U2 No Line on the Horizon Album Review
I am one of the biggest U2 fans. I have been a member of the Zoo (fan club message board) since I was 17. I have all their albums, b-sides, rare cuts, posters, shirts, pajamas, pins/buttons, and replica Live Aid Bono mullet.
When I was in Dublin, I made sure to visit the Point Depot, which is famous because it is the venue where U2 performed for four nights. One night was the New Year's Eve concert which was broadcast around the world. The Point Depot is also the site of the recording of the song Van Diemen's Land from Rattle and Rum.
As for their live act, they are unrivialed. U2 combine powerful political songs with arena rock anthems and intertwine them into a memorable night you are not going to forget. So when the How To Dismantle Atomic Bomb tour was over, I was pissed because it meant three years until we would see another U2 album and tour. So no one was more excited to hear a new U2 album was in the works than I was.
Why have I spent three paragraphs describing my fanhood for U2? Because I am about to rip the shit out of this album. The album is musically a mess. It can't decide on single musical theme.
This I am fine with because a lot of U2 albums are able to jump in musical styles, but it is still over all incoherant. No Line on the Horizon jumps back and forth between Pop era sounds (synthesizer) to rock laden riffs of the Joshua Tree to Kanye West like beats with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
Bono's haunting barritone voice is lost in the rapping heard in songs like Breathe and Get On Your Boots. When he is not overtly rapping, he is just simply talking. This can be heard in Stand Up Comedy, Get On Your Boots, and Unknown Caller. Even his lyrics are somewhat lazy. For instance:
Other songs have gleaming potential like Magnificent. It starts out wierd with a keyboard and a guitar that sounds like a direct Kinks riff, but that passes and jumps into the familiar Edge riff that he created. Adam and Larry pump in the driving marching beat that we have come to expect from U2. Even Bono shows up and sings like the Bono we know and love. Sadly, this is best song on the album of 11 tracks.
Moment of Surrender reminds me of a 13 year gender confused boy. It has no idea what it wants to be, a gospel song, a hip hop song in the vain of One Republic, or a steaming turd. The good news is the song is all three without having to choose.
Unknown Caller is another song that harks back to the U2 we know and love. This sounds like a slower City of Blinding Lights, but I hate the talking chorus. It ruins an otherwise good song.
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight is not a bad song except for the stupid lyrics. It has a very good old U2 vibe with the guitars, driving beat, and Bono vocal stylings. This song is even hightlighted with light strings which I love.
The only tracks on this album that are scooped out of the toilet are Unknown Caller, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, and Magnificent. The rest of the album can be flushed down with your period refuse and early morning bowel movement.
However, I will take a turd album if it means we can see the boys back on tour and selling out arenas around the globe. Tour dates will be announced shortly and I will be ready.
When I was in Dublin, I made sure to visit the Point Depot, which is famous because it is the venue where U2 performed for four nights. One night was the New Year's Eve concert which was broadcast around the world. The Point Depot is also the site of the recording of the song Van Diemen's Land from Rattle and Rum.
As for their live act, they are unrivialed. U2 combine powerful political songs with arena rock anthems and intertwine them into a memorable night you are not going to forget. So when the How To Dismantle Atomic Bomb tour was over, I was pissed because it meant three years until we would see another U2 album and tour. So no one was more excited to hear a new U2 album was in the works than I was.
Why have I spent three paragraphs describing my fanhood for U2? Because I am about to rip the shit out of this album. The album is musically a mess. It can't decide on single musical theme.
This I am fine with because a lot of U2 albums are able to jump in musical styles, but it is still over all incoherant. No Line on the Horizon jumps back and forth between Pop era sounds (synthesizer) to rock laden riffs of the Joshua Tree to Kanye West like beats with seemingly no rhyme or reason.
Bono's haunting barritone voice is lost in the rapping heard in songs like Breathe and Get On Your Boots. When he is not overtly rapping, he is just simply talking. This can be heard in Stand Up Comedy, Get On Your Boots, and Unknown Caller. Even his lyrics are somewhat lazy. For instance:
I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
She's a rainbow and she loves the peaceful life
Knows that I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight
there's a part of me in the chaos that's quiet
and there's a part of you that wants me to riot
Get On Your BootsWhat the hell is that shit? It is the sight of bad lyrical writing, that is what it is.
Night is falling everywhere
Rockets hit the funfare
Satan loves a bomb scare
But it won't scare you
Other songs have gleaming potential like Magnificent. It starts out wierd with a keyboard and a guitar that sounds like a direct Kinks riff, but that passes and jumps into the familiar Edge riff that he created. Adam and Larry pump in the driving marching beat that we have come to expect from U2. Even Bono shows up and sings like the Bono we know and love. Sadly, this is best song on the album of 11 tracks.
Moment of Surrender reminds me of a 13 year gender confused boy. It has no idea what it wants to be, a gospel song, a hip hop song in the vain of One Republic, or a steaming turd. The good news is the song is all three without having to choose.
Unknown Caller is another song that harks back to the U2 we know and love. This sounds like a slower City of Blinding Lights, but I hate the talking chorus. It ruins an otherwise good song.
I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight is not a bad song except for the stupid lyrics. It has a very good old U2 vibe with the guitars, driving beat, and Bono vocal stylings. This song is even hightlighted with light strings which I love.
The only tracks on this album that are scooped out of the toilet are Unknown Caller, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, and Magnificent. The rest of the album can be flushed down with your period refuse and early morning bowel movement.
However, I will take a turd album if it means we can see the boys back on tour and selling out arenas around the globe. Tour dates will be announced shortly and I will be ready.
Yeah, that pretty much sums up my opinion too. "Magnificent" is definitely the best track; it's the only track I played more than once when I listened to the album.