Spinner

U2 Disappointed by 'No Line' Only Going Platinum Once

Any band these days would love to sell a million records, but for U2, that high number is not enough. The multi-platinum rockers told the Associated Press that they're displeased with the sales of their latest album, 'No Line on the Horizon.' Recent U2 albums have been selling in the three to four million range, while 'No Line' has only broken the million mark. Bono and company see factors such as the lack of a hit song and the fickle public's need for a "diet of pop" are contributing to this so-called slump.

"We weren't really in that mindset," Bono said about the lack of a commercial hit from 'No Line.' "We felt that the album was a kind of an almost extinct species, and we should approach it in totality and create a mood and a feeling, and a beginning, middle and an end. And I suppose we've made a work that is a bit challenging."

"The commercial challenges have to be confronted," bassist Adam Clayton said. "But I think, in a sense, the more interesting challenge is, 'What is rock 'n' roll in this changing world?' Because, to some extent, the concept of the music fan -- the concept of the person who buys music and listens to music for the pleasure of music itself -- is an outdated idea."

That said, this isn't the first time that U2 is failing their own high expectations. Remember the group's 1997 album 'Pop'? Widely considered the group's worst album, that too failed to yield a mega-commercial hit that they had achieved with 'The Joshua Tree' and 'Achtung Baby.' That Bono says the new material is more challenging is indicative of this facet, but still, the band continues to try and reach new audiences with a recent partnership with BlackBerry and an appearance on 'Saturday Night Live.' So they're not giving up hope.

All of this said, U2 probably doesn't have much to worry about. They're currently enjoying record-setting numbers for their '360 Tour' and have an ace up their sleeve -- next week will mark the release of the deluxe version of 1984's 'The Unforgettable Fire,' which featured a little song everyone might have heard of called 'Pride (In the Name of Love).'

U2 will broadcast the October 25 date on their 360 Tour from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. live on YouTube at 8:30PM PT.

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Aj

Relevant politically maybe, but musically come onnnnn thats just laughable...

November 12 2009 at 12:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Aj

So So Album..Face facts his voice is nowhere near what it was, live i've notice he sings a lot of the songs differently,singing lower where he once sang high...

November 12 2009 at 12:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sugizoyoshikix

What does u2 mean by "extinct species" & "the concept of the person who buys music and listens to music for the pleasure of music itself -- is an outdated idea." Is he saying their album didn't do well because they didn't try to be commercial sounding & they should start making music that will appeal to the crowd instead of making good music?

October 29 2009 at 10:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

U2 rocked the Rose Bowl last night and the new songs were some of the best live. What I love about U2 and we fans of them is that their music is as relevant as ever, and that everyone is just as excited to hear new songs as old ones--even begging for those not played (unlike the Stones who must apologize for playing new songs). This is a phenomena unique to U2 more than 30 years into their career. "Magnificent" should have done great as a single. I feel it's up there with their best. I agree this was put together as a cohesive album with songs that are challenging at first, but grow into deep familiarity. To me, it's akin to when Unforgettable Fire was released. I don't know why the songs have not been more successful. "Moment of Surrender" and "Unknown Caller" are also amazing and "Cedars of Lebanon" is a deep lyric that puts an exact finger on the universal unity/isolated solitude in our world, with a haunting and truthful warning in its closing verse. This is the kind of music that deserves to be heard -- and I despise that the album as a work of art is dying. It's like we're back in the 50s where only the single mattered. Every one creates their own albums of isolated tracks on Ipods. But there is no cohesiveness being accepted from the artists themselves. When they do, it doesn't matter. Thank God for U2!

October 27 2009 at 2:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Keith

I dunno what happened to my previous comment...

I like some old U2 but nothing in the last decade. I am however a huge music fan. The thing is WHY WOULD ANYONE BUY AN ALBUM IN THIS DAY AND AGE? Unless you want to be charaitable to, in this case, men who are worth probably 9 figures. You can get any record you want for free and instantly using BitTorrent file sharing software. I have almost no interest in U2s latest, but I may eventually get around to adding it to my collection anyway, can't beat the price...

October 26 2009 at 10:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

Love Bono and U-2, but he isn't factoring in the biggest issue for all recording artists ... it is still easier to download and steal the music than pay up your $15-21. bucks to legitimatley buy the album. It's an i-Tune world now, for better or worse ... many of us long for the old days, but Bono, they ain't coming back ... Achtung, Baby!

October 26 2009 at 6:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carl

Colleen wrote, "I hope you passed the same message along to the Rolling Stones."

I certainly do; this attitude applies to all of them. Rock is generally "of the young, by the young and for the young", like it or not, and the geezers need to move aside to make room (and sales) for the newcomers to keep the genre alive.

October 26 2009 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
angelo

CHEFEVIL ! OUTSTANDING!.....thats what i was going to say and was surprised no one had yet till i got to the bottom of the list & saw your comment i mean hey,..
add 2+2,.....it aint rocket science, people are broke.
buying a new cd (i dont think) is a top many peoples to do list, even kids....

Angelo

October 26 2009 at 2:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Thomas

I have been a big U2 fan for over 20 years and own all their albums but I decided to pass on this one after hearing 30 second samples of all the songs. The biggest problem with U2's music now and for the last few albums is Bono himself. His lyrics and melodies are not only not as good as his old stuff, their just not very good at all. Their music now feels wholly uninspired and as a result it is wholly uninspiring.

October 26 2009 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

In my opinion their last few Albums Sucked Big Time. When will they realize people want to hear Stuff like from years ago style. Go back to the days and style of Sunday Bloody Sunday. The Boy cd, October and Gloria, Joshua, etc, etc,.

I will not pay any kind of money to see them anymore no matter what kind of stage they have plus prices of tickets today. Their set list for this tour is a disgrace as well.

BRING BACK THE GOOD OLD DAYS OF THE U2 WE ALL KNOW AND WATHC THE CDS SALES SKY ROCKET.

October 26 2009 at 1:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply