U2 Q Magazine - December 2011 Edition

[Aqua]

Interesting read. It's kind of heartbreaking for me to hear Bono answer the question about why NLOTH ended up being largely dropped by comparing it to Zooropa and Pop. Hey Bono, you just dismissed my three favourite albums of yours in one sentence.

Bono needs to get over the "radio" thing. Nobody even listens to the radio anymore. People listen to music from other sources now.

I'm slightly aghast that the band still points to Unknown Caller as if it's something good to be proud of. This is why you won't be on the radio again anytime soon, lads.

Does anybody else get the impression that Adam is the biggest fan of the Zooropa album of the 4 of them? He talked in interviews about Zooropa being played on the 360 Tour with clear enthusiasm and excitement, and he name drops the album again in one of his answers. Everyone else hardly ever mentions the album.

He didn't dismiss them. I was actually glad when he made the comparison- he thinks they're good listens, just the wrong tempo for a stadium show. I get that.

[eddyjedi]

Interesting read. It's kind of heartbreaking for me to hear Bono answer the question about why NLOTH ended up being largely dropped by comparing it to Zooropa and Pop. Hey Bono, you just dismissed my three favourite albums of yours in one sentence.

Bono needs to get over the "radio" thing. Nobody even listens to the radio anymore. People listen to music from other sources now.

I'm slightly aghast that the band still points to Unknown Caller as if it's something good to be proud of. This is why you won't be on the radio again anytime soon, lads.

Does anybody else get the impression that Adam is the biggest fan of the Zooropa album of the 4 of them? He talked in interviews about Zooropa being played on the 360 Tour with clear enthusiasm and excitement, and he name drops the album again in one of his answers. Everyone else hardly ever mentions the album.

He didn't dismiss them. I was actually glad when he made the comparison- he thinks they're good listens, just the wrong tempo for a stadium show. I get that.

It's because he spent the entire period off his face.

[MLP Midnight]

Okay okay, so Pop and Zooropa aren't the right tempo for a stadium show.

BUT... how about for an arena show?

[stuc]

Grrr  Im a subscriber to Q but it hasnt arrived yet. Darn that postal sevrice....

[julsport]

I'm thankful that a friend that lives in the UK is sending me a copy!! I'm anticipating its arrival and I'm trying to be patient...lol!! No really, I'm very grateful

[StrongGirl]

I really do think Adam is my favourite member of the band, or fast becoming it. Bono comes across lately like an insecure child, The Edge as eternal apologist, and Larry as his usual grumpypants self. Adam is the only one who seems to actually LIKE what the band does.

Droo...Bono has really always been an insecure child disguised in his grown up body. I believe he has even said as much. Yes, all of these descriptions are accurate in my opinion. But I don't think Larry is nearly as grumpy as he presents himself to be. There is a very funny guy in there 

Thank you Jen for this!!!!

[JamietheEdgefan]

Unknown caller, wherever you are, it looks like you were right about the band picking up where they left off:

"At last count, U2 has had three albums in the pipeline since 2009's No Line on the Horizon. Edge says the band will rifle through its "embarrassment of riches" possibly by year's end. "There's still work to be done, but it's a great place to start." "

http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/story/2011-10-26/u2-documentary-achtung-baby-reissue/50919390/1

[The Unknown Caller]

Larry referring to NLOTH: "The songs on the record were unfinished"

-_-

Agreed. -_________________________-

This really did make me genuinely annoyed with Larry, who I normally defend. It was one thing on Pop, which we can accept was rushed, even if I feel they were fully finished- but to say that with No Line which they took YEARS on and repeatedly delayed in order to finish? Which many people think they over-produced? It's like a parody of himself.

[MLP Midnight]

Larry referring to NLOTH: "The songs on the record were unfinished"

-_-

Agreed. -_________________________-

This really did make me genuinely annoyed with Larry, who I normally defend. It was one thing on Pop, which we can accept was rushed, even if I feel they were fully finished- but to say that with No Line which they took YEARS on and repeatedly delayed in order to finish? Which many people think they over-produced? It's like a parody of himself.

Honestly, I don't believe that the band can ever declare a song "finished." No matter how good it may sound to them, there always is an underlying desire to change something that they feel isn't right.

I think what Larry means by unfinished is that the band didn't fully draw out their full ideas of the said songs, and maybe wanted to change a couple of things. I'm not sure if the overproduction of the album had anything to do with it.

[satellitedog01]

"But our duty is to being the best we can be at what we're good at. That's what we're sort of getting out of the sessions with Danger Mouse. I think he's going to bring something out that is the essence of the band, but it'll be a different colour - as opposed to another collection of songs with a bit of echo-y guitar. I think we've played that one out."
 - Adam

"Total reinvention maybe, no compromise"
 - Larry

Holy hell, if even these two are pushing for an overhaul of u2's identity, then i am very excited to see what music they bring out next. It almost seems like they're sick of how the band has defined itself, and want to break free. It's awesome.

LOL Adam's awesome :-)

[BalconyTV]

great article. but kind of a sad article in my opinion. something is missing within the band. again the band always seems to be apart from each other. and wish i could get a better sense of friendship between some of them.

the point about 3 producers in the nloth sessions doing their own thing was telling. and sad to hear the question about how disappointing glastonbury was. i mean it wasnt their best gig...but it certainly wasnt there worst.

its a funny old band. but would like to get a better sense of happiness within them.

strange....

[WelshGirl]

Well that's my reading material for my flight to Dublin on Sunday sorted   

[Jono]

Thanks for posting, very interesting, concerning, sad?

it seems that based on 35 years of being band/mates there have been many anxious/tense moments, not the majority i am sure, but more than i thought before reading this-

[gnmmet]

Okay okay, so Pop and Zooropa aren't the right tempo for a stadium show.

BUT... how about for an arena show?

This is what I don't get. Is Mofo not the right tempo for a stadium? What about Last Night on Earth? Discotheque?

Its one thing to say they don't work in a stadium because no one knows them, but tempo is certainly not the issue here.

It was also surprising to hear Glastonbury described as a disappointment. Thought it was a solid show. Not a defining moment, but that was never going to happen given the circumstances and song choices they made.

[Aqua]

Okay okay, so Pop and Zooropa aren't the right tempo for a stadium show.

BUT... how about for an arena show?

This is what I don't get. Is Mofo not the right tempo for a stadium? What about Last Night on Earth? Discotheque?

Its one thing to say they don't work in a stadium because no one knows them, but tempo is certainly not the issue here.

It was also surprising to hear Glastonbury described as a disappointment. Thought it was a solid show. Not a defining moment, but that was never going to happen given the circumstances and song choices they made.

Well Bono did raise the possibility of playing a different set every night next tour due to smaller venues. So yeah, they're fine for arenas.