1. That’s it really but I do think people are influenced by others views too much rather than form there own opinion of the album. Is it a coincidence that the less cool the band have been perceived in the last decade and a half that the less popular there music has became as well? Is it a coincidence that as the music charts have moved away from bands and more rock music that the albums have been generally less favourably thought of? I don’t think it is a coincidence. There’s also the issue of people comparing there work to previous work and I don’t just mean in terms of quality but stylistically. I think people aren’t as open minded as they would maybe need to be to enjoy U2’s latest work they have an idea of what u2 should be and are too stubborn to change that, which is fine that’s up to the individual but by not being open minded it makes it difficult to back up a view of an album as being poor.
  2. Originally posted by deanallison:[..]
    That’s it really but I do think people are influenced by others views too much rather than form there own opinion of the album. Is it a coincidence that the less cool the band have been perceived in the last decade and a half that the less popular there music has became as well? Is it a coincidence that as the music charts have moved away from bands and more rock music that the albums have been generally less favourably thought of? I don’t think it is a coincidence. There’s also the issue of people comparing there work to previous work and I don’t just mean in terms of quality but stylistically. I think people aren’t as open minded as they would maybe need to be to enjoy U2’s latest work they have an idea of what u2 should be and are too stubborn to change that, which is fine that’s up to the individual but by not being open minded it makes it difficult to back up a view of an album as being poor.
    I've always agreed with this
  3. Agreed Dean. Like another poster said they could release AB or JT today and it wouldn't do anything in the charts. In fact no matter what they put out now the general public won't care and many of the posters here would have an issue with it - even if the album is AB quality like. Some of their best work has been done in the 2000s onwards.
  4. I just hope they make music, true of u2, that they are themselves and stop chasing relevance


  5. As SJK observed, we all have our personal opinions and, on this one, I'm at the other end of the spectrum and think it's pretty good.
  6. Originally posted by Sydney_MIke:[..]


    As SJK observed, we all have our personal opinions and, on this one, I'm at the other end of the spectrum and think it's pretty good.
    I agree and as I have stated here before, SOE is a good album, but not a great one. I am not sure if we talk about Bono's bicycle accident from 2014 and its impact on U2 as a band enough here. One of my co-workers has played guitar in a local bands for 30 years. He thinks Bono's inability to play guitar hurt the band's song writing process and performing abilities more than the band and their management is advertising. Bono wasn't the greatest guitar player but he did bring some added energy to songs where he played guitar. I miss his green Gretsch Irish Falcon guitar. Perhaps Bono wrote better songs when he was able to string a few chords together and work a piece of music that way...Thoughts?
  7. Originally posted by LostSailor:[..]
    I agree and as I have stated here before, SOE is a good album, but not a great one. I am not sure if we talk about Bono's bicycle accident from 2014 and its impact on U2 as a band enough here. One of my co-workers has played guitar in a local bands for 30 years. He thinks Bono's inability to play guitar hurt the band's song writing process and performing abilities more than the band and their management is advertising. Bono wasn't the greatest guitar player but he did bring some added energy to songs where he played guitar. I miss his green Gretsch Irish Falcon guitar. Perhaps Bono wrote better songs when he was able to string a few chords together and work a piece of music that way...Thoughts?
    Not technically gifted at all. But as a songwriter he makes up for everything.
  8. Originally posted by LostSailor:[..]
    I agree and as I have stated here before, SOE is a good album, but not a great one. I am not sure if we talk about Bono's bicycle accident from 2014 and its impact on U2 as a band enough here. One of my co-workers has played guitar in a local bands for 30 years. He thinks Bono's inability to play guitar hurt the band's song writing process and performing abilities more than the band and their management is advertising. Bono wasn't the greatest guitar player but he did bring some added energy to songs where he played guitar. I miss his green Gretsch Irish Falcon guitar. Perhaps Bono wrote better songs when he was able to string a few chords together and work a piece of music that way...Thoughts?
    Totally agree with this , i think in terms of the band dynamic and being a four piece, Bonos guitar work live or studio equally was massively under rated !
  9. Originally posted by LostSailor:[..]
    I agree and as I have stated here before, SOE is a good album, but not a great one. I am not sure if we talk about Bono's bicycle accident from 2014 and its impact on U2 as a band enough here. One of my co-workers has played guitar in a local bands for 30 years. He thinks Bono's inability to play guitar hurt the band's song writing process and performing abilities more than the band and their management is advertising. Bono wasn't the greatest guitar player but he did bring some added energy to songs where he played guitar. I miss his green Gretsch Irish Falcon guitar. Perhaps Bono wrote better songs when he was able to string a few chords together and work a piece of music that way...Thoughts?
    He had a few great moments on guitar, Kite, The Fly and the acoustic version of Staring At The Sun on Popmart that spring to mind. Due to the accident and his back surgery he has also become a more rigid performer, but maybe that is age too. Even if he wasn't a great guitar player, it gave performances energy when he did.
  10. I like very much this norvegian wood snippet with bono on guitar
  11. Does that snippet have a date and location?
  12. I'm just thinking that both Slane and ZooTV are most likely in the future. My intuition is heading that way.