Are the 2020's U2's most productive era ever?

Expecting jick to show up anytime…

Quote from: Smee on August 08, 2026, 10:28:57 AM 2020s u2 have put out more clunkers than they have at any other time in their career. Quality over Quantity please

It's not like they have quantity either.

IMO the two EP's were much better than expected, but nowhere near their consistency of the 1979-2000 work, but two EPs and one album this decade, and lets face it, that's probably it (unless we get 'Passengers 2' which is the Eno Celtic Space age thingy) for the decade. Based on Bonos statements about the album, i'm doubting it will be decent. So neither quality nor quantity.

That having been said, Tears of Things, Song for Hal, Easter Parade, scars are among their best 21st century songs, and wouldn't be out of place on their best records.

Quote from: jick on August 08, 2026, 10:53:16 AM Quote from: Smee on August 08, 2026, 10:28:57 AM 2020s u2 have put out more clunkers than they have at any other time in their career. Quality over Quantity please

Just because the new material don't make the Billboard or UK charts like they used to decades ago doesn't make them clunkers.  The charts work on a different formula now from the 80's and 90's, and U2 no longer play that game.  They create music that they want to make, and not what they think will be clunkers or not.

Cheers,

J

I wish that this was more true than it actually is.

(https://31.media.tumblr.com/195aa83ac802010bf774a8aab09a6c10/tumblr_miiy1mFSP51rvlxkgo1_400.gif)

Quote from: Smee on August 08, 2026, 10:28:57 AM 2020s u2 have put out more clunkers than they have at any other time in their career. Quality over Quantity please

Just because the new material don't make the Billboard or UK charts like they used to decades ago doesn't make them clunkers.  The charts work on a different formula now from the 80's and 90's, and U2 no longer play that game.  They create music that they want to make, and not what they think will be clunkers or not.

Cheers,

J

2020s u2 have put out more clunkers than they have at any other time in their career. Quality over Quantity please

It’s funny. 2020s are monster U2.

...and just like that, we have another new song "Fireflies" in less than a month.

This is even before any album announcement.

The case keeps getting stronger that the 2020's are U2's most productive era ever!

Ok, let's just qualify that for those who want more particularity:

"The 2020's are U2's most productive studio era so far!"

Cheers,

J

Quote from: walktothewater on July 06, 2026, 09:43:35 AM Quote from: jick on June 27, 2026, 07:59:12 AM This is a U2 forum, not a U2-bashing site.  There is no other thread started here that has factually consolidated their musical output from the 2020-26 era.

Yet, there are members who are dismissive of U2's output in this era, but I would bet they cannot even name all of the 64 songs.

Since they are presented with facts and data which they cannot refute, they just go to tangents about "U2 haven't done anything significant in the last few decades" or "you are just trolling."  Well, if U2 hasn't done anything of good quality lately, then there are two questions:

Why are you still in this U2 fan forum?

What is your non-subject, non-unquantifiable rebuttal to the data that shows U2 have 64 new recordings in this era as their badge of productivity?

Cheers,

J

Jick's trollery level is expert, super-genius. Let's all just bow down and worship.

Quite simply, we're not worthy.

Wait a minute you’re so right.  I got bamboozled.  I did not know of his previous works

Quote from: Rupert Pupkin on July 06, 2026, 09:48:59 AM It's mad that I can remember 'J, The King Of Pop' from one of those message boards circa 1999... but why are they shilling so hard for what U2 are now?  Does not compute.

J on the Wired listserv was a major hater when PoP came out

Quote from: walktothewater on July 06, 2026, 11:12:43 AM Quote from: Rupert Pupkin on July 06, 2026, 09:48:59 AM It's mad that I can remember 'J, The King Of Pop' from one of those message boards circa 1999... but why are they shilling so hard for what U2 are now?  Does not compute.

Jick was banned from another U2 fansite decades ago for not saying enough good things about U2. He's now taking us to task for not saying enough good things about U2. That's the joke, that's the epic trollery.

FFS. Why does everything have to be explained.

Wasn't someone banned from another website for making fun of someone's username?

Shake it,  shake it,  shake it

Quote from: Rupert Pupkin on July 06, 2026, 09:48:59 AM It's mad that I can remember 'J, The King Of Pop' from one of those message boards circa 1999... but why are they shilling so hard for what U2 are now?  Does not compute.

Jick was banned from another U2 fansite decades ago for not saying enough good things about U2. He's now taking us to task for not saying enough good things about U2. That's the joke, that's the epic trollery.

FFS. Why does everything have to be explained.

It's mad that I can remember 'J, The King Of Pop' from one of those message boards circa 1999... but why are they shilling so hard for what U2 are now?  Does not compute.

Quote from: jick on June 27, 2026, 07:59:12 AM This is a U2 forum, not a U2-bashing site.  There is no other thread started here that has factually consolidated their musical output from the 2020-26 era.

Yet, there are members who are dismissive of U2's output in this era, but I would bet they cannot even name all of the 64 songs.

Since they are presented with facts and data which they cannot refute, they just go to tangents about "U2 haven't done anything significant in the last few decades" or "you are just trolling."  Well, if U2 hasn't done anything of good quality lately, then there are two questions:

Why are you still in this U2 fan forum?

What is your non-subject, non-unquantifiable rebuttal to the data that shows U2 have 64 new recordings in this era as their badge of productivity?

Cheers,

J

Jick's trollery level is expert, super-genius. Let's all just bow down and worship.

Quite simply, we're not worthy.

Quote from: Loyal Deserter on July 05, 2026, 02:45:06 PM Quote from: jick on June 27, 2026, 07:59:12 AM This is a U2 forum, not a U2-bashing site.  There is no other thread started here that has factually consolidated their musical output from the 2020-26 era.

Yet, there are members who are dismissive of U2's output in this era, but I would bet they cannot even name all of the 64 songs.

Since they are presented with facts and data which they cannot refute, they just go to tangents about "U2 haven't done anything significant in the last few decades" or "you are just trolling."  Well, if U2 hasn't done anything of good quality lately, then there are two questions:

Why are you still in this U2 fan forum?

What is your non-subject, non-unquantifiable rebuttal to the data that shows U2 have 64 new recordings in this era as their badge of productivity?

Cheers,

J

There's not a single soul on planet earth who could list all 64 of U2's 2020s songs from memory.  Absolutely no way that anybody, including U2 themselves, could accurately remember which 40 songs they did for SOS off the top of their head.

Have you consulted with Codeguy?  Pretty sure there is nothing he does not know.

Yup. The SOS material doesn't count for productivity, and neither do the Bomb leftovers. To insist otherwise is just trolling.   (https://media.tenor.com/ARDNZkgoIjMAAAAM/take-this.gif)

Quote from: jick on June 27, 2026, 07:59:12 AM This is a U2 forum, not a U2-bashing site.  There is no other thread started here that has factually consolidated their musical output from the 2020-26 era.

Yet, there are members who are dismissive of U2's output in this era, but I would bet they cannot even name all of the 64 songs.

Since they are presented with facts and data which they cannot refute, they just go to tangents about "U2 haven't done anything significant in the last few decades" or "you are just trolling."  Well, if U2 hasn't done anything of good quality lately, then there are two questions:

Why are you still in this U2 fan forum?

What is your non-subject, non-unquantifiable rebuttal to the data that shows U2 have 64 new recordings in this era as their badge of productivity?

Cheers,

J

There's not a single soul on planet earth who could list all 64 of U2's 2020s songs from memory.  Absolutely no way that anybody, including U2 themselves, could accurately remember which 40 songs they did for SOS off the top of their head.

That pitchy as hell live take of Let Your Love Be Known being the best thing here

Quote from: jick on July 05, 2026, 02:37:42 AM With the recent profile picture change which signifies the release of the new single, that will bump the release count this decade to 65.  Then if and when the album will drop before the calendar year, we could push it up to 75 new U2 recordings from the period of 2020-2026.  It definitely has a strong case of being their most productive studio era ever, perhaps even more than 1980-1986.

Cheers,

J

(https://media.tenor.com/-u0YodMb7SwAAAAC/double-down.gif)

With the recent profile picture change which signifies the release of the new single, that will bump the release count this decade to 65.  Then if and when the album will drop before the calendar year, we could push it up to 75 new U2 recordings from the period of 2020-2026.  It definitely has a strong case of being their most productive studio era ever, perhaps even more than 1980-1986.

Cheers,

J

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnR0dGg0Z3dzMGQ3d2h4ZHllZ3oyYzIybnRldHcza3A4eGRlejZpMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qIXLto457cIww/giphy.gif)

In fairness I am totally dismissive of the band's recent output.  But - and this is the thing - I'm rarely here.  These two facts are not unconnected.

(https://media1.giphy.com/media/jnKizWSXlKQnKbTkKb/giphy.gif)

(https://media.tenor.com/KXfs_LreMT8AAAAM/ipa-sliders.gif)

(https://cdn.dribbble.com/users/2054184/screenshots/10206565/dog-hydrantdribbble.gif)

Everything (even dog piss) > IPA

Quote from: So Cruel on June 27, 2026, 01:42:50 PM Quote from: SlyDanner on June 27, 2026, 01:39:38 PM jick appears to be drunk on his native poison, Lambanog.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnR0dGg0Z3dzMGQ3d2h4ZHllZ3oyYzIybnRldHcza3A4eGRlejZpMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qIXLto457cIww/giphy.gif)

Probably better than IPAs

Probably?

Quote from: So Cruel on June 27, 2026, 01:42:50 PM Quote from: SlyDanner on June 27, 2026, 01:39:38 PM jick appears to be drunk on his native poison, Lambanog.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnR0dGg0Z3dzMGQ3d2h4ZHllZ3oyYzIybnRldHcza3A4eGRlejZpMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qIXLto457cIww/giphy.gif)

Probably better than IPAs

negative.  personal experience.

Quote from: SlyDanner on June 27, 2026, 01:39:38 PM jick appears to be drunk on his native poison, Lambanog.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnR0dGg0Z3dzMGQ3d2h4ZHllZ3oyYzIybnRldHcza3A4eGRlejZpMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qIXLto457cIww/giphy.gif)

Probably better than IPAs

jick appears to be drunk on his native poison, Lambanog.

(https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYnR0dGg0Z3dzMGQ3d2h4ZHllZ3oyYzIybnRldHcza3A4eGRlejZpMiZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/qIXLto457cIww/giphy.gif)

Quote from: Rupert Pupkin on June 27, 2026, 05:59:35 AM U2 thinking of digging their old sure-fire break-glass-in-case-of-emergency hit 'Whatever Happened to Pete The Chop?' out of the vault

It probably better than anything they've got now

What’s really interesting is the original title of the song was “Where the Fuck is Pete the Chop?”.

As far as I’m concerned… the two EP’s make U2’s 2026 output the best they’ve had since… maybe 2000, with 2009 and 2017 being other contenders. And that’s BEFORE the new album.

The lowest point of my fan hood was Your Song Saved My Life / Ahimsa where I really thought they were lost for the cause. But since then, they keep getting better and better.

Listen, mate.

Including the 40 new recordings on SOS as an argument for their recent productivity is where we’re calling it a bit of trolling.

And it’s illogical, even by your own standards, since almost all of that work was just B and E. The other two fellas were hardly involved. That’s a fact, do your research and you’ll see.

As for your assertion that people in here are all dismissive of the band’s recent output, I would counter with the fact that the 2 recent EPs were well received, you can check for yourself in the many threads related to those recordings.

Cheers,

M

This is a U2 forum, not a U2-bashing site.  There is no other thread started here that has factually consolidated their musical output from the 2020-26 era.

Yet, there are members who are dismissive of U2's output in this era, but I would bet they cannot even name all of the 64 songs.

Since they are presented with facts and data which they cannot refute, they just go to tangents about "U2 haven't done anything significant in the last few decades" or "you are just trolling."  Well, if U2 hasn't done anything of good quality lately, then there are two questions:

Why are you still in this U2 fan forum?

What is your non-subject, non-unquantifiable rebuttal to the data that shows U2 have 64 new recordings in this era as their badge of productivity?

Cheers,

J

U2 thinking of digging their old sure-fire break-glass-in-case-of-emergency hit 'Whatever Happened to Pete The Chop?' out of the vault

It probably better than anything they've got now

Quote from: So Cruel on June 26, 2026, 06:19:16 PM Jick with some top tier trolling. Well done …

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/9e/27/6f9e272c2f81b9a67087416a7223b15a.gif)

47 replies in 5 days is a pretty decent haul.

Good trolling.

Jick with some top tier trolling. Well done …

(https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/9e/27/6f9e272c2f81b9a67087416a7223b15a.gif)

Quote from: Amor fati on June 25, 2026, 07:18:41 PM Quote from: Zoo adam on June 25, 2026, 03:41:36 PM Muse's new album is getting good reviews. At first thought it was just internet fan boys who had got a pre relesse listen. But the mainstream media like it as well.

Will give it a listen over the weekend. U2 & Muse releasing good stuff in the same year is a nice treat.

More excited about Interpol's new release than anything from U2 or Muse

'Louder' said -

Super-focussed, densely layered and stacked with killer tunes." Unashamedly grandiose space-rockers Muse hit new disco-metal heights on Spielberg-sized sci-fi epic The Wow! Signal'.

---------

Another reviewer gave 9 out of 10 songs 5/5. Then gave it 7.5/10! Complaining about one song. Said it is better than 'Will of the People' which I liked.

Quote from: SlyDanner on June 25, 2026, 12:14:37 PM Songs of Surrender could have been called Songs for Sycophants.

Total joke.

Your subjective assessment of Songs of Surrender is absolutely irrelevant to the point of this thread.  I am sure you can dig up discussion threads in this forum pertinent to the opinions on that album.

Here, my point is simply the objective factual truth that Songs of Surrender contained 40 new U2 studio recordings.  Let's bring this back on topic.

Cheers,

J

Quote from: Zoo adam on June 25, 2026, 03:41:36 PM Muse's new album is getting good reviews. At first thought it was just internet fan boys who had got a pre relesse listen. But the mainstream media like it as well.

Will give it a listen over the weekend. U2 & Muse releasing good stuff in the same year is a nice treat.

More excited about Interpol's new release than anything from U2 or Muse

Quote from: SlyDanner on June 25, 2026, 12:14:37 PM Songs of Surrender could have been called Songs for Sycophants.

Total joke.

Could have easily been Songs of IPAs

Muse's new album is getting good reviews. At first thought it was just internet fan boys who had got a pre relesse listen. But the mainstream media like it as well.

Will give it a listen over the weekend. U2 & Muse releasing good stuff in the same year is a nice treat.

Quote from: Soloyan on June 25, 2026, 04:57:14 AM Quote from: jick on June 25, 2026, 04:04:13 AM Quote from: Soloyan on June 24, 2026, 11:21:15 AM Quote from: jick on June 23, 2026, 08:15:15 PM Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

In terms of pure productivity, quality aside, there is a HUGE difference between writing, recording and releasing new material and just recording or improving stuff already written and recorded.

You cannot seriously put SOS and re-assemble in the same category as the new EPs. I would be scared to hand you over productivity duties in my company...

U2 will never be more productive than the first half of the 80's. 4 albums in 5 years and constant touring. If you take the whole decade, you got 6 albums (taking into account R&H is only half studio and quite a few covers, so no writing involved) and touring every year bar 1988. And it's just natural. Every young artist pours out of ideas and explorations. With experience comes more confidence but also less experimentations.

Songs of Surrender represents new studio recordings.  They are not remixes or remasters.  They are new vocals and instruments.

The topic here is a question mark because it is not a definitive conclusion.  The period 1980-1986 definitely has a strong case as the most productive era of U2.

Boy (11 songs), October (11 songs), War (10 Songs), Under A Blood Red Sky (8 songs), The Unforgettable Fire (10 songs), Wide Awake In America (4 songs)

Those official releases alone hit 54 songs.  There are also other non-album tracks like "A Celebration" and of course the B-Sides that came with the singles.  I am not sure if adding all the extras will reach or even surpass the 64 songs of 2020-2026.

So in terms of productivity, I am definitely not discounting the 1980's!  But we should still marvel and salute U2 for achieving what they have from 2020-2026 because they did it in spite of factors that did not exist in the 1980s:  COVID-19, their advanced age, and Mullen health issues.

Cheers,

J

Fully agreed. I myself think that the EPs alone are an amazing achievement for U2 at this point in their career. And to be frank, I don’t expect the album to reach that level of consistency.

Songs of Surrender could have been called Songs for Sycophants.

Total joke.

Engagement farm thread.

Quote from: jick on June 25, 2026, 04:04:13 AM Quote from: Soloyan on June 24, 2026, 11:21:15 AM Quote from: jick on June 23, 2026, 08:15:15 PM Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

In terms of pure productivity, quality aside, there is a HUGE difference between writing, recording and releasing new material and just recording or improving stuff already written and recorded.

You cannot seriously put SOS and re-assemble in the same category as the new EPs. I would be scared to hand you over productivity duties in my company...

U2 will never be more productive than the first half of the 80's. 4 albums in 5 years and constant touring. If you take the whole decade, you got 6 albums (taking into account R&H is only half studio and quite a few covers, so no writing involved) and touring every year bar 1988. And it's just natural. Every young artist pours out of ideas and explorations. With experience comes more confidence but also less experimentations.

Songs of Surrender represents new studio recordings.  They are not remixes or remasters.  They are new vocals and instruments.

The topic here is a question mark because it is not a definitive conclusion.  The period 1980-1986 definitely has a strong case as the most productive era of U2.

Boy (11 songs), October (11 songs), War (10 Songs), Under A Blood Red Sky (8 songs), The Unforgettable Fire (10 songs), Wide Awake In America (4 songs)

Those official releases alone hit 54 songs.  There are also other non-album tracks like "A Celebration" and of course the B-Sides that came with the singles.  I am not sure if adding all the extras will reach or even surpass the 64 songs of 2020-2026.

So in terms of productivity, I am definitely not discounting the 1980's!  But we should still marvel and salute U2 for achieving what they have from 2020-2026 because they did it in spite of factors that did not exist in the 1980s:  COVID-19, their advanced age, and Mullen health issues.

Cheers,

J

Fully agreed. I myself think that the EPs alone are an amazing achievement for U2 at this point in their career. And to be frank, I don’t expect the album to reach that level of consistency.

Quote from: Soloyan on June 24, 2026, 11:21:15 AM Quote from: jick on June 23, 2026, 08:15:15 PM Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

In terms of pure productivity, quality aside, there is a HUGE difference between writing, recording and releasing new material and just recording or improving stuff already written and recorded.

You cannot seriously put SOS and re-assemble in the same category as the new EPs. I would be scared to hand you over productivity duties in my company...

U2 will never be more productive than the first half of the 80's. 4 albums in 5 years and constant touring. If you take the whole decade, you got 6 albums (taking into account R&H is only half studio and quite a few covers, so no writing involved) and touring every year bar 1988. And it's just natural. Every young artist pours out of ideas and explorations. With experience comes more confidence but also less experimentations.

Songs of Surrender represents new studio recordings.  They are not remixes or remasters.  They are new vocals and instruments.

The topic here is a question mark because it is not a definitive conclusion.  The period 1980-1986 definitely has a strong case as the most productive era of U2.

Boy (11 songs), October (11 songs), War (10 Songs), Under A Blood Red Sky (8 songs), The Unforgettable Fire (10 songs), Wide Awake In America (4 songs)

Those official releases alone hit 54 songs.  There are also other non-album tracks like "A Celebration" and of course the B-Sides that came with the singles.  I am not sure if adding all the extras will reach or even surpass the 64 songs of 2020-2026.

So in terms of productivity, I am definitely not discounting the 1980's!  But we should still marvel and salute U2 for achieving what they have from 2020-2026 because they did it in spite of factors that did not exist in the 1980s:  COVID-19, their advanced age, and Mullen health issues.

Cheers,

J

Well in the 1980s they were young and full of spunk and had to make their bones.  Now they're just tired old men living off of their reps.

Quote from: jick on June 23, 2026, 08:15:15 PM Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

In terms of pure productivity, quality aside, there is a HUGE difference between writing, recording and releasing new material and just recording or improving stuff already written and recorded.

You cannot seriously put SOS and re-assemble in the same category as the new EPs. I would be scared to hand you over productivity duties in my company...

U2 will never be more productive than the first half of the 80's. 4 albums in 5 years and constant touring. If you take the whole decade, you got 6 albums (taking into account R&H is only half studio and quite a few covers, so no writing involved) and touring every year bar 1988. And it's just natural. Every young artist pours out of ideas and explorations. With experience comes more confidence but also less experimentations.

Quote from: laoghaire on June 23, 2026, 10:05:18 AM But you're not bitter.

Right?

I don't think about them at all.

Quote from: jick on June 23, 2026, 08:15:15 PM Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

Are you counting songs of surrender? A weak assed regurgitation of prior music?

When you measure your penis do you start at the asshole?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Perceived quality is subjective.

But objective truth points to at least 64 new studio recording releases in the 2020s... and we are not even done with this decade yet.

If that's not productivity based on U2's recording history then it can imply a error in observation methods vis-a-vis historical data.

Cheers,

J

Quote from: walktothewater on June 22, 2026, 10:36:28 AM The Cadbury's factory churns out 600,000 Fredo chocolate bars a day - all of them identical, bite-sized, and possessing very little in the way of nourishment. So, compared to that standard, U2 aren't really all that productive.

Maybe something for them to aim at, aspire towards.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTM0OWM5ZGQ3M25rbDN6NGxxZjR0YXQybW5xYWNwbTV4a2p4MHRtN3V5NjBoMmZ3OSZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/kC8N6DPOkbqWTxkNTe/giphy.gif)

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Pride on June 20, 2026, 11:24:24 PM Also the Sphere shows. Not a tour but got a fair amount of publicity (and one really shitty song) out of it. With both SOS and Sphere, 2023 was probably their biggest year of the last decade until now. Even though SOS isn't really a new album, it was new recordings.

Sphere had no Mullen so it's not complete U2.

Cheers,

J

But you're not bitter.

Right?

Quote from: walktothewater on June 22, 2026, 10:38:51 AM The first minute or so of Zooropa's title track - before the singing and lyrics have even started - are preferable to everything U2 has put out in the last 15 years. Ditto for the Unforgettable Fire's title track.

Many bands would kill to have recorded the first minute or two of Zooropra (the song). 

Not U2 though!  They know better.  They're learned now.  They specifically are learned in how to ape 2010s mor pop/rock (whatever that is).

Quote from: laoghaire on June 22, 2026, 06:06:25 PM Quote from: The Exile on June 20, 2026, 02:37:14 PM Quote from: Codeguy on June 20, 2026, 12:59:34 PM

I don’t know how anyone could consider the 2020s high output.

Especially since the entirety of SOS is regurgitated. And the Bomb outtakes, while new to us, weren't really new. They were gurgitated.  :)

I'd like to give a moment of apprecistion for this.

(https://media.tenor.com/ocJUahA8IMcAAAAM/truman-jimcarey.gif)

Quote from: The Exile on June 20, 2026, 02:37:14 PM Quote from: Codeguy on June 20, 2026, 12:59:34 PM

I don’t know how anyone could consider the 2020s high output.

Especially since the entirety of SOS is regurgitated. And the Bomb outtakes, while new to us, weren't really new. They were gurgitated.  :)

I'd like to give a moment of apprecistion for this.

Quote from: Amor fati on June 22, 2026, 11:13:19 AM Quote from: walktothewater on June 22, 2026, 10:36:28 AM The Cadbury's factory churns out 600,000 Fredo chocolate bars a day - all of them identical, bite-sized, and possessing very little in the way of nourishment. So, compared to that standard, U2 aren't really all that productive.

Maybe something for them to aim at, aspire towards.

Now we know what to get you for Christmas  :)

Oh, I'd gobble them all up, I assure you.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)

Quote from: walktothewater on June 22, 2026, 10:36:28 AM The Cadbury's factory churns out 600,000 Fredo chocolate bars a day - all of them identical, bite-sized, and possessing very little in the way of nourishment. So, compared to that standard, U2 aren't really all that productive.

Maybe something for them to aim at, aspire towards.

Now we know what to get you for Christmas  :)

The first minute or so of Zooropa's title track - before the singing and lyrics have even started - are preferable to everything U2 has put out in the last 15 years. Ditto for the Unforgettable Fire's title track.

The Cadbury's factory churns out 600,000 Fredo chocolate bars a day - all of them identical, bite-sized, and possessing very little in the way of nourishment. So, compared to that standard, U2 aren't really all that productive.

Maybe something for them to aim at, aspire towards.

If we're lucky, if we're really lucky, they'll have second thoughts about that album.

Also the Sphere shows. Not a tour but got a fair amount of publicity (and one really shitty song) out of it. With both SOS and Sphere, 2023 was probably their biggest year of the last decade until now. Even though SOS isn't really a new album, it was new recordings.

But nothing in their career rivals the '80s in terms of productivity. They churned out six albums, six tours, a wealth of b-sides and outtakes, a live album, and a movie. This year we essentially have had a single album's worth of material. If we're lucky we might see a true full new album before 2027.

Quote from: jick on June 20, 2026, 08:13:18 PM I think I should qualify my "productivity" into "studio productivity."

The 2020s are U2's absolutely worst era when it comes to touring.  Zero tours or concerts so far.

Maybe that is their age catching up.  They have to choose the studio or the road and come to think of it, the 2010's was a pretty sparse decade in terms of studio work but a good decade of tours.

Cheers,

J

Not that I want to defend them at all costs, but touring between 2020-2022 was a bit of a no go.

#Justsaying.

Quote from: jick on June 20, 2026, 08:13:18 PM

The 2020s are U2's absolutely worst era when it comes to touring.  Zero tours or concerts so far.

Excellent point.

I’m still waiting for evidence of studio activity that could possibly match their 1980-86 output. We have two EPs.

And don’t give me SOS. Original material.

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I think I should qualify my "productivity" into "studio productivity."

The 2020s are U2's absolutely worst era when it comes to touring.  Zero tours or concerts so far.

Maybe that is their age catching up.  They have to choose the studio or the road and come to think of it, the 2010's was a pretty sparse decade in terms of studio work but a good decade of tours.

Cheers,

J

Quote from: Codeguy on June 20, 2026, 12:59:34 PM

I don’t know how anyone could consider the 2020s high output.

Especially since the entirety of SOS is regurgitated. And the Bomb outtakes, while new to us, weren't really new. They were gurgitated.  :)

I hope the new album has 1980s (1984-1988) and 1990s U2 sounds.

(https://media.giphy.com/media/E4dXa3Cu1AYww/source.gif)

Quote from: Zoo adam on June 20, 2026, 01:14:48 PM I think 2026 could be one of there best years for music after the good EP's. All depends on the new album.

I agree. If the album is as good as or better than the EPs then 2026 could be their most productive year since ….. well I can’t remember a year with the equivalent of two albums output.

But that doesn’t change the complete goose egg of the first half of the decade

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Me thinks the OP is trolling….

I think 2026 could be one of there best years for music after the good EP's. All depends on the new album.

(https://media1.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTM0OWM5ZGQ3ZDdhN2EzaWNxejFmaGpkbnVwb3RncGYwbnczNmNma3I1YzFtdTZxaiZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/pPhyAv5t9V8djyRFJH/giphy.gif)

By this time in the 1980s we had 5 albums, an EP, a live album, and about 20 non album tracks. Most of this was stellar quality.

By this time in the 1990s we had two of their greatest albums, their greatest tour, the passengers album, Batman song, in the name of the father, mission impossible etc.

I don’t know how anyone could consider the 2020s high output.

We still have not had a new album this decade.

So, no.

(https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTM0OWM5ZGQ3bTlnaGRpdmJoZWxlMGN6YWg1ZjJua21pb3p6YjA5ZHJyZzR0bnZoNCZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/spfi6nabVuq5y/giphy.gif)

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(https://25.media.tumblr.com/e48d889196dfe2045a9905651b6ee623/tumblr_mtaawtWrDR1srp5bmo1_500.gif)

I'm not a fan of this band.

Just think, after a slow start (admittedly), U2 are now rivalling their mid 1980s output, in quantity at any rate.

Right?

(https://c.tenor.com/nbbn64k1SfYAAAAd/airplane-suicide.gif)

I've always preferred quality over quantity.

Depends what you mean by 'productive', I guess.

Cheers,

W

Hi jick.