Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?

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Smee

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Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« on: June 20, 2020, 09:34:11 AM »
Do you think that U2 still have the drive, the will and the creativity to knock out another Masterpiece? In my opinion. u2 have 2 masterpiece albums and badly need a third to complete the set.
But, is the drive etc all still there to push themselves and deliver another Album of a generation? They have achieved everything possible in the music world. They have nothing left to prove. Maybe its a case of "the only way is down" now?
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an tha

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2020, 10:10:44 AM »
For me, Smee, it isn't a question of drive or will.....I honestly believe they have plenty of those things - they are just badly misdirecting them.

I remember reading a review of SOE that really resonated that said you could tell how hard they have worked at this album, how you could feel how hard they had tried and how much care had gone in.....but then the killer line that summed it up where it said and that is what makes the albums failure all the more galling for them, it is one thing to fail when you have phoned it in, it is quite another to fail when you have tried really hard....

Until u2 wake up from the MOR pop rock daze they are in, until they stop working with jokes like Ryan Tedder, until they stop trying to be relevant - they will continue to fail.

I have found the review i mentioned and this is the part:

"It is tempting to praise Songs of Experience on the basis of its mawkish wholeheartedness.

It does indeed seem like the product of considerable toil: This thing has been in progress for something like three years now, and between its revisions, reconstructions, and post-election rewritings, it plainly benefits from more attention and effort than any U2 album since All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

But it’s precisely this manifest ambition that makes Songs of Experience dispiriting.

The music itself isn’t any better merely because this time around the band actually cares; all the industrious fervor amounts to meager flailing.

It’s one thing to fail when you’re phoning it in: You leave hope that you could pull it off if only you tried. It’s quite another to fail when you’re giving it everything."

Full review:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/u2-songs-of-experience/
« Last Edit: June 20, 2020, 10:32:06 AM by an tha »
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MPare1966

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2020, 12:23:44 PM »
They have the will, they have the drive. Creativity is debatable.

What they lack is courage. Courage to step out of their confort zone.
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riffraff

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2020, 01:09:53 PM »
Yes. At least in my house they do still have what it takes.
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Codeguy

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2020, 01:11:56 PM »
Agree that it's courage they lack. When they try to produce greatness, they succeed. When they try to produce MOR, they succeed at creating MOR, but they will never sell it. "Love is bigger " is a great example of a song that would have been a massive radio hit 20 years ago, but will never succeed because of their age.

They have only tried a handful of times in recent albums to go outside the MOR mold, and when they did, they created songs like Troubles, Sleep like a baby, book of your heart, etc. These are songs that belonged on their best albums.

If they decide to stop trying to create hits, and instead embrace their inner experimenters they might succeed.
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MPare1966

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2020, 01:13:58 PM »
Yes. At least in my house they do still have what it takes.

^^^^
RealFantm
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mariamontreal

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2020, 01:44:39 PM »
They do to me last night I watched the 360 show at Montreal Hippodrome night one I went to both and I really enjoyed watching the show just thought I would mention that , no relevance to anything, so yes I do still think they haven't found what they are looking for.
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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #7 on: June 20, 2020, 02:17:46 PM »
Yes. At least in my house they do still have what it takes.

^^^^
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guest532

Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #8 on: June 20, 2020, 02:44:38 PM »
As Aussies would say, there's Buckley's chance.


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Loyal Deserter

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #9 on: June 20, 2020, 03:37:40 PM »
Even if they made their greatest album ever, it wouldn't be "the album of a generation."  Albums of generations come from members of the generations in question.

Also I think even if they did create a third masterwork, it wouldn't be received as such.  The narrative that U2 has lost it has taken strong hold, and I don't think it's really possible to change it at this point given hardly anybody actually listens to new U2 now anyway.  If they do, they don't listen to it with open ears.

At this point, I just want some more good tunes, and they have consistently given several with each new album IMO.  I don't expect great albums from bands in their 60s who have already released 14 albums and as many great songs as they have.  Everybody has a golden period, and there's no shame in that.

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an tha

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #10 on: June 20, 2020, 07:07:41 PM »
Even if they made their greatest album ever, it wouldn't be "the album of a generation."  Albums of generations come from members of the generations in question.

Also I think even if they did create a third masterwork, it wouldn't be received as such.  The narrative that U2 has lost it has taken strong hold, and I don't think it's really possible to change it at this point given hardly anybody actually listens to new U2 now anyway.  If they do, they don't listen to it with open ears.

At this point, I just want some more good tunes, and they have consistently given several with each new album IMO.  I don't expect great albums from bands in their 60s who have already released 14 albums and as many great songs as they have.  Everybody has a golden period, and there's no shame in that.

I disagree plenty of old acts get lavished with praise if they produce great work.

Look at Bob Dylan this very week.
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The Edges Cat

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2020, 08:34:07 PM »
The answer is yes, but they don’t want to. See the full quote of my signature, Edge talking about how songwriting is more important to him now. The irony is that they’re desperately trying to make an impact, and that’s why they’re failing.

They need to listen to the producers who know them best. Lanois told them blatantly that they should have stayed in Fez and finished NLOTH there, “where the magic was happening.” And they need to listen to producers who know best how to get out of your comfort zone.

As far as the public is concerned, U2 are finished. Bob Dylan’s getting rave reviews right now, but how many outside his circle of fans and serious music lovers? Other than 5-star reviews will his new album make an impact, inspire new musicians and gain new fans? I don’t think so. Bob can go to bed happy with himself, but that’s not who U2 are — they want to inspire everyone to be better, and that’s their downfall because these days no one gives a shit.*

*No one wants to hear how love is the answer, especially from rich people. ESPECIALLY if they’re white. U2 need to dance with the devil on stage again to make interesting music. But they’re granddads in love with the smell of babies who think women are the future. No going back from that. Bono famously said he couldn’t wait to be a “badass old man.” Well now’s your chance, Bono.

By the way, I had a dream last night I was on a bus driven by The Edge. Symbolic of U2?

PS Despite my cynicism, I do think they have it in them. They’ve produced some great tracks — The Troubles, Little Things. I rate Red Flag Day and Summer of Love too. But the way they stuffed around with multiple versions of Every Breaking Wave and ultimately killed any chance of it making an impact (and it would have 20 years ago), how 13 (There Is A Light) is infinitely better than Song For Someone... their decision making is a bit questionable. Too many producers 
« Last Edit: June 20, 2020, 09:19:54 PM by The Edges Cat »
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.

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So Cruel

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2020, 09:33:28 PM »
For me, Smee, it isn't a question of drive or will.....I honestly believe they have plenty of those things - they are just badly misdirecting them.

I remember reading a review of SOE that really resonated that said you could tell how hard they have worked at this album, how you could feel how hard they had tried and how much care had gone in.....but then the killer line that summed it up where it said and that is what makes the albums failure all the more galling for them, it is one thing to fail when you have phoned it in, it is quite another to fail when you have tried really hard....

Until u2 wake up from the MOR pop rock daze they are in, until they stop working with jokes like Ryan Tedder, until they stop trying to be relevant - they will continue to fail.

I have found the review i mentioned and this is the part:

"It is tempting to praise Songs of Experience on the basis of its mawkish wholeheartedness.

It does indeed seem like the product of considerable toil: This thing has been in progress for something like three years now, and between its revisions, reconstructions, and post-election rewritings, it plainly benefits from more attention and effort than any U2 album since All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

But it’s precisely this manifest ambition that makes Songs of Experience dispiriting.

The music itself isn’t any better merely because this time around the band actually cares; all the industrious fervor amounts to meager flailing.

It’s one thing to fail when you’re phoning it in: You leave hope that you could pull it off if only you tried. It’s quite another to fail when you’re giving it everything."

Full review:

https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/u2-songs-of-experience/

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The Edges Cat

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2020, 09:40:39 PM »
They really believed SoI + SoE would be their magnum opus. Their ambition for big ideas got them in the end.
The Edge: “[Eno] would love to see us making albums a bit more like [Zooropa]. Where we go, ‘You know what? We’re not going to second-guess any of this. Let’s just go for it.’”

U2 Fans: We'd all love to see that, Edge.

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riffraff

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Re: Do u2 still have what it takes to make an impact?
« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2020, 10:49:32 PM »
They really believed SoI + SoE would be their magnum opus. Their ambition for big ideas got them in the end.
"be careful of small men with big ideas"
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