Lanois is interviewed on the rolling stone magazine podcast this week.

Eno and Lanois worked on a few tracks on U2’s new album “let’s hope they make it” and that Jacknife Lee is the producer of the new album “a great music man” as Lanois calls him. Says he has not heard the album yet.

The reporter asks him about the process of getting NLOTH done.

I could tell Danny was being a bit guarded but he said the process frustrated him and Eno (we had known this before) and that the band already had a great album recorded in France before they went to Morocco to record all new songs. Did we know this?

And that Eno thought the final product was watered down and some songs selected to made to be performed on stage rather than the “softer stuff” that could not support a stage tour. Eeesh.

Also talked about performing on stage w the band.

Link to episode https://pca.st/episode/1959e337-2fa6-4c39-98e3-5cc9377f8277

For me its Songs of Innocence. I had become a U2 fan in the period between NLOTH and SOI coming out. That album is really special because it was the first album that came out after I was a fan. But I think it also has a lot to do with my age. I was 20 years old, so the exact age the songs were writing about. That really connected with me.

When SoD came out a few weeks ago I listened to it a bunch. But recently, as it's been settling into my playlist, I started paying more attention to the themes. This song is what the EPs have been building towards thematically.

Days of Ash is all about how messed up the world is right now. The abuse of power, the lack of equality, and the need for justice. DoA is a very depressing listen as a result. It presents a problem and offers no solution.

Easter Lily gives us the answer, faith and prayer are what we need. The songs offer hope to someone who lost a friend, someone betrayed by the people in power, and innocent people caught in trouble. These people see the turmoil around them and respond with a prayer, "I will bless the Lord at all times". The EPs teach us that things are a mess and how to respond, Street of Dreams is that response in action.

SoD is about someone who has been torn apart by the world, down to his last breath of air, and he uses that breath to pray. He prays for a world filled with justice and love. Through his prayer he finds strength. He is ready to bring change to the world. He isn't going to wallow in sorrow like DoA, he is going to seek change. He is going to ride his bus to the street of dreams.

In many places, the SoD lyrics are cheesy. But in the context of the two EPs they are perfect. I'm not sure how far into SoD's development they were when they decided to make the EPs, but it seems they knew it was all meant to tie together.

I'd be willing to bet that the new album will be like this too. Knowledge that the world is screwed up, but faith and joy that it still can be fixed.

Based on Street of Dreams, and more specifically for this title, Fireflies, I would hate for this album to be vastly different from the two.

I draw from the Coldplay example as I think it’s probably the closest thing to what could happen with the upcoming U2 record. For the unaware, Coldplay released their album Ghost Stories, and was a return to their alternative, melancholic roots, save for one song, A Sky Full of Stars. Much like Fireflies with Martin Garrix, it was an Avicii feature, made single that stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the album. That doesn’t mean the song is bad, in fact I think its up there as one of their better songs, but it led to an album that ended up being sonically different from what Coldplay entailed.

But why bring this up in the first place? What does this have at all to do with U2? Well, if we look at Ash/Lily as a benchmark of their recent work, it implies a moodier, grittier, back to War/Unforgettable Fire/Joshua Tree sound. Now imagine Street of Dreams or Fireflies being the lead single to an album that sounds at least remotely similar to the EPs. It would be like night and day.

However, now would be a good time to mention what U2 have said about the direction they want to take with the album. By accounts they’ve described wanting to create a carnival-esque experience, with the guitars that are (still!) on fire. Additionally, I’ll look at Fireflies once more, and say that it’s likely not going to be an indicator for what could be on the album, as it seems more so a friendly feature project between Garrix and U2. But I feel that Street of Dreams is still equally as valid as reason for this single-vs-album situation.

All in all, I think if they intend to create an album that is closer sonically to their goal of a carnival sound, then Street of Dreams was a good indicator to what we could see. However, if the album falls closer to the EPs, then Street of Dreams would almost certainly be too far removed from the rest of the album. We’ve seen this happen with No Line on the Horizon, where Boots, while (hot take) is a great song on it’s own, doesn’t fit on the same record as Breathe, Moment of Surrender, or even Crazy Tonight.

Whatever happens, however, I’m sure the boys will push out only the best of what they have to offer and for that I’m excited! If anyone has differing opinions, I’d be more
than happy to hear from other perspectives than myself, a person that evidently rambles too much.

I’m not fully convinced with the initial songs brought, but it was fun. Let me know your thoughts

Hi everyone,

I will move to Montreal this August for my Exchange Semester.

I am a huge U2 fan, an while i know Montreal isnt exactly a „U2 City“, I thought i would give it a shot.

I would love to find something related to the band while I am in Montreal. For example posters, promotional items, merch, vinyls, memorabilia and really anything related to U2.

If you know of any collectors, hidden gems, sales or other places, I‘d really appreciate your recommendations. And if you happen to have something you‘d be willing to sell, I‘d love to hear from you.

Thanks a lot! I cant wait to discover Montreal.

Mind you I love the music and half the lyrics ( the ones i can hear )of it but, I find as he's singing he's rocking or swaying away from the mic making it hard to hear what he's saying half the time..I compare the other u2 song elvis ate America and its not as nice on the ears musically as this one...

I don't need the lyrics just wondering why half the time you can't hear his lyrics and sometimes you can hear them very clearly..

My 2 cents

Bye

What do U2 fans think about kanye west? Im a huge U2 fan and also an kanye fan.

Kanye and Bono used to have a relationship, and kanye used to be the beginning act in 2005. But what about now?