Originally posted by stj0691Glad to see U2 working on a new album. From what I've heard, it should be great. We know Bono's voice hasn't gone away, especially after hearing some tracks off of Across the Universe and the Union Chapel show. Which reminds me, if U2 does intend to start touring their new album, is Bono going to be singing some Beatles cover songs to advertise ATU? It could happen. I can see Bono singing I am the Walrus or Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds live, giving the songs U2's special touch. Who knows? The songs could be even better than the real thing.
Anyway, being a new U2 fan, I can't help but notice a pattern in U2's work. Correct me if I am wrong, but the studio album order goes from Boy, October, War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum, Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop, ATYCLB, and HTDAAB. 11 beautiful albums, to the U2 hardcore fan. The pattern I see is that after U2 released one of their best albums, JT, they released a film about a year later (R&H). HTDAAB came out in 04, but the Vertigo tour did end at the end of 2006. The new film, U2 3D, came out a year later after the end of the Vertigo tour. After Rattle and Hum, we got to hear another masterpiece, Achtung Baby, which was described as innovative. U2 then went through their experimental phase in the 90s, which may have caused some U2 fans to ponder as to what were they doing. However as a live band they didn't disappoint.
Back to topic matters
This new album should be great. They were listening to some Hendrix material, especially the drumming. I just a short while ago had a Hendrix phase, in which I concentrated on hearing some Hendrix stuff because of the Who's influence on Jimi (I am a Who fan). I heard Mitchell drum, he was good. TJHE's instruments sound on their songs is balanced, more as a band, much like U2. I see people freaking out at the mention of collarboration. To me that only means they (Eno and Lanois) are helping out with the album. Why not? The Who had Chris Stamp and Kit Lambert give them the idea of a rock story, which influenced Pete Townshend to write Tommy. That was an album that defined that era's sound. This new album is said to be innovative. Hopefully it's not another Passenjers like album, because there will not be a tour if it is.
Also I see that the album will be innovative. So I'm guessing U2 has come up with a new sound too.
To me, all of this news reminds me of Achtung Baby. That album was innovative, hinted rock origins, and was a commercial success. However, that was their first stab at innovation, and the band nearly broke up. Thank God for "One". Their next attempts at innovation didn't do so well. Zooropa captured supposedly what was the Zoo TV sound (but was more European in some reviews) and Pop's material was so far off U2 had strayed from their roots. Then we got ATYCLB, where U2 had gone to their roots. HTDAAB was similar in sound as well.
So we're getting an experimental album, to thought. In the 60s, pshycodelia influenced a lot of music, but at its beginning was innovative. With this album and U2's popularity, could we get a sound that could influnce a generation of music? So here is what I see. We got JT, R&H, and AB in that order. JT and AB were commercially successful while R&H was seen as not so good. I see the next pattern as HTDAAB, U2 3D, and the new album. HTDAAB was a masterpiece, U2 3D isn't getting much attention, and I hope this new album follows suit.
Fuck me. That's one hell of a first post. Welcome
Some nice points there. (You're right about the album order BTW).
The only counter arguments I have are 2:-
1) The album's usually come in sets of three in terms of their sound :-
(a) Boy, October, War (with War arguably the best of these 3)
(b) The UF, JT, R&H (the album). (With JT nearly always considered the best of these 3)
(c) Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop (well, obviously AB is the best of these)
(d) ATYCLB, HTDAAB, >>>>>>>>>>
So, if the pattern continues, the sound won't be that different to the last 2. And Bono spouts a lot of shit at this point in a new album's genesis.
2) U23D is getting a lot of attention. It was even reviewed in my generic film magazine. And the reviews are almost all positive (very). Rattle and Dung on the other hand got largely negative reviews and they were forced to 'go away and dream it all up again' (apologies if the quote is not 100% accurate). So there is no real force to make them change this time unlike when they did AB. U2 are sitting pretty and almost unchallenged as the behemoth rock act of the modern age. No-one comes close to longevity, back catalogue and continued relevance + sales and chart success,let alone the live act (ok, Muse challenge them there).
What do you think.
And if you would like to spare the time, please pop over here and say hello to everyone. You seem like someone the forum would like to meet:-
welcome to u2start y'all
