SOUND BITES

As they close in on forty years as a unit, U2 are further and further away from their peak; to their credit, though, they remain one of the biggest bands in the world a quarter century after what the vast majority consider their most essential period. While many are quick to jump to the band's defense from statements such as that, maintaining that the band has kept their sound fresh and that their consistency and quality have kept them relevant all these years, I suspect most of those die hard fans are more in love with U2 as they were than U2 as they are. To be clear, there was absolutely a time when U2 albums were major events, capable of turning all the heads and captivating the imaginations of fans and critics alike. During this time, when they could have easily replicated their past successes, they admirably and boldly tinkered with their sound; the pop and euro-dance elements that made their way into U2's songs in the mid 90s turned some fans off, but you can't de