Bono has admitted that U2 struggled to connect with mainstream audiences on their last two studio albums, Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience, despite believing the records contained some of the band’s strongest songwriting.
The U2 frontman said the group had written “really great songs” for the two albums, released in 2014 and 2017 respectively, but struggled to bring them together under a consistent musical identity.
Speaking to NME, Bono reflected on the challenge of making records that would appeal to a broad audience while still satisfying the band creatively.
“I would say that there’s a part of me that felt that we failed the mainstream with our last two albums [Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience]. You only have a certain amount of agency with that audience. The perfect song, the perfect punk rock song for instance, it is my drug of choice.
“We went in on those two albums and wrote really great songs, we just couldn’t find a cohesive sound to those two albums. The songs were great and the thematics were right. Though they weren’t autobiographical and I don’t know if this is a contradiction, but they weren’t self-indulgent.
“But that doesn’t matter, because people just feel things.”
U2 rethink their approach to making music
U2 are now working with producer and longtime collaborator Brian Eno on their new album, Carnaval De Luz. Bono suggested the band have become less concerned with writing songs designed for mainstream radio, partly because they are no longer certain how much airplay their music can expect.
The singer admitted that letting go of the ambition to make radio-friendly records had been difficult during the sessions for Songs Of Innocence and Songs Of Experience.
“We don’t know if enough people play U2 on the radio any more. Are people even interested in radio? For those two albums, it was hard to give up that idea.
“Maybe it’s just not for us anymore. That’s been taken away from us, that opportunity, and we just let it go.
“We get into the sandpit. We’re like kids with Brian Eno again as soon as we start making this mess. It all coagulates and the pieces start to fit with this idea of carnival, which we’ve always carried around with us.”
Eno has a long history with U2, having worked with the band on several of their most acclaimed albums, including The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby.
Bono praises Fontaines D.C. and Lambrini Girls
Bono also spoke about the success of fellow Irish band Fontaines D.C., who have been described as the biggest Irish group to emerge since U2.
The singer and guitarist The Edge are both pleased to see the younger band reaching stadium audiences, with Bono suggesting that competition between artists can push everyone involved to improve.
“It’s incredible to see them doing stadiums, they’re so great.
“It all should make you up your game. Bands make each other better if they’re any good. I can’t imagine The Beatles being as good as they were without The Stones, I can’t imagine The Stones being as good as they are without The Beatles. Paul [McCartney] writes Let It Be then they put out an album called Let It Bleed, you know, All You Need Is Love and then Street Fighting Man.
“In the ‘90s you had Blur and Oasis. You make each other better. I will admit that when you hear something really unique and original. That song [Edge] played me recently…”
The Edge then revealed that the band he had been listening to was British punk duo Lambrini Girls, admitting he was jealous of their distinctive sound.
“Lambrini Girls. I’m just so jealous of them. Now that’s a sound I would love to hear on a U2 album. Just the sonics are fantastic.”
Bono agreed, adding:
“That’s it. You have to up your game when people step into the room like Fontaines D.C.”
