Arguably the most successful rock band in the world, U2 not only cries out against injustice, but also dares to imagine an alternative in light of the Christian vision.
The band searchingly examines the distortions of our world and proclaims with Scripture “the place that has to be believed to be seen” and “where the streets have
no name.” Will we hear them?
U2 , 360 Tour
The boys have been recently mastering their next project at the Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan.
The new ( yet to be named ) album, the 13th album in U2's discography. Danger Mouse has been enlisted to produce this product.
In addition to Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., Coldplay’s Chris Martin was spotted on the scene, potentially as a featuring artist on the new album. Immediately following the wrap-up of the album, the band hosted a celebratory bash atop the studio.
Some famous faces turned up to wish the band success on the new album including Julian Casablancas of The Strokes and supermodel Helena Christensen.
At this rooftop celebration, the band also recorded an acoustic version video of ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ featuring Clayton on piano for “global participatory art project” Inside Out.
Though no official release date has been stated.
Bono / The Edge / U2 / JKS Photography
U2 have been in New York this past week working on their upcoming album at Electric Lady Studios, which was built opened in Greenwich Village by Jimi Hendrix in 1968.
Band members have been spotted there with producer Danger Mouse, reportedly mixing the disc. On Friday afternoon, all four members were on the roof of the studio doing an acoustic version of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” for a camera crew. Also spotted at the studio was Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
On Friday night, Bono and The Edge played a private show at a party in New York’s SoHo neighborhood.
Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records and the man who signed U2, has heard the new album and calls it “better than ever.”
From all reports everythingis pretty wrapped up now and quiet again in New York. Bono was spotted out dinning with Danger Mouse and again spotted walking around New York City on Sunday.
The Edge, Adam, Bono
U2 have finished recording their new album, the follow-up to 2009′s No Line On The Horizon, and are currently mixing in New York City with producer Danger Mouse, according to reports, after three members of the band were spotted in NYC, most notably Bono outside Electric Lady Studios.
U2 are saying that recording of the new album is done and dusted, with a
playback happening last week. Tweets from Island Records head Chris Blackwell( posted earlier)
seem to confirm this, with the honcho saying “Listened to some new
music at Electric Lady Land studios earlier with U2 and Danger Mouse
#betterthanever”. Blackwell has since deleted the tweet. ( Yea wonder why )
Globe journo Brad Wheeler added fuel to the fire, sharing quotes from former Daniel Lanois, who produced The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby amongst other U2 records. Lanois seems to have sat out of production duties this time around but has heard the new material, with Wheeler tweeting “Lanois tells me Bono dropped by his house in LA and that the new U2 album sounds ‘amazing’ and ‘big’, with some Achtung Baby adventurism”.
Sounds pretty promising, considering Bono confirmed that band were working on lucky album number 13 back in January, but the frontman also warned us not to hold our breath, stating that the band didn’t care if it took 10 years to get the album right.
Warning the following posts are direct from the twitter account of Brad Wheeler we have no way of confirming the truth of the information. We have reached out to Brad for a comment. No word yet. We will continue to check into comments.
Lanois says Larry Mullen is a good pool player, as is Edge. "Edge is good at everything, really."
— Brad Wheeler (@BWheelerglobe) May 30, 2013
Lanois says he was familiar with a couple of the new U2 tracks, as he had worked on them himself previously. "They're back on the burner."
— Brad Wheeler (@BWheelerglobe) May 30, 2013
Lanois tells me Bono is singing strongly and beautifully on the new U2 stuff. "He makes me jealous. Those barrel-chested Irish tenors."
— Brad Wheeler (@BWheelerglobe) May 30, 2013
On Danger Mouse, who's producing the new U2 disc, Lanois smiled as he said "It'll be a character-building experiment for him."
— Brad Wheeler (@BWheelerglobe) May 30, 2013
Reports out of Dublin suggest that we could have some new U2 music very soon. We have already reported about the "Leaked U2 Jam Session (2010-2013)" which the video can be found on our facebook page ( U2TOURFANS). If you remember early this year Bono commented on a Dublin radio station (Sunshine 106.8FM) that they have been working on #13 and that a title was in the works. We have heard "10 Reasons to Exist" could be the title or at least right now its the working title.
Two other songs that are rumored to possibly be part of the new album are "Soon" and "Winter." "Winter" was featured in two movies, Brothers and Linear, while "Soon" was used as an intro to concerts in 2010.
"U2 is on the verge of irrelevancy," Bono told Fashion and Style magazine recently. "We have to do something on this next album that is very, very special in order to have a reason to exist.”
“U2 has been beating the odds of being irrelevant for close to 20 years, since Rattle and Hum, and we had to find ways to keep ourselves fresh yet loyal to our fans which we love so much. We are still hungry and not ready to give up our spot as the biggest and best band in the world because we feel like we have much to offer...we are still as cool as we were in 2004 and even 1994."
Reports coming in from Dublin - Again this could all be rumors - Heck until the machine starts we really have to go with what we hear. Bono ? Any comment
The group collaborated with the American country singer in 2003 to record 'Slow Dancing', which was written by Bono.
While a live version of the track, which featured on 'The Essential Willie Nelson' album, surfaced online, no official footage was previously available.
The five-minute video was posted on YouTube earlier this week, on U2's account as a tribute to Nelson on his 80th birthday, and it has already been viewed 10,000 times.
It is completely shot in black and white. The credit reads: "Happy birthday Willie! 80 and still a pilgrim. All the best from Bono, The Edge, Larry and Adam."
The band had previously collaborated fellow country legend Johnny Cash. U2 are currently working on their 13th studio album, provisionally entitled '10 Reasons to Exist'.
It has been reported that the band are hopeful of unveiling their latest offering to fans in September.
Irish Independent
Right now most U2 fans are asking the same question. What the heck is taking so long? We all seem to be asking the same questions. If most of the songs have already been played before what seems to be taking them so long? So long ? Really now why are we U2 fans so demanding that our boys produce some music asap to fill our need to have fresh U2 music. Its not that standard pop crap that we seem to hear blasting from the radio today.
Songs: North Star, Glastonbury, Every Breaking Wave, Boy Falls From The Sky, Mercy, Return Of The Stingray Guitar and a "Stolen Demo" from the bands recent sessions with Danger Mouse.
Most of these songs were played by U2 on the 360 tour after Bono recovered from a back injury and wanted to do something special for his fans.
"Boy Falls From the Sky" was done for the "Spiderman" musical while"North Star" was featured in "Transformers" for a few seconds but wasn't released in any other format.
Two other songs that are rumored to possibly be part of the new album are "Soon" and "Winter." "Winter" was featured in two movies-"Brothers" and "Linear" while "Soon" was used as an intro to concerts in 2010.
Why exactly is the next album proving to be difficult for U2? Bono explained that he believed, "U2 is on the verge of irrelevancy" (we disagree) and added "we have to do something on this next album that is very very special in order to have a reason to exist."
He also said, "U2 has been beating the odds of being irrelevant for close to 20 years, since Rattle and Hum, and we had to find ways to keep ourselves fresh, yet loyal to our fans which we love so much."
Thank goodness that "we are still hungry and not ready to give up our spot as the biggest and best band in the world because we feel like we have much to offer...we are still as cool as we were in 2004 and even 1994."