No Line on the Horizon

March 3rd 2009 marked the release of U2's latest album - No Line on the Horizon. People have been talking about it. They say things like "Hey Mike, have you heard the new U2 single?" and i would say - "no - i don't really listen to the radio". And then they tell me to "download or listen to it for free on the internet" and i say - "no thanks, i'll wait for the album to come out". And then they say - "this new song sucks!" and i say - "we'll see". So in preperation for this new record by a band whom i love - i insulated myself against hearing the song before i could hear the whole album - and i insulated myself against the opinions of those whose opinions I don't trust - and even a few i did trust - so that i could hear the offering in it's entirety and make my own decisions. Not to mention the fact that taste in art is totally subjective - so what might suck to you - might be beautiful and perfectly timed to meet me where I am.

So, after giving it many listens - here are my thoughts. I don't love it. I don't hate it. But i don't love it. I like a lot of the musicianship - Edge's guitar stands out quite well on this record - there are some cool riffs and melodies and things of that nature. But overall - none of the songs grabbed me - the way that usually 3-6 songs per U2 album do. I understand that U2 went in a different direction with this album - as they have done before (see Zooropa and Pop) and i can respect that - and even albums that are not considered great upon release i usually find a hidden Gem or two as i allow it to grow on me. The first single "Get on Your Boots" I really actually don't like. Rolling Stone Magazine gave the album a 5 star review which you can read here, which i don't totally agree with - though - i recognize my lack of musical experitse compared with that of David Fricke - but there was one thing in his review that stood out as something i agreed with - in his description of "Get on Your Boots" he said "It is a strange thing to sing on a record that more often reveals itself in tempered gestures, at a measured pace. (The main exception, the outright frivolity of "Get on Your Boots," comes right in the middle, as if the band thought it needed some kind of zany halftime.)". Basically - the song comes out of nowhere and makes no sense as a song fits on an album.

Also one other negative note - the last song - "Cedars of Lebanon" ends awkwardly. It is a cool song. Low - soft yet with an Edge (not The Edge - but an Edge) lyrically and in the tone - but then it just ends. No build up - no denoumont if you will - but it's literally like Bono sings the last line (which is a cool line) and then they just press stop on the recording and you get the sense after they press stop the band continues and finishes the song - it leaves me wanting in a bad way. Kind of like when you go to see a movie and it ends abruptly without wrapping things up and you are like - "that's it?". Thats how "Cedars of Lebanon" left me feeling.

On the good side - there is one song that i particularly enjoyed - consequently it is also the same song on the record that Gabe Krahn particularly enjoyed. Track 3 - "Moment of Surrender". I can't even explain why i like it - it's the vocal most similar to what you would expect from a Bono vocal considering thier last two records. It's got that personal - spiritual feel to it and it's seven and a half minutes long. It's the one i like the best on an album of songs that don't I don't connect with.

Don't worry - I still love U2 - I still consider it a life goal to see them in concert before my demise, and I will even continue to listen to this record - because as many things do when given the chance - they grow on you.