Over the history of music, many bands have come and go... most noticably, the Beatles, the Doors, Pink Floyd... many of these bands spend less than 10+ years together, and usually split over musical/personal differences...
Since the 80s, U2 set itself apart from the new wave synth / dance rythmnic influenced sound. The 80s also gave birth to new bands, Bon Jovi and Duran Duran -- who each had their share of hits...
The 90s proved to be a difficult era to master, Nirvana conquered it with their song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" but before to ever capture their stardom, Kurt ended his life. Pearl Jam reached global popularity, but settled for the fans -- instead of money.
U2 then continued with success, both commercially and touring. Nearly every tour since ZOO TV had been sold out -- and with POPMART they did let the fame get to their heads...
Nearly every 80s band, has some type of revital tour, the Police are doing it, Bon Jovi is doing it... Duran Duran is back in the studio working a way to remix their sound...
U2 has gradually improved with each album, and given it some type of direction... I don't think 20 years after the Joshua Tree, we'd ever imagined U2 writing another 'Where The Streets Have No Name' esque song "City Of Blinding Lights" -- it certainly breathes life and fresh air into a band rather than writing mock off copies of "With Or Without You" or "One"
U2 pulled out many older songs during their Vertigo tour, and debuted many new songs... at the same time, the band did not seem to rely heavily on 'greatest hits' --- each song had it's own meaning and feeling to it -- and the audience knew that. But what's more amazing is ... a band after being together for 25 years, can still play material from their first album and not be ashamed of that -- that's truely pride.
Listening to "Window In The Skies" the band seemed to move in a more melodic, less climatic song. Inspired by the Beatles, they aimed to write a classic song, that could be song for years. If anything has told us, this is a step in the direction of what may be the next defining album of their career. We don't truely know what U2 has left in store, it's just a matter of the right notes, right lyrics and experimenting -- anything's possible...
So U2 will have the last laugh among any band in the last 50 years... They wil publish an album that will be defining for them, again, they will never 'fade away' or write a somewhat hit song, then tour and fade. They managed to sell 810,000 copies the first week with 'Bomb' and stayed on top of the charts for 3 weeks... the same material wouldn't sell as heavily... so newer material always has a hit or miss risk.
So many 80's bands just come back into the scene, find someway to remix an old hit -- (Think Mister Mister) or stir up a rumor of a reunion and do it (Police) or cover/convert their songs to country/western (Bon Jovi) ... that in the end, they just tour without any solid material that shows how much the band has learned and grown. U2 is always experimenting and finding the right words to say, and to say it to... U2 will never be a band like the Rolling Stones, who respectively at their 70s, still tour with old material -- you can see the same show, same material -- with the same band -- but you'd like them regardless because they are your favorite band.
But if your favorite band takes a risk, writes material that brings some excitment into your life, and are confident with it -- then you truely commit yourself to them -- and the future. I would like to imagine that U2 won't do anything to tarnish their image or music -- (despite what people said about 'One w/ Mary J', or U218 singles) they have the smarts, and see what other bands are doing -- and where to succeed from there.
Since the 80s, U2 set itself apart from the new wave synth / dance rythmnic influenced sound. The 80s also gave birth to new bands, Bon Jovi and Duran Duran -- who each had their share of hits...
The 90s proved to be a difficult era to master, Nirvana conquered it with their song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" but before to ever capture their stardom, Kurt ended his life. Pearl Jam reached global popularity, but settled for the fans -- instead of money.
U2 then continued with success, both commercially and touring. Nearly every tour since ZOO TV had been sold out -- and with POPMART they did let the fame get to their heads...
Nearly every 80s band, has some type of revital tour, the Police are doing it, Bon Jovi is doing it... Duran Duran is back in the studio working a way to remix their sound...
U2 has gradually improved with each album, and given it some type of direction... I don't think 20 years after the Joshua Tree, we'd ever imagined U2 writing another 'Where The Streets Have No Name' esque song "City Of Blinding Lights" -- it certainly breathes life and fresh air into a band rather than writing mock off copies of "With Or Without You" or "One"
U2 pulled out many older songs during their Vertigo tour, and debuted many new songs... at the same time, the band did not seem to rely heavily on 'greatest hits' --- each song had it's own meaning and feeling to it -- and the audience knew that. But what's more amazing is ... a band after being together for 25 years, can still play material from their first album and not be ashamed of that -- that's truely pride.
Listening to "Window In The Skies" the band seemed to move in a more melodic, less climatic song. Inspired by the Beatles, they aimed to write a classic song, that could be song for years. If anything has told us, this is a step in the direction of what may be the next defining album of their career. We don't truely know what U2 has left in store, it's just a matter of the right notes, right lyrics and experimenting -- anything's possible...
So U2 will have the last laugh among any band in the last 50 years... They wil publish an album that will be defining for them, again, they will never 'fade away' or write a somewhat hit song, then tour and fade. They managed to sell 810,000 copies the first week with 'Bomb' and stayed on top of the charts for 3 weeks... the same material wouldn't sell as heavily... so newer material always has a hit or miss risk.
So many 80's bands just come back into the scene, find someway to remix an old hit -- (Think Mister Mister) or stir up a rumor of a reunion and do it (Police) or cover/convert their songs to country/western (Bon Jovi) ... that in the end, they just tour without any solid material that shows how much the band has learned and grown. U2 is always experimenting and finding the right words to say, and to say it to... U2 will never be a band like the Rolling Stones, who respectively at their 70s, still tour with old material -- you can see the same show, same material -- with the same band -- but you'd like them regardless because they are your favorite band.
But if your favorite band takes a risk, writes material that brings some excitment into your life, and are confident with it -- then you truely commit yourself to them -- and the future. I would like to imagine that U2 won't do anything to tarnish their image or music -- (despite what people said about 'One w/ Mary J', or U218 singles) they have the smarts, and see what other bands are doing -- and where to succeed from there.
but pop 
