Dirty Day sounding good!
Kinda off topic, but I don't really find myself excited about a rawk album from U2. They have spent plenty of time chasing that sound in the new millenium, often to subpar results. I would be way more interested in more stuff like the Andy Barlow-produced tracks from SOE.
Knowing them of course, they will probably second and triple guess it all, hire ten producers, and release another album that's a mishmash of rock, more reflective material, and attempts at pop hits.
Yeah, I'm unsure what would make the next album any more 'rock' (by U2's standards) than Vertigo, the Miracle, Blackout etc. Is it a whole album of that? Or much more aggressive than what's come prior?
Also, we're already seeing some of the 'rock' talk being walked back. Bono said he'd be happy with just en ep or even just one song with that sound, and Edge said it won't be like AC/DC. So I think you're right that we'll end up with the typical one or two rock songs, a radio-friendly pop tune, and a few mid-tempo tracks etc.
Having said that, Edge's recent comments of wanting the next album to be guitar-driven, and not in a rock and roll way but instead trying to find innovative sounds with the guitar, actually sounds quite promising. If they truly commit to that, it might be the closest they've gotten to the boldness of their 90s input.
The clear fact that their hit-making days are behind them, and having just put out an acoustic album could create a lot of potential for a very bold sound in their next album.
I'd love a modern day, 2020's spiritual successor to tracks like Mysterious ways and EBTTRT, I reckon they could do quite well with an updated version of that rock/dance/groove sound.
(Of course it's equally likely whatever we get will sound very similar to the last couple of albums - they have been recording with Ryan Tedder after all).
