1. No Line On The Horizon - 9/10

An epic song with great lyrics. I love Bono's voice on this one. It will make a good contender for concert opener. I love how it builds up and gets more rocky. The Edge does a great job on this, although I have to say I still perfer the alternative version that was the B-side to 'Boots'. It just sounds much more fresh and contemporary, and I like the No! Line! chant at the end. There is alot of "Oh Ohhh Oh" on this album, especially on this track, and it really fits in well and will sound great live.

Fave lyric: The songs in your head are now on my mind/ You put me on pause/ I'm trying to rewind and replay

 

2.Magnificent - 11/10

At First I have to say although I instantly thought it was a great song, I thought it was also very over-rated cause alot of fans were saying it was one of the best U2 songs of all time etc. But the more I listen the more I love it. It is addictive and just such a brilliantly constructed track that will stand the test of time most definatly. The guitar riffs are just perfection. This is going to be amazing live.

Fave Lyric: Only love/only love can leave such a mark/ But only love, only love can heal such a scar

 

3. Moments Of Surrender - 11/10

I cannot desribe how much I adore this song. It is just bloody amazing. I was shocked at first, as it starts off like it's going to be a ballad, and then Bono's voice just blows you away with the line "I tied myself with wires". This is like a gospel song of epic porportions. The lyrics are some of the finest Bono has ever written imo. His voice is just AMAZING and so powerful on this song. It may be over 7 minutes long, but it does'nt feel like it. Edges solo at 5.04 is just magical :wub: This is definatly my fave song on the album, after Magnificent. I just adore it :wub:

 

Fave Lyric: The stone was semi-precious/ We were barely conscious/ Two souls too smart to be in the realm of certainty/ Even on our wedding day

 

4. Unknown Caller - 9/10

At first I did'nt know what to make of this strange track, especially the odd chorus, but I love it now. It could easily fit onto Zooropa. Great intro, love the verses and I think the chorus makes it a unique gem, and I hope they play it on the tour. Once again Edge delivers an excellent solo towards the end. He is definatly the best he has been in a long long time imo. A great uplifting and interesting track.

Fave Lyrics: I was at the scene of an accident/ And I sat there waiting for me

 

5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy - 10/10

LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. Ok, it may very well be a safe track that is U2 by numbers and only put on so there would be a commerical hit on there, but that does'nt take away from the fact that it is a great song that is classic U2 completelly. Classic U2 opening, with excellent vocals from Bono, with a classic uplifting chorus. Really like the lyrics too. As Bono called it, this albums 'Beautiful Day' - and I definatly think it will make a big second hit single. It is very radio friendly, and just gets better and better with each listen.

Fave Lyric: Every beauty needs to go out with an idiot

AND - Every generation has a chance to change the world/ Pity the nation that won't listen to you, boys and girls

 

6 - Get On Your Boots - 7/10

Really liked this at the start cause it was fresh, different and interesting, but I am finding myself skipping it. There are several things I like about it, the guitar riff is excellent and I really like the verses (and some of the lyrics), but the whole chorus just does not work and when they perform it live that becomes very clear. When Bono shouts "You don’t know, and you don’t get it, do you? over the rest of the chorus, it just seems like a bit of a mess unfortuently. It sounds a bit like a Demo that just was'nt produced well enough and frankly I think they only released it cause they wanted to release a hard to digest type of single to divide opinion. And although the album certainly isnt very commercial and (unlike the last two) full with potential singles, there are still several songs that would've done far far better in the charts than this (it only got to #14, there worst charting lead single). Magnificent, MOS, Crazy, Stand Up Comedy and Breathe would all make far better singles).

Fave Lyric: Here’s where we gotta be/ Love and community/ Laughter is eternity/ If joy is real

 

7 - Stand Up Comedy - 10/10

LOVE this. A great rock song with soaring Led Zepplin like guitar riff from The Edge. Lots of attitude here, with a great raw sound. This is going to be amazing live, and will make a great single. Some great lyrics here. The meolody reminds me of The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, but it overall has a very U2 sound to it, and I think this and Bullet In The Blue Sky will go very well together live.

Fave Lyric: Stand up to rock stars, Napolean is high heels/ Josephine, be careful of small men with big ideas

 

8 - FEZ - Coming Home - 8.5/10

Alot of U2 fans seem to adore this song and many saying its their fave on the album, but it is my second least favourite. Although unlike Boots, it ticks the boxes. It is a very adventurous and original sounding song. I think it will be great in a stadium. Edg'es guitar work is very impressive here.

Fave Lyric: The engines roar, blood curling wail/ Head first then foot/ The heart sets sail

 

9. White Snow - 9/10

A Beauty of a track. Bono's vocals are fantastic. At first I thought it was a bit Boring, and this albums 'One Step Closer', but now I've heard it several times It definatly won't be a song I will be skipping. It is beatiful. Reminds me of 'The Wanderer'. Think it would make a great song to close the shows with.

Fave Lyric: Now the wolves are every passing stranger/ Every face we cannot know/ For only a heart could be as white as snow

 

10 - Breath - 10/10

A Stomping rock song that is classic U2 but at the same time very different to anything they have done before. I love how Bono sings this one. The guitar riffs is just brilliant, the track overall is full of attutide and energy. The chorus is uplifting. At first I was'nt overy fussed about this. Thought it was a good track but not a stand out, but now I love it and it's in my top five. The chorus in particular has that U2 magic, and once again Edge's solo, especially at 3.39 is just glorious :wub: Will make a great single, and will be great live. Definatly the biggest grower on the album for me.

Fave Lyric: But I’m running down the road like loose electricity/ While the band in my head plays a striptease

 

11. The Cedars of Lebanon - 9/10

This is a truly great song and very effective considering Bono is just speaking. Lyrically it is probebly the best song on the album. As a song it really works, due to the lyrics being so good.

Fave Lyric: The worst of us are a long drawn-out confession/ The best of us are geniuses of compression

 

 

I could write all day about my overall opinion of this album, but what I want to say has been summed up in so many of the amazing reviews it's been getting. This review in particular I agree with Music Radar.

Overall as an album it is the most rewarding and addictive album they have released since Achtung Baby IMO. I love the last two albums, but this is definatly a more consistent and better flowing album. It's not an album full of singles with a couple of fillers, it is more like a complete piece of work, like the way the Joshua Tree was. While this is not extremly experimental like we were led to believe, it is alot more adventerous than the last two.

With ATYCLB, the first half of the album was excellent. But imo, songs like Grace and New York are fillers, and WILATW and POE, whole both very good songs, are nowhere as good as the first half. On HTDAAB, there were five really great songs imo, but One Step Closer, Fast Cars and Crumbs On Your Table are nohing special in my view. With this album though, there does not seem to be a single track that is universally seen as being average by the fans. Even my least fave tracks, are songs that seem to be others favourites. This is such a strong collection of songs, and I do think this is going to be seen as a classic in the future. So many of the fans are saying it's their third masterpiece after the JT and AB, and in terms of consistency and quaility songs, it is the closest album to AB in terms of quality out of the last four albums. The think The Edge plays brilliantly on this album, better than he has for a long time, and Bono's voice is seemingly getting better with age. Even Adam and Larry's work on this album is very noticable, wheras it usually is'nt so much imo. This is arguably there most complete album they have ever released and I am delighted with it. It is such an accomplished, coherent and challenging record and with every listen it grows greater. Well done lads, now announce the tour already :dance:

 

I will post my review when I've listened a few more times. I've been sick and have only heard it a couple of times. -_-

 

 

I told you Get on your Boots was cack. Nice to see you've come round to my way of thinking :P

I agree with what you say about Magnificent though. It is indeed just that. And it gets better with every listen. Will be absolutely fantastic Live.

 

Now why couldn't that have been the first single? :blink: Sometimes I think music people are very strange. :wacko:

 

Only Love. Only love can leave such a mark. :dance: :dance: :dance:

Ooh I REALLY need to hear this, judging by your review! :o

I like '...Boots' so I can't wait to hear the others if that is your least favourite on the album!

Downloading now...

OK, as owner of every U2 album to date (Top 5 U2 albums: 1. Joshua Tree; 2. Acthung Baby; 3; All That You Can Leave Behind; 4. War; 5 Zooropa)

 

After my third play on Spotify:

 

1. No Line On The Horizon - 8/10

An epic start to the album that could easily be a show opener. Very majestic, yet dirty rock in a Lust For Life sort of way at the same time. Bono's vocals do sound like he is trying too hard to be the lead singer of Kings Of Leon on the verse though.

 

2.Magnificent - 10/10

This track starts like it was something recorded for their Zooropa album, with some great instrumentation before classic The Edge guitar riffing & early Steve Lillywhite Boy/October/War style earnest vocals from Bono over an anthemic track. If this had been the lead single they would have had a UK #1 hit no problems. Vintage U2.

 

3. Moments Of Surrender - 10/10

Next the album's longest track & their most epic on the album. A lovely building instrumentation part that lasts 80 seconds before Bono's vocals interject on this gospel influenced track. The "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" for the new millenium as it is "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" perfected.

 

4. Unknown Caller - 7/10

Now this track sounds like it could have been taken from their Passengers project due to the influence of Brian Eno before going into a Joy Division style drumbeat before the familiar Edge guitar sound & Bono's "Ooohh-oohh" reverberate. However the verse and chorus meander a bit too much for me and fail to catch hold IMHO despite the build in sound & volume at the track runs on.

 

5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy - 7/10

Like all major music acts the erosion of time leads to the realisation that an act is now immitating the acts they once inspired. And this track sounds like Bono & The Edge have been hanging outside Coldplay's studio. A Beautiful Day this is anything but.

 

6 - Get On Your Boots - 5/10

Forget a lead single status this poor rip off of Elvis Costello's Pump It Up meets The Escape Club's Wild Wild West should never have made the album. A disjointed mess from start to finish. Vertigo this is anything but.

 

7 - Stand Up Comedy - 8/10

Like all major music acts the erosion of time leads to the realisation that an act is now immitating the acts they once inspired. And this track sounds like Bono & The Edge has been hanging outside the Red Hot Chili Peppers's studio. At least the song is built around a stronger riff.

 

8 - FEZ - Coming Home - 6/10

Not a good start reprising parts of Get On Your Boots. Despite sounding very original for about a minute it then descends into something less promising that just meanders far too much for my liking.

 

9. White Snow - 10/10

Now this cries out last single from the album release it in December. A lovely, beautiful Johnny Cash country style feel to this ballad track due to the Edge's guitar playing & Bono's vox. Very atmospheric with lyrics that paint pictures. Listening to it the third time I recognize it is clearly "inspired" on the chorus by Cat Stevens' Sad Lisa.

 

10 - Breath - 8/10

By U2's standard this is slightly strange. The vocal arrangements on the verse are more REM's Michael Stipe than Bono thanks to trying to fit too many lyrics into the melody. Whilst the chorus is nearly delightful but does not quite deliver a killer punch. However there are some lovely unexpected key changes/bridges in the track, but it feels a bit too slow in tempo. I sense this will go down better live than on record.

 

11. The Cedars of Lebanon - 7/10

.... and Bono preaches a spoken Bob Dylan like sermon to the world. It has very much the same impact as U2's Mothers Of The Disappeared did on The Joshua Tree .... which is no bad thing.

 

Conclusion: Musically they sound superb; but the tunes are not in force certainly compared to their last two albums. As anyone & certainly music critics who watched the BRITs, it was noticeable that both Kings Of Leon & Coldplay sounded better live. Like Madonna's last album although by nowhere near the same disastrous fall off in quality, the realization hits that U2 are no longer the mainstream's Greatest Band In The World today.

 

Overall 7/10

Speaking of Spotify,

 

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/4...-right-now.html

Where to hear the new U2 album - right now

All of 'No Line on the Horizon' - due for release next week - can be heard for free on website Spotify.

 

By Neil McCormick

Last Updated: 6:20PM GMT 23 Feb 2009

 

U2's 'No Line On The Horizon' is the most eagerly awaited album of the year, with advance reviews declaring it their best since the glory days of 'The Joshua Tree' and 'Achtung Baby'. The Daily Telegraph's Andrew Perry called it "less a record than an event, breathtaking in its ambition and its shimmering, mesmerising and sometimes outright volcanic sound". It is not available to be bought (or downloaded) until next week, but by registering with the free Spotify service, fans can already listen to it to their hearts content.

 

U2's stadium allies Radiohead shook up the business in 2007 when they made their album 'In Rainbows' available to download for free, asking consumers to only pay what they wanted. Although a majority paid nothing at all, the band and their label made enormous profits through special editions and by keeping a larger slice of the pie. U2 have not gone quite so far. Yet the very fact that a group in their position would make their music available to be heard for free suggests that the days of paid for albums are numbered.

 

It is certainly a major coup for the newly launched Spotify, an unlimited music "streaming" service which many believe is the model for the future of the music business. Spotify describes itself as an internet radio service in which listeners make their own playlists. It has deals with all major labels, giving it a vast catalogue to rival popular download site iTunes. Users hear a 15-second advert every half hour (while music without adverts is available for a £9.99 subscription).

 

It is, in essence, a vast digital jukebox in the ether. Its biggest limitation is that you can't currently download music to listen to on an MP3 player, in a car, or on any other portable music device. U2 can still expect to go to number one all over the world when their album is released for sale next week, but the writing for the CD is surely on the wall. Once the technology has made the next step, so that the music can be streamed directly to mobile devices, then it is hard to see why anyone should need to own their own copy of an album. Everything you could ever want to listen to will be available, anytime, anywhere, at the click of a button.

 

Whether advertising revenues alone can support the music business in this fashion is open to question. Yet record companies are embracing Spotify in the hope that it will bring an end to rampant illegal downloading. When the U2 album leaked online at the weekend, it was downloaded over 100,000 times in the first ten hours. But now you can listen to it on Spotify faster and easier, without breaking the law.

 

I can't find the album on Spotify...

 

I couldn't find it when it was apparently on at the weekend either!

That’s your opinion Rich, but in my opinion and the opinion of an endless amount of critics this is their best album since AB - and as far as not being the best band in the world anymore, I defiantly don’t agree when the competition are Coldplay and Kings Of Leon. Viva La Vida is nowhere near as good as No Line On The Horizon in my view and certainly the view of the man who produced both albums Brian Eno, who only described Viva to be “ok”. In my opinion the album is far too overproduced and inconsistent. No Line is the complete opposite for me, as it has a very raw sound and is their most consistent album since AB for me. And Only By The Night is a really good album, but very samey imo, and defiantly not as good as this. This in my view is a ‘proper album’ so to speak, it is something I find I have to listen to it from start to finish as oppose to picking different tracks like I do with most albums. It is a complete piece of work and I love it. I really liked Atomic Bomb (although it doesn’t seem to be very popular with U2 fans in general for some reason), and I adore ATUCLB, but it seems the majority of the reviews for this album (even the reviews that only gave it 3 stars), all are of the opinion that the last two albums were too safe and that this album is a return to form. I’ve noticed that overall the reviewers cannot agree on the stand out tracks, even the few 3 star reviews all pick different songs as being the best, which is a very good sign imo.

 

Also, I don’t see how Crazy Tonight sounds like Coldplay. It has such a U2 sound of it, and is basically U2 by numbers. I actually cant even imagine Chris Martin singing it tbh. If it sounds anything like Coldplay, it sounds like Coldplay trying to sound like U2 :lol:

 

And as far as the BRIT performance goes - I agree it was nowhere near U2's usual standards but that has been the same for every performance of 'Boots', it just doesnt work properly live overall. Although I agree Kings Of Leon were better, Coldplay certainly were not. Chris Martin was out of tune I don't know how many times, although at least he wasnt doing too much of his Bono impersonation like he did at the Grammys :lol: Still I am positive U2's new tour is going to be just amazing and groundbreaking in the same way Zoo TV and Popmart was. :wub:

 

Btw, I really love the title track now, but I just listened to the alternative version for the first time in about a week and it is so much better and faster. :wub:

 

double post

Edited February 27, 200916 yr by Mr. Macphisto

That’s your opinion Rich, but in my opinion and the opinion of an endless amount of critics this is their best album since AB - and as far as not being the best band in the world anymore, I defiantly don’t agree when the competition are Coldplay and Kings Of Leon. Viva La Vida is nowhere near as good as No Line On The Horizon in my view and certainly the view of the man who produced both albums Brian Eno, who only described Viva to be “ok”. In my opinion the album is far too overproduced and inconsistent. No Line is the complete opposite for me, as it has a very raw sound and is their most consistent album since AB for me. And Only By The Night is a really good album, but very samey imo, and defiantly not as good as this. This in my view is a ‘proper album’ so to speak, it is something I find I have to listen to it from start to finish as oppose to picking different tracks like I do with most albums. It is a complete piece of work and I love it. I really liked Atomic Bomb (although it doesn’t seem to be very popular with U2 fans in general for some reason), and I adore ATUCLB, but it seems the majority of the reviews for this album (even the reviews that only gave it 3 stars), all are of the opinion that the last two albums were too safe and that this album is a return to form. I’ve noticed that overall the reviewers cannot agree on the stand out tracks, even the few 3 star reviews all pick different songs as being the best, which is a very good sign imo.

 

Also, I don’t see how Crazy Tonight sounds like Coldplay. It has such a U2 sound of it, and is basically U2 by numbers. I actually cant even imagine Chris Martin singing it tbh. If it sounds anything like Coldplay, it sounds like Coldplay trying to sound like U2 :lol:

 

And as far as the BRIT performance goes - I agree it was nowhere near U2's usual standards but that has been the same for every performance of 'Boots', it just doesnt work properly live overall. Although I agree Kings Of Leon were better, Coldplay certainly were not. Chris Martin was out of tune I don't know how many times, although at least he wasnt doing too much of his Bono impersonation like he did at the Grammys :lol: Still I am positive U2's new tour is going to be just amazing and groundbreaking in the same way Zoo TV and Popmart was. :wub:

 

Btw, I really love the title track now, but I just listened to the alternative version for the first time in about a week and it is so much better and faster. :wub:

 

Well I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree.

 

I'm on my 7th play of the album now on Spotify, and I think there are only 3 classics (Magnificent; Moments Of Surrender & White Snow) on this album fit to join their canon. Whilst I still believe it is their weakest album since Pop.

 

Yes I know it has got 5 stars reviews in both Rolling Stone & Q Magazine (but so did Red Hot Chili Peppers equally mediocre Stadium Arcadium). Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers last album I think this album's difficult labour signifies a band in Rolling Stones (since 1973) slow decline. I no more expect U2 to come up with a classic on the par of their twin peaks The Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby then I would expect Prince to come up with an album near to the par of Purple Rain or Sign O The Times.

 

Whilst I disagree with your synopsis that this album is better than Viva La Vida or In Rainbows, because whilst it sounds great, the tunes and melodies are not prolific or strong enough.

 

In fact of the albums I've bought this year I would rank it (once I buy it next week):

 

1. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

2. Lily Allen - Its Not Me, Its You (& I thought her debut album was good singles, the rest poor filler)

3. Lady GaGa - The Fame

4. The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

5. U2 - No Line On The Horizon

6. Emmy The Great - First Love

7. Morrissey - Years Of Refusal

 

Whilst I've heard the leaked second album by Bats For Lashes - Two Suns which I think I could easily rank in 1st place once released; whilst I've heard 3 tracks from Depeche Mode's next album Sounds Of The Universe that are of a better standard than U2's new album, and that is something I never thought I would have said 20 years ago!

 

As for Brian Eno, well he said amazingly complimentary things about Dido's Safe Trip Home (which got near equally positive reviews as the U2 album), and that album sunk faster than Guns N Roses Chinese Democracy ..........

 

But as music journalist and Radio 2 DJ Stuart Maconie said about U2 this week "like REM & Radiohead they could make an album full of the sounds of bodily functions and still get 3 star reviews", because of their well won reputation as a holy grail of rock music.

 

I'm waiting for my cd before I post my review. I like to listen in the dark with my headphones on and listening on the PC just hasn't the same sound quality. -_-

i cannot express how disapointed i am with album an di bought it friday by far one of the most disappointing album i have bought in a long time,i could have cried when i listened to it i was that disappointed

:mellow:

 

I REALLY like it!

Don't have many of their albums, but I like it much more than 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'.

 

I think my favourite song is probably 'White as Snow'. 'Magnificent' and 'Fez - Being Born' are great too. :wub:

Not my favourite album of the year, but I certainly think it's better than 'Viva La Vida' (which I quite like too)

i cannot express how disapointed i am with album an di bought it friday by far one of the most disappointing album i have bought in a long time,i could have cried when i listened to it i was that disappointed

 

I've got to add having bought my CD copy today, I think it sounds worse on CD on my £400+ expensive midi system then it does being played on Spotify on my computer.

 

But I saw the BBC 2 Culture Show Special where they said it was the first album mixed to benefit people who listen to music being played on buds in their ears (i.e. IPods; etc) may explain why is sounds that way.

 

I stand by my previous opinion that it is their worst album they released this decade & if I was to Rank U2's albums in order of preference they would now stand:

 

1. The Joshua Tree

2. Achtung Baby

3. All That You Can Leave Behind

4. War

5. Zooropa

6. The Unforgettable Fire

7. Rattle And Hum

8. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

9. Boy

10. No Line On The Horizon

11. Pop

12. October

Oohhhhh :blink:

 

My copy hasn't even arrived yet <_< . And I was so looking forward to listening to the fine sound quality on my gramophone. So the sound quality is crap? :huh:

I will do my ranking list from their albums

 

1. Acthung Baby

2. The Joshua Tree

3. Rattle and Hum

4. All That You Can Leave Behind

5. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

6. The Unforgettable Fire

7. War

8. Zooropa

9. Boy

10. October

11. No line on the horizon

12. Pop

 

Over the next few weeks no line on th ehorizon could easily swap places with pop ,but i will give it a few more chances

Interesting. I may set up a 'rank the albums' thread in a week or so when everybody has had a chance to listen to NLOTH. ^_^

My cd arrived today :cheer:

 

I think I need to listen to it a few more times :unsure: it's kinda different to what I expected

You mean you hate it :lol:

:lol: na not at all, I really really like the song Moment of Surrender, and I expected the rest of the songs

to be along the same lines as that one, but they are all very different, and I guess that's good in some ways.

 

I'm sure the more I listen to the album the more it'll grow on me.

 

oh and btw, the boots song will still be in my top 5 :lol: