I just came from a 'Meet & Greet' with Daniel Lanois

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...he held it before his Halifax show tonight. I just got in.
First off, easily one of the best concerts I've ever seen and heard. He puts on a fantastic, energetic, rock n roll show.

He spoke for some time about his own experiences, the artists he's worked with, some studio recording ideas and philosophies.

He talked about when an artist spends too much time tinkering in the studio, and says that he now feels it best to just start anew with songs that a band might be having trouble finishing. Not scrap the ideas musically, just what's been put to tape.

He spoke a bit about his current production approach, how it's changed, and how it's playing out with u2, right now.

A host conducted the whole affair, and asked why U2 were taking so long. He asked if they were tinkering too much in the studio, ie overproducing it...
Lanois' reply didnt give much away. He first cited "families," and difficulties in scheduling. Though he then paused, and quite humbly said that they are "trying to make a masterpiece," and that the band are still writing. In saying this, he echoed a point made earlier about trying to capture spontaneity in music.

Specifically, he spoke of those two weeks spent "mixing" in NY. In the end, instead of mixing, he said that the band completely rewrote a few of the songs that were finished. This was a good thing, because he then said that they are now better songs than before.

Lastly, Lanois mentioned he's interested in "dry" sounds these days, especially when put into the context of a tactfully laid-out studio, where you really get a sense of where the band is relative to one another when you're listening to the recording. This creates a sort of sonic landscape, the classic Lanois sound, but with less emphasis on drenched, bleeding tones, and the sort.

The best album he's ever been a part of? "Achtung Baby" and "Time Out of Mind"
Anyway, that's pretty much everything pertaining to U2.. enjoy
 
I really wish that someone would ask these people in the know the one question that everyone wants to know the answer to: When is the album going to be released?
 
Interesting, thanks for sharing.

So what Bono said IS true after all, they are or were still writing.

I don't think Lanois really knows when the album will be released. It's not on him to decide this. It will be released when the band thinks it's ready.
 
I was so sure that we were getting very close to getting this album, but after hearing this and hearing that the band have just re-written some of the songs, im sorry to say that i am now in the "late 09" boat :(

This makes me sad :sad:
 
Now now, let's not despair.
Remember Bono said in the u2.com announcement "we know we have to emerge soon" and "we want 2009 to be our year". Nov 09 is out of the question: there is no way that they're going to be in the studio for another 9 months. About the re-written songs: Lanois said the songs are now better which can only mean that they are recorded and for the most part complete. You couldn't say they were better songs if you were just looking at updated lyrics and chord tabulations. So in those two weeks they did a flurry of work and completely re-jigged some songs.
Even if U2 are in the studio right up to Christmas this year, the album would still be out in March, which right now seems like the likely date.
 
Sounds great. My one concern: like HTDAAB, will they re-write completed songs and end up once again with a collection of great songs, but a not fully cohesive album?

I hope not.

The batting around of "trying to make a masterpiece" keeps my hopes up that this won't happen.
 
They've completely rewritten some songs, when they should have been mixing it. Wow, after 2 years of making the record?

I'm having a Native Son/Vertigo feeling reading this. If these sessions would leak, I would imagine the fighting on Interference surfacing about which version of the song is better, heh. It was pretty funny here in 2005 when all those Bomb outtakes were out.

Oh, and November 2009 looks more and more likely.
 
Time will prove if the songs they "rewrote" were better than they were before...I can think of a couple of examples with U2 where that isn't the case.
I have a hard time believing some of what was said ....first Lanois talked about "when an artist spends too much time tinkering in the studio" but then the band "completely rewrote a few of the songs that were finished":doh:
Isn't it the producers job to step in and say..."that's enough,you're overthinking things..leave it..you've spent too much time with it"
The other thing is from all reports only Bono and The Edge were in New York...there were no sightings of Adam or Larry...I know how large a role Bono and Edge play in U2 but wouldn't you need all of U2 to "completely rewrite" songs that were finished???
 
Now now, let's not despair.
Remember Bono said in the u2.com announcement "we know we have to emerge soon" and "we want 2009 to be our year". Nov 09 is out of the question: there is no way that they're going to be in the studio for another 9 months. About the re-written songs: Lanois said the songs are now better which can only mean that they are recorded and for the most part complete. You couldn't say they were better songs if you were just looking at updated lyrics and chord tabulations. So in those two weeks they did a flurry of work and completely re-jigged some songs.
Even if U2 are in the studio right up to Christmas this year, the album would still be out in March, which right now seems like the likely date.


Well that's where I would absolutely agree with you
If you want 2009 to be "your year" you don't put an album out in November 2009...that's way too late to then make 2009 your year
Having said that...I wish their record company Universal/Interscope would set a deadline for them because honestly they seem to have WAY TOO MUCH TIME on their hands...and that's not always a good thing
 
They've completely rewritten some songs, when they should have been mixing it. Wow, after 2 years of making the record?

I'm having a Native Son/Vertigo feeling reading this. If these sessions would leak, I would imagine the fighting on Interference surfacing about which version of the song is better, heh. It was pretty funny here in 2005 when all those Bomb outtakes were out.

yeah, I'm also wondering what this "completely rewritten" REALLY means.
Is it something like Native Son > Vertigo, Always > BD; or something like the difference between this Electrical Storm leaked to radio and the "finished" version, or Discotheque's album and best of versions :hmm::huh:
 
Time will prove if the songs they "rewrote" were better than they were before...I can think of a couple of examples with U2 where that isn't the case.
I have a hard time believing some of what was said ....first Lanois talked about "when an artist spends too much time tinkering in the studio" but then the band "completely rewrote a few of the songs that were finished":doh:
Isn't it the producers job to step in and say..."that's enough,you're overthinking things..leave it..you've spent too much time with it"

by tinkering, he meant endlessly re-mixing, overdubbing, making small adjustments. in u2's case, he seemed to be saying that this is what they want to avoid. hence they approach a song by rewriting, rerecording, etc
they aren't "rethinking," but seeking inspiration in the moment
 
They've completely rewritten some songs, when they should have been mixing it. Wow, after 2 years of making the record?

I'm having a Native Son/Vertigo feeling reading this. If these sessions would leak, I would imagine the fighting on Interference surfacing about which version of the song is better, heh. It was pretty funny here in 2005 when all those Bomb outtakes were out.

Oh, and November 2009 looks more and more likely.

Nah No 09 is too far out as mentioned before! I am pretty sure march 2009 is the date and I thought Vertigo was better then Native son to tell you the truth!
 
They were never going to release an album in early 2009. PmcG said it's pointless for a band like U2 to release and album any other time than 4th quarter. They seem to be too busy to put out an album. It will be fall 2009 bet your bottom dollar on that!
 
They were never going to release an album in early 2009. PmcG said it's pointless for a band like U2 to release and album any other time than 4th quarter. They seem to be too busy to put out an album. It will be fall 2009 bet your bottom dollar on that!

They have released albums in march before and plus as pointed out here before, why would U2 say they want 2009 to be their year if they are going to release it near the end? Relax everyone geez we will get an album in march!!
 
It's all a matter of interpretation. I think Lanois not giving too much away is professional, he shouldn't be talking about an album that is in the making. Somehow I do wish NO ONE would comment on the new album, neither band members nor producers, because everytime someone says something, the apocalypse is near, according to this forum. I don't see why we shouldn't have an album early next year, there has been a lot going on, certainly doesn't sound like they aren't working or having or crises or whatever. Masterpiece sounds good to me, and I think they should finish when they feel the album is ready.

I just hope they didn't completely rewrite the beach clips.
 
It's all a matter of interpretation. I think Lanois not giving too much away is professional, he shouldn't be talking about an album that is in the making. Somehow I do wish NO ONE would comment on the new album, neither band members nor producers, because everytime someone says something, the apocalypse is near, according to this forum. I don't see why we shouldn't have an album early next year, there has been a lot going on, certainly doesn't sound like they aren't working or having or crises or whatever. Masterpiece sounds good to me, and I think they should finish when they feel the album is ready.

I just hope they didn't completely rewrite the beach clips.

Amen to that!! People relax, I think think the album is nearly finished there is NO WAY they would just sit on it until November of 09! And even if they did, big whoop they will release it when they want to. It is about them not us and infact if they didn't want to release the album altogether then that would be fine too it's THEIR decision!
 
I like the idea of trying to capture the sound of spontenaity. People complained about the last 2 albums not having that particular attribute. This should banish their fears.
 
Ok, I'm officially utterly confused.

There was a thread a few days ago saying the band had a private party in San Fransico to celebrate the completion of the album.

Yesterday their producer says they are still writing and trying to come up with a masterpiece.

We've had no official announcements with any kind of scheduling at all.

No one knows what the hell is going on.


:huh:
 
Ok, I'm officially utterly confused.

There was a thread a few days ago saying the band had a private party in San Fransico to celebrate the completion of the album.

Yesterday their producer says they are still writing and trying to come up with a masterpiece.

We've had no official announcements with any kind of scheduling at all.

No one knows what the hell is going on.


:huh:

The rewriting of songs has to do with the fact that the band feel they can improve upon the songs they wrote but they want to avoid using studio techniques to force the changes they want so they just took the finished songs and re-recorded them with the changes in mind so the sound is still spontaneous.

If you overdub songs to death or add too many sounds (see album version of Lost by Coldplay and compare to b-side piano acoustic version) it can suck the "life" out of the song.
 
It would be nice to go to u2.com and have it say:

U2 ALBUM TO BE RELEASED _______________.


(Of course the blank filled in with a date.):drool:
 
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