We’ve all questioned the output the last decade or so. All lot of us have questioned the direction the band has taken, but I’m starting to think no matter what direction they go, the tank is on E…the cupboard is bare, the bands shelf life expired a long time ago.
Throughout the week, I was working on my computer and had my 80’s U2 playlist on. The band was energetic, the songs were fresh and dynamic. A band rising to an unbelievable peak.
Today I’m doing work and put on SOE for the first time in years. There are some nice highs on the album, but they also shamelessly reused ideas that had already been done on prior albums. I don’t mind Get Out of Your Own Way, but my God, they basically lifted the bass and drums from Beautiful Day and placed another song over it. The very mediocre American Soul was taken from the equally mediocre Volcano. 13 takes the cringy Song for Someone and I guess makes it a bit better. Every thing they’ve released since ranges from shit to trash.
I think creatively there’s just not much left. If we can get a few more Little Things, Sleep Like a Baby, Land Lady, etc.. that will be the best we can likely hope for. I hope they prove me wrong.