I just heard the new U2 single Vertigo, and it rocks.
U2's new album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb comes out November 23rd, the day after Dia's birthday. It's great and the official mix is, unsurprisingly, much better than the bootleg I heard two months ago that had been recorded outside of Bono's house where the band was practicing.
I have no problem admitting my unabashed fanboy enthusiasm for U2. It's the only band passion that has survived into adulthood (sorry R.E.M.) and I remain enthusiastic despite the fact that most of my other tastes veer off the beaten path.
Why's that? U2 completely inspires me. Here are a bunch of guys in their 40s, doing what they love, making uplifting music that is adored across the world, and generally using their mega-wealth for good. That Bono cat gets under some people's skin, but his complete (though previously ironic) embrace of global rock stardom is thrilling, particularly since he's using his mojo to do things like erase Third World debt instead of just doing lines of coke in the bathroom. (And if he's doing that and still doing his world improvement gig, more power to him). Oh, and he's still married to the same woman. That speaks volumes (especially about her).
So while I still think U2 was profoundly wrong with the whole Negativland nonsense--and not just wrong, but completely without a sense of irony when they were ascending to supposed heights of irony, I still love them and will funnel cash in their direction over the next twelve months.
I regret very very few things. But I regret that I didn't go see ZooTV in Vancouver in November of 1992. It was election night, I was in the process of getting divorced, I had no money, but still . . .
I first saw them in 1987 in Cologne and then later that year in Los Angeles. We traveled to Vegas for the opening of Pop Mart, which was much better than any of the reviews and really showed a band trying to do something new, something new that was neutered in favor of ticket sales by the time we saw them end the tour in Seattle. We travelled again to Las Vegas for Elevation Tour and it was like attending church.
So I know one thing about 2005, regardless who's our president, we'll be paying an exorbinant amount for tickets to go see these boys.
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