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  1. The material has been getting progressively weaker and the albums lack the sonic cohesion of the 90s and 80s. Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby can arguably feature in any list of the best albums of their respective decades. Can the same be said of any of the 00s albums? Honestly and objectively, I believe the answer is an emphatic 'no', imho, etc. That's speaking as a long time U2 fan who really wants the band to succeed creatively speaking.

    They have recorded decent tracks though. Adam often refers to U2 needing tracks that are 'indisputable', he has said this about Vertigo. Vertigo and Beautiful Day have stood the test of time in the live setting and are top tracks in their own right, Original of the Species is a fine song, NLOTH (track) is decent, but overall, the albums definitely pale in comparison to their earlier efforts. It's understandable, very few bands stay at the peak of their creative powers forever. I think U2 are just in decline as a creative force and the albums and current setlists reflect that.

    There are a lot of weak tracks on the 00s albums, e.g. ABOY, Yahweh are poor, Crazy Tonight and Stand Up Comedy are awful, I'm not a fan of the meandering Unknown Caller or Breathe, I really wanted MOS to be as great as Eno said it was, but it just isn't. Boy Falls from The Sky, Glastonbury and North Star hardly fill me with confidence that things will improve. That said, U2 are still capable of putting in great live performances and I have faith in them when their backs are to the wall. The stakes have risen for the next album and I think they'll consider their next move carefully album wise. Here's hoping. Still looking forward to a massive performance at Glastonbury, so it's not all bad.
  2. I absolutely agree they seem to be in decline,judging by the last album,which even though i like,is not as good as what U2 have put out before,GOYB is truly awful,great guitar work but the lyrics make me cringe.
    ATYCLB is my fav U2 album,although i understand other fans views that the filler tracks are weak,Pop era i look back on as disappointing and the 2000 stuff put that right,i totally lost my way with Pop and became disinterested with the band,it was to me U2 trying to be hip and get into dance shite and the noughties brought back the band to how they should be,4 guys rocking the fuc.k out without any theatrics.The 2000's is my fav era,80's and 90's are joint second.
    I really dont care about all this "playing it safe" stuff,i hope they just make a good simple rock album next,and play it in front of screaming fans jumping up and down for 2 hours.
  3. Originally posted by kezman:,Pop era i look back on as disappointing and the 2000 stuff put that right,i totally lost my way with Pop and became disinterested with the band


    and I quote from some member of U2, "The album Pop is the sound of four men trying to chop down the Joshua Tree."
  4. Overall, I think, this decade has been as good as the other two for U2.


    In the 80ies they were just beginning so the first albums have good very good songs, but also some really afwul ones. They reached a peak with the Joshua Tree of course, but R&H left everyone a bit disappointed.

    90ies : booming start with Achtung Baby, but Passengers/Zooropa/Pop just can't be named overall masterpieces. Really. I know some of you like them, and I love the latter 2 too, but it's just too different for the majority of people to love. (And the U2start fans aren't the majority)/

    00ies : well, songs like Beautiful Day, Walk On, Vertigo, COBL, Stuck In A Moment, Sometimes... Led U2 back on the charts, winning more grammies and other prizes than ever. I thought HTDAAB was U2's 3rd biggest selling , right ? So it has to cointain some good music if so many people buy the record.
    But NLOTH, as Passengers/Zooropa/Pop, just wasn't that mainstream or good enough for everybody to love, though some people will probably call it their best.


    So again, I really don't think there's anything 'wrong' or so and the 00ies were good enough. For me that is.
    80ies had Joshua Tree
    90ies had Achtung Baby
    00ies had How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
    Personally, I love them equally.


  5. nah mate that was Bono talking about 'The Fly' .

    I feel this has been U2's least progressive era with the music standing still and staying the same where as their music changed through the 80's and definately in the 90's too. Its a shame the band didnt change again, even if it didnt work, give us some variation.
  6. In response to the title of this thread :



    The prosecution rests.
  7. Originally posted by u2spear:[..]

    nah mate that was Bono talking about 'The Fly' .

    I feel this has been U2's least progressive era with the music standing still and staying the same where as their music changed through the 80's and definately in the 90's too. Its a shame the band didnt change again, even if it didnt work, give us some variation.


    Wasn't it about Zoo Station ? Because that groundbreaking riff was the first you'd hear from Achtung Baby.


  8. I think it was a mix of both and the whole album and image.

    My main problem with the 00's is the second half of ATYCLB and HTDAAB. Both just drop the ball in terms of songs.

    On a more 'universal' level, the eras haven't been as innovative and "legendary" like ZooTV and Popmart. Maybe cuz we're living in it? Hmm
  9. Originally posted by Genaro92U2:[..]

    I think it was a mix of both and the whole album and image.

    My main problem with the 00's is the second half of ATYCLB and HTDAAB. Both just drop the ball in terms of songs.

    On a more 'universal' level, the eras haven't been as innovative and "legendary" like ZooTV and Popmart. Maybe cuz we're living in it? Hmm


    Two very good points.

    I only listen to the first six songs of ATYCLB nowadays and really just Vertigo and COBL from HTDAAB (and only because they are played live the 360 Tour).

    I lived through ZooTV and PopMart. ZooTV was monumental and Popmart was a disaster. Time has healed many wounds for U2 circa 1997. I do feel, however, that if both tours were held in a time of forums like this one, they would have be lambasted due to their lack of setlists changes. I am sure I have stated this before.
  10. Originally posted by RUMMY:[..]

    Two very good points.

    I only listen to the first six songs of ATYCLB nowadays and really just Vertigo and COBL from HTDAAB (and only because they are played live the 360 Tour).

    I lived through ZooTV and PopMart. ZooTV was monumental and Popmart was a disaster. Time has healed many wounds for U2 circa 1997. I do feel, however, that if both tours were held in a time of forums like this one, they would have be lambasted due to their lack of setlists changes. I am sure I have stated this before.


    Ahaha COBL Vertigo Sometimes and about half of Miracle are the only songs I really care for imo

    This is why I don't knock down the band for its stagnant setlists this leg, zoo tv and popmart had a great setlist format imo and 360 has one now too.

    performance wise zoo tv and popmart are amazing and idk why but not all of elevation and vertigo tours 360 are to that level (close though based on bootlegss)
  11. Originally posted by Genaro92U2:[..]

    Ahaha COBL Vertigo Sometimes and about half of Miracle are the only songs I really care for imo

    This is why I don't knock down the band for its stagnant setlists this leg, zoo tv and popmart had a great setlist format imo and 360 has one now too.

    performance wise zoo tv and popmart are amazing and idk why but not all of elevation and vertigo tours 360 are to that level (close though based on bootlegss)


    I agree with half of what you just said there. I think calling the performances on popmart "amazing" is irresponsible. What stick out for alot of us are the top bootlegs from that tour (Leeds, Sarajevo, Mexico, Santiago) but the performances from alot of the rest of the tour are pretty uninspired/downright messy. Id say on the 360 tour U2 have been as good as ever and certainly better than on Popmart....my opinion anyways.
  12. Originally posted by Doc32:[..]

    I agree with half of what you just said there. I think calling the performances on popmart "amazing" is irresponsible. What stick out for alot of us are the top bootlegs from that tour (Leeds, Sarajevo, Mexico, Santiago) but the performances from alot of the rest of the tour are pretty uninspired/downright messy. Id say on the 360 tour U2 have been as good as ever and certainly better than on Popmart....my opinion anyways.


    Yeah I think Popmart started off rocky but by the second leg to the end the performances were top notch. Leeds, Mexico and Santiago being legendary. I see what you're saying though
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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.