This Mojo article sounds like exactly what I've been hoping for. Re-rehearsing tracks to cut them live in the studio next month? Seeking clarity on mixes, and referencing the "masculine and very tough" live versions of SoI tunes as a benchmark? Hell yeah.
For ages I've loved the idea of them recording an album, then re-recording it in a more raw, live-sounding fashion. I think that'll bring out the power and aggression that seems to have been more present on stage than in the studio with the last few albums. The idea of a 2017 U2 album with clear production, that sounds like 4 musicians in a room playing powerful music rather than a "soup" of production is very exciting to me.
I've also felt that The Miracle (which i love, btw) performed live falls really flat during the chorus. It doesn't happen in the studio version, I'm guessing because there are multiple layers of guitars and everything is mixed to be as heavy/impressive as possible, whereas on stage the band very much focuses on only the 4 instruments, which means any flaws can't be hidden.
But i have a feeling if they'd written/recorded Miracle in the fashion they're (hopefully) doing now, we'd have gotten a stronger chorus/arrangement of the chorus. I think this new potential method they're going for could really force them to write superior hooks, because there should be an emphasis on what the band is playing, rather than flashy production hiding anything substandard. They could get some really good stuff out of this process.