Edge is going to have to create a more wild, and interesting guitar sounds. I think they need to brink Larry's drums out in the forefront again as on Achtung Baby, and lower Bono's vocals just a little, except for on the lead singles perhaps.

Boy, that is a very, very good observation or proposal. If followed, it would give U2 a much bigger sound and I think that might be the direction they go in.

I do not think we will have to wait 3-4 years for the next couple of albums. They have a lot of warm irons in the fire, it is just a matter of heaitng them up and finiisihing the,

Some people like to get bored over and over again.

They tend to get most excited when telling us how bored they are.

Imagine that life, your biggest thrill is describing you lack of thrills.

Heh. 

Edge is going to have to create a more wild, and interesting guitar sounds. I think they need to brink Larry's drums out in the forefront again as on Achtung Baby, and lower Bono's vocals just a little, except for on the lead singles perhaps.

Boy, that is a very, very good observation or proposal. If followed, it would give U2 a much bigger sound and I think that might be the direction they go in.

I do not think we will have to wait 3-4 years for the next couple of albums. They have a lot of warm irons in the fire, it is just a matter of heaitng them up and finiisihing the,

yeah, sound-wise that's what I hear. The drums on all 3 of the 2000's albums seem thinner and 'pop-pier'. It was deliberate I think but also i think that is Steve Lillywhite's taste. I think he was trying to get the music louder in the mid range for radio play and louder fuller drums would overload and distort on a lot of radio's in the mid range unless you back off a bit on volume.

The volume war has to either stop or they've got to make the average standard car stereo better!   

I think out of the U2 albums, Larry's drum kit sounds the best on Achtung Baby. It's apparent to me that they spent a lot of time on drum sounds for Achtung, and getting a warmer fuller drum sound on that album.

And, as far as guitar - Edge has become a better technician at playing the guitar in the traditional sense, but I'd like for him to now take that knowledge and consciously throw it out the window, and get back to business reinventing guitar playing and guitar sounds once more! Hopefully his work on remastering The Unforgettable Fire will rub off and reignite his wild fire within!   

seems to me that U2 could learn a thing or two from The Flaming Lips new album Embryonic. *Not that I'd want U2 to suddenly become The Flaming Lips, but they've got some interesting sounds and make some unusual production choices. U2 have talked about and have applied at times the idea of using the studio as an instrument, and I think they need to explore that idea again.

I'd say it'll be a mixture of 90s and 80s, into a new sound that hopefully will be what they are stating as "their best"

seems to me that U2 could learn a thing or two from The Flaming Lips new album Embryonic. *Not that I'd want U2 to suddenly become The Flaming Lips, but they've got some interesting sounds and make some unusual production choices. U2 have talked about and have applied at times the idea of using the studio as an instrument, and I think they need to explore that idea again.

I haven't heard Embryonic, but when I heard "Kingdom of Your Love" I immediately thought Flaming Lips.

I will have to check out embryonic and see what you mean about interesting new sounds.

I will have to check out embryonic and see what you mean about interesting new sounds.

yeah, i'm still digesting it. some new sounds but really i think it's most about how they use them and the combinations of sounds and how certain sounds pop out. also the transitions at times can shock with unexpected sounds. some really good ideas in terms of sound and creativity. I'm not a huge Lips fan or anything, but I can appreciate the creativity.

I agree guys, U2 needs to have a fuller drum sound on record. Larry is a powerful, skillful and LOUD live drummer but he was kinda muted on NLOTH cd to me. I think U2 needs to work on putting the rhythm section back into the forefront especially as Bono's voice changes and grows older. They are not taking enough advantage of one of their biggest strengths.......a tight, strong and loud rhythm section!

Also they have to edit Bono more, he,Lanois and Eno have too much......leeway and influence?
Change producers in the next decade please!

I agree guys, U2 needs to have a fuller drum sound on record. Larry is a powerful, skillful and LOUD live drummer but he was kinda muted on NLOTH cd to me. I think U2 needs to work on putting the rhythm section back into the forefront especially as Bono's voice changes and grows older. They are not taking enough advantage of one of their biggest strengths.......a tight, strong and loud rhythm section!

Also they have to edit Bono more, he,Lanois and Eno have too much......leeway and influence?
Change producers in the next decade please!

Interesting you say they have to edit Bono.  While i think his lyrics have been bordering on awful in the 2000's, I think he's more experimental than say Larry.  I think if anything they have to edit Larry down, not musically, but personally.  I believe he has too much of a hold on trying to keep band as a hit making machine instead of realizing at this point in their career pumping out so called radio hits make them sound like they are trying too much.

I agree guys, U2 needs to have a fuller drum sound on record. Larry is a powerful, skillful and LOUD live drummer but he was kinda muted on NLOTH cd to me. I think U2 needs to work on putting the rhythm section back into the forefront especially as Bono's voice changes and grows older. They are not taking enough advantage of one of their biggest strengths.......a tight, strong and loud rhythm section!

Also they have to edit Bono more, he,Lanois and Eno have too much......leeway and influence?
Change producers in the next decade please!

Interesting you say they have to edit Bono.  While i think his lyrics have been bordering on awful in the 2000's, I think he's more experimental than say Larry.  I think if anything they have to edit Larry down, not musically, but personally.  I believe he has too much of a hold on trying to keep band as a hit making machine instead of realizing at this point in their career pumping out so called radio hits make them sound like they are trying too much.

Interesting take on it. I think sometimes that Bono's lyrics have suffered in this decade as his focus is not just on the band. I have never really considered Larry as being the band member who was most responsible for them wanting to have radio hits. If anything Larry stops the rest of the band from being self indulgent or too 'artsy' for arts sake or overboard. (I'm not saying this right). IMO Bono is the one who wants to be commercial and popular but artsy

My biggest gripe is that they have developed into a situation where The Edge and Bono's voices input rules and Larry's and Adam's inputs are diminished. I would like them to address that in the next decade

end rant

I agree guys, U2 needs to have a fuller drum sound on record. Larry is a powerful, skillful and LOUD live drummer but he was kinda muted on NLOTH cd to me. I think U2 needs to work on putting the rhythm section back into the forefront especially as Bono's voice changes and grows older. They are not taking enough advantage of one of their biggest strengths.......a tight, strong and loud rhythm section!

Also they have to edit Bono more, he,Lanois and Eno have too much......leeway and influence?
Change producers in the next decade please!

Interesting you say they have to edit Bono.  While i think his lyrics have been bordering on awful in the 2000's, I think he's more experimental than say Larry.  I think if anything they have to edit Larry down, not musically, but personally.  I believe he has too much of a hold on trying to keep band as a hit making machine instead of realizing at this point in their career pumping out so called radio hits make them sound like they are trying too much.

Interesting take on it. I think sometimes that Bono's lyrics have suffered in this decade as his focus is not just on the band. I have never really considered Larry as being the band member who was most responsible for them wanting to have radio hits. If anything Larry stops the rest of the band from being self indulgent or too 'artsy' for arts sake or overboard. (I'm not saying this right). IMO Bono is the one who wants to be commercial and popular but artsy

My biggest gripe is that they have developed into a situation where The Edge and Bono's voices input rules and Larry's and Adam's inputs are diminished. I would like them to address that in the next decade

end rant

I think that NLOTH has a more even spread of input from the band members than most U2 records. Adam sounds WAY funkier than he has done in ages, and Larry's drumming is far more interesting than it has been. I hope they keep it up.

Expect more bordom the next decade

Give me a break.  I'll take U2's "boredom over anyone else.  Band like Peal Jam, Radiohead, Oasis have been stuck in their own boredom for years, the same old music, album after album, catering to their diehards that they can't see how boring their really are.  At least U2 had the balls to do a trilogy like AB, Zooropa and Pop at the height of their career.  You call that boring.  And now the are heading in the right direction with NLOTH.  I'll take that over Backspacer.  At some point in your career you have to make an attempt to increase your fan base other than just playing to  your diehards but I think they these bands have been stuck in their own boredom for years they simply don't know how.  And they say U2 is irrelevant.  These band have been irrelevant for ages.(Except to their all precious diehards).

Expect more bordom the next decade

Give me a break.  I'll take U2's "boredom over anyone else.  Band like Peal Jam, Radiohead, Oasis have been stuck in their own boredom for years, the same old music, album after album, catering to their diehards that they can't see how boring their really are.  At least U2 had the balls to do a trilogy like AB, Zooropa and Pop at the height of their career.  You call that boring.  And now the are heading in the right direction with NLOTH.  I'll take that over Backspacer.  At some point in your career you have to make an attempt to increase your fan base other than just playing to  your diehards but I think they these bands have been stuck in their own boredom for years they simply don't know how.  And they say U2 is irrelevant.  These band have been irrelevant for ages.(Except to their all precious diehards).

I always say I would rather watch U2 fall flat on their face than "bands" like Nickelback crank out the same drivel over and over again.

Expect more bordom the next decade

Give me a break.  I'll take U2's "boredom over anyone else.  Band like Peal Jam, Radiohead, Oasis have been stuck in their own boredom for years, the same old music, album after album, catering to their diehards that they can't see how boring their really are.  At least U2 had the balls to do a trilogy like AB, Zooropa and Pop at the height of their career.  You call that boring.  And now the are heading in the right direction with NLOTH.  I'll take that over Backspacer.  At some point in your career you have to make an attempt to increase your fan base other than just playing to  your diehards but I think they these bands have been stuck in their own boredom for years they simply don't know how.  And they say U2 is irrelevant.  These band have been irrelevant for ages.(Except to their all precious diehards).

I always say I would rather watch U2 fall flat on their face than "bands" like Nickelback crank out the same drivel over and over again.

Amen!!