U2 Bashing: What's The Deal?

[djcraig]

I believe there are not many bands that, 25 years since their inception, can match the appeal and vitality of U2.

Yet some are derisive and disdainful towards U2- i.e., "They haven't done anything of merit since 'The Joshua Tree', etc.". While you're entitled to this opinion, I'm truly fascinated by it.

I would like to know WHY you feel the way you do towards U2, good or bad.

You're welcome to simply say you think they suck if that's what you believe but I'd like to go a bit deeper. For this I am asking for your articulation.

For instance, why do you think songs like "A Man And A Woman", "In A Little While" or "Walk On" are not as good as their earlier stuff?

Do you really find a huge difference between U2's early work and the more current stuff?

When did they lose their edge (no pun intended)?

Could it be that U2 is as great as ever and YOU'RE the one who has changed?

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being they are good as ever, 10 being they are a burned out, Jefferson Starship-like caricature of themselves, where do you rank them and why?

I'm not out to convince anybody to see things my way- that's not the point here. I am just interested in your opinions and thoughts on the subject.

Sorry, but since Mechi and Frayo have decided to keep their private lives private and not clue us in to the daily drama of their passion, I had to resort back to serious topics!

[Spaz]

I gave up on U2 when War came out. I loved Boy and October (and saw them at the Hollywood Palladium during the tour for October).

After that, I lost interest.

Why?

I just didn't like anything they put out after that as much as the first two albums. Not saying they suck, but just couldn't be bothered. They've had some good stuff since then, but maybe enough for me to put together a single disc 'best of'.



SPAZ
Born of innocence. Free of ignorance.

[newwavepunkgirl]

I actually really like later U2! 'Beautiful Day' is my favorite U2 song actually. My friend has their stuff and I like them. Plus 'Actung Baby' had some of their best songs on it. I don't know with U2 alot of it seems to revolve around people thinking Bono is trying too hard to save the world or something like Sir Bob. But it's always been that way since they started hasn't it? I admire U2 for being one of the few bands (along with the now defunct Rage Against The Machine) for actually being political and being kinda pro-active. But I'm sure that does put some people off, that's just my opionion.My older brother liked their early stuff but not now so maybe it's liek any band somepeopel stick with them as they evolve some don't, I mean they are probably the biggest Rock band in the world so they are bound to get a fair old amount of bashing.

Devolution is real

[i_like_lectric_motors]

I agree with Spaz and this is coming from a huge fan of early U2. They basically lost me with The Unforgettable Fire. I tried so hard to like that album and just never did. I still picked up The Joshua Tree hoping it would get better, but I didn't care much for it either. Since then, I have liked a handful of songs but have found it a chore rather than a pleasure to sit through a full album.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that they suck. I still have a huge amount of respect for them and enjoy listening to their early albums as much as ever. On your scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being "a burned out, Jefferson Starship-like caricature of themselves", I'd rate them a 6.

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[obs]

I was never a fan of U2, although I do like some of their songs, especially ones from the first three albums. I avoided listening to them when they were really big, but moreso because ... well, it's just like any artist that is big that you don't think are shithot ... you just get sick of hearing (about) them.

I was really in awe when I saw the performance of Where the Streets Have No Name during Superbowl halftime, some years back though. But when you get an Ipod with your name on it, that really says it all.

[bpdp3]

I think there's a couple reasons people tend to bash U2.

(1) Around here anyway, we tend to be champions of the underground and the 'shoulda-beens', ie - groups many of our own friends are unaware of. Had U2 split up after October I'd suppose they'd fall in this category neatly.

(2) Bono is ubiquitous (sp??). I watch a documentary on southern blues - he's on it. I read about those who were at Joey Ramone's bedside - there's Bono. I read Dylan's "Chronicles" - there's Bono recommending Daniel Lanois as a producer. And he's handsome, Irish, a great singer, wonderful performer, oh yeah and he's currently tackling eliminating 3rd World debt. How much "wonderfulness" can we take?

...I've given up on trying to hate U2. I can't. They come out with amazing songs on every release. They have not been afraid to experiment with their sound several times. Bono is really a terrific frontman and inspirational human being.

Personally as a new wave fan I prefer the earlier albums, and I don't love everything they do, but I do think they're a pretty special band.

[WolverineSyr]

I've always been the type who likes particular songs by U2 rather than the group as a whole. I've never been able to sit through an entire album without getting bored. With that said - the songs I like, I feel are essential songs in my library - I Will Follow, Gloria, With a Shout, One, etc. I suppose 90% of them are from the first 2 or 3 albums - but I can't rule out any of the newer stuff - Beautiful Day was a great song.

I've also never been the type to hold a grudge against a group because they became sucessful. It's not as if the reason I liked them was because no one knew who they were - my intent was always to talk about groups I liked & spread the word - much like the Outpost & the rest of us do.
When someone became huge - I was always happy for them. The fact that U2 are such icons and began in this genre we love so much is something to be proud of - and something that a monsterous number of other new wave performers couldn't accomplish.
So, no big-time bashing from me, even if I find them sort of boring & preachy at times, they also had/have/will have, some awesome music mixed in there.

[SwampThing]

5 reasons I don't like the 90's version of U2

1) Numb
2) Discotheque
3) Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
4) Lemon
5) Even Better Then The Real Thing

Also, I really think the "electronics" added to some of the songs sound really outta place. Maybe too much production? The raw basic sound of the 80's is what I loved them for. The urgency in their songs, the emotions, the moods, etc.

I can essential fit on a single CD every song I like since Rattle and Hum. Most of them are slow songs. When they try to push the tempo, it doesn't sound good too me. I trading back all their 90's output to my local used CD shop back in the late 90's. My co-worker lent me all their 00' ouput and I liked a few of the songs.




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[birdmadgirl]

I'm a huge U2 fan simply because they are still putting out really great, beautiful music. I'm one of the few around here, I think, that likes their music from "The Joshua Tree" forward better than their first couple of albums. The last two albums were incredible, I thought.



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[Frank_Chickens]

They're pompous, self-righteous, got their collective heads stuck on their own arseholes and Bono is the above x100. He is just "look at me, I'm being Mr. Charity" when you know he's got an ego the size of Saturn with the smugness to match.

As for their music, they're like Simple Minds after their first two albums, bland shite pop to appeal to the masses. At least Simple Minds released something decent before turning crap.


--

"As chairman of the Cradle of Filth fanclub I'm the most insensitive man in Britain, but even I can see there's tension there"

[chwbka]

They jumped the shark at Joshua Tree.

[SomebodySomewhere]

I think most people are just sick of hearing Bono's self-important prattle.

Let's face it, "Zooropa" and "Pop" were trash, and just about drove me away. I was pretty much saying "They haven't done anything of merit since..." when those were littering radio. They were most certainly not "as great as ever" on those clunkers. "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" did a lot to erase the damage. Actually, I think "Atomic Bomb" is the best album they've done in years. I find it hard to believe anyone could not find something to like in "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own."

Also, it's true that there are more than a few people here who seem to hate anything that commited the ultimate sin of making the Top 40.

[marie3]

I still love U2. I loved them from the beginning. I dug how they were somewhat politcal, but you could dance to their music. I wasn't into the Zooropa and Pop era. They seemed to be trying to be something they weren't then.

[dropdeadgothic]

I loved early U2 as well. They were young, fresh faced and idealistic. They sang with an earnestness and honesty inspired me. I thought Joshua Tree was a great album, despite it's putting them over the top. I guess I really got turned off around the "Achtung, Baby" album. They were just these mammoth pop stars, with all the sunglasses and gear to go with it. Most of the huge arena rock albums since then, have passed without notice. I think "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" is my kind of album, less bloat, more float. I like a lot of Bono's work on soundtracks, sometimes that stuff blows U2 out of the water (Million Dollar Hotel Soundtrack).

I don't mind his being political at all. I wish more public figures in the sports and music arena's were. More than almost anyone else, they are capable of galvanizing their listeners. I'd like to see a greater proportion of these huge incomes donated to charity
a la Bill Gates(robber baron or not), Angelina Jolie(1/3 of her income). It's easier to be preached to when the preachers are walkin' the talk. Ego? I'm sure he has one, it would be tough to imagine having reached that level of success and still being entirely "down to earth".

"Oh look at me I'm covered in punk, covered in new wave, covered in You..."

Portobella - Covered In Punk

[Rubellan]

It usually takes one bad album to blow if for me. The Joshua Tree was that album. I tried to love it - even bought all of the 7" singles at the time, each with 2 non-album tracks crammed on the B side. The only thing I could find really enduring was the song "Exit". The overblown "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" is one of the worst songs I've ever heard, and the video with Boner gracing everyone with his touch and attention makes me sick.

After the burnout of that album, I wished they'd have split. They returned with Ack!Tongue baby to extend the pain a bit longer. While I thought "The Fly" was a fairly cool song, "Mysterious ways" ranked up there with the worst. I never had the urge to buy the album, and when a friend did I found it a tedious listen.

After that Bono just seemed to degenerate into this bizarro drunken flake, whether he was drunk or not is irrelevant. While I was thrilled he seemed to toss the Christianity crap to the side, he seemed to try to be somewhat bizarre, appealing to the Alterna-twits of the time. With each following release of the 90's, I just really felt bad for them. While there was an occasional song that could be background music without too much irritation, I still found them way overrated.

THEN, out came "Beautiful Day". I thought it was a really good song, very much in the mode of classic U2 - then I heard the album. I found it dull and boring, light and airy with nothing remotely comparable to the single. Oh well.

While I do still own and appreciate The Unforgettable Fire, it's not without its overrating. I CANNOT STAND "Pride", as it's a typical preachy bullshit anthem, but rank "Wire" and "Indian Summer Sky" among my favorite U2 tracks.

While I will not bother with anything newly released, I'm amazed they have never done a real remaster series of the early albums. That "Best of 80-90" was an abomination. Where the hell was "Gloria", or anything from October for that matter? How about one of their greatest singles, "A Celebration"? There are still a number of great early singles that have not appeared on commercially available CD's. "11 o'clock tick tock" anyone? They seem so eager to disown their past that we will not get a necessary relaunch of the catalog, and I don't mean in download form either.

I once heard an interview with bassist Adam Clayton in which he stated he viewed the first 4 albums as demos. Well, then I guess their demos were their best work.