GEN
Active topics
  1. the tour is amazing, even though for the love of God, change the setlist up a bit more!

    the album is one that I don't think could ever really have been as big as the last two, on account of they were full of catchy rock songs and No Line just isn't.

    so they've given it a fair crack, you have to admit.
  2. They've been on the general media more time than ever. The NLOTH promo tour was amazing, they were on the highest selling TV programs of France, UK and USA. Then the album got great reviews by almost everyone, and the tour has been probably the biggest (in attendance and media covering) of their history.

    So, 2009 may have been THE U2 year to the general audience, to the general base of U2 consumers; that means the 38 years old guy, who probably bought Joshua Tree when he was young and knows most of the U2 hits that sound often on the radio. When he/she hears U2 is playing near, he/she demonstrates some interest ,and might even go to the concert, and enjoy it a lot. That general U2 consumers must be amazed with U2009, for sure.

    But it wasn't their year for me. The golden spark has gone. . . I wonder if it ever will be back. I saw it in Barcelona, I saw it in Berlin, I saw it in New York. The rest of the year has been grey.
  3. We were all very happy with the album after the few months of analysing it was over. It was their first complete album of the decade I felt. Songs like Magnificent, UC and MOS are classics in my opinion. The tour has been a great success too Id say. Terrific shows.

    But something wasnt right. The talk of U2 shows not selling out instantly was unheard of really. For me, I think things could have been a whole lot different had Magnificent rather than Boots been the first single. It has that U2 sound that everyone recognises and is afar better song. Had people heard that first the album could have been more appealing.

    Commercially they didnt, but that doesnt bother me much, personally I loved the album and the 2 Croker Gigs I attended. So Im satisfied.
  4. I think that 2009 was the U2 year for us, not for the general casual fans.

    The album was great, their best this decade, maybe the best sinc Zooropa. The tour is also great although I like smaller arena shows better. They both got great reviews.

    I think the mistake was commercially. They released the worst song as the first single. Breathe or No Line should've been the first single. Also, they advertised too much on TV. They should have used the internet more.

    That's something I complain, I think U2 tries too much to get new fans and is quite far from their älready"fans. They should make a more straight forward, simple and accessible website that communicates better with their fans. I don't know... hehehe

    I'm also afraid that they fall in some sort of irrelevance... like the Stones... U2 is making great music but very few people here in Brazil knew of their new album while a lot knew of ATYCLB and HTDAAB...

    I just want U2 to make great songs and give out great concerts

    Oh, they could also be closer to their fans!!!!
  5. Generally, no. NLOTH was no commercial succes, and I haven't met a non-u2 fan who did really love any of the singles or so. The tour did work well though. They've accomplished some great great achievements in this year. And the gave me that o so lovely Amsterdam II gig...so I would be the last to complain


  6. Hah, I don't think you have much to worry about here. Not to diss the Stones, but they've done almost everything possible to their music live to make themselves sound as old as they really are. U2 adapt each song to each tour, giving it a different feel each time around...The Stones' music just seems to get faster, Keith's playing becomes more sporadic, and Mick's shirts keep on getting shorter. The equations just don't balance like they do in U2's favor, whether this was their year or not.

    I would have to say that this was probably not their year. The 360° was groundbreaking, and while it did get special mention on Chicago's news networks during leg 2 opening, I rarely heard/saw any reference to it. Rolling Stone did name it as one of the highlights of the decade, though- titling that small section of their decade issue, "U2's Tour Bigger Than Space Itself".

    They were also voted one of the Top 8 Artists of the Decade, along with Bruce Springsteen.
  7. Originally posted by tapdj:I think they missed their mark in a few ways this time around. First of all, the album should have had much better lyrics. While some songs were very good, they all included stupid lyrics. It seemed like they couldn't write a complete song without using throw away lines. They must go back to writing meaningful songs. At many of the shows, the audience was leaving the arena before the show was over. Did this happen during other tours? While MOS is IMO the best song on the album, it did not keep people in the stands at the end of the show. I saw 360 in NY and Tampa. I was shocked that people were heading for the exits while U2 was still on stage. Maybe 2010 will be theirs but there's work to be done for sure.


    You're right about people leaving early. I think they need to end with three "classics" if they hope that everyone stays until the very end. Heck, when I saw them in Toronto, a great number of people left at the end of "Streets" and didn't stay for the (usual) final three songs!
  8. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]

    You're right about people leaving early. I think they need to end with three "classics" if they hope that everyone stays until the very end. Heck, when I saw them in Toronto, a great number of people left at the end of "Streets" and didn't stay for the (usual) final three songs!


    Who cares if people leave early? That is their own fault. They paid for their tickets they shouls stay and get the most out of their admission!

    As for whether or not this was their year, I'm going to say no, but I think they missed it by just a little bit. First, the initial response to "Get On Your Boots" wasn't great, but I really think had it been featured in some sort of commercial or TV show it would have gotten "out there" more. The album was amazing, and they couldn't really ask for better reviews. Sadly for some reason it just did not work for everyone. I really do think it was a lack of a hit first single, and the fact that many people don't buy CDs anymore had something to do with it. As well, Perez Hilton slammed "Boots" and the album after it leaked and I really think a lot of people who read his blog value his opinion (unfortuneately). Moving on to successes (even if they are slight ones) a lot of people knew the Blackberry commercial. I know people who aren't really fans but said they got excited when they saw that commercial. Also, as I mentioned in other threads, all three of the singles were featured on seasonal CDs at American Eagle. And in the major success pile I think we can put the tour there. And let's not forget the whole YouTube thing... that was pretty cool, and I did see that on a few blog sites.

    (Sorry if I rambled on too long there).
  9. I have to say, no.

    Boots, was a poor first choice single.
    The album has no disctinctive huge song (BD, Vertigo, Elevation)
    Bonos lyrics on the new album are awful- the production behind all of the songs is awesome, edge larry and adam are on form. but people dont remember ad lyrics.

    However, I love the album, amazing tour set up too.

    hardly been their year though, remember 2001? those were the days!

  10. Though not making it their year, i have to say it was probably the best they could have hoped for, times have changed, they have had 20 years as the worlds biggest band but i think its beyond them now, peoples tastes have changed along with what makes it to number one and what gets played on the radio, though the pure lack of promotion didn't help. They still had a great album, still had a fantastic tour and still sold out stadiums across Europe and North America, even if not every man, woman and their dog knew about it.
  11. No, they didn't commercially. No hits, some strange decisions single-wise and a rather misplaced reception of a great album.

    In another way, they really kicked ass during the tour with the EU-leg being the best, I think. The US-leg had a fairly basic (boring) structure. The U2360-tour was great, in my opinion and was the first time I saw the lads live. THe album is great too, to me in the top 4 with AB, JT and Zooropa.


  12. Though i agree with your other points, this just simply doesn't hold as much water. I agree wholeheartedly that the album lacks a "huge" song, but I would never say that- as a complete, running album- HTDAAB is better than NLOTH.

    Huge songs don't make albums- huge songs make singles.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.