Album Review
U2's No Line On The Horizon
I took my time with this review (rather than writing it when the album came out, on March 3), because this is an album you should take your time with.
Here's the fast version of the background- in 2000, U2 started their "phase 4" of operations, releasing All That You Can't Leave Behind, a departure from the awesome experimentalism of their 90's albums from Achtung Baby to Pop. They followed up in 2004 with How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, and at this point all critics had to say was that U2 was a great band with no need to prove anything to anyone, but their new music is just awful.
So U2 took 5 years to record a new album. They started recording sessions with Rick Rubin, scrapped those, traveled the world from Paris to Morocco, but laid low for the time being. This was the longest period between 2 albums in their career (they did release a compilation and 2 singles, The Saint Are Coming with Green Day and Window in the Sky), and so people were waiting…
And the hype came on. A new album, No Line On The Horizon, it's exciting, it's an all-new-all-different style, it's back to the old style, it's the best since Achtung, it's the best ever, it's totally U2, it's not U2 at all, it's Eno and Lanois and Lillywhite and Will.i.am, it's melodic, it's rock, it's elecronic, it's everything, it's nothing…
So what is it already?
Here's what it's not- it's not what was promised. If you're waiting for an innovative U2 sound, the best since Achtung, then you're in for nothing but disappointment. If anything, in my personal opinion, it's a direct follow up to Dismantle. That said, as an album, Line is great. In one sentence- it's an insanely overhyped, good album. Don't expect anything else.
No Line opens with the title track, which as is the case with U2's past two albums, is easily one of the best tracks on the album. It's quite catchy and with a great rhythm, and Bono's vocals are just right. This continues with the next song, Magnificent, in which the Edge does something with his guitar that can make you want to hug somebody. The songs that follow are slightly more tuned-down, with Moment of Surrender registering at practically 7 and half minutes, probably one of U2's longest songs, though it doesn't feel too long somehow. Unknown Caller is also pretty catchy in a non-too-obvious way.
The album does have its problems. I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, for example, which just isn't a great song. Breathe is another song I don't seem too happy about, I think the album version isn't complete. And that's not to mention Get On Your Boots, which is fine in the musical department but the lyrics are just awful… Bono, you're way too old to be singing about sexy boots. I couldn't believe this was chosen as a lead single, honestly. And if Bono snippets "These Boots Are Made For Walking" during the tour when he sings this one, I'll be walking out of the stadium.
But then we get back to some good songs. Stand Up Comedy marks a tremendous improvement in terms of lyrics, with some meaningful insights (all in all, this album's lyrics aren't great, it seems like Bono is just trying to hit one cliche after another). Fez- Being Born has a very "Eno" touch at the intro, which I liked, and White As Snow is quite powerful. Cedars of Lebanon finishes the album in a very quiet way, which ironically is perhaps the most powerful statement in the entire album.
Be aware- this isn't an album of instant hits. It'll take a few good listens to really get the point and connect to the melody. And that's something all U2 albums have in common- you discover a new layer every time you listen.
The biggest issue that'll strike you at some point is that hey, this album sounds just like the last few. The interchange between the soft tunes and the harsher rockers, the particular order of the songs, the interesting original melodies and Bono's whispers contrasting with Mullen's power drumming and Clayton's addictive bass on some songs, the perfect harmony on other songs. To me it feels just like any other recent U2 album. It's not a bad thing at all, don't get me wrong. It's just getting a bit boring. Taken separately, most tracks are quite good. But as a whole album, the brief interplay between songs don't quite add up to a complete creation, which was the problem with U2's albums ever since Behind. It's one step closer to making the album stand at a higher level than the individual songs, but it's not quite there in the way albums like The Joshua Tree and even Zoopora come together.
It still makes for a good listen… but it could've been better.
Bottom Line (on the horizon)
It's fine. Not perfect, not amazing, not even refreshing. But Line stands up as a perfectly acceptable addition to U2's discography. More musically than lyrically, with the producers' touches more apparent than in older albums, it provides some great tracks that are sure to be hits when the U2-360 tour begins. As an album, no, it doesn't stand up to the hype, not even close… but hey, it's U2. What else could anyone expect?
I just miss Pop.
