So let's have a discussion. I think it's absolutely fair to call this project lazy.
The band was recording these tracks, anyway, to produce the audio version of Bono's book.
Bono decided to go on tour with his book, so he already developed at least partial "reworkings" of these songs to sing solo onstage along with his narration.
Now he wants to sell us full, recorded versions of those "reworkings" as an album.
So Bono is triple-dipping here ("Hey, we recorded these tracks for the audiobook (which he's selling), and I'm singing a little bit of this on-stage with some "new atmospherics" (for which he's selling tickets), so why don't we record these and sell them as a record of "reimagined" songs" by the whole band (revenue stream #3)). How can anyone not call this a cash grab?
That would have been fine had they taken this a little more seriously as an explicit album release. But I'm disappointed in this project (so far) because it sounds (to me) like Bono sang these as audiobook takes (things he only intended for us to hear, in little chunks, in the background of the audiobook). Now, he's trying to sell us these takes in their entirety (and asking us to pay $125 for 40 songs of that - I only buy their stuff on vinyl at this point).
What's my evidence that Bono could have give us better vocal takes? He produced much better vocals, at this same register, on their last proper album just a few years ago. He's still capable of doing that. This has nothing to do with age. He just didn't take the time to do it for this release. And, like I mentioned in a previous post, they could have recruited someone like Eno to develop some really dazzling ambient background stuff if they really intended this to be a "reimaginings" projects.
To call this a creative endeavor by U2 makes me think some people here are in serious denial about U2's current mindset as a band. I know I don't need to remind anyone here that this is the band that came out with AB, and Zooropa, and Passengers, and Pop.
I also pretty much hate when Bono tries to sing like a pop singer. Forget all of the vocal play and subtle melodic progressions; he's at his best as a rock singer.