Originally posted by dieder:Actually I don't know if U2 is ever gonna make an even greater record than Achtung Baby or The Joshua Tree. That's because U2 is in a very different situation than that they were around that time.
When they were recording The Joshua Tree they weren't the greatest band YET. Of course there were expextations but U2 wasn't a very very big hype at that time (correct me if I'm wrong). After the release of The Joshua Tree, the world almost exploded because it was briliiant. THEN they became so-called 'Rock Hottest Ticket' and they had The Joshua Tree-tour and the Lovetown Tour and Rattle and Hum.
But now, people expected a new album wich would be really different then The Joshua Tree. That was a great challenge. They succeeded (in my (and probably in all yours) opinion(s), to do that.
They came with the Zoo TV tour and that was really groundbreaking with the screens, the alter-ego's etcetera. Zooropa came and they made another change with POP and again a really really REALLY great tour which was groundbreaking too because of the huge screen and the lemon and and and their first mess-up ever in Vegas (ok, I was suppossed to let that one out, but ok).
After that they just made a solid and proper record in the name of All That You Can't Leave Behind and the tour was solid too (the performances were very good, and the show-element wasn't that much presented).
In my opinion, around that time U2 was settled as a legendary band, even more with How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomd and the matching Vertigo Tour.
They DON'T have to make another great record that comes out of their veins and I don't know if they ever are capable of dreaming it all over again. Of course I hope so but they almost did everything what's possible and the same counts for the new tour.
The big screen, the alter-ego's, the b-stage, the effects of the Vertigo Tour etcetera they were all a bit groundbreaking but now everything is already done by themselves or other artists.
So thats why I don't think they are not capable of making an even better album than The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby. And the same counts for the tour, it's never gonna be bigger or more shocky or funky than Zoo TV or Popmart.
BUT: I'm not a pessimist. They are really capable of making a GREAT record and a HUGE tour but I will never be better than Zoo TV/Popmart or the matching albums.
So thats a big post, but I got the feeling I didn't explained it well cause my English is very limited.
How about it?
Agree with you, dieder. JT or AB can't be topped, I think. A new album will always be compared to these two and it's way too hard to win that 'battle'.
