1. They are in a terrible rut. Not to say their output is terrible. I like most of SOI, but I feel like it is right up there with October as their weakest album. October still was a band searching for its identity. SOI was at a time where many artists are just living off old glory, and I admire U2 for moving on, even though the production at times, namely Every Breaking Wave was way too much like younger bands, almost pandering for a young audience. SOI's main issue is not really the production, though. It was the songwriting, and lack of ability to include Crystal Ballroom and L Hands. Choosing what songs to include is not always easy, and U2 have been so much better than Prince was, which made me jealous. Mercy may be the only huge mistake they made, with maybe a nod to Electrical Storm not being a real album track the other, but Prince routinely had five or more song selection mistakes for at least 30 of his 39 albums. So I will say U2 is the most consistent artist I follow. It is just sad that the end is near. But I know U2 have at least one late career shock for us all. I really hope SOE is it.
  2. Originally posted by pleasegone:They are in a terrible rut. Not to say their output is terrible. I like most of SOI, but I feel like it is right up there with October as their weakest album. October still was a band searching for its identity. SOI was at a time where many artists are just living off old glory, and I admire U2 for moving on, even though the production at times, namely Every Breaking Wave was way too much like younger bands, almost pandering for a young audience. SOI's main issue is not really the production, though. It was the songwriting, and lack of ability to include Crystal Ballroom and L Hands. Choosing what songs to include is not always easy, and U2 have been so much better than Prince was, which made me jealous. Mercy may be the only huge mistake they made, with maybe a nod to Electrical Storm not being a real album track the other, but Prince routinely had five or more song selection mistakes for at least 30 of his 39 albums. So I will say U2 is the most consistent artist I follow. It is just sad that the end is near. But I know U2 have at least one late career shock for us all. I really hope SOE is it.
    One man's trash is another man's treasure. October is one of my favorite records. They were still searching for their identity and so much more... the original songs of innocence, in a sense (see what I unintentionally did there)
  3. Originally posted by blueeyedboy:[..]
    One man's trash is another man's treasure. October is one of my favorite records. They were still searching for their identity and so much more... the original songs of innocence, in a sense (see what I unintentionally did there)
    I can see why you would make the trash comment, but to clarify, I like October, and even make excuses for it. I like SOI too, but being the worst U2 albums is like being the worst Powerball Lottery winner. You still have a lot to work with. This forum is just a place for me to whine and complain about my pretend brothers in music, U2. I love them like brothers, and I do mean to Bug Ya lol. Which reminds me, where is the R&H remaster? The Pop Box Set! Oh well,
  4. Originally posted by pleasegone:[..]
    I can see why you would make the trash comment, but to clarify, I like October, and even make excuses for it. I like SOI too, but being the worst U2 albums is like being the worst Powerball Lottery winner. You still have a lot to work with. This forum is just a place for me to whine and complain about my pretend brothers in music, U2. I love them like brothers, and I do mean to Bug Ya lol. Which reminds me, where is the R&H remaster? The Pop Box Set! Oh well,
    Hope ya didn't take that the wrong way. And I agree, about the lottery comment! I was just sayin'... R&H remaster coming in 2019, 30th Anniversary!
  5. I wonder how many new songs they wrote in this brief period in returning to the studio, and I wonder how many, if any will end up on the actual record when it's eventually released
  6. Here's a question about songs of experience, do people think it will be a number 1 album and bring in the sort of sales figures as NLOTH at least? I assume SOI sold so little as a result of the free giveaway it would have hit the 5 million mark surely if it hadn't been free. I know the band struggle to find hit singles but albums have been consistently good performers.
  7. It's honestly very hard for me to say that U2 are in a rut by any definition of the word. Historically speaking, this band has always taken their sweet time to release material. In fact, if an album comes out this year, it would be early in their cycle.

    From the perspective of sales, one might argue that SOI didn't do as well as others, but it's a well known fact that SOI's free release triggered a massive increase in sales for all of their other albums on iTunes, which I would consider a great success especially since the people purchasing these albums are people who wouldn't have considered themselves fans before.
  8. Originally posted by ahn1991:It's honestly very hard for me to say that U2 are in a rut by any definition of the word. Historically speaking, this band has always taken their sweet time to release material. In fact, if an album comes out this year, it would be early in their cycle.

    From the perspective of sales, one might argue that SOI didn't do as well as others, but it's a well known fact that SOI's free release triggered a massive increase in sales for all of their other albums on iTunes, which I would consider a great success especially since the people purchasing these albums are people who wouldn't have considered themselves fans before.
    +1 to the letter
  9. As of last year Ryan Tedder was telling his band members that U2 was feeling uncreative and not coming up with anything great. Which is the opposite of what he says publicly.
  10. Originally posted by amansman:[..]
    As of last year Ryan Tedder was telling his band members that U2 was feeling uncreative and not coming up with anything great. Which is the opposite of what he says publicly.
    You play in One Republic?
  11. No I know one of the band members - not Ryan Tedder
  12. Originally posted by amansman:[..]
    As of last year Ryan Tedder was telling his band members that U2 was feeling uncreative and not coming up with anything great. Which is the opposite of what he says publicly.
    As if they were the most inspired band on Earth