Hmmm, interesting point this, I was wondering if anyone was ever going to speak up with it. I do listen to U2 now and then, but I'm by certainly not a dedicated fan. I think a lot of their earlier stuff (Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Year's Day) etc. etc. were very political in their way, and at the time the politics of the North and Margaret Thatcher and all that was on everyone's mind, given that violence in the North was completely out of control. I feel this made people sit up and listen while the songs were still good. However, I have to agree with Brain here, a lot of their sales have been generated from hype. (I personally feel the Joshua Tree is one of the most over-rated albums ever) Achtung Baby is easily their best work, but I for one, was desperately disappointed with All That You Can't Leave Behind - it did not deserve such recognition because for me it walked on ground already covered. With the Edge duetting with countless artists these days and Bono's Third World work always in the papers (albeit good work fair play to him), I feel that a lot of U2's sales are generated simply because they're U2. They're a good pop-rock band, but they would not feature in my top 5 rock bands ever. (My apologies to U2 worshippers) Q2

i felt the whole "all that you can't leave behind" campaign was a bit wishy-washy - the title is crap for a start, and apart from a few really great soundbytes (elevation, beautiful day) it just failed to convince on several levels. what it lacked in cohesion, it amply made up for in hype - superbowls for example. also, i notice some minor pilfering/borrowing of non-u2 material - nothing that will get bono into sh1t but enough to implant itself in your brain. anyone get "run to you-bryan adams" in midverse "electrical storm" or am i just going mad? and before you jump on me i know that isnt on the album but its all part of the same buzz... at the end of the day though, they kick ass live - they have a fantastic back-catalogue and hopefully some great stuff to come in future too. its just that album that i found all very "tesco" if you know what i mean... ok i know i am gonna be slaughtered here!haha

Even those songs that you thought were alright John, I thought were rubbish. Beautiful Day was ok at first but like a plastic pop song I hated it about 3 listens later. Elevation just gets on my nerves! I dunno, maybe I'm biased or something...

I feel the same way boys, Elevation is sheer commercialism. I reckon Walk On is the only truly decent track on that record. "Tesco" is a very good word to describe it. Similarly, The Joshua Tree has never struck much of a chord with me either, does anyone else agree or am I one of a kind? Q2

brain, nice one mate but i didnt say they were great songs, but great "soundbytes" ie. can be used for a multitude of tv/sporting broadcasts (match of the day etc). cha-ching cha-ching... q2 cant fault the joshua tree myself. in god's country and one tree hill being stand out tracks for me but maybe thats due to the fact all the singles were played and played and played... but folks, this IS the music industry nowadays - all i can say is i am hoping that U2 get onto something else pretty soon. i personally would love to hear more EDGE vocals!!! just for a change.

I would rate the Joshua Tree but that's about where it ends with me and U2. Rattle and Hum was a shocker - a vanity effort if there ever was one. Through the nineties, whilst their music was seldom inspirational, it was certainly interesting. The last album strikes me as something they chugged out without firing on all cylinders - like the work you would produce on a particularly hungover Friday morning. It was nice and safe and easy. Had it been an album of b-sides or outtakes, it would have been fine. I often wondered about Edge though, surely a solo album would be interesting.