This album has completely renewed my faith in U2.
I love Pop. love the fearlessness. Loved Edge not being in jangly guitar mode. Loved the lyrics and the dark places they reflected. Loved Adam and Larry getting out of their comfort zones. Loved how they made a Rock album and fooled stupid "critics" with an icing of Electronics. Loved the power of the live shows, some absolute barnburners on that tour.
Then came ATYCLB, a band in full retreat mode. Some nice songs, but a definite retreat into their panic shelter. Fear. A Patchy album was forgiven by a wonderful stripped down tour which despite it's simplicity was actually very well thought out, was conceptually tied to the album and some great performances capturing a mood. A modified Fly, a new message in BTBS, the old dog still had a few new tricks.
Then came HTDAAB. Even more Fear. Leaving out the 2 more adventurous songs (Mercy, Fast Cars). Abandoning early versions which were superior to what ended up on the album. A tour that was a mish mash of silly props (lights on strings), a recycling of the elevation set up and some very sloppy half hearted performances. Preachy Bono, some not very good arrangements of old songs, a weak album.
Onto NLOTH, news of Morocco raised hopes (I had been listening to a lot of North African music at the time, having been taken there by Robert Plant). End result ? Abandonded Fez sessions, GOYB, Guy-liner and some last minute inserting of half baked attempts at radio hits. An album that had glorious highs (Fez, MOs) and some deep deep deep lows. Fear. A stadium tour with a spinal tap structure with no tie in to the album, and again some very half hearted performances.
In between times we got mostly Corporate, South-of-France, Corporate, Hobnobbing with the rich and powerful Bono. We got Malibu housing developments, Revisionist History in U2 by U2, Tax evasion, Expensive Chinese-made-clothing, ranting and raving about wanting to tax me through my isp to line McGuine$$' pockets even more.
Now, we get this. An abandonment of Fear.. Not a care about "biggest band in the world", #1 album or a Grammy. just throwing the album out there knowing there would be backlashes.
Fear abandoned. Faith restored. Thanks Guys !