Shakenotstirred said:
First of all, they were seperated for 15 years, in which members had huge solo success. Henley put out 12 singles off of his three albums in that time, and we all know how popular Walsh was. And after 94? Well first of all the band toured until 97 on their Hell Freezes Over Tour, and then Henley already had a contractual agreement to make another solo album, which came out in 2000, and then the Eagles got back in the studio and started to write again, and they got "Hole in the World" released, plus 7 more songs....but they decided to hold it off after 9/11. They took time off for family stuff, and in early 2003 started their Farewell I Tour, which Frey said will eventually turn into Farewell II and so on....and now they finally have time to go with the album. Two more new songs are being sung at shows this leg of the tour, so expect an album.
The song "Get Over It" to me is like U2's "Elevation" or "Vertigo". Everybody claims to hate it, but everyone loves to sing it and dance to it.
You are telling me that if U2 took off fifteen years and came back, that they would be where they are now musically. Definitely not. Bono is losing his voice. Look at Henley and the rest of the singing Eagles. They can still sing as well....if not better....as Frey says they are....compared to the 70's. That's a feat there.
First paragraph reply:
Of course, I know all of this, it doesn't change the accuracy of the statement, "The Eagles have relatively no new material since U2's first album came out" since 1980, U2 have made 150+ songs, 11 albums and many world tours. The Eagles have cut "maybe" enough material for one album, and have dont the old fashioned "juke box" tour a few times.
The argument is not that the Eagles are still popular, they clearly are, the argument is that you are comparing a still relevant band, with songs on charts next to artists 20 years their junior, with a succesful tour AND album with a band, The Eagles, that besides doing a money-schlocking greatest hits tour, have had maybe an album worth of material of a 25 YEAR PERIOD.
It just doesn't hold water, I put aside my disdain for The Eagles music, as I think it's entirely subjective, but this is just not comprable. Wait and see if u2 does a "jukebox tour" 10 years from now, they will still be pulling them in the seats, guaranteed.
Second statement reply:
The song "Get Over It' is crap. I would say Elevation is crap too.
I am not alone, certainly not everyone claims to hate and still sings and dances to it. It's fluff. Vertigo is notches above either tune, although I don't think it's a great song.
Third paragrpah reply:
No, I don't think U2 could take 15 years off and maintain the musical vibrancy that they have now. It's hard to do, Lord knows the Eagles proved that.
To compare Bono's voice with Henley's is just...absurd. There is no denying that Bono's voice is indeed plummeting, with age, smoking and normal wear and tear of 25 years of touring.
But his voice in, say, 1985 was immaculate, so 20 years later it's not as good as it once was but it's clearly better than the raspy growl of Don Henley. Heck, I even like Don Henley's solo work, I thinh he made soem excellent songs, but his voice is serviceable, it was pretty good when he was 25, and it's pretty good now.
When Bono was 25, his voice was immaculate, maybe now his voice is merely good. Still better than Henley's by a long shot IMO.
Joe Walsh's voice is dogshit, his guitar playing, while good has always been overrated, although he is a pretty good songwriter.
Glen Frey hasn't done shit in years, everyone knows this. His voice is similar to that of Henley's. They don't sing in high registers, and don't have much of a baritone either, just a good solid serviceable voice, that compliments the music well.
What the Eagles do well is harmonize, with often makes up for shortcomings in a singular voice. I don't disapparage the Eagles, or even their work, i respect it, even though I am not much of a fan at all. I just think this is clearly apples and oranges, but if you are going to go ahead and make the comparison, of the apple and orange, I'll take U2 in this debate any day of the week.