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  1. Originally posted by thunderbolt:[..]Well, in my opinion U2 has never discovered anything, but amazingly improved what was already around, that was their kind of genius.


    And what a job they do of it too.




    As for the chart failure, I think there has a lot to do with the album leaking before official release date, and eventual free sharing.


    People want an instant album where they can choose a song to jump straight to a la pop records. You can't do the same with this album - it's designed unlike the last two albums to be listened to as a whole, something a lot of people just won't do and the reason it's a non-singles album; because apart from the mid-section and Breathe the songs are experimental and trying of new things or old things revisited (for U2, anyway). I just couldn't imagine Unknown Caller or Cedars Of Lebanon as a single or remix.

    The free sharing may have something to do with it but chances are if people claim to like U2 as much as they say they end up buying the album. Which personally doesn't worry me in the least but for some having it number one or having plenty of copies sold is something worrying to them. As long as I like it and it sounds good to me then who really cares what it sells.

    If I connect with a song then that's all I worry about.




    Originally posted by EyesWithPride83I know it wouldn't suit their purposes, since the sales for NLOTH were down so much, and the 360° Tour isnt making that much money, but I read an article in RS that was talking about the new trend being releasing these "experimental" albums that artists are toying with for free via the internet.

    I would gladly pay for it, even if free was an option- they deserve my money as far as I'm concerned- but do you think U2 would ever go there with SoA?

    My bet is on "no".


    Second a bet for no.

    I would pay for it because I put it this way.

    All the albums I buy and pay top-dollar for: I could just as easily go through a torrent or RS and save the money. But I think it's worth paying for; if a rock album or pop album has enough good songs and connects me to the spirit of the songs it's worth my time and money. The booklets, even though I have an MP3, are usually pretty good and are like a good book or good bit of art to me.

    If the artist is willing or wanting to give it to me free, and only the option of free - then unfortunately that's the way I would have to go.
  2. Originally posted by kris_smith87:I really think there is some way that the boys can mix up this new CD. Have a few rock/pop standards as well as the experimental stuff.


    I wish they dropped rock completely, but that would mean no new material to tour with.


  3. I would bet good money that this 'new format' is just more idiotic DRM because they still haven't learnt their lesson about that.
  4. Originally posted by thunderbolt:[..]



    As for the chart failure, I think there has a lot to do with the album leaking before official release date, and eventual free sharing.



    I couldn't disagree more. People are still buying music, as evidenced by the albums that do go platinum and sit on top of the charts for weeks on end. U2's problem is that people are choosing not to buy their music, which is a whole other thing. And really, if so many more people had listened to NLOTH for free, I would expect more people to be familiar with the new material, which from being at several shows, I'm fairly certain they are not.

    I think U2 want to have their cake and eat it too; they want to be able to make a 'challenging' album that pleases themselves (they may be pleased with it, but I don't know it's really 'challenging' so much) and they want it to go triple platinum in three weeks and be universally adored. I don't know that it's possible to do both. I know they've never done it before, so I'm confused as to why they expected to do it now.

    I'll be interested to see what happens with Songs of Ascent. I kind of hope they drop the title; it sounds like it should be an album of church hymns, not rock music.
  5. I like the name and it's meaning, if it is indeed an album of 'church hymns' it will be good, some of their best songs ( and the best songs on NLOTH) are hymnal.
    .
    Would rather that than another Bomb.

    U2 make their best music when they transcede the rock genre
  6. I don't even know what i want from this album to be honest. I enjoy the more experimental transcending u2 sound, but i also enjoy the straight up pop/rock that most around hear seem to loathe. I'm pretty sure i'll end up loving whatever it is they put out....Does that make me a blind fanboy?
  7. Originally posted by Doc32:I don't even know what i want from this album to be honest. I enjoy the more experimental transcending u2 sound, but i also enjoy the straight up pop/rock that most around hear seem to loathe. I'm pretty sure i'll end up loving whatever it is they put out....Does that make me a blind fanboy?


    Actually, I also like their mainstream pop/rock stuff, I actually like HTDAAB and ATYCLB and to me they're almost better than an album like TUF where half the songs are weird and unlistenable.

    But I definitely like their edgier stuff more if they execute it properly like on AB/Zooropa.
  8. Originally posted by vanquish:I like the name and it's meaning, if it is indeed an album of 'church hymns' it will be good, some of their best songs ( and the best songs on NLOTH) are hymnal.
    .
    Would rather that than another Bomb.

    U2 make their best music when they transcede the rock genre


    Their best music works on multiple levels, I think. Calling the album 'Songs of Ascent' is going to be a disincentive for the majority of music buyers to give it a chance, no matter how great it turns out to be, IMO. It labels the music as just that one thing, rather than allowing the music to simply speak for itself and appeal on its merits. For instance: is UTEOTW a really dark song about love and betrayal or is it a song about Jesus and Judas? Depends who's listening. It's a great song because it works no matter which way you interpret it. It's the same reason I think Magnificent doesn't work, because it's completely one-dimensional. If there's another way to interpret it other than Bono really liking god a lot, I've yet to find it.

    No Line on the Horizon was a great title for an album (squandered as it was by dull and unappealing artwork - great art does not a great album cover make) and I hope they decide to ditch SOA as a title for the next one.
  9. Originally posted by vanquish:[..]

    Actually, I also like their mainstream pop/rock stuff, I actually like HTDAAB and ATYCLB and to me its better than an album like TUF where half the songs are weird and unlistenable.

    But I definitely like their edgier stuff more if they execute it properly like on AB/Zooropa.



    Ya, ideally i would love it to be like AB. Perfect album in my opinion. Artistically edgy and relevant with really good and catchy songs as well
  10. Originally posted by Doc32:[..]

    Ya, ideally i would love it to be like AB. Perfect album in my opinion. Artistically edgy and relevant with really good and catchy songs as well


    Agree, AB perfectly hit the balance between the two approaches, that's why it's their magnum opus.

    However I think the band intended NLOTH to be like AB and Songs of Ascent will closer resemble Zooropa (which is also a favourite album of mine).

    I really hope they throw away all of the silliness present in NLOTH (GOYB, SUC) for SOA and keep it sombre and atmospheric (Kingdom and Disappearing Act shows they're going down the right path though).

    Originally posted by sonia_lastrega:[..]

    Their best music works on multiple levels, I think. Calling the album 'Songs of Ascent' is going to be a disincentive for the majority of music buyers to give it a chance, no matter how great it turns out to be, IMO. It labels the music as just that one thing, rather than allowing the music to simply speak for itself and appeal on its merits. For instance: is UTEOTW a really dark song about love and betrayal or is it a song about Jesus and Judas? Depends who's listening. It's a great song because it works no matter which way you interpret it. It's the same reason I think Magnificent doesn't work, because it's completely one-dimensional. If there's another way to interpret it other than Bono really liking god a lot, I've yet to find it.

    No Line on the Horizon was a great title for an album (squandered as it was by dull and unappealing artwork - great art does not a great album cover make) and I hope they decide to ditch SOA as a title for the next one.


    I don't think that the title 'Songs of Ascent' holds connotations to the average listener, they'd have to read about its meaning otherwise it would just seem like another cryptic U2 album title like NLOTH or TUF.

    I disagree with you that Magnificent is completely one dimensional, I can easily see it working as a love song.
    The verses support such an interpretation completely, the chorus could easily be about the "magnificence" of love and even the "... you and I will magnify line" is heard by many (including critics in NLOTH preview sessions) as "you and I will make a fire" .

    So it can definitely be heard as a traditional euphoric, love song as well.
  11. It would be great if we could get some sort of announcement about it... something new!


  12. Probably not for a couple weeks or so i'd guess. They have the last gig tomorrow, then the rock and roll hall of fame show, and that berlin wall thing coming up next week. with all that going on idk if that increases or decreases the chance of news. Hopefully we get something about them being in the studio
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