'U2 are past it'

Poncke

I have read comments and reviews that U2 are past it. All I can say is haters gonna hate.

U2 still got it, my word, what a show. Seen them in Berlin and Dublin, and it has to be one of the best shows I have seen of U2 and in my life.

There is no way anyone can honestly say and think that U2 are past it.

Anyway, for me it was dreams come true, singing "40" at The Point. Sobbing like a little girl.

What.A.Show

Well done to the lads, proven to still be the best rock band in the world.

Had to get this of my chest. :cool:

corsav6

Poncke wrote: »

I have read comments and reviews that U2 are past it. All I can say is haters gonna hate.

U2 still got it, my word, what a show. Seen them in Berlin and Dublin, and it has to be one of the best shows I have seen of U2 and in my life.

There is no way anyone can honestly say and think that U2 are past it.

Anyway, for me it was dreams come true, singing "40" at The Point. Sobbing like a little girl.

What.A.Show

Well done to the lads, proven to still be the best rock band in the world.

Had to get this of my chest. :cool:

You too must be past it if that's what you think.
See what I did there

cocaliquid

Poor chap is deluded maybe they could make the top ten.

Poncke

Yeah mate

gammy_knees

cocaliquid wrote: »

Poor chap is deluded maybe they could make the top ten.

Have you got your tickets for Adele?:):)

RolandGoose

There is no point in defending U2. Musically they are fantastic and very capable of writing great songs.

However they are detested for their politics and personal affairs, and it is for this reason that so many people view then as hate figures and make there views v well known.

Musically they are as good as you will see, especially live. A band like U2 shouldn't need to be defended on a musical level.

RasTa

Seen them at Glastonbury, certainly past it with the audience reaction. They had one good album back in the day.

Their fans remind me of older Bieber fans, crying at gigs and going to all 4 shows in Dublin and then another 18 throughout the year.

cocaliquid

Never said i did not like U2 . Their not the best rock band in the world.

RolandGoose

RasTa wrote: »

Seen them at Glastonbury, certainly past it with the audience reaction. They had one good album back in the day.

Their fans remind me of older Bieber fans, crying at gigs and going to all 4 shows in Dublin and then another 18 throughout the year.

Your obviously not a U2 fan,

You probably should have went to see a band you liked instead!

The Glastombury performance was v poor. They can't deliver the goods night after night. The difference between last night and Friday night, was night and day!

For a band in their mid 50's having been doing this for the past 39 years and reached every peak possible, I reckon they should probably be good some slack.

They are in no ways what you would call bad, even on an off night.

It's the endless pontificating that incites such extraverted hatred!

RayCon

RolandGoose wrote: »

Musically they are as good as you will see, especially live. A band like U2 shouldn't need to be defended on a musical level.

You do accept there are people who just don't like U2's music .... nothing to do with politics / personalities etc - yes ?

ghostdancer

RolandGoose wrote: »

There is no point in defending U2. Musically they are fantastic and very capable of writing great songs.

However they are detested for their politics and personal affairs, and it is for this reason that so many people view then as hate figures and make there views v well known.

Musically they are as good as you will see, especially live. A band like U2 shouldn't need to be defended on a musical level.

nonsense.

musically, they've been absolutely atrocious for many, many years.
their last few albums have been utter sh1t.

take away the screens for these gigs and all the pre-Pop songs and see how many people would think they were good gigs.
their old stuff is good, and they put on a good visual show, but their music these days is awful.

lertsnim

Some people won't like the music you like. You should try to get over it.

hatrickpatrick

ghostdancer wrote: »

nonsense.

musically, they've been absolutely atrocious for many, many years.
their last few albums have been utter sh1t.

take away the screens for these gigs and all the pre-Pop songs and see how many people would think they were good gigs.
their old stuff is good, and they put on a good visual show, but their music these days is awful.

Given that practically everyone in the arena last night was singing along to Raised By Wolves, Every Breaking Wave, Beautiful Day, City of Blinding Lights and Vertigo, I'd be fairly confident that they'd still sell out any venue several times over.

Dcully

ghostdancer wrote: »

nonsense.

musically, they've been absolutely atrocious for many, many years.
their last few albums have been utter sh1t.

take away the screens for these gigs and all the pre-Pop songs and see how many people would think they were good gigs.
their old stuff is good, and they put on a good visual show, but their music these days is awful.

"atrocious" "utter sh1t" "awful"

LOL JUST LOL

FYI quite a lot of the current show has little use of the big screen and minimal lighting the [first half of the gig infact] , hence why imo it was close to the best gig ive ever been to from any act.

Just for you ,no screen here dude and minimal lighting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcfP957eU4w

FixdePitchmark

RayCon wrote: »

You do accept there are people who just don't like U2's music .... nothing to do with politics / personalities etc - yes ?

I'm asking a serious question here - Is that actually possible ?

Fair enough someone may be into some very heavy alternative music.

But -U2 have 13 albums and many side projects.
There is huge diversity across their songs.

Not sure you could find someone who doesn't like a good few U2 songs - If they don't, I'm not sure they like music at all ?????

FixdePitchmark

Jesus that is class above.

You think he is losing voice, then pulls stuff like that off.

Dcully

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Jesus that is class above.

You think he is losing voice, then pulls stuff like that off.

I noticed the last 20 mins on Tuesday night his voice was getting a little rough but wow does he give it everything every single song,no wonder they needed a break of two days before Friday and Saturday gigs.

simdan

Cannot stand and have never liked them. Obviously this is my opinion, they've done incredibly well, have a massive following, especially in the States. Well done to them, but not my cup of tea.

I think they are definitely past it and it upsets me how weird they have become when I accidentally see them on tv.

FixdePitchmark

Dcully wrote: »

I noticed the last 20 mins on Tuesday night his voice was getting a little rough but wow does he give it everything every single song,no wonder they needed a break of two days before Friday and Saturday gigs.

I noticed it too - so was a bit worried last night.

But was class.

U2 may be past it , but near impossible to get tickets

We don't probably have an arena the right size for that show last night (40-50000).
To be honest music is past it. It is all X factor etc.

There was a day you had to put in work to listen to an album ("A Grower") as it was called. Like a radiohead album took weeks to get into.

I think , it is cool to say U2 are **** - but these so called crap albums had great songs - example would be Vertigo - City of blinding lights.

They do unreal slow songs (I know not for everyone) - but the new album is a grower and I would encourage people to listen to it 3/4 times, stunning songs.

I know people have a pain in their hole - with their politics. But, I am Irish and I am interested in Irish stuff (sorry)

I was watching this the other night and thinking. Who else is doing stuff like this An actual story and song about an event with an emotion in it - with visuals like this. It is actually a very hard thing to do - so **** it - we are just typing stuff on the internet. I admire anyone - I mean anyone who puts stuff out there. U2 just have loads of cash now, but they had the balls to put themselves out there - fair ****s. More than I have done

It got me talking to my dad and family about the bombings - I honestly new little about the details.

Bonedigger

Personally speaking, I don't think U2 have made a decent album since Achtung Baby. The odd decent tune on Zooropa and Pop aside, very little they've produced since has impressed me much. They're on the gravy train (and fair play to them!), so can continue to produce rather mediocre albums and know that the diehards will always buy the albums and concert tickets no matter what.

fatherted1969

It's amusing how people write them off, plenty on here it seems too. Everyone entitled to their opinions, I think they're great. If they had put 10 nights up in a row in Dublin guaranteed every one of them would be a sellout. Love their old stuff and like plenty of their new stuff but then again I'm only a die hard not an expert on what's good.

Bonedigger

fatherted1969 wrote: »

It's amusing how people write them off, plenty on here it seems too. Everyone entitled to their opinions, I think they're great. If they had put 10 nights up in a row in Dublin guaranteed every one of them would be a sellout. Love their old stuff and like plenty of their new stuff but then again I'm only a die hard not an expert on what's good.

As you say, you're one of the diehards, and can't argue with you there.

Birneybau

Bonedigger wrote: »

Personally speaking, I don't think U2 have made a decent album since Achtung Baby. The odd decent tune on Zooropa and Pop aside, very little they've produced since has impressed me much. They're on the gravy train (and fair play to them!), so can continue to produce rather mediocre albums and know that the diehards will always buy the albums and concert tickets no matter what.

This would be my exact same sentiment but I like Zooropa as a whole. Bar a couple of tracks on Pop, it was the last time they took a risk. Neil Finn said U2 were more into being big these days then anything else and I'd wholeheartedly agree.

mark13

ghostdancer wrote: »

nonsense.

musically, they've been absolutely atrocious for many, many years.
their last few albums have been utter sh1t.

take away the screens for these gigs and all the pre-Pop songs and see how many people would think they were good gigs.
their old stuff is good, and they put on a good visual show, but their music these days is awful.

This is a really, really dumb argument, of course if you take away half of a bands back catalogue the song selection wouldn't be as good, this same rule applies to every single band and performer in existence. On this tour U2 have played at least 10 songs every night from the post-Pop era and as you can see from the main thread, some people consider them highlights of the gig.

I was surprised to see from your post history that you're a fan of the Stone Roses, who released a decent album in 1989 and did feck all since, they're the very definition of a band coasting on past glory.

ghostdancer

mark13 wrote: »

This is a really, really dumb argument, of course if you take away half of a bands back catalogue the song selection wouldn't be as good, this same rule applies to every single band and performer in existence. On this tour U2 have played at least 10 songs every night from the post-Pop era and as you can see from the main thread, some people consider them highlights of the gig.

I was surprised to see from your post history that you're a fan of the Stone Roses, who released a decent album in 1989 and did feck all since, they're the very definition of a band coasting on past glory.

not really, as loads of bands are produce good stuff later in their career compared with their earlier stuff, and not rubbish like No Line on the Horizon or Songs of Innocence. I'm sure some diehards like those songs but most people didn't even have a clue about those songs and were just waiting for the old classics.

and if the Stone Roses start touring with new material which is crap and start relying on outlandish set designs and props to distract from them, and I start saying that "they've still got it", then you may have a valid point.

mjsmyth

Some might say that the Stone Roses have been relying on one good album for the last 26 years. Some might say that their second album was a crock of sh*te. Some might say that Ian Brown can't sing to save his life. Some might say that the Stone Roses are a long way past it and the only reason they continue to tour is because it's a cash cow and they have no real interest in ever progressing their music by taking a risk and updating their sound. Some might say...

Feck, I think I just wrote an Oasis song!

mark13

ghostdancer wrote: »

not really, as loads of bands are produce good stuff later in their career compared with their earlier stuff, and not rubbish like No Line on the Horizon or Songs of Innocence. I'm sure some diehards like those songs but most people didn't even have a clue about those songs and were just waiting for the old classics.

and if the Stone Roses start touring with new material which is crap and start relying on outlandish set designs and props to distract from them, and I start saying that "they've still got it", then you may have a valid point.

Yes obscure tracks like Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, The Sweetest Thing etc

I disagree with you here, your assumption is that everyone thinks both of those U2 albums are crap, they don't. They're not perfect but, have some decent songs on them.

The Who, Neil Young, Prince, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Roger Waters, AC/DC are all still touring regularly and playing massive venues, last time I checked they haven't put out anything significant in decades..so do you have a similar level of vitriol for them or is this just a U2 thing?

Also with the exception of Bruce Springsteen, I can't think of any major bands who are still putting out great stuff in their later years, who exactly are you referring to?

ghostdancer

mark13 wrote: »

Yes obscure tracks like Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, The Sweetest Thing etc

I disagree with you here, your assumption is that everyone thinks both of those U2 albums are crap, they don't. They're not perfect but, have some decent songs on them.

The Who, Neil Young, Prince, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Roger Waters, AC/DC are all still touring regularly and playing massive venues, last time I checked they haven't put out anything significant in decades..so do you have a similar level of vitriol for them or is this just a U2 thing?

Also with the exception of Bruce Springsteen, I can't think of any major bands who are still putting out great stuff in their later years, who exactly are you referring to?

Vitriol? LOL
U2 fans really are a sensitive bunch.
Yes, i think most of those acts' recent output has been awful, much like U2's.

Canadel

Nothing major against U2 but they really make me glad indie rock exists. If for example Arcade Fire carried on and cashed in the way U2 are doing now in the future I'd like to think I'd be disappointed. But then again, maybe I wouldn't. Times makes you bolder..

Poncke

I understand not everyone likes U2, I have no problem with that. Thats not what the OP is about. Its the people that say that U2 are past it, and I disagree with that.

Someone said; take away their screens and old songs and U2 are sheite, LOL. The visuals and the full catalogue is what makes U2. Its a silly comment. Take away the chocolate and the caramel and a Snickers bar is just a bunch of nuts.

As for the politics. at least U2 use their fame and money to do some good instead of snore it all up and throw it at the hookers.

and 'tax evasion', Rolling Stones moved their Ltd to the Netherlands long before U2, but that fact always seems to be conveniently ignored when comparing the two bands.

About being the best rock band in the world, I get it that e.g. Royal Blood is considered hot and current, love them, but they dont have a patch on U2. In terms of entertainment and music catalogue there are not many with the pedigree of U2, so yes, I consider them to be best rock band in the world.

Poncke

Canadel wrote: »

Nothing major against U2 but they really make me glad indie rock exists. If for example Arcade Fire carried on and cashed in the way U2 are doing now in the future I'd like to think I'd be disappointed. But then again, maybe I wouldn't. Times makes you bolder..

I love indy rock, liking U2 doesnt mean you cant listen to anything else

FixdePitchmark

From this album and from these gigs - I've got more into U2 than ever, their tours is my relationship with the band - the number of events in your life that a U2 gig is amazing.

Was talking to the brothers there about Slane etc - you basically have 3 generations from the 1 family going to U2 - that is a rare thing.

They have an astonishing number of songs - that are just incredible.

They are in their mid 50s, give them a break - as someone said earlier - there is no real musical debate is there, I mean this is a band that went from Punk to Gospel to American Rock/Blues to Dance and back.

Look at this progression in music

I will Follow
Gloria
4th of July
One
Angel of Harlem
Zoo Station
Lemon
City of Blinding lights
The Troubles

Not picking their great songs - but admiring their braveness in their music.
Amazing they kept that up.

Look at above - they never took themselves as serious as the show , they know , we all know, Bono knows he is a gob****e, at times. But they are funny too - Bono is a funny lad and is a class Irish Story teller in an Irish way.

But **** it , If Bono can't be a gob****e, outspoken and be self indulgent , no one can. You need blokes like Bono to brighten life up .

It is entertainment - I hate the way they went all Apple - money chasing etc , but they have put in 20 + years of great art.

Went to see Fleetwood recently , and it was all love. And they are as mad as anything going , lads they are artists - they are suppose to be out there. At least they are not like some acts - who have an almost hatred of their audience and are as grumpy as **** - they give all (take a good bit back (lol)).

We shouldn't let our hang ups on the other issues , blind us from the stunning, stunning work they have done.

As for the stage show and lights - amazing , have loved every gig they have ever done in this area.
They have been miles ahead and invented how to visually stimulate from Zoo Tv tour. I enjoy it, it is like going to a play / stage act.

People don't remember , how out there this was as an idea - so going on about the stage show being a blinding act is rubbish, they basically invented the idea of a show (imagine that, even imagine that) - I suppose, they are embracing technology this time as opposed to taking the piss out of modern culture (internet) versus - TV.

Jesus I think at 50 + you can't go inventing yourself all the time.
I actually loved this tour because it is sort of , feck we are where we are.
We can still pull off songs like Song for Someone - Every breaking wave - and take a few chances on the likes of The Troubles with a producer they never worked with - with female vocal - beautiful.

If you watch this - and are not impressed - this is a lad in his 50s, singing a personal song - that touches me deeply - I'm not afraid to say that, great stuff touches you.
Not a great song - but a great idea and real emotion

But as a fan - I'm too easy

Exclamation Marc

I don't think U2 are past it or stale, but I certainly think they peaked a very long time ago.

I was at the gig on Tuesday and really enjoyed it.

I think 'past it' implies that they're out in the wilderness which they're clearly not. Their latest album was pretty good but nowhere near peak U2 and I'd be a seriously casual U2 fan. A LOT of people slammed that album without actually listening to it. The critic metascore on metacritic is 64 which kind of tells you where they are.

Still good, but nowhere near as good as they used to be.

jca

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

Given that practically everyone in the arena last night was singing along to Raised By Wolves, Every Breaking Wave, Beautiful Day, City of Blinding Lights and Vertigo, I'd be fairly confident that they'd still sell out any venue several times over.

Beautiful day is the only one I recognise from that list, and that's a poor enough song. Love their earlier stuff but anything after the joshua tree makes me glaze over.

FixdePitchmark

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/u2-songs-of-innocence-20140911


That is a fairly serious endorsement

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fricke

I think Irish people have gone a bit selectively blind or deaf from the truth - great Album - watch this space.
I think it is going to be a rebirth of U2 like All That You Can't Leave Behind.

And, I'm not just saying that - first Album I've got into in a long while.
Maybe, Arcade Fire Funeral the last one I was that into.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLjNpNaw_44

o1s1n

fatherted1969 wrote: »

. If they had put 10 nights up in a row in Dublin guaranteed every one of them would be a sellout.

So would Garth Brookes and One Direction.

Numbers mean nothing :pac:

FixdePitchmark

o1s1n wrote: »

So would Garth Brookes and One Direction.

Numbers mean nothing :pac:

daithi7

Bonedigger wrote: »

Personally speaking, I don't think U2 have made a decent album since Achtung Baby. The odd decent tune on Zooropa and Pop aside, very little they've produced since has impressed me much. They're on the gravy train (and fair play to them!), so can continue to produce rather mediocre albums and know that the diehards will always buy the albums and concert tickets no matter what.

I thought their 2 albums in the 00s were really good
'how to dismantle an atomic bomb', and
'all that you can't leave behind'

Some of the music & lyrics that explored Bonos often fraught relationship with his father are some of their best stuff imho e.g.

U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (Live) - YouTube

Exclamation Marc

daithi7 wrote: »

I thought their 2 albums in the 00s were really good
'how to dismantle an atomic bomb', and
'all that you can't leave behind'

Some of the music & lyrics that explored Bonos often fraught relationship with his father are some of their best stuff imho e.g.

U2 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (Live) - YouTube

That's an incredible song, so poignant. If you look-up YouTube there's a also a single take video of Bono walking through the streets singing it from start to finish.

Rothko

mark13 wrote: »

The Who, Neil Young, Prince, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Paul McCartney, The Eagles, Roger Waters, AC/DC are all still touring regularly and playing massive venues, last time I checked they haven't put out anything significant in decades..so do you have a similar level of vitriol for them or is this just a U2 thing?

Neil Young is still releasing albums regularly and I think they're pretty good, even though he's been in the business for about 50 years. Prince has also released a few albums in recent years although I haven't heard much of it myself so can't comment on the quality.

Exclamation Marc

Suas11 wrote: »

Neil Young is still releasing albums regularly and I think they're pretty good, even though he's been in the business for about 50 years. Prince has also released a few albums in recent years although I haven't heard much of it myself so can't comment on the quality.

Elton John also put out an album in 2013 to more or less critical acclaim also; his highest charting album in the US in nearly 40 years.

FanadMan

Am not a fan of U2 at all, in fact I think Bono is an over inflated PITA. In saying that I saw them in Belfast on the Thurs night and was astounded by the stage show. It was a brilliant performance - I was even singing along with some of the songs!
We were so close to the circular stage that we could see the stacked heels Bono wore and how many wrinkles Adam Clayton :-D
Thankfully Bono didn't pontificate as much as other tours - maybe he has heard the snores and decided to concentrate on music.
All in all, I was blown away by the show. Still haven't bought one of their albums since Joshua Tree but if they continue gigging like that, my mind could be changed.

And to anyone that says that they are too old - try going to a Bruce Springsteen gig. The guy is 66 and runs around the stage like a teenager for over 3 hours!

FixdePitchmark

On a couch in mid 50s - unplugged.

Not sure who is doing stuff like this , this good.

The Nal

New album is embarrassingly bad. Glad the tour went down well but I'd just as soon go see The Killers or Coldplay nowadays.

amcgee

Past it your having laugh!!
..I am casual U2 fan, and have seen them 3 times in my life, and Saturdays was the best live give i have gone too
the atmosphere was amazing, the crowd all enjoyed it, they put on a great show, fair enough if you went to a few of the gigs you might have got slightly bored , but to say that u2 are past it is not fair
In my opinion they are the best band in the world.
and i actually think the new album is one of best from them from a while.

beecee

mark13 wrote: »

Yes obscure tracks like Beautiful Day, Vertigo, Elevation, The Sweetest Thing etc

Haha... Sweetest Thing, that new track which was an 80s b-side.

Birneybau

beecee wrote: »

Haha... Sweetest Thing, that new track which was an 80s b-side.

Vertigo and Elevation are EXACTLY what's wrong with U2.

Stealthfins

They did well when Paul Oakenfold helped them out.

RayCon

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I'm asking a serious question here - Is that actually possible ?

Yes ... hello - I exist.

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

Not sure you could find someone who doesn't like a good few U2 songs - If they don't, I'm not sure they like music at all ?????

Yes ... hello - I exist and I like music very much - just not U2's.

Also , I believe someone mentioned U2 being crap and then saying they'd rather go listen to The Killers or Coldplay ... I take it that was trolling ?

FixdePitchmark

RayCon wrote: »

Yes ... hello - I exist.



Yes ... hello - I exist and I like music very much - just not U2's.

Also , I believe someone mentioned U2 being crap and then saying they'd rather go listen to The Killers or Coldplay ... I take it that was trolling ?

So your saying out of their what 200 + songs in all different genre . You don't like anything.

Shocked with that .

What do you like ?

FixdePitchmark

In fairness - as threads go , this has been sensible enough.

I think 95 % think U2 are important musically - and as far as experimentation goes, they have been very impressive.

Past it for anyone that big is a big statement - typically when people are that good they surprise people again when least expected.

Anyway - sensible enough stuff.

This thread made me watch a bit of ZooTv intro again and forgot , how outrageously good it was. You can't really expect someone to replicate their peak - as it is their peak - you are only at that point once physically creatively etc, once. So yes they are past that - but have still done great stuff since.

Was listen to Noel Gallagher talking about it - and he said how uncool U2 were , yet, he knew what they were doing was the future.

Start of this is , just insane - from space for its time.

You have Beethoven in there and everything - then the loop and images. Would give anything to have experienced that at that time.

Look at the crowd :eek:
Band not even on stage.