DUBLIN, IRELAND—U2’s new release, Statement, fails to captivate, according to WWN music critic Tony Drummond. The U2-Statement-album-review highlights a lack of clear direction in this long-awaited work.
Statement meanders without a defined genre or purpose, feeling outdated, as if better suited for 2023 or earlier. “It’s like the Bee Gees chasing disco in 2000,” Drummond writes. Bono’s lyrics, usually sharp, lack conviction, stuck in vague ambiguity. For more music reviews, visit Rolling Stone.
The album’s hook, “revulsion over moral failures,” starts strong but falters in tangled verses. The Edge’s guitar, locked in 1991’s sound, feels repetitive. “It’s forgettable,” Drummond notes, despite likely radio play from safe playlists.
U2’s cultural relevance seems shaky, unable to match younger artists’ concise, powerful work. Learn about music trends at Pitchfork. At press time, fans debated if Statement could still spark a revival.