have got a few people saying, oh, how interesting, they've broken out into North African music, but actually it just didn't sound convincing. We were very impressed by the music while we were there, but there was no realistic or emotionally satisfying way of marrying it using the music that we were doing, so in the end not very much of it at all showed through. But influences aren't always in terms of sound. As I was saying earlier, they're in terms of how you approach music and what you use it for. I think that was picked up, and it was absorbed.
Similar threads
- Locked
