U2 – ‘No Line On The Horizon’ Album Review
February 27, 2009 by Dave Parrack
U2’s twelfth studio album, and their first in five years, No Line On The Horizon, is being released on March 3, 2009. Thanks to the full album being streamed on the group’s MySpace page, I’ve been able to review it early, although thanks to a mistake by the record company, I could have obtained it illegally by now anyway.
I should note straight away that I’m not really a big fan and never have been. U2 have had some fantastic songs in the past but there’s just something about them I don’t like. I think it may be Bono. With that in mind, read on.
01. No Line on the Horizon
Bono’s voice – you either love it or you hate it, there’s very little middle ground. In this song, it’s terrible, screechy, wailing, and very hard to listen to. The song is also a bit nothing, dragging towards the end and not really having much substance to begin with.
02. Magnificent
Better, but still not great. This song sounds like a dozen other U2 songs all mashed together. It’s as though Brian Eno has fed the band’s back catalog into a computer and this the result. I’d like this song if it was the first song on the band’s first album, but at this stage in their career, it’s not enough.
03. Moment of Surrender
I like the idea of this song more than the song itself. The bassline and lyrics are fine, and once again, it’s Bono’s faltering voice that ruins it. I know there’s such a thing as a rock voice but this is ridiculous. The moody guitars in the middle of the track are nice, but not enough to save it.
04. Unknown Caller
A slower song with a heavy bassline. Bono even sounds OK on this one. A good song but even this drags towards the end. Have U2 forgotten how to make punchy, no-filler, songs?
05. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
It starts out like a Stone Roses song and then quickly subsides into the usual U2 fare. Bono trying to reach higher noted has to be one of the most painful things I’ve heard in a long time. It’s catchy in a bizarre way but not worthy of being released as a single.
06. Get on Your Boots
I can see why this was chosen as the first single from the album, because it’s the only one that I can imagine working as a single. The bassline is awesome, if not reminiscent of a hundred other rock songs. Then Bono starts singing and it all goes horribly wrong.
07. Stand Up Comedy
Not a bad song, but again, no originality. You can hear the inspirations seeping through your speakers, and that’s not a good thing for a band meant to be innovators rather than copycats. And Bono’s minuscule range is again shown up.
08. Fez – Being Born
Finally, some originality. Unfortunately, trying new things doesn’t always work, as it doesn’t in this case. The song takes two minutes to get going and then completely fails to deliver on its early promise.
09. White as Snow
Very slow, very dull, and not really worth listening to. I have to hope this is just the self-imposed lull to set up the album for an explosive finish.
10. Breathe
This feels like U2 trying to take off Coldplay and failing badly. The melody is a mess, the lyrics are inane, and Bono once again ruins the song by just being involved. I’m running out of things to say because there’s only so many negative comments I can make in one review.
11. Cedars of Lebanon
One of the worst album closers I’ve heard for a long time. I don’t want to listen to Bono delivering a monologue thanks. Just shut up, please. After 50-odd minutes of this garbage, I’ve had enough.
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I hate to say it but I think U2 have lost it. We’ve waited five years for this album, then it arrives, and is utterly devoid of any hits. Some albums work without having any standout tracks, but No Line On The Horizon even fails on that score.
Bono’s voice is worse now than ever, and the whole band seem to have lost their ability to deliver original rock songs. This album is garbage, and while I’m sure the die-hard fans will defend No Line On The Horizon, I cannot find a good word to say about it.
No Line On The Horizon – 3/10
[Photo Source: From Newscom with permission]
[Photo Source: Amazon.co.uk]
Either Dave has it right, or dozens of music magazines have it completely wrong. Rolling Stone – 5 stars; Q, NME, Uncut – 4 stars; various newspapers averaging 3-4 stars. Hmmm…..
Dave – where are you seeing a streaming album on MySpace? The only song on the player is Get On Your Boots. Am I missing a trick here?
Oh thank god, it isn’t just me! This album is a complete disaster, and I have still yet to get through the whole album. It’s a mess and completely uninteresting. Gee… so glad I have a rant to listen to as the closing track… joy.
Gerard – To the left of the track, there’ll be thumbnails of the album covers. Click on the one for No Line On The Horizon and Bob’s your uncle.
Sean – I doubt we’re alone in our thoughts on this album either. Are you usually a U2 fan?
DJCJ – Reviews are nothing more than opinions. So I can be neither right or wrong.
Yes, I usually am a fan, but this album is just terrible.
“I should note straight away that I’m not really a big fan and never have been. U2 have had some fantastic songs in the past but there’s just something about them I don’t like. I think it may be Bono. With that in mind, read on.”
I should have not read on after this paragraph. Two criteria in my opinion should be involved in the reviewing of an album, 1) Solid Familiarity with previous releases and 2) Listen to the album more then twice……
Dave,
I understand you don’t like Bono-it is not so hard, but this album is much better than previous two. Bono is not trying to reach high tones. His singing is not pathetic like it was on ATYCLB and HTDAAB. On each of these two records you can easily find at least 5 boring songs. On NLOTH there is no weak song! Everyone with enough brains and heart will enjoy this album for a long, long time…
It is not fer to expect absolut creativity and quality from U2. We are living in very cold and selfish times with a great lack of creativity, humanity and positive energy… U2 are giving a lot, but can not fill all the gaps… People expect to much from them…
You don’t like Bono. Boo hoo
Personally I love the album and think it’s U2’s most compelling in years
How U2 get so big? I like Oasis.
Ah… Nice to see a review that isn’t written by one of the pandering record company shills that fill the pages of Rolling Stone, NME, et al. This is a dull as hell album and even ‘Solid Familiarity with previous releases’ doesn’t change that. In fact, if the album wasn’t crap then being familiar with their earlier stuff wouldn’t matter – you can’t trade off old glories forever.
I wrote a huge review, then realized I could just say this:
Go listen the the Joshua Tree album.
I have been the biggest U2 fan since the Joshua Tree came about back in 1987. Having got that outta the way I happen to wholeheartidly agree with this post on the following points:
1) Bono singing on this album is the WORST ever even POP trumps it
2) The songs are all consistent….NO CHOURSES AND NO MELODIES
3) The remedy for listening is to skip all the tracks
All and all U2 try to makeup for a crap album by doing a blackberry sponsored tour which goes back on what they used to say about not selling out to big business…Going forward this has resulted in U2 no longer being relevant. All the work they accomplished trying to get back to basics has gone to shit with this album. It’s a sad time for me as a die hard U2 fan as I will never think of them in the same light.
It’s kindof similar to your favorite sports figure getting outclassed by the new breed of talent. They are just too old and the fire is not there to make a decent album.
After 6 months of trying to digest this CD I just gave away my copy of NLOTH, I simply don’t want this CD in my collection. I was and still am fan of old U2 work, but I think that they finally accomplished Bono’s “two crap albums and we’re out”. Seeing this U2 (360 Tour included) is like seeing high school sweetheart being prostitute on the street. They are old, predictible, jukebox machine with only passion left for money. What they portrayed in Achtung Baby and ZOO TV Tour, they became today: sold out rock stars who play just for ego and $$$. Goodbye U2.