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  1. Originally posted by dstankie:[..]


    With all due respect to you (and my respect for your work is extremely high), these interviews haven't really told us anything. It's just the same old, same old, no specifics.

    Given that it's been so long since an actual new album, it would be nice to know what's holding them up and what we can actually look forward to.
    The interview with Edge in April (U2 X-Radio with Jenny Huston) suggested they still don't have a full idea of what they are doing, and are still trying to find the "spine" of the record that ties it all together. If they don't know themselves I can imagine it's hard for them to talk about the next project.

    The danger of speaking too much? Too early? Bono spent two years talking up that Rock and Roll album he and The Edge thought was the future. Now that it's been left behind in favour of other ideas, some fans are now disappointed that's not what we are getting.
  2. Brian Eno's hosting/putting together a benefit concert for Palestine in September. I'm sure he might have asked the band about whether they'd perform since there's talk of this sci-fi album with him but I couldn't see the band doing it. There is no lineup currently.
  3. Originally posted by Welsh_Edge:Brian Eno's hosting/putting together a benefit concert for Palestine in September. I'm sure he might have asked the band about whether they'd perform since there's talk of this sci-fi album with him but I couldn't see the band doing it. There is no lineup currently.
    Don't think they'll be part of it.
  4. Maybe they are talking too much. Bono seems to.be master in this, for the umptenth time He has announced an album that most likely will never be released in the time frame and "style" he spoke about. I think it's funny, like a running gag. Let them release whatever they want whenever they want. My life does not depend in it.

    I loved what Bowie did with The Nex Day and Blackstar. Those came out of nowhere.
    And in 1993 I learned about Zooropa no sooner than three weeks before the release, when flyers we're distributed at concerts.
    I like those kind of surprises.
  5. Honestly I'd just take a farewell tour at this point. Years scratching around waiting for unmemorable dross new albums is in nobody's interest.
  6. Originally posted by Papo:Maybe they are talking too much. Bono seems to.be master in this, for the umptenth time He has announced an album that most likely will never be released in the time frame and "style" he spoke about. I think it's funny, like a running gag. Let them release whatever they want whenever they want. My life does not depend in it.

    I loved what Bowie did with The Nex Day and Blackstar. Those came out of nowhere.
    And in 1993 I learned about Zooropa no sooner than three weeks before the release, when flyers we're distributed at concerts.
    I like those kind of surprises.
    I wonder if management or the labels are intervening. I'd like a sudden drop surprise however out of nowhere, the real test will be whatever they release will now be relevant.
  7. I'm in a position where I'm not missing U2. It was only last year where they were still doing live shows in Vegas. I'm happy to wait until 27/28. 2024-27/28 is the normal 3/4 year gap between tours. Obviously a much longer wait for new music though.

    However the longer they go without touring the more I think it will be their last tour when they do. One big tour like 360 to say bye visiting all the markets again. Can we see them touring in 2032 after the next tour has finished?
  8. Originally posted by EridescoFly:[..]
    I wonder if malmanagement or the labels are intervening. I'd like a sudden drop surprise however out of nowhere, the real test will be whatever they release will now be relevant.
    The other thing is are Record companies discouraging older acts putting out new albums and unwilling to put substantial amounts of money into making and promoting them ?even for a band like U2 who were selling 12 million + back in the glory days now lucky to sell 2 million with a new album ,not only them but for most bands physical sales have collapsed since 2010 largely due to streaming , boxsets and reissues are far more lucrative as older fans tend to be more interested in buying them and U2 have gone this way a lot over the last few years with ALTYCLB, JT,Atomic Bomb, SOS , Zoo TV EP all getting the deluxe treatment .
  9. Originally posted by popmarter:[..]
    The other thing is are Record companies discouraging older acts putting out new albums and unwilling to put substantial amounts of money into making and promoting them ?even for a band like U2 who were selling 12 million + back in the glory days now lucky to sell 2 million with a new album ,not only them but for most bands physical sales have collapsed since 2010 largely due to streaming , boxsets and reissues are far more lucrative as older fans tend to be more interested in buying them and U2 have gone this way a lot over the last few years with ALTYCLB, JT,Atomic Bomb, SOS , Zoo TV EP all getting the deluxe treatment .
    I wouldn't say boxsets and reissues are far more lucrative. New albums are still doing about 10x the amount of sales of the most exciting reissues. And far better than that compared to lackluster repackaging. In the UK, the Atomic Bomb reissue sold 2,983 copies in its first week. The Zoo TV Ep sold 3,600 copies.

    A new album still does ten times that amount. Songs of Surrender did 46,500 copies, and Songs of Experience did 30,000 copies. (Songs of Surrender was marketed like it was a new album for the band, and was boosted by sales of multiple coloured versions of the vinyl.)

    Universal still has an appetite for new material from U2, have shown they are more than willing to put out any new material from the band, and are very patiently waiting for this album to be ready as well. They were hopeful to have it by this point.
  10. Originally posted by u2wanderer1:[..]
    I wouldn't say boxsets and reissues are far more lucrative. New albums are still doing about 10x the amount of sales of the most exciting reissues. And far better than that compared to lackluster repackaging. In the UK, the Atomic Bomb reissue sold 2,983 copies in its first week. The Zoo TV Ep sold 3,600 copies.

    A new album still does ten times that amount. Songs of Surrender did 46,500 copies, and Songs of Experience did 30,000 copies. (Songs of Surrender was marketed like it was a new album for the band, and was boosted by sales of multiple coloured versions of the vinyl.)

    Universal still has an appetite for new material from U2, have shown they are more than willing to put out any new material from the band, and are very patiently waiting for this album to be ready as well. They were hopeful to have it by this point.
    New albums don't cost a fraction of what they are charging for Boxsets and Vinyl reissues, (which are not counted along with the stand alone reissue in the charts)€280 for Atomic Bomb vinyl, and €150 for the CD boxsets similar for ALTYCLB, €45 for the Zoo TV EP when it was released ,€43 for UABRS red vinyl, SOS had multiple formats at hugely inflated prices not to mention the various RSD EP releases that nearly cost the price of a full album overall they still make a lot of money without having to spend millions on a promotional campaign that goes along with a new album.
  11. Originally posted by popmarter:[..]
    New albums don't cost a fraction of what they are charging for Boxsets and Vinyl reissues, (which are not counted along with the stand alone reissue in the charts)€280 for Atomic Bomb vinyl, and €150 for the CD boxsets similar for ALTYCLB, €45 for the Zoo TV EP when it was released ,€43 for UABRS red vinyl, SOS had multiple formats at hugely inflated prices not to mention the various RSD EP releases that nearly cost the price of a full album overall they still make a lot of money without having to spend millions on a promotional campaign that goes along with a new album.
    All formats of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb are included in that 2,983 figure for first week sales. The cassette, the single CD, the standalone vinyl, the standalone coloured vinyl sold via U2Com in the UK, the discounted download, and the two different formats in box sets. The sales were strong enough to land it at #50 in the charts for the week. The reason they sell so many formats, including colour vinyl and cassettes is to try to get people buying multiple copies to get higher charting positions. If they weren't charting them all together all this alternate format foolishness would go away quickly.
  12. I suspect this is going to be one of the most pivotal albums of their career. One that sees them acknowledged as still having something to offer, or one that leads to the band calling it a day. After a near 10 year gap, they need to come back with the equivalent of Achtung Baby - something that surprises or wows people, otherwise it will be a case of "we waited so long for that" It's hard to see a middle ground where they can get away with anything else. Maybe it's the realisation of that and the pressure it creates that's making it so hard to settle on the tracks.