I hear you. Actually, if I can hijack this thread with something tangential, can you tell me why U2 gets no respect? You're not the first person I've heard to have a low opinion of them. I only know their singles, so I really have no idea why a lot of people look down on them as some sort of sell-out band.
I still listen to War, Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby.
I respect, but do not love, the artistic decisions they made with Zooropa and Pop.
Since Pop, they've reverted to a cookie-cutter mega stadium act. Their albums contribute nothing that they themselves haven't already contributed. Their theme material is superficial, rehashed, or sometimes nonexistent.
Meanwhile, they continue playing shows with $250 top ticket prices under 360 deals with Live Nation, the Gordon Gekko's of the entertainment industry.
I don't think U2 is evil. I just don't think they're anything more authentic or credible than, say, a Jerry Bruckheimer movie.
Because popularity == crap. By definition if it's super popular it can't possibly be anything other then a lowest common denominator.
Except that occasionally things which are much better then average become popular without comprising their art, and then people still think popular == crap, even when it's not.
Nope, my post above is neither an endorsement nor a critique of Mr. Bono Vox and his marry men. Actually I liked what you said here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=604154
