U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Island/Interscope/Mercury Music Group
The score: ★★★
U2 are always considering what other people feel about their music. Since their 1987 breakthrough, The Joshua Tree, the bands been using every subsequent release to improve upon their style and sound, giving their loyal fan base what they want to hear. Having produced Achtung Baby and All That You Can't Leave Behind to straighten out the flaws of Rattle and Hum and Pop, Bono and the boys seem quite confident that No Line On The Horizon will set the record straight with all those who believe that U2 didn't go all the way with the 2004 release, How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb.
The biggest concern with No Line On The Horizon is it's overly used sound, that's becoming so common in the present day rock scene. Songs on the album bear an uncanny resemblance to the Coldplays and Snow Patrols of the world. Nevertheless, it isn't fair to single U2 out for an unfortunate trend that's beginning to pervade significant proportions of the seemingly up-to-date music community.
So, let us not waste any further time and get back to what we're here for. The Review!
"Get On Your Boots" is the first single of the album. Although it comes on strong and promising, the song turns out to be quite a joke. Outrageous drum rolls, dry and disoriented guitar riffs and Bono singing crap like "Hey, Sexy Boots!" is definitely not interesting. "Stand Up Comedy" sounds like Red Hot Chili Peppers in a jam session with Steel Dragon. Yes, that made-up band from Almost Famous. The lyrics on this one might be better than "Get On Your Boots" but one might even forget that "Stand Up Comedy" is a U2 song.
"Magnificent" sounds like the U2 we all know and love. It's a song that's so them that we don't really care if we've heard something like this before, because it's just an awesome track. The vocals are ripping and the bass is bumping. "Unknown Callers" and the opening track are quite similar with their well executed guitar riffs. Not to mention Bono going at it with his tenor-like vocals. Here of course, we must mention producers Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite, who have made sure the singer had his diaphragm and vocal chords set right in place, for this recording.
The second half of the album definitely has a tighter production, and this gives is great vitality, especially with the three dynamo tracks "FEZ-Being Born", "White as Snow" and "Breathe". U2 really brings on their trademark sound with these brilliantly composed pieces of aurally pleasing sensations.
The entire album however, has an overall downhearted quality to it. Its redundancy gives a mysteriously incomprehensible feel to the entire release, making it hard to determine whether U2 recorded the album with a sophisticated master plan or with no idea in mind, whatsoever.
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By premjit.laikh 1 March 20, 2009 09:11:28 AM
I thank the writer for making an effort to understand U2 and their music. I must tell, though, he has a long way to go. But anyway, at least
he is getting paid for writing this and I am happy for it. At least somebody is employed in our gloomy economy. Cheers Buddy!
Let me start now. I don't know how many U2 albums this guy has or listened to, but from what he has written, it seems he has "heard" a
bit about of U2. I seriously don't understand why he thinks the album is "redundant". Of course he has the right to opinion but that doesn't
mean he can downplay Monalisa by saying something like "Urmila Matonkar looks better than her" and gets away with it. You need to
listen to their songs in all their previous albums to come to term with the fact that this album is so much differrent. So much that the theme
of the album so much relevant in the planet I live in today.
"How can you stand next to the truth and not see it...
Oh, a change of heart comes slow"
For God's sake, stop listening to bands like Coldplay and...what was the other minor band you mentioned! Those bands make people
lose their understanding of art in its purest form. And it shows in the person who wrote this review.
"Stand Up Comedy" does not sound like RHCP or Steel Dragon. By the way, the band Steel Dragon exist in fiction. By saying something
like RHCP and Steel Dragon had a jam, the writer sounds like a baby who thinks he's ready to marry. Even if they had a jam, don't take
anything away from RHCP. They themselves are trendsetters in music though U2 is much bigger than them. "Stand Up Comedy" is a mix
of blues and rock n' roll. The song reminds me of Led Zepellin. Something like a Led Zep song gone awry though! I accept that song is
not one of the best in NLOTH.
Don't even dare to take anything away from "Magnificent". It is good that you confessed you like the song. Great Lyrics. Great Rythm.
Great Anthem Song. If I could go and experience any U2 360 tour Live, this will be the song I will be jumping and crawling for. But this
song is not like any other U2 songs. In fact the whole album is so different. However, he song is not the one I'd keep in my heart. For my
heart, there are several other songs in the album.
Fez-Being Born is one. The sound and the message it holds is heavy. Not everybody would be able to understand this new style of music
at first. White as Snow brought tears in my eyes think of that soldier. The heaviest lyrics comes from their closing song Cedars of
Lebanon.
Forget about the release. I never waited for the release date date to get this album. I "illegally" downloaded this album. So did others. I
heard there were millions of them who downloaded this album illegally before it's release. How that would affect regular sales would never
be known. Sales or No Sales, this is the best U2 album I have come across. Much better than Achtung, Baby or Zooropa or ATYCLB
or The Unforgettable Fire.
Overall, get this album or else it is as good as you are half-dead. You are missing something that can bring real truth and vision in your life.
Relevance is the word for this album, not Redundance.
First time I heard the album, I said, "Okay...". Second time I heard it I opened my mouth. Third time, I got confused. Fourth time,
something kicked me hard. Firth time, the kicking continues. Sixth...seventh...eighth.....ninth....it still kicked. Tenth time, I crawled over google for the lyrics...11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th........listened and analysed all the songs with the lyrics....on the 22nd listening, the magic of Adam's bass hit my ear. 23rd...24th......and it continues. ..........The music is still growing on me....I am floating in this rythm of the Promised Land. It's been 40 days.
Dear author, please checked you got the right record in place. If you do, make sure you listen to them over and over again. Don't judge a person by the first impression (or the second).
Reply to Premjit.Laikh
Posted By suhail 1 March 20, 2009 06:09:03 PM
Dear Premjjit,
I am deeply humbled by your show of respect and understanding towards me and my review. As far as U2 goes, I have full respect for them and their music, however, as a reviewer, I do have the right to my opinions, just as you have a right to post yours in the comments section. And unfortunately, I am not getting paid for this, so you really need to stop imagining things beyond necessity, it's not very wise. In case you are looking for a job, I can put you in touch with the blender team, seeing that you are so confident of your self and abilities.
Anyways, I haven't heard every U2 album from start to finish, but I did take the time to listen to this album, and then I read about a dozen other reviews, of this album, just to get a broader feel for it.
As for your review, I am happy to have it present but I am not going to remark on it, nor am I going to debate your opinions on my review. And I'm sorry for that. You see, I like to tell the people what they need to know, and my review did a fairly good job about that. Yours on the other hand, is obviously you having an emotional intercourse with an album, which, to your apparent disbelief, did not have the same effect on me. How others would respond to it, only they would know!
And please don't be so open about that fact that you download illegally because the FBI and local anti-piracy agencies check websites like this on a regular basis. Seeing that your name and IP address are easily obtainable, it would be thoughtful to change them both, immediately!
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By premjit.laikh 1 March 21, 2009 12:07:20 PM
Dears Readers,....
The writer claims to have listened to the album
(probably once), and read another 12 reviews by others like him, before commenting what people "need" to know about this album. I didn't know becoming a music critic is as easy....He doesn’t realise he is still uneducated when it comes this album...
He also accused me of having an "emotional intercourse" with the album because I listened to the whole album more than 70 times and read more than 100 reviews- some "for", and some "against" (they were hard to find though)- before I decide on my take on the album. And that, my views on the album are not valid for the audience because I listen to this album with rigour and passion....
Now, decide for yourself, dear readers, whether to follow his naive, superficial views on the album, or mine, which is based on thorough analysis....
My view on the album is, it is one of the best of U2's. No wonder the album is topping the charts in more than 37 countries at this very moment. For me, it stands next to "Achtung, Baby". It can probably go one better than AB in due course of time. Let's wait and watch....
This record is deep and mystifying- one that requires repeated listening inorder to fully comprehend what's there in its sound and lyrics. Politics, Love, War, Hate, Ressurection, Rock N' Roll, Brotherhood, Pain.....Life. All in it. I have gone through the lyrics many times and they are hauntingly relevant and soulful. And beautiful....
Now, this reviewer, shockingly, far away from the topic, stated that he can assist me in getting a JOB as a writer in blenderindia.com. What he doesn't realise is I do not need a JOB to become a writer. I am not even looking for a job. In fact, I left a job to be where I am now. What a disgrace for a writer to make such an offer!...
Lastly, he gave me a threat on piracy issues. I say I'll take anybody on the dare on this issue. I won't lie. What it is, is what it is! I feel this person has a serious problem in him as a writer. HONESTY and FREE SPEECH. I just hope he understands what I am referring to here...I now regret ever reading his review....
EVERBODY, GO GET THIS ALBUM....DON'T LET YOURSELF BE THE LAST TO GET ONE......
With Love'...
Premjit
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By sean89 1 March 25, 2009 09:00:12 AM
I am a massive U2 fan, thus far I don’t think I can fault much of U2’s material. No Line On The Horizon though, I think, to quote ‘yarm’ sounds like a tired try-hard effort of a U2 album. The ’sound’ that was there in previous records like War, The Joshua Tree and even How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb just isn’t there. It is the least U2 like of all their albums. If you ignore the fact that it is U2 and get that expectation of that sound out of your head, it is a fantastic album.
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By suresh23 1 March 25, 2009 09:02:20 AM
It’s sad to see that U2 has as many brainwashed Dittohead fans as Rush Limbaugh does.
No Line is the worst albums they’ve ever done. I mean that in a “it’s genuinely terrible” sort of way. They’re too old, they have too much money, and they live in a vapid celebrity world where they fire they used to have isn’t wanted anymore. They should be promoting this album and tour on the Oprah Winfrey show for the burnt-out middle-agers they’re obviously trying to cater to because I can’t see any rock radio station worthy of the description wanting to have anything to do with No Line. Even the best publicists in the world aren’t going to be able to put much of polish onto this turd that the guys have just popped out
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By premjit.laikh 1 March 26, 2009 04:37:30 AM
haha! social capital works, don't they?
or is it fake e-mails?
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By veejay469 1 April 7, 2009 11:51:30 AM
i dont really really have anything much to say here cause mr.premjit has overwhelmingly expressed my views on this album in the most accurate and clear manner and not to mention the way he handled the reviewers remarks which to say is really remrarkable to give a tit for tat response.
no doubt-this is their 2nd best ever and has tremendous potential to be even their no 1 which eventually time will decide!(time is irrelevant,not linear).
as far as the writer is concerned the very fact of mentioning that u2 sound like coldplay-i stopped reading this review and realized that this dude has no idea bout u2's music nor whats goin on either!how on the earth can u say that?when chris martin(no offence-coldplay is my 2nd fav band),snow patrol,brandon-all of them mentioned that u2 is responsible for they getting into music business and everybody who lived the 80's sound know that these new band are influenced by u2's music and sound very much like them(what coldplay is doing now is that it's just exploring the joshua tree-u2 don't have to do that as that is not their motto to do same things twice plus most of their songs are a rip-off of u2's.ex:-"fix you" is a rip- off of i will follow....there are more as well!).to say that "u2 sound like them"- is quite shocking !!
also-when blender international,rs gave it 5 stars and then this guy gives it 3-it shows the disparity between professional reviewers and the amateur ones!!!
again-no offense against the writer here-sort of a fair review,but was shocked to hear a statement like that and not to mention-"reading 12 reviews and then coming up with 1".......
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By veejay469 1 April 8, 2009 04:02:37 AM
i dont really really have anything much to say here cause mr.premjit has overwhelmingly expressed my views on this album in the most accurate and clear manner and not to mention the way he handled the reviewers remarks which to say is really remrarkable to give a tit for tat response.
no doubt-this is their 2nd best ever and has tremendous potential to be even their no 1 which eventually time will decide!(time is irrelevant,not linear).
as far as the writer is concerned the very fact of mentioning that u2 sound like coldplay-i stopped reading this review and realized that this dude has no idea bout u2's music nor whats goin on either!how on the earth can u say that?when chris martin(no offence-coldplay is my 2nd fav band),snow patrol,brandon-all of them mentioned that u2 is responsible for they getting into music business and everybody who lived the 80's sound know that these new band are influenced by u2's music and sound very much like them(what coldplay is doing now is that it's just exploring the joshua tree-u2 don't have to do that as that is not their motto to do same things twice plus most of their songs are a rip-off of u2's.ex:-"fix you" is a rip- off of i will follow....there are more as well!).to say that "u2 sound like them"- is quite shocking !!
also-when blender international,rs gave it 5 stars and then this guy gives it 3-it shows the disparity between professional reviewers and the amateur ones!!!
again-no offense against the writer here-sort of a fair review,but was shocked to hear a statement like that and not to mention-"reading 12 reviews and then coming up with 1".......
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By adityeah 1 September 29, 2009 02:03:35 PM
I have heard every U2 album, from start to finish and have been listening to them for more than a decade now.
Lets dissect this review. The reviewer does not like "get on your boots" and "Stand up comedy".
"Magnificent", the writer says is "Brilliant". "Unknown caller" and "the opening track" are well executed.
The second half album is much tighter, "FEZ-Being Born", "White as Snow" and "Breathe" are brilliantly composed. So basically you are good with 6 songs of the album. You think they are brilliant and what not. You dont like 2 songs, that is clear.
Umm.. can you explain about the other three? No mention of them at all? We have an incomplete review here. Because then you go on to say that "The entire album however, has an overall downhearted quality to it. " -- Where exactly is it? What is this "excess usage of sound" that you keep mentioning? And it certainly reflects upon your music acumen that you have not even mentioned "Cedars of Lebanon"! How convenient -- in the name of personal opinion, you have basically given a half baked, incomplete review here!
I came across this review on a google search and I made the ID here specifically to comment on this appalling review. My only purpose was to say what I have said because kids need to grow up before magazines like blender give them an opportunity.
Lastly, will I ever come back here or read the magazine? NO!
Re: Review: U2 - No Line On The Horizon
Posted By bonosexual 1 October 2, 2009 09:36:15 AM
Man, fuck all you U2 masturbters. U2 sucks balls. It's the britney spears of britpop. All you faggots don't know shit about real music. Go and wank of to a U2 poster you fucking losers. Or better yet go kill yourselves!!!!
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