U2 is forever yours, faithfully
The new U2 album No Line On The Horizon leaked wide last night, and on first listen it’s filled with appropriately epic guitar riffs, and Bonoisms about love that sound very important when sung in upper register.
Also, the song “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight” totally contains the triumphant riff that everyone knows from “Faithfully” by Journey. So much so that it makes me want to drink Czech liquor and sing karaoke with arms around friends; the Journey effect. Srsly.
Maybe go listen and then come back and we’ll discuss.
Name: Heather Browne
maybe i was too distracted by the zeppelin riff in stand up to notice the journey riff in crazy.
but i like the album a LOT.
c — February 18, 2009 @ 11:44 am
“White As Snow” sounds a lot like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” throughout much of the song. Am I wrong?
Hunter — February 18, 2009 @ 12:35 pm
…now that I listened to the song again, and given the subject matter, I’d bet that musical allusion is completely intentional.
Hunter — February 18, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
Yes, White As Snow was influenced by “O’Come, O’Come Emmanuel”, so sayeth The Bono.
edgeshat — February 18, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
U2 is no longer relevant! I don’t think they’ve done anything worth listening to since Joshua Tree
Harb — February 18, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
The last album had a bunch of great songs (“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”, “City of Blinding Lights” and “All Because of You”) and some clunkers (like the awful “Love and Peace or Else”.)
This one… I’m having trouble getting into the songs at all. Something’s missing. I’ll give it another shot but maybe they’ve finally completely lost their touch.
Tyroc — February 18, 2009 @ 7:01 pm
Right now I’m giving it a solid B, but they’re starting to run out of ideas. “Moment Of Surrender” is great – reminds me of “Stay”; and I also like “Unknown Caller.” “Go Crazy” is gonna completely rock in concert (I think), and they could have left “Cedars” on the cutting room floor. There ya go, hon.
Bruce
Bruce — February 18, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
Magnificent sounds, well, magnificent… definitely going to be a classic U2 anthem. All-in-all pretty solid/semi-different album from the guys. Do agree about White As Snow, has to be intentional
Jeff — February 18, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
@Harb: Nothing relevant since “Joshua Tree”? Really? Even some of the most ardent Bono haters admit that “Achtung Baby” was a masterpiece.
That being said, it’s a solid album. I can’t stop listening to “Breathe” and “Unknown Caller.” “No line on the Horizon” is also good and dense.
Jim — February 19, 2009 @ 7:44 am
Loving the first half. Listen in at 3:30 or 4:50 of ‘Magnificent’ and see if you hear ‘Spaceballs’ by The Spinners (from the movie).
Seamus Dolan — February 19, 2009 @ 10:12 am
“U2 is no longer relevant! I don’t think they’ve done anything worth listening to since Joshua Tree”
You are on crack, friend. Ever hear of Achtung Baby? If you don’t think that’s relevant or worth listening to, you need not post in this thread. Blasphemy!
Joe — February 19, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
Maybe I’m just nuts, but this album sounds to me like Bono is finally an old man and has only a vague grasp on relevant things to write songs about. His cultural references aren’t poignant, the riffs are tiredly attempting to be epic, and the flow is off.
Kathleen — February 19, 2009 @ 3:42 pm
You have the WORST taste in music!
Thom Yorke — February 19, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
Thom Yorke ? Sounds like a compliment to me………
A fascinating interview can be found with Bonio here http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/feb/15/u2-no-line-on-the-horizon
Great album title for an aging band or any soul battling time and its tricksy psyche…..saw ‘Benjamin Button’ last night and absolutely fell for its humanity,grace and horizon broadening guile….go see…..
Russell — February 20, 2009 @ 11:48 am
I am sick of people using the word “relevant” to qualify the quality of a song or band. Does anyone really think what is “relevant” has any bearing on anything when it comes to music? This is just a term that has been adopted by the hipsters and indie rockers on the blogosphere, the whole Pitchfork crowd who claim to be independent but are really their own form of tastemakers, just pushing Fleet Foxes and Feist instead of Britney and Lil Wayne.
That being said, I didn’t “get” the new U2 song when I first heard it, but like any great music it’s grown on me the more I hear it. I am sure the new album will be amazing.
Finally- why do people listen to leaks ahead of time? It’s like going into your parents’ closet and looking at your Christmas present a week ahead of time. Wouldn’t you rather hear it for the first time in CD quality in your car or living room on good speakers, on the actual release date, the way it’s meant to be heard?
Pete Pizza — February 20, 2009 @ 12:44 pm
The album is growing on me, there are many layers to this album, the more I have listened, the more there is to discover.
wanderin — February 21, 2009 @ 11:06 am
not my favorite
zzzzzzzzzz
julio — February 23, 2009 @ 9:47 am
I have given the album two go arounds now and can’t get into it. Loved the beginning of No Line on the Horizon and then it turned into an average song as did the rest of the album. And now a friend tells me they are going to release an album next year…why not make one quality album instead of two mediocre albums at best…from a fan of Achtung Baby and Joshua Tree and owner of everything they have ever done…hoping the tour isn’t all this album but a nice mixture of everything.
Patrick — March 5, 2009 @ 10:08 am
I bought the deluxe box with the Corbijn Linear film set to the music and the book and poster.
Tried to purchase at the last local record store in Detroit area. No such luck only special order since it is so expensive and they had no vinyl copies (shipping oversight according to owner.) Sadly, bought it on the cheap at BestBuy – $65.
Anyway, the film is interesting and shows how they had originally proposed the record to be about the french cop on a road trip to find his first love. Interesting concept and contains a track left off the album when they pulled it back from the November release.
Have to say the album is great. I’m very critical of my favorite bands and I believe they’ve hit a home run. These songs will be remarkable in concert.
Cedars has Daniel Lanois’ fingers all over it and has his signature guitar in it on the main lick. Glad they invited him and Brian in as co-writers this time.
The only song that grates me is Breathe. It reminds me of All Because Of You another dustbin tune for me.
I think the one-two punch of Moment and Unknown are truly great. I also think the some of the wizardry sounds very much like Coldplay’s last effort with Brian at the helm. Surely no coincidence. All in all I have no problem with that and am glad they are still “relevant.” They’re are flavours of all their records on it but to me what else do you expect. Every great artist has about three unique records or periods that’s it. Be it Bruce, Petty, Prince or U2.
Matthias — March 6, 2009 @ 2:34 pm