Originally posted by mattfromcanada:I wanted to write an emotional off the cuff topic in response to a lot of the chatter I see. Remember, U2 has always been a band that does what they want to do, not what the masses want. That's one of the things that has made them great, and has become a double-edged sword for the passionate fans. If they kept doing what we want them to (ie. finally play Acrobat, Drowning Man, do a Pop reunion, close EVERY show with '40') then they would just become more white noise (i.e. what passes for popular music these days) rather than always pushing themselves. Look what happened when they walked away from TJT....Achtung Baby. Yes, sometimes they'll fall short of their own expectations and that of a lot of their audience, but that's okay. We all have different ideas of what's great. I for one do not see the big draw to 'Moment Of Surrender', I feel that RHMT was better as a gem that they've never played, and though I tire of hearing 'Pride' on my own, when you are present at a concert and it's played, it does stir something. I feel that SOI as a whole is better than each part (consider the title) and hope for the same from SOE. I'm intentionally avoiding listening to it (haven't heard GOOYOW and AS, and only gave Blackout / Best Thing a single listen). I'd rather listen to it as a collection. So yes, SOE and the subsequent tour may disappoint. But if you go into it with that, it will be a self fulfilling prophesy. So lower your guard, and see what happens. Maybe the songs will hit you, maybe they won't. But they may in a few years, in 10 years, after your dad dies, when your son goes to college, when you lose your job, when you feel God is laughing at you, or when your first child is born. But don't for a second wish for U2 to follow what the masses are telling them to do. That would be a shame.
) . As I said in my OP, SOI is better as a whole, and I feel that NLOTH is too. I'm hoping for the same for SOE. 
