U2 - No Line On The Horizon

[Yorick Brown]

Discuss.

I'm listening through right now and it's certainly a departure from HTDAAB and ATYCLB but I like it. Seems like a grower.

The always objective Rolling Stone magazine gives it five stars:

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/26079033/review/26212378/no_line_on_the_horizon

I wonder if they're about to put U2 on their cover?

[Adrian B AWESOME]

ugh.

[Yorick Brown]

Well that's enough discussion out of you.

[Michael Blacklist]

. . . certainly a departure from HTDAAB and ATYCLB. . .

Yes.


. . .but I like it. . .

No.


I'm sure it will grow on me, but right now I don't like the direction they've taken.

[The Goddamn Schweitz!]

I'm a big U2 fan, but really have not enjoyed the new single. Hope the rest of the album is good.

[bstie1198]

Discuss.

I'm listening through right now and it's certainly a departure from HTDAAB and ATYCLB but I like it. Seems like a grower.

The always objective Rolling Stone magazine gives it five stars:

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/26079033/review/26212378/no_line_on_the_horizon

I wonder if they're about to put U2 on their cover?

I'm eagerly anticipating it. They're my favorite band. I've yet to meet a U2 album I didn't at least enjoy.

Just curious, where did you get a copy to listen through?

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Well that's enough discussion out of you.

:lol:

I really should've stayed out, but with the sole exception being The Joshua Tree, U2 really isn't everything people act like they are.

[Michael Blacklist]

I'm a big U2 fan, but really have not enjoyed the new single. Hope the rest of the album is good.

There are a number of songs on the album that would probably have been a better choice for a lead single, so you should at least give it a chance.

[Yorick Brown]

I'm sure it will grow on me, but right now I don't like the direction they've taken.

It definitely seems like a grower but there's enough on first listen that I'm enjoying it.


Just curious, where did you get a copy to listen through?

Um, the internets? I forget.


:lol:

I really should've stayed out, but with the sole exception being The Joshua Tree, U2 really isn't everything people act like they are.

COCKPUNCH!


There are a number of songs on the album that would probably have been a better choice for a lead single, so you should at least give it a chance.

Yes.

[bstie1198]

Um, the internets? I forget.


Heh. Thanks anyways. I suppose I can wait until March 3rd...

Huh, just found this. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/02/20/1234633039937.html

Looks like Universal Music Australia accidentally put it on sale two weeks early for a while, which is where people got it from.

[ThisSpaceForRent]

I think the new single is fun...I'll try the new album. I wasn't big on the last 2 at all.

But U2 have enough cred with me that I'll try all of it once.

And good or bad, new album means new TOUR, and those are always a blast....even the IMAX 3-D movie was awesome

[Michael Blacklist]

I think the new single is fun...I'll try the new album. I wasn't big on the last 2 at all.

I'm writing a review right now that essentially says that. It's like they took a left turn from Pop with the last two albums and are now looking at what was at the at right turn.

[Yorick Brown]

And good or bad, new album means new TOUR, and those are always a blast....even the IMAX 3-D movie was awesome

:thumb: I'm assuming there will be an announcement within weeks.

[Fake Pat]

That "Boots" song is complete garbage.

I can't imagine any album with that song on it could deserve 5 stars.

[Yorick Brown]

Apparently also streaming on their Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/u2

For the record, I'll certainly also be purchasing a copy.

[Rafiennes]

The album sounds like what POP probably would have sounded like if Eno and lanois produced it -- straight off of the Passengers project. (Even though I love the POP album as it is)

This is the first U2 album in a long time I haven't been able to 'get' right away and I've been listening non-stop since Tuesday.

[glk]

I really haven't liked any of their newer stuff, so I don't have much hope for this one. Ever since All That You Can't Leave Behind, I feel like their albums have become filler.

[Liquid]

"Boots" doesn't represent what the ablum sounds like at all... and thankfully. I'm loving Magnificent, Unknown Caller, Crazy Tonight, and Moment of Surrender.

[artimoff]

Well, the first 3 songs are a waste of time. :-?

[Yorick Brown]

I am liking it more with every listen.

[Artie Pink]

How irelevant must you be before you rip off the Escape Club's "Wild Wild West" for your first single?

I promise you, they spent more time posing for Anton Corbijn than they did in the songwriting process.

[Yorick Brown]

How irelevant must you be before you rip off the Escape Club's "Wild Wild West" for your first single?

I promise you, they spent more time posing for Anton Corbijn than they did in the songwriting process.

U2 hate. How original.

[that bastard]

USUALLY I get all fired up about a new U2 album. They've been my favorite band since, oh, the mid-eighties. since the first time I heard WAR (which was the first album I bought with my own money...on CASSETTE, of course).

But, the last couple of CD's (ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND and HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB)...While I was initially excited...well...they eventually wore thin on me. They were the first U2 albums to ever do that. After a while they sounded too...Bland? Adult Contemporary?

Boring?

Yes...They were the first U2 albums to bore me.

There were a few moments of awesome. The "titanium soul" of STUCK IN A MOMENT and IN A LITTLE WHILE. The old-school rock n' roll of ELEVATION and VERTIGO and LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE. The arena-rock build of WALK ON and CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS. But they also had some really "blah" tunes not to mention the fact that ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND has the honor of having probably the single WORST U2 song on it: NEW YORK...HATE that song.

A far cry from the "Holy Trilogy" of ACHTUNG BABY, ZOOROPA, and POP, an even farther cry from the historical significance of THE UNFORGETTABLE FIRE, JOSHUA TREEE and RATTLE AND HUM, and nowhere near the raw honesty of BOY, OCTOBER, and WAR.

Well, needless to say I was a little cautious with my optimism when I read about the new album, NO LINE ON THE HORIZON. I wasn't keeping up with the production of it as I have in the past. I wasn't listening to EVERY LITTLE SOUND CLIP that appeared. I wasn't excited.

So, when I heard the first single, GET ON YOUR BOOTS, I kinda dug it. YEAH, SURE it has hints of WILD, WILD WEST by the Escape Club and the lyrics are silly but whatev. It's catchy. I dug it. But who's to say they weren't starting out with the strongest song? Most bands do. They have a single. It's the hook that jabs the fishy's lip.

Well, having listened to the album in its' entirety, I can honestly say that it is MUCH better than the last two albums. In fact, I'd say it's pretty damned good. It's not ACHTUNG BABY good. I doubt it will have the same staying power as JOSHUA TREE. But it's good. There is some VERY interesting stuff going on. The first two songs, NO LINE ON THE HORIZON and MAGNIFICENT are fantastic. NO LINE is a different sound for the band. Not as jarringly different as MOJO (U2's first 'techno' song) but still...It's got some great instrumentation going on. MAGNIFICENT sounds like glorious old school U2.

Other highlights for me, thus far (I've only listened once so far) are STAND-UP COMEDY (with it's funky, bluesy guitar), FEZ-BEING BORN (this album's WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME), and BREATHE (with it's bluesy spoken-word vibe).

So, at this point, I give it a healthy 3 stars out of five.

[Criden]

Yorick Brown. How will this lone remaining male (not counting Ampersand, Yorick's surly helper-monkey) be used and exploited by world powers hoping to repopulate their empires?

[Artie Pink]

U2 hate. How original.

Should I blindly love them because they made good albums 21 years ago?

[Yorick Brown]

Should I blindly love them because they made good albums 21 years ago?

Not at all. Though I disagree with your statement.

[Yorick Brown]

Yorick Brown. How will this lone remaining male (not counting Ampersand, Yorick's surly helper-monkey) be used and exploited by world powers hoping to repopulate their empires?

I might fling poo at you.

[Criden]

I might fling poo at you.

I was stupid enough to think this last boy on earth gig might be fun.

[Artie Pink]

Not at all. Though I disagree with your statement.


I think that, much like U2, you are stuck in a moment you can't get out of.

[Armored Dildo]

:lol:

I really should've stayed out, but with the sole exception being The Joshua Tree, U2 really isn't everything people act like they are.

Achtung Baby and Zooropa are miles away better than Joshua Tree.

[Yorick Brown]

I think that, much like U2, you are stuck in a moment you can't get out of.

*Flings poo*


Achtung Baby and Zooropa are miles away better than Joshua Tree.

I prefer Achtung to Joshua Tree (by a small margin) but Zooropa is a distant third of those three.

[Armored Dildo]

I think that, much like U2, you are stuck in a moment you can't get out of.

Win.

[bstie1198]

But they also had some really "blah" tunes not to mention the fact that ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND has the honor of having probably the single WORST U2 song on it: NEW YORK...HATE that song.


I had an extremely strong dislike for New York when ATYCLB came out, but after seeing it performed live, it really grew on me to the point that it's my second favorite track on the album behind Elevation...

Oh and first impression of NLOTH was a bit "meh", although I'm sure it will grow on me. Favorite track on the first listen through was Stand Up Comedy.

[Doc Randy]

How irelevant must you be before you rip off the Escape Club's "Wild Wild West" for your first single?

I promise you, they spent more time posing for Anton Corbijn than they did in the songwriting process.


Ah the interwebs.

People start a thread to talk about something they are interested in and you know somebody is bound to come it and piss all over the very thing people are enthusiastic about.

Regardless... Rock'n'roll history is all about "ripping off" what has come before. There may be similarities to "wild wild west", but I seriously doubt they were thinking of that song at all.



Should I blindly love them because they made good albums 21 years ago?

Absolutely not. I just don't understand the general compulsion to shit on things.







As for my take on the album...

It is OK. I like the production on everything but the vocals. Bono used to be such a powerful strength of the band, but I find his lyrics increasingly nonsensical and his timbre increasingly thin. I've only listened to it once, but I can say I like it much better than the last album. That Bastard's review is pretty good.

[woljed]

I enjoy the first single, it's very reminiscent of their Achtung Baby/Pop albums.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

U2 hate. How original.

No, fuck that. We are in the minority, even though we should be the majority. U2, for the most part, is trash.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Achtung Baby and Zooropa are miles away better than Joshua Tree.

If you like pretentious garbage that calls itself "rock."

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Absolutely not. I just don't understand the general compulsion to shit on things.

As opposed to the compulsion of the media and seemingly half the world wanting to give Bono a blowjob simply because he's Bono?

This street goes both ways, dudes.

[Armored Dildo]

If you like pretentious garbage that calls itself "rock."

Uh, actually, I think Joshua Tree fits that bill better. That and Rattle and Hum are definitely overrated.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Uh, actually, I think Joshua Tree fits that bill better. That and Rattle and Hum are definitely overrated.

And I won't begrudge you that.

[Armored Dildo]

As opposed to the compulsion of the media and seemingly half the world wanting to give Bono a blowjob simply because he's Bono?

This street goes both ways, dudes.

Adrian, just remember you are here now..
















...where the streets have no names.

[Adrian B AWESOME]

Adrian, just remember you are here now..
















...where the streets have no names.

Did I ask too much? More than a lot.

[Armored Dildo]

Did I ask too much? More than a lot.

You're dangerous 'cause you're honest.

[Marcdachamp]

I like the single.

[woljed]

Who's gonna ride your wild horses?

[Yorick Brown]

The more I listen, the more the tone reminds me of Achtung. It's got a dirty, somewhat industrial sound that I'm enjoying. It's certainly less "poppy" (no pun intended) than the last two.

[Nick Spencer]

As opposed to the compulsion of the media and seemingly half the world wanting to give Bono a blowjob simply because he's Bono?

This street goes both ways, dudes.

Well, I think it's entirely possible the people who do that like U2, and the people who do the opposite don't.

[Nick Spencer]

Uh, actually, I think Joshua Tree fits that bill better. That and Rattle and Hum are definitely overrated.

That would be the best album made in my lifetime, so no, I don't agree. :)

[DanLTaylor]

I'm a big U2 fan, but really have not enjoyed the new single. Hope the rest of the album is good.

Actually, (probably already beens stated by someone else) the rest of the album is really different from the first single. I still haven't made up my mind, but it's growing on me.

[Armored Dildo]

That would be the best album made in my lifetime, so no, I don't agree. :)

It's just that Achtung Baby was a perfect reinvention, the way only New Order and Bowie have ever done before. It signaled the end of the band's United States fetish which had bogged them down artistically almost completely and reconnected them to the rest of the world. An album that took years and a near-breakup to produce, it spawned incredible songs like "Even Better Than The Real Thing," "One," "Mysterious Ways"

It captured a specific, post-Cold War, post-recession zeitgeist perfectly.

And Zooropa remains their most innovative album (by U2 standards, although who knows by what people are saying about the new one) and for my money, it is my fave of theirs. The only album that I know that flies in the face of the "too many cooks..." credo. "Lemon," "Numb," "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" and then it ends with Johnny Cash singing a post-apocalyptic song that would fit completely in Fallout 3! :crazy:

[King of Mars]

Ah the interwebs.

People start a thread to talk about something they are interested in and you know somebody is bound to come it and piss all over the very thing people are enthusiastic about.This is a general discussion thread, not an appreciation thread.

[Armored Dildo]

This is a general discussion thread, not an appreciation thread.

I didn't know the parameters of "a general discussion" were enough to either excuse or justify being an asshole.

[King of Mars]

I didn't know the parameters of "a general discussion" were enough to either excuse or justify being an asshole.Stating a contrary point of view in a general discussion/opinion thread isn't "being an asshole." However, calling someone an asshole over something so trivial...that ain't too cool.

[Armored Dildo]

Stating a contrary point of view in a general discussion/opinion thread isn't "being an asshole." However, calling someone an asshole over something so trivial...that ain't too cool.

Making a snide comment about how the band spent more time with the photographer than in the studio, unless substantiated by evidence, is an exaggeratedly false claim that in my mind comes from an attitude of casual insolence which is a fancy way of saying "asshole".

[King of Mars]

Making a snide comment about how the band spent more time with the photographer than in the studio, unless substantiated by evidence, is an exaggeratedly false claim that in my mind comes from an attitude of casual insolence which is a fancy way of saying "asshole".Are you for real?

[Armored Dildo]

Are you for real?

Yes.

Sorry, I think I'm missing something here: Did you randomly reply to Randy's post without reading the rest of the thread for context?

Because YPJ's remark didn't come across as a joke.

[King of Mars]

Yes.

Sorry, I think I'm missing something here: Did you randomly reply to Randy's post without reading the rest of the thread for context?

Because YPJ's remark didn't come across as a joke.He's opinionated about his pop culture. Who cares? It's not like he said, "Anyone who listens to U2 is a pretentious fucking idiot!"

[Armored Dildo]

He's opinionated about his pop culture. Who cares? It's not like he said, "Anyone who listens to U2 is a pretentious fucking idiot!"

Fair enough. I guess we differ about what level of rhetoric a general discussion should tolerate.

[Yorick Brown]

Speaking only for myself, I intended the thread as a discussion of the new U2 album. I'm not stunned (to Randy's point) that people decided to come crap on U2 in the thread just for the hell of it -- because it's the internets.

But my goal wasn't to start a "merits of the band" discussion -- rather a discussion of the new album. If that includes "compared to Zooropa/Joshua Tree/Achtung...", so be it.

However, if people are coming in just to crap on U2 (and that seems to be the case with some of the posts), I'm a little disappointed. But not surprised.

[Corwin: Bear Fighter]

It's crap. I grew up listening to U2, and really, I haven't been feeling any of their stuff since Pop.

This one seems to be better than the last thanks to one halfway decent song, as opposed to How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which had zero decent songs. I'm not expecting another Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby out of them, but even a Zooropa would be better than this adult contemporary bland crap they're putting out now. Coldplay is doing a better job of it than they are.

[Mozz]

Like I said in a previous thread, this album is going to divide people. After listening to it quite a few times now, straight up, I think this is their best work since Pop. The last 2 albums were okay, but again, they were just coasting.

Eno and Lanois being given a more creative input on this one has let them move out of their safty zone a bit, which is good. This band needs to experiment more. There are a few radio friendly songs like the first single, "Crazy Tonight" and perhaps "Unknown Caller", but then there are some great tunes like "Magnificent" and "Fez/Being Born" that contain classic U2 elements but take them further. I wouldn't put this on Joshua Tree or Achtung level, but more Unforgettable Fire – some safe songs, some experiments and some moments of brilliance.

[Yorick Brown]

I wouldn't put this on Joshua Tree or Achtung level, but more Unforgettable Fire – some safe songs, some experiments and some moments of brilliance.

I tend to agree with this. The more I listen to it, the more I feel like it misses the mark too much to be considered a great U2 album. But it's a grower and there's enough there for me to love. I also think seeing them do the songs live on Letterman has been helpful for fleshing out the album.

[Ryudo]

Bought it on Saturday and finally giving it a good listen. I like it so far.

[WesleyCraigGreen]

For those interested, head over to u2.com to learn about their upcoming tour.

I plan on seeing them when they hit Toronto in September. I just hope we don't have to sell our car to get tickets.

Wesley

[The Goddamn Schweitz!]

For those interested, head over to u2.com to learn about their upcoming tour.

I plan on seeing them when they hit Toronto in September. I just hope we don't have to sell our car to get tickets.

Wesley

Yeah...I don't think this is a tour many will be able to afford with everything going on in the world right now...sigh...

[iGotKittyPryde]

It's crap. I grew up listening to U2, and really, I haven't been feeling any of their stuff since Pop.

This one seems to be better than the last thanks to one halfway decent song, as opposed to How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which had zero decent songs. I'm not expecting another Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby out of them, but even a Zooropa would be better than this adult contemporary bland crap they're putting out now. Coldplay is doing a better job of it than they are.

I pretty much agree with all of this.

I'm so annoyed by Rolling Stones recent turn to giving 5 stars to any major release by an iconic rock band or artist. This and Springsteen were not the best albums of the year thus far, far from it. And yet both of them get five stars?

And Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective which got almost unanimous 4 1/2 star or better reviews everywhere gets *3 1/2*? And this alt-contemporary stuff gets 5? They have less than no credibility with me anymore.

[Captain Sensation]

I heard a rumor that U2 is putting out another album later on this year.



I think that, much like U2, you are stuck in a moment you can't get out of.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c240/icypsycho/KelsoBURN2.jpg

[Yorick Brown]

I pretty much agree with all of this.

I'm so annoyed by Rolling Stones recent turn to giving 5 stars to any major release by an iconic rock band or artist. This and Springsteen were not the best albums of the year thus far, far from it. And yet both of them get five stars?

They are notorious for great reviews for artists they're about to put on the cover. One issue after the U2 review, guess who was on the cover?

[Nick MB]

I did enjoy How To Dismantle... actually, it was fun and listenable even if it wasn't genius, but haven't managed to get past the first few tracks on this one yet.

[Doug]

My wife and I just got tickets to the Sept. 24 show in Giant's Stadium.

$30.00 each (upperdeck, behind the stage), but I don't care. $30.00 for a concert ticket is cheap, and I have not seen U2 live.

[Dood Lee]

I heard a rumor that U2 is putting out another album later on this year.


They are, it's currently being titled "Songs of Ascent." It's all the other songs that they recorded during the time they made No Line.

[Liquid]

My wife and I just got tickets to the Sept. 24 show in Giant's Stadium.

$30.00 each (upperdeck, behind the stage), but I don't care. $30.00 for a concert ticket is cheap, and I have not seen U2 live.

There is no "behind the stage", hence the tour's name "U2360". Happy news!

[Doug]

There is no "behind the stage", hence the tour's name "U2360". Happy news!

Nice!

[ThisSpaceForRent]

My wife and I just got tickets to the Sept. 24 show in Giant's Stadium.

$30.00 each (upperdeck, behind the stage), but I don't care. $30.00 for a concert ticket is cheap, and I have not seen U2 live.

I'm planning on getting tickets for the Foxboro, MA show.
They put on great, great concerts, regardless of what the new album sounds like.

[ThisSpaceForRent]

Just got general admission field tickets for the Sunday show in Foxboro....the whole thing sold out in less than 9 minutes.

Waiting for the Monday show to go live.

[ThisSpaceForRent]

If any Boston people are interested, GA Field seats ($60) are available for the Monday U2 show in Foxboro...I got a pair this morning, then they were "sold out", but they must have released a big batch of them just a while ago. For the hell of it, I selected Quantity 10 and it found them.

Go go go!

[WesleyCraigGreen]

The wife and I scored tickets for one of the shows in Toronto. I don't know if anyone likes Muse but they are suppose to be opening for U2 on some shows in the US. I REALLY hope they do in Toronto because I would almost be as jazzed to see them as U2.

Wesley

[Mozz]

I wish Muse was opening the Toronto shows, but I heard it's going to be Snow Patrol.

[Armored Dildo]

I wish Muse was opening the Toronto shows, but I heard it's going to be Snow Patrol.

We have a Snow Patrol obsession.