You get the feeling that they've really started to try too hard to become a 'socially relevant' band on the past two studio efforts. All the 9/11 stuff on Bounce and the election business on Have A Nice Day doesn't really rub with me. Maybe it's because I'm not American and I can't relate too well to such issues. Back in the day they could write songs about the struggles of the working-class and young lust (just look at Livin' On A Prayer and Bad Medicine), and they were awesome. It was obviously something they were close to at the time, but now that they are 40/50 year old men and absolutly loaded, they don't have these issues. They're writing about social issues of today and it just seems too emotionally detached.

As for U2... I can't stand their recently 'socially relevant' songs either. Where The Streets Have No Name compared to Love And Peace Or Else.