Mick needs someone to work off (ie Tony Martin), otherwise a lot of his stuff is just tedious and juvenile.
On U2, unfortunately I think they were stung by the criticism of Pop and the subsequent tour (I loved it personally, both album and tour), and since then they've been trying to write what they think people will like instead of what they themselves like. Sadly they have a very large and sycophantic fan base who will hear nothing bad about them and refuse to countenance any criticism of the band or its music.
On U2, unfortunately I think they were stung by the criticism of Pop and the subsequent tour (I loved it personally, both album and tour), and since then they've been trying to write what they think people will like instead of what they themselves like. Sadly they have a very large and sycophantic fan base who will hear nothing bad about them and refuse to countenance any criticism of the band or its music.