U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
I hadn't written a record review in a while and thought it was time to do so. This time around I chose U2's "No Line On The Horizon". The cd was released last month and since then most people should have given it a number of listens. I for one have played this one over and over many times, trying to decide how I felt. The first listen was somewhat disappointing, I was jaded from the 1st single and couldn't pick up their tone for the cd. I threw it on my iPod and listened thru headphones which changed everything.
I began to understand the layers and where U2 was going. They were tossing the traditional boring rock that encompassed the last 2 records out the window and embracing the indie rock of the last decade. You could easily say this is a bunch of middle aged men trying to be Interpol and you wouldn't be far off.
Track 1 "No Line On The Horizon" is tense and droning with fuzz and feedback. Its a strange way to lead off a cd but U2 wanted to set the stage and show everyone this time around it was different. Track 2 "Magnificent" is classic U2 with Edge's jangle pop guitar and majestic overtones. It borders the sappy side of recent U2 but Adam's bass line keeps the song interesting. Track 3 "Moment Of Surrender" is U2's baby Radiohead experiment. It is slow, methodical and alluring. It comes in at over 7 minutes, not really radio friendly. The song is thick and one that takes multiple listens to comprehend. Track 4 "Unknown Caller" ventures back into familiar U2 territory and gives everyone a nice mid tempo sing a long full of Ohh, Ohh. Track 5 "I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" is the song for the fans that are utterly disappointed but are not ready to give up on the band. It's not bad and one that would probably sound even better live. Track 6 "Get On Your Boots" is the "Vertigo" of the cd and one that drove me nuts the first time around. There are 3 different songs going on, the tempo changes are out of place and its as if some highschool kid did a mashup. I will admit the song has grown on me but I am not ready to give it a positive rating. Track 7 "Stand Up Comedy" keeps the tempo going is a good rock n roll song. Track 8 "Fez-Being Born" is quite interesting, lots of vocal samples over layers of electronics and chill out beats. I don't like how it comes right after an upbeat song but if they put it last no one would really listen. It would be a perfect opening song for a live show. Track 9 "White As Snow" is the ballad of the cd and is quite good. They temper the over indulgence we expect from Bono and deliver a non sappy slow song. This song should demolish "One" or "With or Without You" but lyrically it does not grab you and will always take a back seat. Track 10 "Breathe" borders a B-Side and seems to be one that was just thrown together at the last minute. The cd closes with Track 11 "Cedars Of Lebanon" another ballad but more of a spoken word with a subtle music undertone.
The cd is a vast improvement over the last few but does not overtake Achtung Baby, my personal favorite. It breaks ground for U2 and not in a way that Pop or Zooropa did. It will be up there as one of the best and I for one am glad to see that they broke out of the rut they were in. Although they did not reinvent music, they gave it a shot and came out ahead this time around.
Posted by mardenhill 4/15/2009 10:08:00 PM
Labels: Music
