Jay-Z Previews U2's Latest Album
Jay-ZJay-Z received a special treat from his pal Bono when he visited Ireland last month - the rocker gave the rap superstar a special preview of U2's new album.
The 99 Problems hit-maker played a gig in Dublin at the end of June, and he took some time out of his busy schedule to pay a visit to Bono, who is currently working on the band's forthcoming LP. And Jay-Z was flattered when the singer decided to bounce ideas off him.
He says, "I heard about four tracks. And the thing about Bono is, he's in the studio like a kid, excited and singing the lyrics back, asking what I think. That's passion, only passion. Trust me. He doesn't have to do it. Music is a challenge. Music's like, 'What have you done for me lately?' Don't matter if you make seven, eight great albums. U2 are arguably one of the greatest bands ever. (But) if their next album is not great, people are going to say they're finished! U2!"
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/07/24/jay_z_previews_u2_s_latest_album_
New U2 Album Due in October
U2 fans should expect a new album before the year's out, according to manager Paul McGuinness. When pressed for details, McGuinness told the BBC the release date for the group's first album in four years was "not clear yet but I would think towards the end of October."
One thing's for sure -- U2 will not follow Radiohead's recent decision to offer 'In Rainbows' on a pay-what-you-like basis, saying the move "to some extent backfired." Although that album -- which was placed online in October -- went straight to number one in the UK and U.S. when it became formally available on CD in January, the internet monitoring company Comscore said only 38% of 'In Rainbows' downloaders willingly paid.
"We will obviously work with whatever technology is available to make the release of the new record as interesting as possible," McGuinness told BBC 6. "[But] for U2, physical sales are still an enormous part of our business and we still sell a lot of actual CDs."
http://www.spinner.com/2008/06/12/new-u2-album-due-in-october/
170 million albums sold so far - but can only hope for no.3.