U2 “No Line On the Horizon”
Jim Carroll
On The Record readers with an interest in sampling U2′s new album should proceed here where there are one minute snippets (yep, 60 seconds) of all the tracks from “No Line On The Horizon” to be heard. Please let us know what you think in the comments below.
Me? Well, seeing as you asked……
The arrival of a new U2 album has a strange effect on seemingly sane people. Many of my fellow critics, for instance, have greeted the new arrival with open arms, ticker-tape parades, unrestrained praise and new shades of purple prose. Such unpoetic arse-licking is to be expected from the band’s own golden circle of house-trained scribes, but it’s something else entirely when usually reliable bellwethers join the circus. Maybe they’re holding out for a 25 minute bull session with The Edge or it’s like the banking cowboys exhorting people to put on the green jersey
A peculiar byproduct of this particular release is the chorus of expert voices claiming that this is the album which will save the record business. Save the record business? Such misguided guff – that an album from one of the most marketing-savvy bands in the world will send people back into the shops filling their boots with CDs – makes you wonder when was the last time those experts actually stood in a record store and saw what was really going on out there. Naturally, HMV in Dublin will be opening at midnight on Thursday to provide the obligatory snap of U2 fans standing around on Grafton Street to get their hands on the new album. Have these people not heard of Rapidshare? Joke, OK?
It would be too easy – and, let’s face it, far more entertaining – to continue this post in a similar snarky manner. That would see us going down a road which would lead to an accountant’s office in Amsterdam or a room in the White House where Bono is knee-to-knee with George W Bush. But those are human transgressions. For musical transgressions, you have to head to the new album.
Like every outing since “Achtung Baby”, this album is about trying to go back to that glorious snapshot in time. “Achtung Baby” was where U2 were last at their most thrilling and they know it. Back then, they showed that you could only truly proceed in pop by abandoning everything which had served you well to date. Since then, they’ve tried valiantly to recapture that high ground, yet have not showed the inclination or bravery required to leave the baggage at the door. Once, it seems, was enough for that.
Like its predecessors, “No Line On The Horizon” doesn’t really amount to a hill of beans. It huffs and puffs and throws all the right shapes to make it look like the band are going to the well in search of reinvention and creative salvation. However, it’s all show and no substance. There are a flurry of ideas here and the usual retinue of astute helpers are on hand too to turn these ideas into potential gold and platinum, yet there’s little to indicate that the band have the mettle to challenge themelves by doing what is not expected of a band in their position. The notion that Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (and Steve Lillywhite is here too to keep things truly old-school) will always save the day is written large throughout. The fact is, though, that Eno and Lanois are only as good as who and what they’re working with and this is where the problems begin.
Actually, no, let’s be fair, there are a few positives here, a few turns like “Magnificent” when U2 fire on all cylinders like it’s the most natural thing in the world for four geezers to stand around in a room and make this sort of gut-busting music together. You can hear the cogs turning, the guitars and drums perfectly in synch, the sound of stadiums jumping up and down with glee. You can hear where the album could have gone and how it would have cocked a snook to the notion that such acts as Coldplay, Kings of Leon and The Killers are fit to stand on the same stage as U2. It’s the sound of a band not merely applying for their old job back, but actually writing a whole new “smart boys wanted” advert.
Sadly, such euhoria doesn’t last. You listen to “Unknown Caller”, “Breathe”, “Stand Up Comedy” and “Cedars Of Lebanon” and wonder what the hell is going on. It’s the comedown after the sugar rush. Like most of the album, each of these four tracks is a bit of a muddle with the band sounding strangely ill-at-ease with each other’s contributions and the song itself. It’s a strange kind of collective misfit, tracks trying to poke oneanother into making some semblance of sense together because they sure as hell don’t do so on their own.
It would be much too easy to signal out Bono’s lyrics for a bit of a lash here, but the truth is that he’s just one culprit in this blustery, burpy, over-cooked melodrama. The album’s glaring lack of coherence can be attributed to many factors, including a lengthy gestation period and a surplus of chefs at the pass, but such excuses only serve to show up again how a great album needs more than good intentions and ideas. It really needs a bundle of great songs and “No Line On The Horizon” is sorely lacking in this department.
While listening to the album, I kept going back to that careless run of shows in Croker in 2005 when the band went through the motions like a bunch of bored rich pre-occupied men counting their money. But pop fans are always willing to sit around for a second act. Like all romantics, we give our heroes the benefit of the doubt, hence why so many will fire up “No Line On The Horizon” and will it to be great. Just great – no-one is expecting a grime or hip-hop U2 (that was “Passengers”, wasn’t it?) or anything like that.
What we were after was an album to make us forget and overlook the distractions which the band have become about. We wanted an album to remind us that four musicians could stand together and deliver an album which was as honest as the day was long and as true to itself as rock can still sometimes be.
But with every song which doesn’t sound quite up to scratch, every groove which sounds too layered and over-analysed, every track which keeps meandering without any direction home and every awful bum lyric which makes you wince with pity for the writer, you’re reminded that U2 have other priorities these days and that this is an album created with those priorities in mind. This album will fill stadiums, newspapers, radio stations, web sites, quarterly target spreadsheets, bank balances, pension funds and investment opportunities in the tech sector. But, unlike so many other albums which will be released with far less fuss this year, it won’t fill your soul.
Typical begrudgery put a band down when you probably havnt listened to the album 7 or more times.
There’s nothing there that would draw you in to listen to it 7 or more times. I’ve listened to it completely for 4 times now for the sake of a review and it’s not an album I’ll be revisiting in it’s entirety. The first 2 tracks I like, and Fez is intriguing in a way that makes me want to listen to that a few more times but the rest do nothing for me.
I’m with Sean D (08,23 February,2009).The recordings with Rick Rubin would be intriguing,maybe the only way to hear them is for the whole band to die at once and they might be released, in the course of whipping a dead horse.I’m speculating that he would strip their sound to the basics,no pretentious meandering,just three chords and the truth.
Jim, great review, especially what you say about some of the other reviewers. Take Q for example, at the time they said that “All that you…” and “how to…” were classics, but only now this is out are they willi they dare to say that they are in fact not that great at all.
I was a diehard U2 and went to various locations to see them live this time.
For me it all changed in 1998, Pop had sold about 7m copies, they released the 80-90 greatest hits and it sold about 12m so surprise, surprise, they new album “all that…” sounds “just like the old stuff” as everyone said at the time. The have become so commercial and so like the Stones i.e. a U2 tribute band, its unbelievable.
In the past 10 years they have had 3(!!) greatest hits compilations, and every new album ‘sounds’ like a particular past U2 era.
Take the last tour, they even recreated the opening of the ZooTv tour in the encore! I mean, imagine going to see David Bowie and he comes out for the encore dressed as Ziggy Stardust!
Bono said a month or so ago, that if this wasn’t their best album then U2 wouldn’t matter anymore, it isn’t and sadly they don’t.
The sad thing is that could and should but they just dont seem to want to (excuse the expresion) “challenge the listner”
As a lifelong U2 fan I have to say I am sooooo! disappointed with the “4 boys form the Northside” I refuse to buy the album or tickets for Croke Park because U2 pulled out of the U2 TOWER & Renovating the CLARENCE…..At a time when labour costs would be low and the jobs are needed now more than ever.
Where is the bands support for Ireland?????? As always its lacking………I was hoping they would have something positive to say in their interview, The days are gone lads when you can get away with saying your misunderstood, I have done the lot….bought ur albums, Q all night for your tickets as my loyality of been a fan, So I am asking Where is your loyality to your City???????? Or are you the same as all the other speculators???? Just like the rats leaving a sinking ship.
As for the comments regarding music download, You did’nt have much to say about that when you were promoting and endorsing the ipod, So stay on your WORLD STAGE because you know here at home we will tell it like it is……… An X U2 Fan
Como una portada tan sencilla puede contener tanta calidad en su interior.
Es un disco genial,se nota que esteve y brian han colaborado en este trabajo,aportando sonidos y riifs y dando atmosfera que me recuerda a the jusua tree.
Felicidades por darnos momentos tan especiales y magicos como estos.
@86 – Fabrizio – Take the f**king spaghetti out of your ears. It a shitty album – plain and simple. I think we should hang U2 from the nearest lamppost for releasing this pile of crap. Anyone got a rope?
just been listening to passengers & million dollar hotel soundtrack.this is what u2 should get back to.I always thought u2 wre split into 2 camps,mullen/clayton in the conservative camp i.e mission impossible soundtrack,world cup song and bono/edge in the innovative camp i.e
clockwork orange,jah wobble,the above cds.
anyway who cares when a new simple kid cd is on its way,
cheers
Tom C @ 150 is so typical of pissed-off U2 fans hitting out at the critic and not what the critic has to say.
That tosh about “most reviews are so overindulgent and offer so little analysis” in particular – Jim Carroll’s review above concentrates on the music while Tom C takes aim at the reviewer. Is this the best defence that U2 fans have?
Fair play to Jim Carroll for calling it as it is (again).
ok ok lads, listen up.
that’s you adam, boner, edge and larry.
At the end of the day Larry, you are right and it is all about the drums. And U2 are still a point that need to be made, but only for yourselves. Let them all piss at the foot of the big tree, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done, rock n roll doggaes! There is’nt a little axe on land or over water thats gonna do any serious damage to the tree. Gettin my wages monday and gonna get me the dogs liathróidí mór version of the album, round about 3.30 in the afternoon. what’s it costing, about 50 quid?
The music just gets better and better, everyone’s just pissed off with economics at the moment, and thats all a loada shite anyway.
Lets just get those f.in’ boots on.
Thanks to the four of you in equal measure and big style. I’ve always loved the sound. When is the croke park gig anyway? need to get the dates organised. give me a call, cook you a nice lunch some time. j
I don’t know what you’re all moaning about. You want U2 to come out with something as ground breaking as Kid A and as immediate and as poppy as Britney Spears or whoever – oh yeah with some hip-hop and who knows what else thrown in… and if the new album isn’t that then it’s a total failure and Bono is a tosser and U2 caused the Credit Crunch, and we should get together and Burn Them! lol
Well, if you want all that, save yourself the bother cos nobody will ever do that, it’s not possible.
This new album though is pretty damn good, much better than I had expected given the last couple of records they put out, so why not give it a couple of months to get into it before organising the witch-hunt!
There’s three or four really good tracks on the album I reckon !
Bring back ma U2. Where have the lads gone to?
Zzzzz …..
Oh, hello.
I just woke up after sampling the entire new U2 album.
Terri stayed awake, but she said, and I quote: “I would take ANY Coldplay album over anything on this new U2 album.”
That says a lot about Coldplay.
But what about U2?
Are they “Magnificent” – well, um … no.
Not even that song is “magnificient” – passable, yes.
Radio-friendly? Perhaps.
Is this album a dud? Yes.
Terri doubts she’ll purchase this from iTunes and will likely acquire it through LimeWire.
But is stealing something that is worthless actually stealing, because it has no actual worth?
Bono is the elder statesman of our generation of rock and roll supergroups.
Our expectations are so high, given the genius of “The Joshua Tree,” “Achtung Baby” and “Rattle and Hum.” The songs on those albums stuck with you – there was just something about them, Terri says.
I agree. Something happened on the way out of Zooropa.
They lost their way big time in the late 1990s. Then they returned to their roots with “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” and “How to Destroy a Nuclear Waste Facility” or whatever the hell that now-forgettable album is called.
The U2 tracks from 1984 to 1992 will stand the test of time.
But will “Vertigo”? No.
Will anything on this boring piece of mediocrity? Seriously?
Terri asks if they did any product testing.
Such things get laughs from ol’ record and radio industry pros like Jake. But maybe she has a point.
Have Bono and the Edge lost their Edge because they are too concerned about sales and profits and what is “supposed to be the next generation of U2?”
Our generation, that love U2 for their music of the 1980s, would be more likely to purchase a new album from U2 if it was good than trying to engage an entire new generation of music lovers who are not familiar with their band, Terri says.
And she’s right – instead of appealing to the Akon crowd, they should appeal to the Duran Duran crowd.
U2 have forgotten their core audience.
Us.
Easy on the lads! We’ll never see another Joshua Tree. And I personally hope we don’t see another Achtung Baby – a rock band playing pop. But I will say this, U2 continue to produce 6-7 U2-power-songs with every campaign. With the exception of Joshua Tree, I have always known U2 to experiment – songs I consider filler material. Typically a little less than half of the songs on all their albums are filler. Even WAR had filler with songs like Refugee, Red Light and Surrender. Unforgettable Fire had 4th of July, Indian Summer Sky and MLK. And ATYCLB had In a Little While, Wild Honey and Grace. Some of those lyrics were atrocious!
So if they can produce 6-7 (even 5) great U2 songs per album – then I’m happy. Not every band is perfect.
My opinion again from what I heard, NLOTH has about 5 really good U2-power songs.
No Line on The Horizon****
Magnificent ****
Moment of Surrender ***
Fez – Being Born ***
Breathe****
Cedars of Lebanon (this one is growing on me)
Just my 2 cents.
After listening to the will.i.am version of no line on the horizon b side to boots,
its a shame that U2 didnt continue to follow that route with the album. i agree its a case of three of four goods songs and the rest forgetable
unfortunalty if you are the biggest band in the world you are held up to an unbearable level of scrutiny.
The thing i find with music is that after your first album 99percent of bands go down hill and fade away U2 managed to avoid that trap.
to close Jim Carrol is part of the circle of journalists that no matter what U2 release he will slate compare to what came before and just give it a poor review.
Jim wrote that review before u2 for the current album during the last album tour.
We’ll never see another Joshua Tree.
Heh, reminds me of an interview with Bowie talking about working with Ricky Gervais on Extras, and he was asked to write the song for the scene. Gervais asked for something Starman, or Life-on-Mars-y and Bowie replied back “Oh yeah, I’ll just knock out another ‘Life on Mars’ then, sure, no problem”
On first listen though I gotta say I quite like NLOTH…
Come here, did anyone really listen to boner’s vocal performance on the track ‘no line on the horizon’. Great stuff out o ye lad. Bono, yer Dad ud be proud, God rest him. Chris Martin? I dont think so. (is that yer man’s name from coldplay?
Come on people, a lot of yer comments are starting to sound like restaurant reviews from non chefs like tom doorley….
Its an album. its an absolute beauty. stop hankering after a band from the good old joshua baby years. Lost their way out of zooropa my irish arson wenger. Please please save your breath to cool yiz r porridge.
Young people of u2, we love you. still have’nt managed to buy the 59 quid big mamma version. The wages got all emergency taxed there on monday so i’ll have to wait til 3.30 friday afternoon now. wonder if i can get a better deal in holland with me taxes.
ps any chance of a spare couple o tickets Larry, it is all about the drums man.
young lowry o Navan.
ok, this is the last little word, i promise. Unless adam or edge decide to get involved.
Ah come here now anthony sir from back up on march the 2nd, you simply cant say that MLK is mere filler on the Unforgettable Fire. Listen to Nina Simone’s ‘Why? The King Of Love is Dead’, and then to MLK. That little piece of music more than cuts the mustard.
Here it is for me:
“Of course, listening to an album is’nt going to turn anyone into a genius; you can’t get more out of the experience than youre capable of bringing to it”
-Robert Palmer writing in the sleeve notes for Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue.
I’d love to hear some genuinely original observations from someone out there who’s really hearing this album. ‘Women are the future of the big Revelations’, what about that then all the Ladies?
First step for a national recovery for Ireland: send Jonny Logan to the shaggin eurovision with a song written by Eno, Lanois and you know who.
Well that’s it honest, no more. yeah i gotta go, i’m runnin outta change, but there’s not a single u2 album ya’d ever rearrange.
thanks n cheers,
the james from del Navan who’s now in Mullingar
Jim Carroll is pretty much on the mark.
There are a few “songs” on this album that are just lazy or pretentious or whatever you would like to call them …. a waste of electricity? However I wouldn’t include “Stand Up Comedy” in the list of songs that should have been dropped from the album. It has the makings of a great song, and would love to hear it belted out live.
“No Line On The Horizon” pretty much sums up why albums are on the way out. People do not like to feel that thay have spent time and money paying for crap even if it’s wrapped into the same package as a gem. U2 are their own worst enemies, they hyped this album up to be what it is not, a great album.
Having lived a life with U2 ever since they appeared on TV in perhaps ’77 with Bono throwing shapes and pretending to be able to sing, I had to buy the album.
I regret not heading out on a rainy night to see them playing in Ballina all those years ago, but I don’t regret paying €12 for this album. For the perhaps 5 good tracks, this album is worth €12, just don’t expect it to be a great album.
I think its a pretty good album, nothing more or less than that.
Having listened to the album a few times I’m running out of songs that I’d skip past.
Still don’t get Fez:Being Born and Breathe but the rest are well worth listening to…
this album is a grower. At €12 it is excellent value for money.
Starting to regret not paying the extra €8 for the delux pack. Would be interested to see the DVD.
Seanson, from what I looked at in HMV on Sunday an extra €38 would have got you the DVD as it’s included in the boxset, while the €20 version allows you online access?
It’s a disappointing album, but starting to grow a little and I suppose I bought it out of ‘brand loyalty’ – still it’s woth the €9 in cost in Borders with their promotion offer.
Bono, hang up yer boots.
It took them how long exactly to cook up this turkey?
This album is magnificence itself. U2 are out of their comfort zone and rebelling in the challenge. Magnificent, Stand Up Comedy, White as Snow, Cedars of Lebanon, FEZ – stunning stuff.
The 60 second snippets available online had me thinking this was going to be color by numbers U2 – jangly but cliched guitars and yearning vocals.
No! The reality is a warm, multilayered, masterpiece. As in Masterpiece.
Is there a weak link? Maybe – toward the beginning of the second third of the album. I haven’t quite reached a conclusion yet.
(NOTE: Achtung Baby has always been this listener’s favourite U2 album – and it had Wild Horses as a weak link.)
Simply stunning stuff!
It’s been at least 17 years since U2 sounded this good over the course of an album.
responses welcome – johnflynch at verizon d0t net
I’ve been along for the ride with U2 since that first EP and Boy itself. I admire them tremendously.
There have been peaks and valleys (never a bad album – but not always masterpieces). I REALLY think this is a peak.
This review seems way off base but everything is subjective. The reviewer (Jim Carroll) seems to be grumpy and hell-bent on criticism.
QUOTE: “You listen to “Unknown Caller”, “Breathe”, “Stand Up Comedy” and “Cedars Of Lebanon” and wonder what the hell is going on. It’s the comedown after the sugar rush. Like most of the album, each of these four tracks is a bit of a muddle with the band sounding strangely ill-at-ease with each other’s contributions and the song itself.”
At least three of these songs are among my favourites on the whole album – different strokes for different folks I guess??? God love democracy!
good review. don’t know where these masterpiece opinions are coming from. this is the first u2 album i just do not like. even after several listens and some hand-wringing too.
several of the songs have potential. good music ruined by bono’s vocal weirdnesses.
as for u2 the corp, ill be satisfied to not have any bono infomercials included in this year’s tour.
no, no, no Jim and all the Others!
You’re simply wrong on this album.
Cant stay silent again.
Its not a turkey. Its a thing of beauty and a serious piece of work. Anyone hear the bass lines in this and the last album? There’s a great new something in there.
Leave Bono’s mouth out of this and the misconstrued preaching/ blah blah blah/ and how everyone is indulging our economic blues right now. Fcuk that shit.
Blustery, overcooked melodrama it just plainly is not. It’s not a hill it’s a mountain.
Dont mind being called a blind u2 fan or a loonie. One thing i know is i’m not deaf. This one is a masterpiece.
Come on you people, stand up for your love.
cheers Jim, J
What does one do after 32 years together…continue to figure out something new and try to evolve. Learn from the past and try to be more accomplished. U2 will always be trying to have it both ways — small enough for intimacy –bombastic enough for the arenas. apart from this, the album is chaotic, trying to have it both ways, but nevertheless succeeding. U2 will never be the shy wallflower, but they truly are the sum of its parts: Introspective Clayton, Mother Mullen, Preacher Bono and Confident Edge — they will never be irrelevant and we will never be indifferent to their music. Continue to troop on boys….you may one day find a street that has a name.
This review seems way off base but everything is subjective. The reviewer (Jim Carroll) seems to be grumpy and hell-bent on criticism.
Sorry to disappoint you dude, but I’m the sunniest person you could ever meet. I’m always “hell-bent” on giving praise where praise is due. That review above looks at the MUSIC and the music alone and U2′s music on this occasion doesn’t come up to scratch. I know it’s hard for you fan-boys to accept that people can listen objectively to a record like “No Tune On The Horizon” and see it for an over-cooked, under-performing turkey. If you want an uncritical review which just fawns at the band’s feet, please go elsewhere
Good man Jim,
i’ve enjoyed your writing and wit, ( fanboys how are ya!) but we’re just going to have to agree to differ on this one. eh, you’re on the losing side with this one sunny boy!
This album rings clear and true. No overcooked turkey on the horizon. Thanks for the chance to discuss. the songs dont need any defence, just a good ear with an open mind.
good luck, j
Hey Jim,
Come on, its ok to admit it. Everyone gets it wrong some times. You’re allowed make a u turn if this soaring, soul-filling album is starting to grow on you by now.
This is the best Daniel Lanois album ever!!……so when is this new ‘Brilliant’ U2 album that all the media critics are on about coming out?? Cant wait for that!!
Come on Dean, that just wont hold any water. If you can say that about this album, then go back and call most of them Lanois albums since tht unforgettable fire. Sure Lanois and Eno’s undeniable musical stamp can be heard on No Line, but clearly you have not listened to one of Lanois’ superb albums as to be quite frank they sound nothing like this or any of U2′s other albums. This is a U2 album and it is absolutely f’in fantastic. Deal with it people. You just dont get it. Move on, try to say intelliigent things about something else!
Pure crap ,this is an insult throwing out all those U2 albums i bought over the years ,is Bono a Zionist????
Now thats a good one Caiomghin,
How d’ya make out the Zionist bit? Bono’s a lot o things, but Zionist?
pray tell, i’m intrigued
“That review above looks at the MUSIC and the music alone and U2’s music on this occasion doesn’t come up to scratch. I know it’s hard for you fan-boys to accept that people can listen objectively to a record like “No Tune On The Horizon” and see it for an over-cooked, under-performing turkey. If you want an uncritical review which just fawns at the band’s feet, please go elsewhere” – Jim Carroll
Having listened to the Album over the past few weeks there are perhaps 2 songs that I would pass over and drop from the ould iPod. It is a much much better album than Atomic Bomb which I struggle to get back to.
Jim, your continued animosity towards this album suggests that you haven’t listened to the album very much or just don’t like U2’s music full stop.
There is much to like and indeed love about this album. It may not be the great album that Bono suggests, but despite my earlier feeling towards it, I now believe that it is a very good album.
And at the price I paid for it
Probably the best value very good album I’ve ever bought.
I feel like I may be a little late with this but as the concert looms I thought I’d chip in.
I have to agree with you Mr. Carroll. I’m a big fan and would still count U2 as one of my favourite bands but alas I have been sorely disappointed with their last 4 albums. I believe it might be akin to being in a doomed relationship where your partner says they will change and try harder but alas, they never do but you never leave.
I thought I heard promise with the openeing tracks of No Line but then, as before, it descended into more of the same. The songwriting at every level was lazy and uninspiring.
It hurts hearing this stuff, knowing what they were capable of in earlier years.
Is it age? Have they lost the hunger? The Ambition? The raw creativity of the young artist? (Just listening to Bono’s lyrics would suggest so). I dont know and I dont want to jump on the wagon of how they are just corporate lackeys or wannabe politicians. I believe that they still believe that they are a rockband at heart but the passion to invest in creating a blood, sweat and tears rock album seems to be absent.
I’m still going to the show on Fri and looking forward to it. But I wish I could be singing along to new songs that made me feel something like the stuff of Achtung Baby did.
Meh – like many has said, great moments are there, but few. Feels commercial, and tired. 90% of the album content took time to read any inspiration from. Nothing exciting. I went to the live concernt, and it even sounds like Bono and crew are tired, and not enthused with their product either.
And what’s up with the sunglass?