European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Entertainment u2 has a new Outlook and a new sound by Robert Hilburn. Los Angeles times members of 112, from left Larry Mullen Edge Bono and Adam Clayton. The Surprise still shows on the face of u2 drummer Larry Mullen As he recalls his reaction after picking up a copy of rolling Stone Magazine s recent critics poll and seeing that his band had been picked As Quot comeback of the  Quot i could t believe it Quot the Young Man with classic James Dean Good looks said during an interview at a London film studio. On the surface it s easy to understand the drummer s Surprise Over anyone even suggesting that the heralded new u2 album Achung baby represented a comeback. Here s Why a the Irish quartet has been one of Rock s most popular and acclaimed groups for years a the most popular and acclaimed since the estimated 14 million worldwide sales of 1987 s grammy winning album the Joshua tree an inspiring series of songs about spiritual quest. A on its last tour of the United states in 1988, u2 packed stadiums and generated reviews that compared the group to the beatles the who and other landmark bands of the 60s. Certainly critics were divided Over rattle and hum a 1989 concert film and soundtrack album but the double album sold about 7.5 million copies around the world. A after a three year break the band roared Back late last year with Achung baby which entered the . Album charts at no. 1 and has already sold More than 6 million copies. Earlier this year when u2 went Back on tour in the United states tickets sold out for one of its opening shows in 12 minutes. Yet the Quot comeback Quot line a even if it was meant a touch playfully a struck a nerve in Mullen and probably in some of the group s most demanding fans. Quot you know Quot he said earnestly As the rest of the group stood nearby watching a playback of the video scene that had just been shot Quot there was some truth in it. We had some serious problems when we got Back to Dublin after rattle and hum. Quot a lot of our fans were confused by the movie and they started asking what we were All about and where we were headed a and that s Good because we needed to sit Down ourselves and think about those questions. Quot there were times since the Joshua tree where priorities go confused. There were times when you weren t sure what you were meant to be doing. Are you a musician a Rock Star Quot those Are questions faced by every band that enjoys massive Success in pop and learns that the old cliche about the pressures of Fame Are All too real. But the questions were particularly delicate for u2 because this was a idealistic band that had seen so Many earlier groups succumb to lifestyle excesses or artistic complacency. As with Bruce Springsteen in the 1970s, there was an unwritten pledge by u2 in the 80s to be tougher than the rest. But some critics saw the u2 actions during the rattle and hum project including writing a song with  Dylan and performing with . King As an egomaniacal attempt to demonstrate that u2 is what Many other critics had been calling it for years the legitimate heir of the 60s Rock tradition. Some longtime fans saw the relatively big budget movie As pretentious a a sign that u2 had lost touch with its audience and its Rock ideals. The excesses did t sit Well with the fans a or the band. Though they stand by the film the band members acknowledge some misjudgments in letting what was conceived As a Small scale project grow into a wide screen spectacular that opened in nearly 1,500 Heaters and was backed by a suffocating by massive Hollywood film and Campaign. It was just too much. While the rattle and hum backlash represented the Early signs of a possible Public crisis the band s struggle for identity and direction in the Early months of 1990 represented a private crisis. The four band members All retired to Dublin for some soul searching. There surrounded by the comforts of Home they talked about their future trying to determine How important u2 was in their lives. Quot we had to Start from scratch in a Way. Get in touch with ourselves musically Quot Mullen said. Quot if we did t come up with the right answers it could have All been Over because i think we All care enough about u2 to end it before we just make a joke of it. Everything was on the  they All agreed to recommit themselves to u2, but each realized the need for a new musical direction. They had enjoyed the blues and Rock roots experimentation of rattle and hum but it had been a sidestep a something done for fun. They did t want to continue pursuing it in the new album. Rather than record in Dublin again they went to Berlin where Lead Singer Bono believed the social and political changes might help energize the music and give him some themes. Despite the renewed enthusiasm the band was tense during the Berlin sessions As they struggled for a sound. Quot one thing we All agreed upon Quot Mullen said Quot was to get our rhythm Section in shape. When i listen to some of our previous records i feel a Little uncomfortable. There Are some very Good ideas just badly executed. And the reason they Are badly executed is that we were still learning. We were determined to get the rhythm right this  gradually the sound came together a the arty guitar driven textures Are among the band s most confident and vigorous Ever. Where u2 built its reputation with uplifting songs about Man s highest ideals the material in Achung baby tends to be Darker and More desolate. The musical textures too changed from the eloquent ethereal sounds to More contemporary dance currents. In the process the group shows More dimension a elements of humor and self deprecation that were rarely found in earlier works. Some critics have hailed the album in even stronger terms than the Joshua tree. No wonder so Many considered it a comeback. U2 will be touring in Europe in May and june. Check the on stage listings on pages 24 and 28 for dates and  a singles 1. Jump Kris Kross 2. Save the Best for last Vanessa Williams 3. Tear8 in heaven. Eric Clapton 4. Bohemian rhapsody Queen 5. My Loving you re never Gonna get Itin Vogue 6. Ain t 2 proud 2 beg tic 7. Make it happen Mariah Carey 8. Masterpiece Atlantic Starr 9. Hazard Richard Mara 1 a Uve and learn Joe Public top a albums 1. Adren Auze Del Leppard 2. Human touch Bruce Springsteen 3. Totally crossed out Kris Kross 4. Lucky town Bruce Springsteen 5. Wynonna Wynonna Judd 6. Wayne a world soundtrack 7. Roping the wind Garth Brooks Chart 8. Never mind nirvana 9. Funky divas in Vogue 10. As ugly As they want to be ugly kid Joe country a singles 1. There ainu to nothing wrong with the radio Aaron Toppin 2. Take your memory with you Vince Gill 3. Today a Lonel y fool Tracy Lawrence 4. Some kind of trouble Tanya Tucker 5. Past the Point of Rescue Hal Ketchum 6. Neon Moon Brooks a Dunn 7. The tip8 of my fingers Steve Wanner 8. Papa loved mama Garth Brooks 9. Burn me Down Marly Stuart 10. She is his Only need Wynonnah amp by singles 1. Done to be afraid. Aaron Ham 2. Goodbye Tevin Campbell 3. Live and learn. Joe Public 4. All woman use stans Flekel 5. Why me. Baby Keith sweat 8. It8 of babe a Cece Wonana 7. Make it happen. Martah Carey 8. My Loving you re never Gonna get it. In Vogue 9. Here i go again Glenn Jones 10. Jump. Kris Kros jazz a albums 1. Lush use Joe Henderson 2. You gotta pay the band. Abbey Lincoln 3. In tribute Diane 8chuur 4. Play Bobby Mcferrin and Chick Corea 5. As 8erenity approaches. Marcue Roberts 6. The Gershwin connection. Dave Grain 7. Heart of Golo Ella Marsalis 8 Blue Light red Light Harry Connick or. 9. People time Stan Gett and Kenny Barron to. You can hide inside the mu8ic, the Harper Brothers complied by billboard april 23, 1992 stripes Magazine 23