GEN
Active topics
U2 - Atomic City
 Era:
2020-2029
  1. Originally posted by dstankie:The first single off AB was the Fly. Do you know what that sounded like at the time? How bold and weird and provocative?

    The first single off Zooropa was Numb. Numb! And radio stations played it.

    The first single off Pop was Discotheque. Again, weird and bold and unpredictable.

    Heck, I'll throw in Beautiful Day. At the time, sounding like old U2 was the least U2 thing to do. It's a great track that set the tone for the album and tour to come.

    Desire was an interesting single from R&H.

    A non-album release like Night and Day demanded attention for its unpredictability. Same with Hold Me..., Miss Sarajevo.

    I'll even concede Vertigo was a banger and had some new energy (even if the rest of the album was nothing like it).

    So it's not like there isn't a long history of attention-grabbing singles that pushed the sound envelope for this band.

    With that context, recent singles have been tremendous let downs to some of us, and this one seems to sadly be another swing and a miss.

    And the weird thing is that they--the artists themselves--don't seem to notice the tremendous diminishment.

    An analogy: I am a New England Patriots fan. I was spoiled by twenty years of football greatness. Am I supposed to feel satisfied by what the team is now--average on a very good day? As a fan, should I just be happy that there is still a football team in New England?

    The analogy breaks down: the Patriot greatness was clearly largely about Tom Brady's greatness. He's gone, and therefore this isn't the same team. But U2 IS the same team. And given their history of greatness, plus their collective musical wisdom and experience, is it really so strange or offensive to expect more from them?
    This
  2. Originally posted by guykirk9:I don’t think that is Edges fault that the band have opted to go the route they have gone since 2011.

    I think regression is a bit harsh, I would argue he has gotten older (as the band has) and the music hasn’t warranted the same sound.


    Why not? He and Bono are principal songwriters, and given how much crap the lyricst gets, why not the melody,-maker?
  3. Originally posted by muzika:[..]


    Why not? He and Bono are principal songwriters, and given how much crap the lyricst gets, why not the melody,-maker?
    Well you can give him crap if you don’t like the song of course, just saying it doesn’t necessarily mean he has become a worse guitar player. The music hasn’t been as innovative as it was from 1980-2010
  4. Originally posted by BloodyValentine:[..]


    U2 doesn't make disposable songs. They only make what Bono considers to be "great" songs. The fact that he thinks this is great should tell you something. Look at this song for what it is - it's the tea leaves that you need to read about the future of this band.

    This is the first indication of their new studio direction since Songs of Experience came out. I like SOS for what it was - a pandemic project to spice up the oldies with a fresh take but nothing revolutionary. But when it comes to a new studio album, sound and theme, we've been in waiting mode until now. Welcome to the new U2. Now we know what we're in for.


    Siome of you are reading way too.much into this. Its a standalone single, not related to a new album.
  5. If it is related to the album, I don’t mind at all
  6. Originally posted by guykirk9:[..]
    Totally different career paths, I think you hit it on the head with solo acts compared to bands.

    U2 sells out stadiums, don’t know if Bob Dylan has played for that many people in 30 years
    No, because this may not be the point. The career paths are not different by natural law or by chance - but by the decisions made consciously.

    - Bob Dylan took a step back away from the crowd pleasing. The expectations. The icon. The maniac fans. The media. To be what he wanted to find out again: being an artist. Being on stage. Writing songs. Covering others‘ tunes. With no compromise. Playing not anymore the big stadiums (full in 1984), but having much smaller audiences following this new rediscovered muse of masterful creativity.
    An outburst not only documented in thousands of concerts since restarting in 1988, but also albums that are as brillant as earlier works. Listen for example to Time Out Of Mind (1997), Love And Theft (2001), Tempest (2012), Shadows In The Night (2015) and last but not the least Rough And Rowdy Ways (2021). With 82 years still touring and playing some of the best music of his 60-years-career.
    In summary: When I do not want to play Like A Rolling Stone, All Along the Watchtower, Knockin‘ On Heaven‘s Door or Blowin‘ In The Wind - well, it’s not the Greatest Hits Juke Box here, but hey, listen to: Key West (Philosopher Pirate).
    That‘s Why Bob has „his audience“ now for a long time. He has educated himself - and his audience.

    - U2 decided - with the E&I exception- for another road. Music for the masses. When people come to a show, they expect Streets, One, Sunday, Pride, Beautiful Day, Mysterious Ways, Follow etc. etc. In truth we have been on a Greatest Hits Tour since 2001.
    Similar to the Stones, that have celebrated their „big hits“ for ages, too. Every night. Every show. To do the other fans a favour, there is the online choice for a rarity in the set. As our band really having dug deep in their back catalogue since 2001.

    - That was the turning point by the way, as Bono himself talked about deliberately every night in 2018: The 90ies were the decade, where U2 experimented. Took risks. Searched for new art, failed, succeeded the more. The U2 90ies album triptychon plus Batman, Passengers and Million Dollar Hotel do document this peak. The last creative peak. Since then we‘re back to that, what the band thinks is relevant and enough for mass appeal. Something we hear in the polished album productions and in the simpler song writing.
    In summary: Following a formula that brings us now from to „Atomic City - Atomic“.

    A then himself and his audience challenging Bono completed in an Interview the sentence „There are many levels to ZOO TV“ wittingly with „This is the lowest.“ Hey Bono, some of us are waiting for what‘s next. For a long time now. Where is the art? Where is the poetry? Has it all become just a job, maybe even meaningless? There‘s a whole world changing outside your window - and all there is, is this? C‘mon you know better…
  7. Originally posted by iTim:[..]
    The band are about to spend 3 months in Las Vegas playing that album released 30 years ago. Maybe they should…just move on?


    Naw, they built the school. They can go back every 20 years and admire the architecture
  8. No, because this may not be the point. The career paths are not different by natural law or by chance - but by the decisions made consciously.

    - Bob Dylan took a step back away from the crowd pleasing. The expectations. The icon. The maniac fans. The media. To be what he wanted to find out again: being an artist. Being on stage. Writing songs. Covering others‘ tunes. With no compromise. Playing not anymore the big stadiums (full in 1984), but having much smaller audiences following this new rediscovered muse of masterful creativity.
    An outburst not only documented in thousands of concerts since restarting in 1988, but also albums that are as brillant as earlier works. Listen for example to Time Out Of Mind (1997), Love And Theft (2001), Tempest (2012), Shadows In The Night (2015) and last but not the least Rough And Rowdy Ways (2021). With 82 years still touring and playing some of the best music of his 60-years-career.
    In summary: When I do not want to play Like A Rolling Stone, All Along the Watchtower, Knockin‘ On Heaven‘s Door or Blowin‘ In The Wind - well, it’s not the Greatest Hits Juke Box here, but hey, listen to: Key West (Philosopher Pirate).
    That‘s Why Bob has „his audience“ now for a long time. He has educated himself - and his audience.

    - U2 decided - with the E&I exception- for another road. Music for the masses. When people come to a show, they expect Streets, One, Sunday, Pride, Beautiful Day, Mysterious Ways, Follow etc. etc. In truth we have been on a Greatest Hits Tour since 2001.
    Similar to the Stones, that have celebrated their „big hits“ for ages, too. Every night. Every show. To do the other fans a favour, there is the online choice for a rarity in the set. As our band really having dug deep in their back catalogue since 2001.

    - That was the turning point by the way, as Bono himself talked about deliberately every night in 2018: The 90ies were the decade, where U2 experimented. Took risks. Searched for new art, failed, succeeded the more. The U2 90ies album triptychon plus Batman, Passengers and Million Dollar Hotel do document this peak. The last creative peak. Since then we‘re back to that, what the band thinks is relevant and enough for mass appeal. Something we hear in the polished album productions and in the simpler song writing.
    In summary: Following a formula that brings us now from to „Atomic City - Atomic“.

    A then himself and his audience challenging Bono completed in an Interview the sentence „There are many levels to ZOO TV“ wittingly with „This is the lowest.“ Hey Bono, some of us are waiting for what‘s next. For a long time now. Where is the art? Where is the poetry? Has it all become just a job, maybe even meaningless? There‘s a whole world changing outside your window - and all there is, is this? C‘mon you know better…


    Very well articulated.

    And I think you might be exactly right. Dylan chose to be an artist, and I agree that albums like Love and Theft and Rough and Rowdy Ways are right up there with his greatest early work (though very different). U2 decided for some reason it was important to stay "big."

    But great art is only ever made by people who desire to/find ways to transcend--themselves and what has already been done. U2's main impetus for two decades was transcendence. They never settled and were always leaping forward. And they made a lot of great art.
  9. Originally posted by iTim:[..]
    The band are about to spend 3 months in Las Vegas playing that album released 30 years ago. Maybe they should…just move on?


    I think U2, like other bands their age, are currently facing a dilemma: they want to continue to create music for the masses, but their aging fanbase is apathetic to it; they want to listen to the music that came out when they were young. And with the band members being in their 60s, you're not going to get that many young people listening to them. So what do you do: go the greatest hits route, or keep making new music that will most likely generate less interest than the past?

    To stay on topic, I'm holding out on listening to the song until it's officially released.
  10. I think I belong to the old school of U2 fans, and I have respect for them based on gratitude and goodwill. I don't expect them to rock out, or for Edge to shred his guitar strings. I appreciate U2's music as a whole, and even if there are weaker moments, stumbles, or shortcomings, we should forgive them. After all, they are just people. And yes, I agree that their best years are behind them, but I disagree with the idea that they can't still excite the audience, or that they've lost their mojo. The fire is still burning, and it's not as weak as many 'fans' seem to think.
  11. Originally posted by raf90:I think I belong to the old school of U2 fans, and I have respect for them based on gratitude and goodwill. I don't expect them to rock out, or for Edge to shred his guitar strings. I appreciate U2's music as a whole, and even if there are weaker moments, stumbles, or shortcomings, we should forgive them. After all, they are just people. And yes, I agree that their best years are behind them, but I disagree with the idea that they can't still excite the audience, or that they've lost their mojo. The fire is still burning, and it's not as weak as many 'fans' seem to think.
    There‘s nothing to forgive. We do deal with a hobby, music, entertainment and, yes, creativity and art. It is their decision, how/if/when to do their steps.

    And with all my respect to everybody applauding all this and being happy, that they are still around etc. - also respect to those, who feel not that positive, are disappointed by these ‚standards‘.

    Behind all the politics, the bs, the preaching, the search for relevance and radio airplay nonsense, the live playbacks, U2 are one of the best bands of the last 40 years by far. They will always be my band. By the heart. And because of this, I‘m free and ok to say: Play these shows, but then off of your comfort zone!
  12. Originally posted by dstankie:The first single off AB was the Fly. Do you know what that sounded like at the time? How bold and weird and provocative?

    The first single off Zooropa was Numb. Numb! And radio stations played it.

    The first single off Pop was Discotheque. Again, weird and bold and unpredictable.

    Heck, I'll throw in Beautiful Day. At the time, sounding like old U2 was the least U2 thing to do. It's a great track that set the tone for the album and tour to come.

    Desire was an interesting single from R&H.

    A non-album release like Night and Day demanded attention for its unpredictability. Same with Hold Me..., Miss Sarajevo.

    I'll even concede Vertigo was a banger and had some new energy (even if the rest of the album was nothing like it).

    So it's not like there isn't a long history of attention-grabbing singles that pushed the sound envelope for this band.

    With that context, recent singles have been tremendous let downs to some of us, and this one seems to sadly be another swing and a miss.

    And the weird thing is that they--the artists themselves--don't seem to notice the tremendous diminishment.

    An analogy: I am a New England Patriots fan. I was spoiled by twenty years of football greatness. Am I supposed to feel satisfied by what the team is now--average on a very good day? As a fan, should I just be happy that there is still a football team in New England?

    The analogy breaks down: the Patriot greatness was clearly largely about Tom Brady's greatness. He's gone, and therefore this isn't the same team. But U2 IS the same team. And given their history of greatness, plus their collective musical wisdom and experience, is it really so strange or offensive to expect more from them?


    I literally couldn't have said it better myself. You've summed up what this band has been for the past 20 years perfectly