alas, what is with the band?
elmo ([email protected])
Wed, 14 Oct 1998 21:30:09 +1000 (EST)
i can't help but feel the bile rise when i find myself almost agreeing
with people who comment to me that u2 have sold out with this compilation
(they usually go on to say that they sold out years ago, when i promptly
stop listening to them).
how can i be thinking this? i do not know. we have no idea what the next
album will be like. hopefully it will be the 'genius' album that bono often
talks about. but if it is not, if it isn't well recieved and even we think
that it's a little half done (in 18 months POP still hasn't grown on me
despite the fact that discotheque is very rocking indeed) i'm going to have
to accept that u2 couldn't stand the test of time.
i think the GH was inevitable, but am i alone in thinking it wouldn't be
out until the band had packed it in and stood proud in their stature
amongst rock's history? (having spawned some of the most truly memorable
live and recorded moments in recent decades; having practically reinvented
the term 'reinvention';
and having in bono one of the all time great lyricists.)
let's face it that noone would play ST '98 if it weren't u2. why they've
rereleased that is beyond me. i think it's still a very personal thing for
bono, who's got his reasons for bringing it around to ali again. touching
emotional gestures do not the credible groundbreaking work make.
i don't think that u2 are doing this for the money - it's obvious they
have plenty.( a reported collective $950 million aust.) it's a feesable
notion for people who are singles lovers to buy one disk with all their
favourite tracks on it, but i think it would have been a far wiser move to
release the CD quielty with minimum promotion and definately without the
rerelease of the sweetest thing. u2 are capable of work so far above this.
i sincerly hope this is not the new direction of their material. but then
again, they can do whatever they want to keep themselves amused. it's a
nice bonus that we'll all rush out to buy it. it's just not inspirational
stuff. (i have to say, that being a collector, i'll but all the associated
GH releases regardless.)
anyway, i'm sure the band will come out with some monumental longplayer
come 1999 and i'll be eating humble pie. i hope it comes with icecream.
chocolate.
elmo.
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on Wed Oct 14 1998 - 04:31:35 PDT