Jesus! Sorry for being so abrupt but GOD! Why can't U2 just make music and release it. They try to be perfect and it looses the whole concept of the album. I'm telling you right now, the longer we wait for SoA, the less raw and more produce quality of music U2 will throw at us, claiming that it's 'their best yet.' I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

Jesus! Sorry for being so abrupt but GOD! Why can't U2 just make music and release it. They try to be perfect and it looses the whole concept of the album. I'm telling you right now, the longer we wait for SoA, the less raw and more produce quality of music U2 will throw at us, claiming that it's 'their best yet.' I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

an all-instrumentals U2 album? interesting.

#@!

I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

I agree.

I actually think No Line sounded better as a leaked recording from Eze - the beach recordings from outside Bono's window.

Even with the sound of the waves and the Dutch guys scratching their armpits, the Eze recordings had more mystery to them than the glossy, over-produced finished product.

Hopefully some SOA demos will leak before long.

Maybe while Bono and his family are taking a break in Eze we'll get another leak from his living room window.

If recent history is a guide they'l probably be better than U2's next album anyway.

Jesus! Sorry for being so abrupt but GOD! Why can't U2 just make music and release it. They try to be perfect and it looses the whole concept of the album. I'm telling you right now, the longer we wait for SoA, the less raw and more produce quality of music U2 will throw at us, claiming that it's 'their best yet.' I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

Because they're a corporation and a brand, not just a band. It's too risky now for them to be spontaneous -- at least, they've convinced themselves that it is. NLOTH was supposed to be the album where they just rediscovered the joy of playing, and instead it turned into one of the most over hyped and manipulated albums in U2 history.

Do what Coldplay did: rent a house, lock yourselves away, bring in Eno when you're ready to record, and finish the damn thing before you leave.

I swear, if U2 sits on their arses for 8 months and does nothing to move toward prepping some new music for a pre-June release, I'll be shocked and disappointed. Whether it's SOA, Rubin, or Spiderman, they need to use this down-time wisely.

I swear, if U2 sits on their arses for 8 months and does nothing to move toward prepping some new music for a pre-June release, I'll be shocked and disappointed. Whether it's SOA, Rubin, or Spiderman, they need to use this down-time wisely.

I won't be shocked but it will be just further confirmation of my ongoing disappointment with U2's recent complacency.

As someone else said earlier, their music has become too "safe" and they need to "dream it all up again" just as they did after Rattle and Hum.

Whether they are capable of that at this point in their lives I am increasingly skeptical.

I swear, if U2 sits on their arses for 8 months and does nothing to move toward prepping some new music for a pre-June release, I'll be shocked and disappointed. Whether it's SOA, Rubin, or Spiderman, they need to use this down-time wisely.

I won't be shocked but it will be just further confirmation of my ongoing disappointment with U2's recent complacency.

As someone else said earlier, their music has become too "safe" and they need to "dream it all up again" just as they did after Rattle and Hum.

Whether they are capable of that at this point in their lives I am increasingly skeptical.

They just don't challenge themselves anymore. Zooropa was a pain in the ass to make, but they did it. They should make a deadline for SOA and truly challenge themselves, and like I said earlier, just release what they've got done regardless of how they think the public will view it.

If the band as a unit is not 100 percent behind it, then they should shelve it and move on. They have several projects underway, they should emerse themselves in something they can all get exited about.

Jesus! Sorry for being so abrupt but GOD! Why can't U2 just make music and release it. They try to be perfect and it looses the whole concept of the album. I'm telling you right now, the longer we wait for SoA, the less raw and more produce quality of music U2 will throw at us, claiming that it's 'their best yet.' I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

Because they're a corporation and a brand, not just a band. It's too risky now for them to be spontaneous -- at least, they've convinced themselves that it is. NLOTH was supposed to be the album where they just rediscovered the joy of playing, and instead it turned into one of the most over hyped and manipulated albums in U2 history.

Do what Coldplay did: rent a house, lock yourselves away, bring in Eno when you're ready to record, and finish the damn thing before you leave.

Both quotes relevant.
Someone should kick them, or Larry in the arse, and tell them their bloody U2, who can do anything and also, that what they're spending three-four years making isn't a masterpiece, so they should lighten up (again)... They've nothing left to conquer in the music biz, they can just either release songs or call it a day for good as a band.
Actually what they're releasing nowadays isn't music anymore really, and it shows, (as many have said in other words before).

Jesus! Sorry for being so abrupt but GOD! Why can't U2 just make music and release it. They try to be perfect and it looses the whole concept of the album. I'm telling you right now, the longer we wait for SoA, the less raw and more produce quality of music U2 will throw at us, claiming that it's 'their best yet.' I honestly think that if we took all of their Fez studio demos, they will be better than ANYTHING the band attempts finish. I truly believe that.

Because they're a corporation and a brand, not just a band. It's too risky now for them to be spontaneous -- at least, they've convinced themselves that it is. NLOTH was supposed to be the album where they just rediscovered the joy of playing, and instead it turned into one of the most over hyped and manipulated albums in U2 history.

Do what Coldplay did: rent a house, lock yourselves away, bring in Eno when you're ready to record, and finish the damn thing before you leave.

Both quotes relevant.
Someone should kick them, or Larry in the arse, and tell them their bloody U2, who can do anything and also, that what they're spending three-four years making isn't a masterpiece, so they should lighten up (again)... They've nothing left to conquer in the music biz, they can just either release songs or call it a day for good as a band.
Actually what they're releasing nowadays isn't music anymore really, and it shows, (as many have said in other words before).

   I don't get that satellite. I am not trying to be sarcastic, really. Some of the songs on No Line are beautifully written with some wonderful music.

Yes there are some well written, and even some inspired songs (i don't want to lead this into an argument on which exactly they are), but there are too many overpolished ones that simply show more craftmanship than inspiration, and you can find musical craftmanship in many artists' canon and still not be ignited to become a fan, also because polishing something that is not inspired doesn't instantly make a masterpiece. U2 are now in the pro U2 songwriting team phase, if you examine the released product. By that I mean they laboriously break in some simple musical ideas that work in the given context, and turn them into something that intellectually might be a very logical conclusion (debatable, since there are many ways a song can end up) yet fails to make you go wow...

I think it's easy to see how much more life and energy there is in some of the Fez demos (the short live jam clips) and the early rough performances of No Line material like the titletrack from Dublin HQ, or the Letterman week stuff, than on the overproduced and edgeless album.
Perfectionism is not the best thing that can happen to rock'n'roll...

Yes there are some well written, and even some inspired songs (i don't want to lead this into an argument on which exactly they are), but there are too many overpolished ones that simply show more craftmanship than inspiration, and you can find musical craftmanship in many artists' canon and still not be ignited to become a fan, also because polishing something that is not inspired doesn't instantly make a masterpiece. U2 are now in the pro U2 songwriting team phase, if you examine the released product. By that I mean they laboriously break in some simple musical ideas that work in the given context, and turn them into something that intellectually might be a very logical conclusion (debatable, since there are many ways a song can end up) yet fails to make you go wow...

I think it's easy to see how much more life and energy there is in some of the Fez demos (the short live jam clips) and the early rough performances of No Line material like the titletrack from Dublin HQ, or the Letterman week stuff, than on the overproduced and edgeless album.
Perfectionism is not the best thing that can happen to rock'n'roll...

Well said, satellitedog01.

Rubin was trying to lead them away from adding polish too early in the process. It seems they want to stick with the Eno/Lanois formula since it worked in the past. It's an understandable instinct but I hope there is someone close to them who is willing to tell them that they might need to consider a new strategy.

I like how everyone is telling U2 how to create their music.    
They're artists first and yes businessmen and perfectionists, and while jam sessions are spontaneous and often inspiring, their way of working and releasing albums is more than fine.  Geez! 

My problem is they seem to have lost their sense of judgement in that aspect, and are inadvertently alienating some fans with the tension of having to wait over 4 years for something that is eventually not the masterpiece Bono promised it would be.
I don't expect masterpieces, though I love being surprised, but this way I am definitely let down in the end.

The world doesn't want to hear about labor pains. It only wants to see the baby.  However.......


A lot of us are the opposite when it comes to our favorite bands.  We want to know the process, the "magic".....I'm torn on this one. Of course Bono is going to be proud of his "baby", we may or may not share that pride as listeners. But I'd still like to "listen without prejudice" sometimes.....