New Album Discussion 1 - Songs of..... - Unreasonable guitar album

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MattD said:
I think that form of writing always gave a looseness to U2's music that set them apart from rigid mid-tempo rockers, that includes a good amount of No Line - the last album they wrote in this manner. It felt like the exploration of song complemented the exploration of meaning that they excelled at.
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This. Justice for NLOTH, the late-career spiritual successor to TUF.
(Yeah yeah, minus the dreaded Middle Three)
 
MattD said:
In the context of the discussion here, is this Larry quote referring to the creative process ?
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a bit of context from the article:

“He’s the least public of the group’s four members, by far. The interview he gave for this story was, he said, his first in seven years. He’s blunt — he says if the band plays live in 2023 it will probably be without him, as he needs surgery to continue playing — and admits the dynamics in the band are not the same as they were decades ago.“

I interpret that’s he’s speaking about being in u2 as a whole, the creative process included
 
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MattD said:
On the flip side, surely it must be an exhausting process to mould a song that way? To chase a song like that must take all hours and days, often without breaks so as not to interrupt creative flow. But they're all mid 60s now, do they have the energy?
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This has always been my take. They leaned into the writing in order to even continue being a band because who has the time and energy to conjure magic all day and all night like you can when you are 30.

And the world has changed. How music is consumed has changed. They’ve had to change in order to continue.
 
I agree with all of this, but I think it all might actually point to a shift back to their old style. They’ve had a huge break, and while they’ve continued to write in isolation, they clearly haven’t felt rushed to just record what they have and plop an album out there. Given what our dear friend Registered Dude has said about Larry’s involvement in creation, this could be a real moment where they have exercised and exorcised that itch to be seen as song writers, and maybe now they have taken ideas into a room where they have let the magic of the four of them come through. God walking into the room and all that. Bono and Edge have always brought ideas to the group to be fleshed out, but lately they’ve brought ideas to the group to be recorded. I feel like Larry needed to say what he said to get something to change. They aren’t chasing billboard #1 anymore - they can reconnect with what made them great. When Bono talks about the sound of a band in the room I was originally worried about them making more Stand Up Comedy style songs. But I think he means the sound of the four of them contributing creatively. That process gave us The Unforgettable Fire.
 
Strangely this discussion makes me think of Tool and their process. Obviously worlds apart in style, but they have always worked at a snails pace because they only write by playing off of each other. They bring pieces and parts of music and then jam and play until they start to fit. They do it over and over again. It is a painstaking process, but it’s what makes them unique.

Maynard Keenan is a prolific songwriter, and works very differently in his other bands, but if he showed up with finished songs for Tool, it would no longer be Tool. It’s like what has happened in this later period of U2, where it seems Bono and Edge are writing more and then bringing it to the band. I think it’s why UF sounds like a different band they much of their 2000s output.

It would be interesting to see a list of songs that they worked on that were fairly fully formed by B&E vs. coming from the band writing in the moment together.
 
Irvine511 said:
This has always been my take. They leaned into the writing in order to even continue being a band because who has the time and energy to conjure magic all day and all night like you can when you are 30.

And the world has changed. How music is consumed has changed. They’ve had to change in order to continue.
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I think all the more reason to change again. Maybe I am on with Dan's take.

How music is consumed has changed more than a few times and in this current world of low-attention-span constant-content, etc. to make a splash you either have to be a label darling (not these guys anymore) or hope for a viral moment; which I don't think they're going to get, unless it's one of their old hits making a comeback in a really odd meme-like way. So, why not just make the music and not obsess over the gifted songwriters aspect? Even with their clout, a new album or new single is only going to be talked about for a few weeks, maybe months if they're lucky (unless you're a fanboy who visits interference and can't believe they didn't have the decency to give us the next Achtung Baby!).

Maybe the time they're taking is to hone in on ideas borne of the band exploring together. It's my hope. Again, peppering that hope with factoring in the band they've been the last ~20 years.
 
PookaMacP said:
I had to dig this interview out because Edge's description of the "power hour" approach here (starts at about 27:00) is a good insight into why writing together was simultaneously magic and unsustainable. Episode 279 – The Edge
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Like, imagine popping into a room for an hour and coming out with Mercy/Luckiest Man - which is exactly what he describes here.

Then again, imagine doing that and then being too blind to see what you had on your hands - and not releasing the results officially for over 20 years.
 
I low-key hated the live version of Mercy from the Wide Awake in Europe EP. Although that version had the “you wanna kill me and I wanna die” line. Bono’s vocals just sounded off.
 
A seemingly new update over at U2songs:

u2songs | news

U2Songs.com
u2songs.com

“We are told that work on the album continues, and the hope is to have the album complete and out in late 2026. No details about a title are known and nothing has been announced. A single from that album is expected in summertime if the album release is ready to go. A stadium tour would be expected to follow starting in early 2027, and at this time it appears that planning for the tour has started with multiple possible itineraries in development.”

2026-02-04: While speaking with Lenny Kravitz on U2 X-Radio, The Edge joked, that U2 are “locked in the proverbial tower of song working on tunes” for a new album and shared ‘It’s going great—slower than we would’ve wanted…we hope it’ll be out some time around 2037-2038.”
 
'Slower than we would've wanted' for them and 'vaguer than we would've wanted' for ouselves.

Christ lads, just give us some tidbits, we're utterly starving here. Clarify the producers, give us details on the concept of the album, describe the sound..... just anything!!!
 
They change their ****ing minds so much that any description is worthless….but I’d still like more info even if it’s punk rock on Venus or the mother of all guitar riffs or big rock songs….knowing they’ll get the over produced ditch the more ambitious direction cause we gotta hear U2 on the radio!!

Personally i can’t see the band making anything that rocks hard anymore. No Bullet, The Fly, Acrobat, Hold me….

I know they overdid the song, but leaning into A Little While style seems more their avenue if they don’t go very weird. Summer of Love wanted to be another one, but was way too clean (and not their song)

Sharing that Larry (and maybe Adam) are having a larger role in the process is the only good rumor I’ve heard so far.

What’s disappointing is constantly hearing how they’ve got an album ready to go….loads of songs….and they’re still years away from release
 
Edge saying 2037…. I love him, but does he not realize that us diehards don’t find that funny anymore? We’re desperate for new music and he’s making the same tired joke. Not a lot of self-awareness there it seems.
 
2861U2 said:
Edge saying 2037…. I love him, but does he not realize that us diehards don’t find that funny anymore? We’re desperate for new music and he’s making the same tired joke. Not a lot of self-awareness there it seems.
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Well I think he 's serieus....
 
Honestly sounds more like trolling than anything. Like he’s buying time until an announcement so there is a reason why they aren’t confirming a September anniversary-aligned album release.
 
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MattD said:
Christ lads, just give us some tidbits, we're utterly starving here. Clarify the producers, give us details on the concept of the album, describe the sound..... just anything!!!
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I don’t mind the lack of info. We don’t need another round of so-and-so is on fire or punk rock from Venus statements. And less focus on the producers is probably a good thing too.

If this means no info then so be it.
 
2861U2 said:
2026-02-04: While speaking with Lenny Kravitz on U2 X-Radio, The Edge joked, that U2 are “locked in the proverbial tower of song working on tunes” for a new album and shared ‘It’s going great—slower than we would’ve wanted…we hope it’ll be out some time around 2037-2038.”
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jim-carrey-look.gif
 
On the notion of a 50th anniversary - what are your wildest dreams?

I’m hoping for a new album, but I’m also hoping for some Re-Assemble style archive digging. I’d love them to accompany a new album with a bunch of era-spanning outtake records. Early days with all the demos, boy-war there’s plenty there - TUF-RH would have a bit. The 2000s would be an absolute treasure trove. They didn’t think Mercy was worth it. All My Life is just… nowhere? I’d love to see them really get some unheard stuff out there. Could scratch the new music itch while acknowledging the long time fan.
 
dan_smee said:
On the notion of a 50th anniversary - what are your wildest dreams?

I’m hoping for a new album, but I’m also hoping for some Re-Assemble style archive digging. I’d love them to accompany a new album with a bunch of era-spanning outtake records. Early days with all the demos, boy-war there’s plenty there - TUF-RH would have a bit. The 2000s would be an absolute treasure trove. They didn’t think Mercy was worth it. All My Life is just… nowhere? I’d love to see them really get some unheard stuff out there. Could scratch the new music itch while acknowledging the long time fan.
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I suspect it will be a new album or nothing interesting? If the new album isn't ready, I'm guessing Edge won't have the time available to do what he did with the Re-Assembled Bomb album. And if the new album is ready, or the single at least, it will be full steam ahead on that.

Meanwhile, u2.com will probably celebrate it with shows we've all seen before?

I've love to be surprised, but....
 
I find it interesting that in their 50th anniversary year that they're skipping Record Store Day. Don't know if that means anything. Alas...

If I were in charge of coming up with the plan, this is what I would do.

  • Release all of their concert films onto Netflix in full 4K, including Rattle and Hum and From The Sky Down. Drop the JT30 film in here as well (and, if MSG allows it, U2:V)
  • Issue a career spanning box set similar to the original The Complete U2 that came out with the iPod launch. Include in that one album of unreleased tracks (if enough still exist) and one album of outtakes - released tracks in other forms.
  • Do a smattering of stadium gigs in major markets in late summer / fall in celebration of the 50th. Play the lead single off the new album, but otherwise play only hits and fan favorite deep cuts.
  • Release the new album in January of 27. Wider arena tour to follow.
  • Close 2027 with a series of JT40 gigs at Sphere. Run into early 2028 if demand is there.
  • Drop Songs of Ascent in spring of 2028.
  • Retire.
 
dan_smee said:
On the notion of a 50th anniversary - what are your wildest dreams?

I’m hoping for a new album, but I’m also hoping for some Re-Assemble style archive digging. I’d love them to accompany a new album with a bunch of era-spanning outtake records. Early days with all the demos, boy-war there’s plenty there - TUF-RH would have a bit. The 2000s would be an absolute treasure trove. They didn’t think Mercy was worth it. All My Life is just… nowhere? I’d love to see them really get some unheard stuff out there. Could scratch the new music itch while acknowledging the long time fan.
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2000-2010 is my favorite era, so definitely more from that time. All My Life, certainly. I'm also a big fan of North Star, to be honest. I'd love to see that get officially released somehow, or maybe what the original piece was with Michael W Smith, who I'm also a fan of. Some fun live performances a la Brooklyn Bridge, etc, as well.

But honestly, I don't need a lot of 50th anniversary stuff. If I end 2026 with A) a new album that I really enjoy, and B) tickets in my hand to multiple shows over '27 and '28- if I have those two things when I turn the calendar, I'm happy.
 
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