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223 Comments
- draxenato, on 03/01/2009, -4/+112Like most acts that have any sort of longevity U2 reinvent themselves every few years, just like Madonna, the Stones, Bowie etc. Sometimes these periods of reinvention work and sometimes not but the fact that they're still around after 30 some years speaks volumes.
I saw Coldplay being interviewed on 4Music recently and Chris Martin was asked what was it like to be the biggest band in the world, he replied "I dunno why don't you go and ask U2 ?" - Kohaxx, on 03/02/2009, -9/+81Wow, people commenting about how irrelevant they always were must be really young to the music scene. Yeah "Bloody Sunday" was completely irrelevant, you ignorant wanna-be hipsters.
- verygoodyear, on 03/01/2009, -91/+160U2 are possibly the most overrated band in existence. The music is all just effects, and what sort of name is, 'The Edge'.
Douchebags. - MrSkills, on 03/01/2009, -25/+78Yes, *your* personal musical taste is an objective measure of what's artistically worthwhile, and anyone who likes music that you don't like must be stupid and easily bamboozled by "effects".
I certainly don't like all music, but at least I know that if I don't like something that lots of other people do, it's probably a failure of my appreciation rather than the music. - aduric, on 03/01/2009, -3/+54I like U2...always have, from 80s until now. I'll always remember that show in Sarajevo in 97. They where they were the first band to perform after the war and they ignited everyone's spirits. They even had a live satellite uplink of Sarajevo during the war in a lot of their shows. Relevant or not, they're a class band and they affected me personally.
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -3/+49"HELLO HELLO...YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH"
- threon, on 03/02/2009, -3/+37Upgrade to U3.0.
- THETEH, on 03/02/2009, -8/+40Not liking a band because of a member's name is...uh...kinda goofy. As for the music itself, it's 100% a matter of opinion whether it's good or not.
- boydrew, on 03/02/2009, -3/+32the edge's guitar "effects" are hugely responsible for the sounds of many of today's biggest bands. Radiohead, Muse, coldplay, and many other bands have been influenced by him (and evolved his sound into something fitting them). Larry mullen jr. as well is a huge influence in modern drumming. Bono; much less so. hate on him as you like, but don't hate talent just because you think the sound of that talent is not your style.
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -2/+29How many courics is Bono again?
- MrSkills, on 03/01/2009, -3/+29The principle is right, but the chronology is wrong. In terms of general public/critical reception, the they've been at Stage 4 (stumbling) twice, with Rattle and Hum and Pop, and they've been at Stage 5 (reclaiming the throne) twice too - with Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind.
If this does turn out to be another Stage 4 - well, if there's one thing U2 are known for, it's reinvention and comebacks.
(Note - I'm talking about general public/critical reaction, not my opinion. Personally I quite like Pop and I'm not that keen on ATYCLB, but there's no denying what the general reception was). - inkswamp, on 03/02/2009, -1/+23Can't let a U2 thread go by without a retelling of this old one...
During a gig in the UK, Bono asked the audience to be silent and then began slowly and steadily clapping his hands. He got the audience to clap along for a while. After a short time, Bono announced that each time he clapped his hands, a child in Africa died.
Someone in the front row of the venue shouted out "Well, stop ***** doing it then!" - Monarch818, on 03/02/2009, -5/+22Probably a comment coming from someone that wasn't born yet when U2 released "War"
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -5/+22One stop for all your U2 information and needs: http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=11 ...
- mishabear, on 03/02/2009, -2/+18not a long trip, is it?
- smacksaw, on 03/02/2009, -7/+20So by that logic, Hannah Montana is the next Beethoven.
Fantastic. - mishabear, on 03/02/2009, -1/+13The Beatles revolutionized music through the 60's in away no band has done before or since. Their talent as musicians wasn't really all that impressive but their songwriting and compositions and experimentation is what made them a great band. EVERY musician has been influenced by the Beatles in some way (even though they may not even know it) including Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and all the greats. Look at what the bands did in their time in relation to what existed in their time.
I don't say the Stones or Zep are irrelevent or not great bands, just that they were more reflections of the world around them. The Beatles changed the world around us, and not just musically. - BrainInAVat, on 03/02/2009, -1/+13There's been a lot of talk about this next song... maybe... maybe too much talk. This song is not a rebel song. This song is Sunday Bloody Sunday.
- geodebug, on 03/02/2009, -0/+11Yay, award for the most 'tire'-some post on this thread, @verygoodyear.
Music is all effects? Well I have a lot of effects in my arsenal but they don't make a ***** sound until you play something through them. The nerve of these guys, using effects in a pop song.
'The Edge' as a name? No more-or-less stupid than Sting or any other stage name.
You know what is worse than bad music? Bad critique. - Glayden, on 03/02/2009, -2/+13Seriously what is relevant? Jonas Brothers? Soulja Boy?
***** that, U2's classic
they make good music consistently, changing their style, expanding their horizons
all of the people saying that U2 is losing relevance never liked them in the first place
chances are they haven't even given them a listen past overplayed bs like Vertigo - BlaculasFro, on 03/02/2009, -1/+12Wrong. Nickelback & Buckcherry are both objectively terrible.
- Monarch818, on 03/02/2009, -3/+14Is it trying to invert itself into a vagina so you can get laid by Bono?
- mercurywaxing, on 03/02/2009, -0/+10Article might have a point, but we must consider the source. He rates Chinese Democracy, an album even fans consider an ego driven mess, as five stars while he berates U2 for having an ego. He writes as a jaded hipster but couldn't be bothered to review Animal Collective's Merryweather Post and Bon Iver isn't even listed on the Artists page. Then he compares Achtung Baby, one of the biggest and most influential albums of it's day, with "Van Halen hiring Gary Cherone," the move that destroyed one of the biggest bands of the previous 2 decades.
Sorry, but thanks for playing. - fishrokka, on 03/02/2009, -1/+11FTA: "U2: 1983-1984 -- War and Unforgettable Fire. Okay, maybe Fire wasn't that unforgettable"
What utter nonsense. Unforgettable Fire was their true breakthrough, and is widely considered one of -- if not THE -- best album they ever released. It contains a little number you may have heard of, it's called "Pride (In the Name of Love)". Sheesh. - akshay626, on 03/02/2009, -0/+9I appreciate that U2 doesn't break up every 6 months and orchestrate a reunion tour a year later to get attention. (I'm looking at you RATM)
- test5477, on 03/02/2009, -4/+13if you have to ask then the answer is NO.
- tecunx, on 03/02/2009, -0/+8the author of this article gives Chinese Democracy 5 stars, and he bashes U2. Ok, so he is a Guns N´Roses fan who hates U2. Damn, 20 years is a very long time to carry a grudge.
- fugazied, on 03/02/2009, -0/+8Go away Fall Out Boy fan.
- groo68, on 03/02/2009, -0/+8Get on your boots isn't bad, but it's not like muse.
- fluidfoundation, on 03/02/2009, -8/+16They have been replaced by Coldplay, so the douchetastic tunes will live on, my friend.
- lacreme, on 03/02/2009, -0/+8you mean, evaginate itself?
(real word) - NoozeHound, on 03/01/2009, -5/+13Judging by the lengths the BBC went to, I'd suggest they think not. Hypetastic.
- jcroweall7, on 03/02/2009, -0/+7This article had me, it really did, until it called Achtung Baby a misstep.
- jocknerd, on 03/02/2009, -1/+8Joshua Tree is consistently listed among the Top 50 albums of all time and Achtung Baby wasn't far behind.
- hantata, on 03/01/2009, -49/+55They have never been relevant.
- ossmanns, on 03/02/2009, -1/+7I actually liked 'Pop,' no joke. DIGG ME DOWN YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH!
- mu0p, on 03/01/2009, -10/+16This article was even more true 10 years ago.
- geodebug, on 03/02/2009, -2/+8Worst thing a band can do is become and stay popular. Then every wanna-be rock-critique who comes along can call them out on their success as selling out. Isn't that why Cobain said he killed himself?
Here's a guideline:
1) You don't like their music at all - well then you have no real reason to be commenting on this thread because you have nothing really to add other than a stupid "me-hate-too" comment.
2) You are too young to have any real sense of music history and where U2 or other bands fit into it. This isn't necessarily a knock against youth but just a fact that evaluating artistic merit takes years to develop. Don't feel slighted kids, you have the much cooler job of actually sparking off new artistic movements.
Rock and roll culture is as sad as pot culture: The product is endlessly great but you have to deal with a host of jackasses who lame it up.
Anybody have anything real to say or is this just another round of digg-jerk off?
--- just another jackass - rodrigo74, on 03/02/2009, -0/+6Now, if you really have balls, you'd list which bands you consider the greatest in the world and let the other diggers tear your choices to pieces. See, it ain't easy being subjective.
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -3/+9You obviously weren't listening in the 80's. There was a short period of time in the early 80's when they were relevant.
- LukeBeaumont, on 03/02/2009, -2/+8You base a band entirely on their stage names? Awesome!
/s - tecunx, on 03/02/2009, -0/+6geodebug has a point. Haters drove Kurt Cobain to his death, they called him a sell out, a traitor. A traitor to what? just because he was a poor dude who happened to have a popular record? I am so sick of all these "indie" arguments. Who is really "indie"? Who doesn´t want to make a decent living making music? And why is it a sin to be successful and have a long career?
Bands like Metallica and U2 have my respect because they did not allow the suits and recording associations to rip them off and take control of their careers. They have stuck in this world for so long because they have used their brains and taken their careers seriously. - boydrew, on 03/02/2009, -5/+11the author is an obvious U2 hater in his commentary in the "stages." think what you will about their music and the band, at least recognize your own bias.
- soulonfire928, on 03/02/2009, -1/+6They certainly don't make a secret of being Christian, but there's plenty of people I know who aren't overly involved in practicing the Christian religion (myself included) who like their music.
There's a difference between being a band whose members happen to be Christian and Creed. - drewhoo, on 03/02/2009, -0/+5You wouldn't even know that said humanity conference existed unless Bono (or insert any boastful famous person) was there to drum up media hype... Any publicity is good publicity.
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -3/+8SOME! TWO! THREE! FOURTEEN!
- Glayden, on 03/02/2009, -1/+6***** No
U2 kicks ass...
NLOTH is great, but takes a few listens before you can really appreciate it
it rlly grows on you with a second listen though - zuiquan, on 03/02/2009, -0/+5Absolutely nothing like Muse. Not even close.
- inactive, on 03/02/2009, -3/+8I like how to dismantle an atomic bomb a lot... City of Shining Lights was a really good song... the single from the album "hello hello, yeah, yeah, yeah!!!" whatever it was titled sucked, but a lot of the songs were really good I thought.
- fugazied, on 03/02/2009, -2/+7Dunno, they have sold a lot of records for a band 'not relevant'
Boy : ~3m
October : ~3m
War : ~8m
UABRS : ~8m
Unforgettable Fire : ~8m
WAIA : ~2m
Joshua Tree : ~25m
Rattle & Hum : ~14m
Achtung Baby : ~17m
Zooropa : ~8m
Pop : ~6m
Best of 1980-90 : ~16m
All that you can leave behind : ~12m
Best of 1990-00 : ~5m
How to dismantle an atomic bomb : ~9m -
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