U2

[MrMagpie]

It kind of looks like the artwork for Ghosts I-IV or whatever that NIN album was called.

[chuck kottke]

Less is more in the art world. Besides, it's what's inside the package that really maters most..;)

[DreamOutLoud]

y'all I just posted the link to the new single leak (snippets) and no one has seen it? or have you checked it out even?

[Corkus]

Album Art - Hmm...seems dry but is actually effective (lines above and below the horizon, but no line on the horizon). I suppose I was expecting the band on it since they've been on the last several.

Track List - Wasn't "Moment of Surrender" said to be 8 minutes? Not sure I feel great about it being the 3rd track, then.

Single Snippets - Unfortunately too brief and low-quality to really get anything out of it. Ah well, just a few more days...

[MrMagpie]

Yeah, I didn't really get anything out of the snippets :P

[Ms Magpie]

I think a girl is singing in the first snippet. :uhoh:

[Cemetaries]

Get On Your Boots is avaible on iTunes US, on pre-order with the album !
:)

[Corkus]

Get On Your Boots is avaible on iTunes US, on pre-order with the album !
:)
Not fully functional yet, however. The whole album does show up in iTunes as a pre-order, along with Get on Your Boots highlighted, but an error message pops up if you try to place a pre-order purchase. It will likely be activated Monday or Tuesday.

Stop getting me excited over nothing. :P

[chuck kottke]

u2 - Beautiful Day!!YouTube - U2 Beautiful Day Live From Chicago
That's what they need to play at Barack's Inauguration.
:)

[bjaiken]

That's what they need to play at Barack's Inauguration.
:)

I've heard that they will play Pride.

[chuck kottke]

Pride would be a most excellent choice as well - and very fitting, considering the song is about self-sacrifice for the good of humanity; from the Normandy invasion to Martin Luther King Jr., to perhaps Jesus?

[Tnspieler1012]

awesome picture from their website :cool:

http://media.u2.com/non_secure/images/intropage/nloth4.jpg (http://www.u2.com/home.php?PHPSESSID=2c554a80326e23dcf972d63eb84b4a2 2)


Pride would be a most excellent choice as well - and very fitting, considering the song is about self-sacrifice for the good of humanity; from the Normandy invasion to Martin Luther King Jr., to perhaps Jesus?

Well if they do play Pride it'll be predominantly because of the many references to MLK, with Obama being the first black president. If there's time they'll probably play something like beautiful day as well.

[Osaka Sun]

Probably Pride, Beautiful Day, or even City of Blinding Lights....

Would be amazing if something from No Line on the Horizon was played though.

[chuck kottke]

Spectacular Scene!:cool:
Gotta love the flooring too - quite an assortment of woods!
..Yes, I was thinking that as well - there could be no more fitting a tribute to our first president with roots in the African-American community...
I hope they get time for two songs - it would be worth it, considering the times were in.

[chuck kottke]

No Line On The Horizon is set to be released on air Tuesday (Y/N). They might do just that!! Either way, I'm sure they'll play their hearts out for the event - I've noticed that when there's a need for it, U2 always pulls though.
:)City of Blinding Lights - I will need to refresh my memory on that one..

[Corkus]

I actually believe "City of Blinding Lights" was used as the theme of a few Obama campaign rallies. Obama himself has placed it on his personal list of top 10 favorite songs.

Naturally, since I don't really like the guy, this may be the only part of the inauguration coverage I watch. :P I think two songs would happen if we're lucky, though.

[Tnspieler1012]

^ There's gonna be at least two songs. Since U2 is so big and difficult to book, on the rare occasions they play tv shows, it's never only for one song.

[Pseudonym]

awesome picture from their website :cool:

http://media.u2.com/non_secure/images/intropage/nloth4.jpg (http://www.u2.com/home.php?PHPSESSID=2c554a80326e23dcf972d63eb84b4a2 2)





What a fantastic studio!:D

[bjaiken]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117998406.html?categoryid=18&cs=1

Well, I don't know if they will play more than one song but, again, the executive producer is quoted as saying that they will play Pride.

[deaths_friend]

Re: studio pic

its safe to say its the best that money can buy. an incredible sight. but i still think the pics of radioheads studio during the making of In Rainbows is just slightly cooler because everything in their studio is soo messy and wild with that post-modern touch.

[Tnspieler1012]

Re: studio pic

its safe to say its the best that money can buy. an incredible sight.

Seriously! with that floor and those carpets that look like they were snatched straight from the taj mahal...

[MrMagpie]

From atu2.com

NEW @U2 U2 ON STAGE FOR SOUNDCHECK
January 17, 2009
posted by: m2 Twitter user jackmjenkins posted a photo (http://twitter.com/jackmjenkins/statuses/1127145130) of U2's soundcheck about 15 minutes ago on Twitter. No word on what song(s) U2 was rehearsing, but it looks great in front of the Lincoln Memorial. (Click that link above for a larger version of the photo.) Here are some tweets from other people who saw the band's soundcheck:

http://twitter.com/RSSchaefer/status/1127097568
http://twitter.com/creightonc/statuses/1127158830
http://twitter.com/kcopley/statuses/1127143972

UPDATE #1: Twitter member betternovembers (http://twitter.com/betternovembers) tells us that U2 rehearsed "Pride" and "City of Blinding Lights" today.

UPDATE #2: "betternovembers," AKA Meg Linehan (http://www.wakefromyourself.com/), will be posting photos from the front of the stage in this Flickr set (http://www.flickr.com/photos/byhirequeynte/sets/72157612695247064/). Thanks Meg!

[bjaiken]

^ It looks like it will be Pride and City of Blinding Lights. I expect U2 to be stellar. IMO, no band is better on the big stage than U2. It should be great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ntB_9ItRS8&eurl=http://u2.interference.com/f195/u2-obamas-inauguration-192386-4.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H38PNjQKvN0&eurl=http://u2.interference.com/f195/u2-obamas-inauguration-192386-4.html

If anyone is going to give U2 a run for their money, I expect it to be Bruce Springsteen. It should be a great day.

[Tnspieler1012]

well, there we go. Nice choice of "city of blinding lights", although a new track would've been sweet.

[MrMagpie]

^Only thing is a new song would leave everybody but fans saying WTF.

[bjaiken]

^ Yes, these are good choices, especially Pride.

[Larry]

"Get On Your Boots" will be aired tomorrow morning on several radio stations around Europe.

(all times in CET!!!)

Ireland:
RTÉ 2FM: 9.10am (first radio station to air the new song)

Germany:
NDR2: 9.15am - 10am
WDR2: 9.15am - ?
SWR3: 9.15am - 12pm
N-Joy: 9.15am - 10am
(Private radio stations are allowed to play this song from 3pm)

Austria:
Antenne Steiermark: 10am - 11am
Ö3: 9.15am - 10am

Switzerland:
Radio Energy Zürich: 9.15am - 10am

UK:
Radio1: 9.15am - 10am

Belgium:
Studio Brüssel: 9.15am - 10am

:)

[footyfan10]

I was at the concert. I'd never seen u2 and they definitely didn't disappoint. What was disappointing was that I was one of the only people in the crowd who knew the words to the songs...or at least the people in my general area. It would have been awesome to get everyone behind them. I was belting away with Bono though. It was pretty amazing. Edge was in form. It was just fucking fantastic.

It was funny, cause at one point Bono tried to get the crowd going, but most of the people had no idea about the song...and it peetered out. I want to watch this on tv later, or hopefully just see a taped version at some point (you gotta believe they'll find a way to sell this - id definitely pay), because the awkwardness was unbearable.

All in all just tremendous. I wish I could have seen U2 with some real U2 fans around me, but as it was I'm pretty happy. I got to see The Edge do work, and that was pretty fucking brilliant.

(haha sidenote: wasn't just there cause it was a concert. been a legit Obama fan since '04.)

[MrMagpie]

Cool, glad you had a good time!

[bjaiken]

I was at the concert. I'd never seen u2 and they definitely didn't disappoint. What was disappointing was that I was one of the only people in the crowd who knew the words to the songs...or at least the people in my general area. It would have been awesome to get everyone behind them. I was belting away with Bono though. It was pretty amazing. Edge was in form. It was just fucking fantastic.

It was funny, cause at one point Bono tried to get the crowd going, but most of the people had no idea about the song...and it peetered out. I want to watch this on tv later, or hopefully just see a taped version at some point (you gotta believe they'll find a way to sell this - id definitely pay), because the awkwardness was unbearable.

All in all just tremendous. I wish I could have seen U2 with some real U2 fans around me, but as it was I'm pretty happy. I got to see The Edge do work, and that was pretty fucking brilliant.

(haha sidenote: wasn't just there cause it was a concert. been a legit Obama fan since '04.)

Glad you had a good time. I watched the whole thing on television and, in my opinion, you are correct. The energy at that event was weak, but it was not just for U2. It just seemed like the whole event lacked any enthusiasm. I was disappointed. I am a huge Springsteen fan, too. I thought his performance was nothing special.

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

excellent report plus the same happened to me on Coldplay hwne people knew only lyrics of Viva

[chuck kottke]

Considering the cold day it was, and the fact that this was open to the general public, who come from widely varied backgrounds, it was all in all pretty good! I thought Bono and U2 did very, very well, and in some ways had to "prove themselves" to the audience, which boosted their performance. Spring or summer, it would have been a much more active crowd, me thinks[[@@]]

[chuck kottke]

Considering the cold day it was, and the fact that this was open to the general public, who come from widely varied backgrounds, it was all in all pretty good! I thought Bono and U2 did very, very well, and in some ways had to "prove themselves" to the audience, which boosted their performance. Spring or summer, it would have been a much more active crowd, me thinks[[@@]]

[footyfan10]

Ok so the song has hit the internet. It's available on US iTunes. It better be a grower...cause im not feeling it.

Is bono really trying a hip/hop lyric...?

Edit: wow left out the link. http://goyb.u2.com/

[Dejan]

this first single is embarassing

[Pseudonym]

this first single is embarassing
I agree. Sounds like like they took their shittiest song, ate it, and shit it back out again

[bjaiken]

I have only listened to it once. but it doesn't sound bad to me.

[Dejan]

vertigo is a classic compared to this new one.
even the title is ridiculous

[yellowtalk]

wow thats different

[psykomyko]

It is very different, but I actually like it.

[countingdemons114]

hahaha. wow. a little extreme now.

there are tons of things happening at once in this song, besides the rock quartet thing they've had going on for the last two discs.

-processed drums
-that skittering synth in the background
-handclaps on the & of 3
-the opening messy-as-hell drum fill
-the bell tone effects in the "sexy boots" bit
-sounds like they gave bono an acoustic and mic'd it during the chorus, and it's actually an important part
-the vocal harmonies in this song are, hands down, the most interesting and exciting uses of harmony they've had. there may be more complicated harmonies (I can't think of many, but ok), but none of them have been used in the integral way this song does.
-there are three vocal hooks. The "Sexy Boots / Get on your boots," "You don't know how beautiful you are," "Let me in the sound" - so those who say this is typical U2, I'm trying to think of the last time I heard a U2 song and couldn't immediately say, "oh, this is verse-middle 8-chorus repeat". wait, Zooropa.
-swagger
-a sense of humor
-a sense of something exciting being made

there's a million things going on. it feels like listening to U2 update itself on everything it's missed over the past 9 years or so. it feels like going to school with them. it may sound reminiscent of U2, but there is nothing calculated about this single, unlike "vertigo" or "beautiful day" - which are both good, but just feel like they are made for iPod commercials, for commercial appeal.

this is a big, excitable, honest song. really hard not to like it.

[Ms Magpie]

Sounds interesting so far!

[Navegador]

I hope I'm wrong, but I guess this new album will be the little brother of Pop.

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

this first single is embarassing

shame we cant take you seriously

[MrMagpie]

I hope I'm wrong, but I guess this new album will be the little brother of Pop.

I wouldn't mind that :P

It does sound very Pop-ish though I agree.

[jfc]

To call it embarrassing is stretching it. i mean it isn't that bad, it's certainly more poppy. in fact i can't wait for the release as for me i didn't like some of their last albums, this for me sounds ok. if its march the third that isn't to long to wait.

[ZooTelevision]

It's...not what I expected...

[JDFSX1]

I LOVE IT :-D

-Jesse-

[MrMagpie]

I'm looking forward to hearing it in the context of the rest of the album.

[Dejan]

To call it embarrassing is stretching it. i mean it isn't that bad, it's certainly more poppy. in fact i can't wait for the release as for me i didn't like some of their last albums, this for me sounds ok. if its march the third that isn't to long to wait.

sounds like justin timberlake song produced by timbaland (even the title).
[and we are talkin about U2]
if this is not embarassing enough......

[Lore]

I'm not sure about the song yet... can't wait to hear the album

[Timothy Q. Mouse]

This is brilliant.

[Malcolm-Edge]

Its an awesome song. I loved it the first listen.

It has a new sound to it mixed with old U2.

[iPsy]

It's okay! I hope it's a grower ;)

[Corkus]

It's certainly not a bad song, but given the hype, I suppose I was expecting something more...exuberant for the first single. Doesn't mean it has to be as chorus-dependent as Vertigo, though I certainly dig the "You don't know how beautiful you are" sequences.

I'll be giving it more listens throughout the day. :)

[Navegador]

@Dejan
I agree with you.
Weak song.
If this was just an album filler, I wouldn't mind, but this is the FIRST SINGLE, for Christ's sake!

[polkahard]

Needs a couple more listens before I can decide. I'm thinking this is going to be a grower, but it's rather "ehhhh" for me at the moment. Not bad, but not especially memorable either.

[Dejan]

@Dejan
If this was just an album filler, I wouldn't mind, but this is the FIRST SINGLE, for Christ's sake!


this is the problem

[Osaka Sun]

I'm not liking "Get on Your Boots" as I thought I would expect. It sounded like a nice album-filler at first, but once the chorus entered, I suddenly became embarrassed to be a U2 fan. What was that? Why would you make this the first single, or a single for the album at all?

And I was going to pre-order the album too...

:(

[bjaiken]

I listened to it again today...I am starting to like it more.

[seeyousoon35]

I am liking it. A lot.

[crawlinwithin]

it'll grow on me, i'm likin the sound they're goin for tho!

[seeyousoon35]

it'll grow on me, i'm likin the sound they're goin for tho!


Me too! It is great to hear them expanding a bit more, although their last Album was fantastic. One of my favorites.

Still after hearing "Get on Your Boots" I am really excited to hear more!

[Choldplayer]

Its a strange song,doesnt really make sense.I hope it grows a lot because just now it sounds like a "bad Elevation".

[Tnspieler1012]

Yeah, a real let down for me. The riff is sorta cool, but that's about the only thing I can say about it, everything else about it seems pretty weak. I know there have to be some way better tracks on the album, but I'm feeling kind of anxious that I'm preferring pretty much every track off of HTDAAB to the lead single...I was hoping that they'd go a different direction from the kind of city of blinding lights/vertigo flavor of the last two albums, but this isn't really what i had in mind.

[MrMagpie]

I think its good except for the vocals.

[crawlinwithin]

am i the only one who thinks this song sounds like "pump it up" by elvis costello?

[chuck kottke]

I only know "Everyday I write the book"; but maybe? Elvis Costello, hmm.. I know some Costello's from the old neighborhood, but one cannot say if they're related..
But considering they're trying new things, it's an experiment then. I have only heard the bootleg version, which was barely audible, if almost incomprehensible. Not enough time to investigate further tonight.
Anyhow, did everyone like Bono's performance at the Inaugural sing-along?:P:) I think U2 did very well, considering the weather. Adam Clayton really added strength during the performance, and Larry's drumming was excellent. Edge's voice came in handy too - a good boost during the frigid, dry air out there..
Wow, and what a crowd!! Looked like fun, and Barack looked very pleased.;)
I was glad to see them playing there, as it was like a prophesy come true..

[footyfan10]

i like the song, but i dont love it. its not U2 for me. i definitely appreciate its fun aspect, but its just not the u2 i love. i expect some of the other other songs will add a little more rock and roll type u2.

i feel like this song is sort of a sad attempt to appeal to young people. like a very sad attempt. bono said they were going after younger audiences with this record, and i see this as the starting point of that. i really hope we dont get a lot of that. bands that shoot for an audience...well they tend to fail in their eyes and in the majority of their fans eyes.

[Dejan]

i feel like this song is sort of a sad attempt to appeal to young people. like a very sad attempt. bono said they were going after younger audiences with this record, and i see this as the starting point of that. i really hope we dont get a lot of that. bands that shoot for an audience..

i agree 100% with you

[a-chan]

I've listen to it a few times and I still don't know if I like it or not... I hope it will grow on me but I don' know I'm more like this ->:inquisitive: at the moment....

But I'm intrigued and I can't wait to hear the album!

[yellowtalk]

Their Inaugural Performance was pretty well done...very good actually :)

Their latest single hasn't really hit me yet.

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

this is the problem
not bigger problem than your sthe size of your sugnature

[Navegador]

The song had a good idea (guitar riffs, bass line).
All these efforts were destroyed by its vocals. Freakin' lame and obvious vocal line.

[Denise]

I don't have an opinion yet, I just listened to it today for the first time..the only thing I'm gonna say something about is the bassline, which I love..well done Adam :cool:

[Timothy Q. Mouse]

LET ME IN THE SOUUUUUUUUUUND

Yeah, this is fan-fucking-tastic. Such a tune! :D

[MrMagpie]

The song had a good idea (guitar riffs, bass line).
All these efforts were destroyed by its vocals. Freakin' lame and obvious vocal line.

Agreed.

[Open, Politik]

I did'nt like this song:(

[FixYougirl]

Let's wait for the album in March. I'm sure it's a great album.

[bjaiken]

Listening to "Boots" is making me even more excited for the new album. I can't wait.

[A RUSH OF VIDA]

I didnt like the new songle but im still excited about hearin the new album!

[MrMagpie]

Seriously do you have to put the entire lyrics to a song in your signature? It takes up half of my friggin screen.

[Ms Magpie]

Seriously do you have to put the entire lyrics to a song in your signature? It takes up half of my friggin screen.
It takes all of mine .... :uhoh:

[megacity]

LET ME IN THE SOUUUUUUUUUUND

Yeah, this is fan-fucking-tastic. Such a tune! :D

i really dig this song, too. quite alternative sounds for u2 these days, a good way to do the new album.

[Famous Old Painter]

Not as bad as I expected it to be, though nothing mindblowing either.

[chuck kottke]

In some ways reminiscent of earlier works of theirs...

[footyfan10]

I'm hoping U2's album basically doesn't go crazy. That it has some songs like Get on Your Boots and some stuff more like the Joshua Tree days.

I guess I don't even mind GOYB. It's that I mind a lack of seriousness. I can listen to pop-happy songs from anyone. They tend to be songs I'm into for a few weeks and then occasionally come back to to remember old times. Well I don't want this to be one of those songs, and I don't want U2 to be one of those bands/artists.

I mean come on..."sexy boots".

It's definitely funny. And I enjoy the song quite a lot. And I do know you can have a U2 album (or rather a Bono album) without a lot of seriousness (cause Bono is mad serious).

I just hope musically they aren't going after Zoorapa and Pop. Achtung Baby is great, but it's not my favorite U2 style.

I think if U2 do what Coldplay sort of did on Viva la Vida I'd be very happy. I know Coldplay didn't experiment nearly as much, but there were sounds I didn't expect. I know U2 will experiment a lot more, but I just don't want the whole thing to be like GOYB. I don't think it will though - I hope not at least.

[DreamOutLoud]

I'm hoping U2's album basically doesn't go crazy. That it has some songs like Get on Your Boots and some stuff more like the Joshua Tree days.

I guess I don't even mind GOYB. It's that I mind a lack of seriousness. I can listen to pop-happy songs from anyone. They tend to be songs I'm into for a few weeks and then occasionally come back to to remember old times. Well I don't want this to be one of those songs, and I don't want U2 to be one of those bands/artists.

I mean come on..."sexy boots".

It's definitely funny. And I enjoy the song quite a lot. And I do know you can have a U2 album (or rather a Bono album) without a lot of seriousness (cause Bono is mad serious).

I just hope musically they aren't going after Zoorapa and Pop. Achtung Baby is great, but it's not my favorite U2 style.

I think if U2 do what Coldplay sort of did on Viva la Vida I'd be very happy. I know Coldplay didn't experiment nearly as much, but there were sounds I didn't expect. I know U2 will experiment a lot more, but I just don't want the whole thing to be like GOYB. I don't think it will though - I hope not at least.


well I can tell you one thing for sure the new album is not going to be like Joshua tree. From the beach clips I have heard and the reviews of the albums that I have read this new album has a achtung baby/zooropa feel with the songs. Personally i loved these albums and i like the funkyness of Boots so I am looking forward to it immensely! You can definitely feel that moroccan influence in the music.

We will have to wait and see. Hopefully the album will leak before March 3rd.

[MrMagpie]

Yeah, we're never going to hear anything like the Joshua Tree from them again.

More experimental driven stuff like their 90s stuff is a more realistic possibility.

[chuck kottke]

If only Bono would call, I'm sure I've got a song or two they could adapt..:P

[Tnspieler1012]

Listened to "boots" a couple more times and I still can't convince myself it's anything more than a crappy, low budget version of vertigo. :(

[footyfan10]

well I can tell you one thing for sure the new album is not going to be like Joshua tree. From the beach clips I have heard and the reviews of the albums that I have read this new album has a achtung baby/zooropa feel with the songs. Personally i loved these albums and i like the funkyness of Boots so I am looking forward to it immensely! You can definitely feel that moroccan influence in the music.

We will have to wait and see. Hopefully the album will leak before March 3rd.

I guess when I say Joshua Tree I mean songs that aren't just experimental...I don't know if that fully encompasses my thoughts.

For the longest time I just didn't like Achtung Baby. I've been listening to it ALL THE TIME lately. It's an awesome album and I'm very annoyed that One was the only song I really explored.

I guess the way I see it, I don't need U2 to make songs that will get great radio play. I mean besides some of their greatest hits, I usually find better fare outside of what they release as singles.

I love experimentation, I just don't want that to lead to a bad album. Sometimes experimenting just doesn't work out. If they hit it out of the park like everyone seems to be saying they are, well than thats awesome. I really think U2 won't let me down.

[Corkus]

If this album truly is all-out "experimental", it could very well be that "Get on Your Boots" is simply the most radio-friendly song on it. I mean, on HTDAAB, I felt several songs were superior to "Vertigo".

What I'm now expecting from this album is not a full-fledged return to The Joshua Tree or anything, but rather a superior version of their stuff from the 90's.
We will have to wait and see. Hopefully the album will leak before March 3rd.
Some time in the last week of Feb. sounds probable.

[Tnspieler1012]

If this album truly is all-out "experimental", it could very well be that "Get on Your Boots" is simply the most radio-friendly song on it.

I've thought of that, like in relation to some radiohead album's... That's the hope I'm sort of holding out on, as the first three tracks are over 6 minutes long.

[DreamOutLoud]

I guess when I say Joshua Tree I mean songs that aren't just experimental...I don't know if that fully encompasses my thoughts.

For the longest time I just didn't like Achtung Baby. I've been listening to it ALL THE TIME lately. It's an awesome album and I'm very annoyed that One was the only song I really explored.

I guess the way I see it, I don't need U2 to make songs that will get great radio play. I mean besides some of their greatest hits, I usually find better fare outside of what they release as singles.

I love experimentation, I just don't want that to lead to a bad album. Sometimes experimenting just doesn't work out. If they hit it out of the park like everyone seems to be saying they are, well than thats awesome. I really think U2 won't let me down.

when you say experimental that's pretty relative to each individual's definition of it. U2 has never gone to the extreme with experimental they just like to take their music in a different direction that is still U2 you know? I would say it won't be too far off and will be mainstream cuz that's just how they are. I don't think this will be a crap album at all. Bono has always said "Two crap albums and we are out". This has yet to happen in their 30 plus years of making music I doubt it will happen this time.

[Osaka Sun]

Achtung Baby was an acceptable album. I mean, it showed that U2 could continue to be original, and even though I didn't enjoy most of the album, there were a couple of tracks that were great (ie. One, Mysterious Ways and Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses).

Zooropa and Pop, IMO, are still absolutely bullshit albums. I wish the band never released them actually. U2's experimentation led them to amazing albums in the 1980s...but in the 90s it was a completely different story. And when Bono says that the band was "reapplying for the job ... [of] the best band in the world" in 2000, you know that something must have been wrong.

GYOB doesn't sound from the Zooropa/Pop era, but what worries me is the band's laid-back attitude this time. The song is nowhere to be compared to Vertigo. I'm worried that whatever comes out of the rest of the album is not going to turn out great.

I'll have to listen to another single to determine if I'll pre-order or even buy the entire album. :(

[MrMagpie]

Reason #1 why Zooropa is not a bullshit album: Stay (Faraway So Close)

[Tnspieler1012]

^That's the only song off of zooropa I have kept on my mp3 player. The rest is pretty much crap.

[JDFSX1]

Anyone planning on seeing them on the upcoming tour? How much do "Good Seats" usually go for at a U2 concert?

-Jesse-

[DreamOutLoud]

Anyone planning on seeing them on the upcoming tour? How much do "Good Seats" usually go for at a U2 concert?

-Jesse-


oh hellz yeah.. I plan on several shows this year for sho.


saw 10 shows last tour.

it depends on what you mean with "good seats". For a U2 fan(not the casual fan) being as close to the band is the best and last two tours those were GA tix which also happen to be the cheapest at 50 bucks a ticket with the lower/upper level of reserved seats ranging between 75 to 120 bucks. I imagine this will go up a little bit this tour with Live Nation being involved with this tour and its promotion. But U2 has always made sure that the best were the cheapest (meaning being closest to the band) I am sure they will keep down and be somewhere near the 50 bucks or maybe a tad more.

Myself, I did all 10 shows that i saw GA and was and is the greatest experience ever hands down. I would never go to reserved seating for a U2 show.

[bjaiken]

Anyone planning on seeing them on the upcoming tour? How much do "Good Seats" usually go for at a U2 concert?

-Jesse-

I saw 2 shows on the last tour, and I am planning on going again. Live U2 is the best.

[MrMagpie]

Unless you can get GA for $50 (not even sure if they'll do that that cheap this tour) you are most likely going to have to pay $90-$100 USD for decent seats.

[Black Rose]

Get Your Boots On = A poor stereophonics b-side.

I might go and see them if the tickets ain't stupidly priced and they play somewhere near-me.

[FixYougirl]

I've just read on a French website about U2 :

- 10 et 11 juillet au Stade de France
- 13 juillet à Nice.

These dates are not official though. I think i'm going to watch over the dates.:)

[Corkus]

Never seen U2 live before, but I'm gonna make a real effort this go-around. $100 isn't cheap but also isn't unfair, especially considering how I paid more than that for Coldplay.

[footyfan10]

"'Get On Your Boots' is a great opening salvo from what is a brilliant album," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes commented. "No Line On The Horizon is a huge record, full of big songs, powerful riffs and superb musicianship. It's more musically diverse that any U2 album since Rattle And Hum, mixing hard rock, psychedelia, pop, electronica, dance, folk, country, spiritual music and orchestral shadings in what is a fantastically heady brew. It will certainly challenge U2 fans, but my guess is that they'll ultimately be inspired. It's going to be a massive record. I can't wait to hear the songs live."

from

http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=5206


I really like what he has to say about the record being diverse. That's EXACTLY what I wanted to hear. I couldn't have an all Zoorapa album or an all Joshua Tree album. I am officially massively pumped.

[seeyousoon35]

"'Get On Your Boots' is a great opening salvo from what is a brilliant album," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes commented. "No Line On The Horizon is a huge record, full of big songs, powerful riffs and superb musicianship. It's more musically diverse that any U2 album since Rattle And Hum, mixing hard rock, psychedelia, pop, electronica, dance, folk, country, spiritual music and orchestral shadings in what is a fantastically heady brew. It will certainly challenge U2 fans, but my guess is that they'll ultimately be inspired. It's going to be a massive record. I can't wait to hear the songs live."



I really like what he has to say about the record being diverse. That's EXACTLY what I wanted to hear. I couldn't have an all Zoorapa album or an all Joshua Tree album. I am officially massively pumped.

Reading that just made me way more pumped than I already was, which was a lot. :dance:

Also in answer to another question further up the thread, I do plan on seeing them, as much as I can. I only saw them once last tour. It was my first stadium concert ever. We had crap seats, but it did not even matter.

This time I am getting the very closest and best I can afford though.

[bjaiken]

I am really excited about this album, but I think there are going to be songs that I like and others that I am not crazy about. I at least like that it appears they are taking chances and mixing it up stylistically.

[Loki0012]

Get Your Boots On = A poor stereophonics b-side.

I might go and see them if the tickets ain't stupidly priced and they play somewhere near-me.

Im really not impressed at this song..its not good,..... its not hearable,,,,,,,,, i like good music and i think my opinion says this is not a good carrier single ............and not a good song........... are they even legendary? to promote such?

plus im not liking the cover:thinking::angry:

[MrMagpie]

^ if you didn't have Good Charlotte in your last.fm top 10 chart I would reply.

[BostonSportsTD]

^ if you didn't have Good Charlotte in your last.fm top 10 chart I would reply.
hahahahahahaha

i like get your boots on. it's obviously not the best thing theyve ever done but it's still a pretty decent song.

[DreamOutLoud]

Im really not impressed at this song..its not good,..... its not hearable,,,,,,,,, i like good music and i think my opinion says this is not a good carrier single ............and not a good song........... are they even legendary? to promote such?

plus im not liking the cover:thinking::angry:


this post doesn't make much sense to me.. "hearable", "legendary", "carrier single"? to promote such? (as in what?) u seriously need to elaborate here a bit.


:thinking:

[chuck kottke]

Some creative efforts take time to find their full appreciation. U2's v. of The Beatles' White Album, anyone??:cool:

[mountainloafers]

Hmmm I like Numb, Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car, Somedays, I even like the title track. Id say Zooropa is pretty good. Not great but a fun listen...


I couldnt stand Pop

Acthung Baby is supurb if you ask me. Different from the Joshua Tree but magnificent none the less. The Fly, Zoo Station, Mysterious Ways, Until The End Of The World, Even Better Than The Real Thing are some of their greatest songs. HTDAAB and to an extent ATYCLB are lesser albums I think... They each have a few keepers.

Id like to see No Line On The Horizon be consistantly good like the Joshua Tree and Actung Baby no matter what style the music is. Off to listen to "Boots". Ive not heard it yet....

[mountainloafers]

Well that was an unexciting 4 minutes...

Not a great first impression. Doubt it will grow...

[Tnspieler1012]

really? post your thoughts when you're done. :edit: Nevermind :P

Yeah, my favorite and, IMO, the best greatest U2 album, is The Joshua Tree. The album is flavorful, but connected. Running through the tracklist, it's feel like they were trying to manufacture the best album in the world. The first five and last two tracks are flawless IMO, while the rest are representative the album's true feel, and can be either enjoyed or disliked depending on a person's musical taste.

That said, Achtung Baby was a really great album as well, and exactly the transition they needed to maintain rock immortality. Although I didn't care for the dry pop aesthetic of "so cruel" "trying to throw your arms around the world" and "ultraviolet (light my way)", it had to come with the territory of cutting down the Joshua Tree.

I heard one of the first tracks is reminiscent of "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" while others are zooropian. So I'm guessing the album will be an assortment of tracks expanding on their many previous albums.

[Loki0012]

this post doesn't make much sense to me.. "hearable", "legendary", "carrier single"? to promote such? (as in what?) u seriously need to elaborate here a bit.


:thinking:

oh............ahahahh..........Actually i was loony that time...... Ive heard it on youtube and it sounds like crap,....especially the start part.....but when I heard it on radio....ummmmmm.... yeah its pretty okay.....not so bad.. but its kinda empty...and sound s like vertigo abit.. in total its not bad.... and its not good also...so its in the middle

[Loki0012]

^ if you didn't have Good Charlotte in your last.fm top 10 chart I would reply.

Your making me laugh....... I was a kid back then.....last year 16....ahahah......
I really got hooked into G.C b4 i even got to COldplay........

Theyll drop soon Briggins on my chart dont worry,,,,, they havent got new albums to keep it there:laugh3:

[MrMagpie]

They better drop!

[DreamOutLoud]

U2 are playing the grammys folks! woohoo! (and radiohead.. i think I am gonna die from the excitement, 2 of my most fav bands evah!)

U2, Kid Rock, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Rihanna Added to Superstar Lineup for 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards


U2, Kid Rock, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Rihanna Added to Superstar Lineup for 51st Annual GRAMMY® AwardsSANTA MONICA, Calif.CA-RECORDING-ACADEMY




SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U2, Kid Rock, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Rihanna are the latest performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards. They join previously announced performers Kenny Chesney, Coldplay, Jennifer Hudson, Jonas Brothers, Lil Wayne, Paul McCartney (with special guest drummer Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters), Katy Perry, Radiohead, T.I. and Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West in a special performance of their hit single "Swagga Like Us." Actor Simon Baker (CBS' "The Mentalist"), actor/musician Jack Black, current three-time GRAMMY nominee Duffy, current nominee Josh Groban, three-time GRAMMY-winning jazz musician and current nominee Charlie Haden, actor Samuel L. Jackson and Academy Award®-winning actress and current GRAMMY nominee Gwyneth Paltrow will appear as presenters. The music industry's premier event will take place live on Sunday, Feb. 8, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8 ? 11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, on Twitter at "theGRAMMYs," on Facebook at "The Recording Academy," on YouTube at "51stGRAMMYs," and on Last.fm at "the51stgrammys." Additional performers, presenters and special segments will be announced soon.
Two-time GRAMMY winner Robert Plant and 21-time GRAMMY winner Alison Krauss have five nominations: Album Of The Year and Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album for Raising Sand, Record Of The Year ("Please Read The Letter"), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("Rich Woman"), and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals ("Killing The Blues").
Duffy and GRAMMY winner Rihanna each have three nods: Duffy is up for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Mercy"), and Best Pop Vocal Album (Rockferry); Rihanna is nominated for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("If I Never See Your Face Again" with Maroon 5), Best Dance Recording ("Disturbia"), and Best Long Form Music Video (Good Girl Gone Bad Live).
Kid Rock is up for two awards: Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("All Summer Long") and Best Rock Album (Rock N Roll Jesus).
Josh Groban, Charlie Haden and Gwyneth Paltrow each have nominations: Groban has a nod for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Noël); Haden is nominated for Best Country Instrumental Performance ("Is This America? (Katrina 2005)" with Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby); and Paltrow is nominated for Best Spoken Word Album For Children (Brown Bear And Friends).
As previously announced, this year's "My GRAMMY Moment" segment on the telecast gives music fans an opportunity to virtually share music's biggest stage with current GRAMMY nominee Katy Perry. Produced in partnership with CBS.com, music fans can upload a 30- to 60-second video of themselves singing along to a portion of Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" to www.cbs.com/grammys (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbs.com%2Fgrammys&esheet=5883336&lan=en_US&anchor=www.cbs.com%2Fgrammys&index=1) through Feb. 6. Videos will be voted on by fans and the public at-large, and the most popular videos will be shown as part of Perry's performance on Music's Biggest Night®.
The 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions in association with AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Walter C. Miller is producer/director, Tisha Fein is the coordinating producer, and David Wild and Ken Ehrlich are the writers. Musical directors for the telecast and pre-telecast are Rickey Minor and Larry Batiste, respectively.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards ? the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music ? The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com (http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.grammy.com&esheet=5883336&lan=en_US&anchor=www.grammy.com&index=2).

[MrMagpie]

Wow, how are they getting some legit big acts?

[Tnspieler1012]

Gwyneth is a grammy nominee? Well if Radiohead pulls through, she might win more awards than Chris! :lol:

[DreamOutLoud]

Gwyneth is a grammy nominee? Well if Radiohead pulls through, she might win more awards than Chris! :lol:


yeah really.. wtf.. wonder what she is a nominee for...

[chuck kottke]

I am confused as well. Gwyneth? Did she sing in a movie?? Is she doing a Julie Andrews Sound of Music remake??:)

[Tnspieler1012]

I think I remember hearing about this actually. Here's the shortlist from the grammy website.

Best Spoken Word Album For Children
(For albums consisting of predominantly spoken word vs. music or song.)



Around The Campfire
Buck Howdy With BB
[Prairie Dog Entertainment]




The Big One-Oh
Dean Pitchford
[Random House Audio/Listening Library]




Brown Bear And Friends
Gwyneth Paltrow
[Macmillan Audio]




The Cricket In Times Square
Tony Shalhoub
[Macmillan Audio]




Yes To Running! Bill Harley Live
Bill Harley
[Round River Records]


So she's nominated for voice acting in a children's audiobook basically.

[chuck kottke]

I had been thinking that too! Brown Bear and Friends - I wonder what she sounds like in the recording?:)
Anyhow, didn't U2 do a children's recording too??:P

[mountainloafers]

U2 are playing the grammys folks! woohoo! (and radiohead.. i think I am gonna die from the excitement, 2 of my most fav bands evah!)


Its going to be a great show! I wonder what U2 will be performing. Not sure Id like to hear "Boots"

[Tnspieler1012]

U2 are playing the grammys folks! woohoo! (and radiohead.. i think I am gonna die from the excitement, 2 of my most fav bands evah!)

*coughandcoldplaycoughcough* :dozey:

[DreamOutLoud]

*coughandcoldplaycoughcough* :dozey:

pfft.. coldplay who?:smug:

[DreamOutLoud]

BTW...


GET ON YOUR BOOTS VIDEO HAS LEAKED.. :D AND I HAVE SEEN IT! and its fuckin great!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrMagpie]

cold whaa???

Man little Chris Martin will be so happy to be playing at the same event as Sir Bono and Thom Yorke.

[MrMagpie]

link link link!

[Tnspieler1012]

where?!? :shocked2:

[Tnspieler1012]

Going around youtube, the video doesn't seem to have leaked, but apparently the album did. there are vids for each song, and it looks legit... Don't have audio on the computer I'm using, otherwise I'd be tempted.

[DreamOutLoud]

here's a link: http://www.mediafire.com/?ytt3kjqywgw (http://www.mediafire.com/?ytt3kjqywgw)

not sure if its still good..


streaming here too: http://www.dalealplay.com/informaciondecontenido.php?con=152922

[DreamOutLoud]

Going around youtube, the video doesn't seem to have leaked, but apparently the album did. there are vids for each song, and it looks legit... Don't have audio on the computer I'm using, otherwise I'd be tempted.


its not on youtube cuz it will get yanked off so fast by universal.

[Tnspieler1012]

Just saying what I see, check it out yourself. And thanks for the links, I'll check it out later.

[DreamOutLoud]

IMO.. i don't like the audio/video on youtube.. quality kinda stinks.. but if the album is up on youtube it won't be for much longer.

[Corkus]

Holy cow, that is one tripped-out, psychadelic, massively overproduced video. Awesome. :stunned:
Actually makes me like the song. :P

[Osaka Sun]

The video is a really poor attempt to create a James Bond-like intro movie (you know what I'm talking about, right?)...IMO, I don't like it.

I also wish that something else new from their album at the Grammys will be played on the band instead of GOYB, something that may make me want to buy No Line on The Horizon.

[Tnspieler1012]

Yeah, I hope they've payed attention to all the negative feedback they're getting. Maybe they'll start plugging another, far different single to win back our compliments before the album is released.

[DreamOutLoud]

^ i haven't seen any negative reviews from media sources (if there are any I would like to see them) only fans.. The band is certainly not gonna pay attention to the message boards around the 'net. They have their reasons as we all have ours for liking/disliking stuff. I am sure tho that the album itself will be something quite amazing. Just hang in there folks until March 3 or even sooner.. I really like the video, it helps explain the song or put it into better perspective. Just my IMO.

[Tnspieler1012]

I'm sure it'll be amazing too. But I haven't heard/seen a fan anywhere who isn't at least a little bit dissapointed by GOYB. And even outside of message boards, I'm sure word has carried to the ears of King Edge and Princess Bono that their people are restless.

[DreamOutLoud]

naw.. i doubt the boys give a shite about what is going around with a small amount of fans who aren't happy with it.. And yet, U2 fans are never satisfied (this I know the boys know about) they always have something to complain about (cuz this has been going on since day one, I have been a fan for over 22 yrs so I have seen a lot of this). *shrug* Even moi doesn't like everything they do but admire them tremendously for trying and venturing into new territory cuz that's what they want to do and making music for the sake of enjoying it not to just satisfy the public.

[bjaiken]

I like that "Boots" is getting mixed results. ATYCLB and HTDAAB, in my opinion, were very safe plays after the Zooropa and Pop albums. I am glad they are going back to being a little more experimental...even if I don't like everything.

[DreamOutLoud]

new u2 to be played during the super bowl! Here comes the promo train!! :D

http://sportsmedianews.com/01/new-u2-song-to-be-featured-in-nfl-networks-super-bowl-commercial-during-the-game/

[Tnspieler1012]

gonna have to watch for that then! Interesting thing about the super-bowl is there's no good time to leave the T.V. because the commercials are just as exciting :P

[DreamOutLoud]

gonna have to watch for that then! Interesting about the super-bowl is there's no good time to leave the T.V. because the commercials are just as exciting :P


That's for sure. ugh it's not like I wanted to watch the game cuz neither team I like but now I am because of the music . lol:laugh3:

[Corkus]

I take bathroom and beverage breaks when the actual game is playing. I only stay attentive for the commercials and maybe halftime.
Heck, I just found out only two days ago what teams were playing. :lol:

[Tnspieler1012]

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/funny-graphs-bono-sunglasses-charity-music.gif

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/funny-graphs-numerical-progession-in-espanol.gif?w=324&h=356 (http://graphjam.com/2008/04/11/funny-graphsnumerical-progression-in-popular-music/#more-434)

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/funny-graphs-bono-has-found.gif (http://graphjam.com/2008/06/14/song-chart-memes-things-bono-has-found/#more-1723)

:P

[tcaporale]

:laugh3:

Nice.

And Get on Your Boots is pretty good. Especially the "LET ME IN THE SOUND!!!" part.

[DreamOutLoud]

:laugh3:

Nice.

And Get on Your Boots is pretty good. Especially the "LET ME IN THE SOUND!!!" part.


yep.. love that part too.. Especially in the video where bono takes the mic stand and bangs it on the ground, breaking the glass.. :cool:

[megacity]

yes, the song works even better with the video. i think many people haven't realized that phrase sexy boots is about SOLDIERS BOOTS....and the video explains the lyrics very well.

[Tnspieler1012]

One of my main complaints is about it's strong similarity to vertigo. The riff, the rythm, the choppy vocals during the verse etc...AND, as you point out, the trick of hiding political and/or religious content behind seemingly sexual vocals. If you want to show how much you've changed in the past year, GOYB's doesn't quite cut it.

[MrMagpie]

In Canada we get crappy commercials...not the BIG superbowl commercials. It sucks.

[bjaiken]

The new video for "Boots" is very cool. I am liking the song quiet a bit. I can't wait to hear it live. Like others have said, "Let me in the sound" is a very cool section.

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

Hilarious video

[MrMagpie]

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=sVuHDzJBWgE&eurl=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148834-video-u2-get-on-your-boots

[Corkus]

So in spite of me tuning in and out of the game repeatedly, I caught the ad. Just the end of the song playing while some player makes a mad dash with the NFL being advertised. Nothing big.

[Tnspieler1012]

Yeah, I was hoping for something other than GOYB's. That's the impression I got when they said the song was "new".

[MrMagpie]

So it was only GOYB? Lame.

[A RUSH OF VIDA]

Damn hers the new vidoe for the song.....no idea if its been posted.

U2 - Get On Your Boots Video by U2 - MySpace Video

[chuck kottke]

Hmm.. maybe they really did need some new inspiration after all?? But what musically could I have offered them?
Anyhow, there's always more new music to add in time.. What sort of sound was everyone expecting from U2?

[MrMagpie]

aboot time its released!

[footyfan10]

i cant say i like the music video, but it did give me some insight into wtf bono is talking about. this is always good because bono is a tricky man. you cant trust short men with big ideas. its nice to know what he's talking about.

[DreamOutLoud]

i cant say i like the music video, but it did give me some insight into wtf bono is talking about. this is always good because bono is a tricky man. you cant trust short men with big ideas. its nice to know what he's talking about.


According to Edge . He says: "The video is based around the idea that men have f***ed things up so badly, politically, economically and socially, that it's really time we handed things over to women. And I couldn't agree more with this statement. :D

[MrMagpie]

:laugh3:

[DreamOutLoud]

ok folks.. of all places.. walmart. has leaked the album.. 30 sec clips available on all songs..!

http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?artistId=323502&albumId=103573620&tab=albumDetailsTab


enjoy

[Black Rose]

Offiical Youtube video:
YouTube - U2 - Get On Your Boots: Official Promo Version

You don't know how beautiful you are

[Denise]

That video is amazing, love it, made me like the song more

ok folks.. of all places.. walmart. has leaked the album.. 30 sec clips available on all songs..!

http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?artistId=323502&albumId=103573620&tab=albumDetailsTab
enjoy
*refrains from clicking the link*

:bomb:

[DreamOutLoud]

That video is amazing, love it, made me like the song more


*refrains from clicking the link*

:bomb:



DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ITTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!! :P

[Tnspieler1012]

Again I'm at a computer without audio. Not sure whether I'll listen to the previews or not, but for those who have...thoughts/feedback/impressions?

[dkizzy]

title track sounds good,
so does unknown caller, stand up comedy, and cedars of lebanon

but really, what can you tell from 30 seconds?

[Corkus]

I only listened to each clip once so that I wouldn't keep them stuck in my head and so that I wouldn't be driven to insanity wondering what the rest of each song was like.

Much of it sounds pretty laid-back. Though I seriously have no idea what's up with "FEZ - Being Born", which sounds experimental to the core. "Stand Up Comedy" and "Cedars of Lebanon" strike me as the "statement" songs judging by a few lyrics.

But yeah, that's all I'm listening to until the inevitible album leak in the final week of February.

[footyfan10]

i dont like how a lot of the songs seem like bono is just talking and not singing.

[MrMagpie]

Yeah, I'm not going to torture myself with 30 second clips haha

[ZooTelevision]

i dont like how a lot of the songs seem like bono is just talking and not singing.

Yeahhhhhh...about that

[Osaka Sun]

With nothing to lose, I checked out the previews. Even with 30 second previews, you can see what the band was looking for. It's at least twice as experimental as Achtung Baby, and I really don't think they should have went that far. :\

"Breathe," "I'll Go Crazy...," and "Get on Your Boots" (Not kidding, I actually think it's actually good now compared to the stuff I just listened to on the 30 second sequences) are 3 of the 4 definite standouts I can think of at this point. I agree that in many of the other songs, Bono is talking a lot rather than singing which is quite a disappointment IMO. What I also didn't like was "Stand Up Comedy" with U2 taking on the funkiness of Lenny Kravitz (right...) and "Fez-Being Born," where it sounds like Brian Eno got really high and fucked the thing up. Seriously, dude.

What U2 needs to do next is release "Magnificent," ASAP, as in NOW, if they want to get a little more appreciation from the music audience for their work in NLOTH. It could become the Jesus Christ of all rock songs.

[Tnspieler1012]

LOL I have to admit I went over the 30 second clips just now as well, and I have to say that it sounds a lot like I hoped it would. The opening three tracks, as the reviews said, sound tremendous. There are clear shades of Unforgettable Fire and Achtung Baby throughout, with some of the wonderfully ambient, Brian Eno touches that I'm a sucker for.

I love the first four altogether, and especially the FEZ intro on track 8.

"Get on your boots" is still weak sauce IMO. Almost feels like they added it to the album condescendingly to attract the younger crowd. Although I do understand that the first three will be too long for radio play, and some of my surefire faves like "Unknown Caller" with be too boring or ambient.

But these previews have definitely steadied by uneasiness about their lead single.

[Osaka Sun]

The title track isn't as great as I expected, IMO (that's a little biased though because I never really liked the overall experimentation from Achtung Baby). But in terms in of Moment of Surrender, it sounds like elevator music; then again, it's a seven minute song so I can't really judge it right now. Same with Unknown Caller.

I like the guitar riffs in Fez...just Eno's random insertion of those annoying and weird synths in the beginning totally makes no sense. That's the stuff that makes me appreciate Get on Your Boots more.

But Magnificent...those superb Unforgettable Fire atmospherics give me a little more hope that U2 can still pull off another Joshua Tree soon. :)

[Famous Old Painter]

"Previews are currently unavailable for this product"

[domscientist]

yeah it does it for me too...

[Tnspieler1012]

Try you-tube, several people have stitched the 30-sec previews together in videos.

[megacity]

According to Edge . He says: "The video is based around the idea that men have f***ed things up so badly, politically, economically and socially, that it's really time we handed things over to women. And I couldn't agree more with this statement. :D

can u not love him? :kiss:

[MrMagpie]

They need to release the song Mercy.

[ZooTelevision]

They need to release the song Mercy.

No

[DreamOutLoud]

They need to release the song Mercy.


i know it.. but doubt this will ever happen..:embarassed:

[MrMagpie]

No

You don't like it?

I think they're among Bono's best lyrics. Very Unforgettable Fire like.

[footyfan10]

lets not forget "the sweetest thing" making a comeback on the 1980s CD. maybe mercy will make it when U2 release their 2000s CD and make it as a single too.

its a great song.

this next album better be good so there are enough songs for u2 to make some buck off the compilations.

[Dejan]

U2 work at the new album No Line on The Horizon in Fez
YouTube - U2 work at the new album No Line on The Horizon in Fez by U2Place.com

[ZooTelevision]

45 SECOND OF EACH SONG AWAIT YOU IN HERE:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/sxsg89

[MrMagpie]

And in a couple days we'll get another 15 seconds? So 45 second samples? :P

[Batmotor]

U2 is a good band,but coldplay is in my opinion much better.

[marsu]

Alternate version of No Line On The Horizon
(played on radio today)

YouTube - U2 No line on the horizon (full song)

Version album will be different

[Dejan]

http://www.shockhound.com/albums/235532

[MrMagpie]

Alternate version of No Line Of The Horizon
(played on radio today)

YouTube - U2 No line on the horizon (full song) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTMnhSLQJ7c)

Version album will be different

When does the single come out?

[Corkus]

This video has been taken down now, but I assume this would be the version released on the GOYB single, seeing as how that's very close to release.
Didn't get to hear it, but I'm sure I'll find it soon enough. :laugh3:

[Malcolm-Edge]

The version of No Line On the Horizon is an alternate version, likely the B-side for Boots single.

Its really good, sounds pretty cool and has a pretty upbeat guitar to it. Bono is singing like a god again!

[Osaka Sun]

Wait a sec...so will No Line on the Horizon be the next single or just a B-Side for GOYB (well, the second version of it)?

[MrMagpie]

Maybe I'm just a complete sucker, but I get the impression U2 are really, you know, trying with their new album, No Line on the Horizon (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/148212-u2-announce-new-album-title-release-date) (out March 3 on Interscope (http://www.interscope.com/)). The cover is relatively mysterious (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/148518-the-new-u2-album-cover-is-very-zen). Bono's back in the makeup chair (http://garysavelson.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/u2-2009-photoshoot-bono-too-much-eyeliner/). And though first single "Get on Your Boots (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148548-new-music-u2-get-on-your-boots-stream)" suggests they're trying way too hard (as does the video (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=51841712)...and the Grammy performance (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/149032-video-radiohead-mia-kanye-west-lil-wayne-jay-z-and-ti-u2-estelle-and-kanye-west-coldplay-ft-jay-z-various-songs-live-at-the-grammys)), I'll take that over the alternative (see: their last album (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22838-how-to-dismantle-an-atomic-bomb)). When you've been the biggest band in the world for a couple decades, simply trying at all goes a long way.
The creepily ageless Irish crew (seriously, the Edge might look younger now than he did in the "Numb (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWHwI-Hvpzo)" video) will dig in for an unprecedented five-night run on "The Late Show with David Letterman" (http://lateshow.cbs.com/) starting March 2(viaAP (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gK_fV-ccpmSMekoLwQs4bp3Mn4PAD96A42GO0)). A Joaquin Phoenix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG-M1CWskeQ) rap cameo during U2 week is still being negotiated.
Considering the just-announced White Stripes appearance (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/149115-white-stripes-to-play-conans-last-late-night) set for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien"'s February 20 curtain call and this U2 spectacular (not to mention recent "SNL" spots from TV on the Radio and Fleet Foxes) we seem to be living in a mini late night musical guest golden age right about now.


from pitchfork

[Tnspieler1012]

"...creepily ageless..."

LOL, ain't it the truth. and wow! a five-night run on letterman? I'll definitely be checking that out.

[MrMagpie]

WHat time is letterman on? I might have to become an insomniac for a week.

[Osaka Sun]

I'll take that over the alternative (see: their last album).

Why is everyone still bashing Atomic Bomb for the hundredth time? It wasn't a bad album at all...sure, they tried to stay conservative in terms of experimenting like ATYCLB (didn't Coldplay do that until VLVADAAHF?), but it was definitely one of their best.

[MrMagpie]

^I loved HTDAAB, I won't lie. I haven't listened to it for a while. But when it came out I listened to it constantly.

[Tnspieler1012]

I still love HTDAAB. It was the first U2 album I bought, but even after I've heard everything else, it's still a really great album with consistently solid tracks.

[MrMagpie]

When the album came out I was so excited. I'm pretty sure I had a countdown on my MSN status for about 90 days leading up to it.
I'm watching the Vertigo live from Milan DVD, its great.

[Tnspieler1012]

Oh yeah, I remember that. Short DVD, but the performance was a lot better than 'Live from Chicago' where Bono had throat issues. Really illustrates how amazing the band is live, by milking their already awesome songs for all they're worth.

[MrMagpie]

Haha, yeah they sure have milked that live DVD cow. I think they're worth it. (I've bought all their live DVDs)

[Corkus]

WHat time is letterman on? I might have to become an insomniac for a week.
11:30 PM
Why is everyone still bashing Atomic Bomb for the hundredth time?
It's Pitchfork. They bash everything.

[MrMagpie]

No Line On The Horizon, A First Impression
Undercover (http://www.undercover.com.au/), February 11, 2009
Paul Cashmere

Undercover was privy to a private listening session for the U2 album today and it is damn good. Although it is not "the next big step for U2," it is very much the sound of U2 you love.

That is thanks mostly to the joint production resource of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois and additional production by Steve Lillywhite. All three had similar duties on 1984's The Unforgettable Fire and the sound I am hearing from No Line on the Horizon is very much sourced from that work.

The album will conjure up the past when you hear it, mainly because they production team individually have worked on many of the U2 albums since The Unforgettable Fire and they each bring their own sound to U2.

While I've only had one listen to the album from beginning to end, my first impression is that this album won't rock the boat with U2 fans. If you loved the old stuff, you will like the new.

Track by track:

No Line on the Horizon - This one is techno, thump. In sound it sits somewhere between 1993's Zooropa and 1994's Pop.

Magnificent - And The Edge show up for work! This is one of the few songs on the album that sounds like any of their recent work. This one wouldn't be out of place on 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind.

Moment of Surrender – This is the album's epic. It is one of those slow, building tracks and fits with The Unforgettable Fire in sound.

Unknown Caller – Another slow one, I was thinking The Joshua Tree as a first impression. While The Joshua Tree came initially to mind, there is something strangely "Broadway show" about this in parts.

I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight – Damn, Bono beat some old country guy to the title. It sounds like it should be a country and western song but isn't. In fact, it is one of the rockier songs on the album. Think Rattle and Hum album for a fit.

Get On Your Boots – Well, you already know this one. '60s meets the Escape Club. (Go on, admit it, you thought of "Wild Wild West" when you heard it the first time as well.)

Stand Up Comedy – Funky. It would sound good on Rattle and Hum.

FEZ - Being Born – This is the most different song on the album from anything else they have done. In fact, the production technique is more in line of some of the experimentations George Martin did on later Beatles. It starts out atmospheric (Eno) but gets a bit of grunt happening.

White As Snow – Another slow one. The Unforgettable Fire for fit. There are some nice Irish influences in the song structure as well. I can't say Irish trad music has been very prevelant in the U2 sound before like it is here.

Breathe – An uptempo rock song. A good one for Achtung Baby.

Cedars of Lebanon – Bono really sings on this ballad. It's dreamy and laidback, a mellow end to the album. It is again very The Unforgettable Fire in sound.


No Line on the Horizon was recorded at U2 HQ Dublin, Raid El Yacout in Fez, Platinum Sound Recordings Studios in New York and Olympic Studios in London. It will be released at the end of this month.

http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=5231

[Osaka Sun]

Magnificent would fit ATYCLB? Please, it's probably the closest thing U2 will get to The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree in this album; it's the U2 I really know and love.

[Black Dog]

I'm so pumped for the release!!! :D

[Plug_in_coldplaying]

Yeah,it should be out finally

[footyfan10]

i have to say that i did not like no line on the horizon at all. i know its just the alternative version, but i thought it was pretty bad and boring. i hope the album version is better. i also hope this album doesnt massively disappoint me.

[Osaka Sun]

I actually liked the alternative version. But don't worry, you haven't seen anything yet. My views of this album has changed quite a bit during these past few weeks. ;)

[MrMagpie]

How much of it have you heard?

[Black Rose]

There was a good review of the album in the current issue of Word Magazine, the reviewer liked it.

[Tnspieler1012]

Magnificent would fit ATYCLB? Please, it's probably the closest thing U2 will get to The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree in this album; it's the U2 I really know and love.

Me too. Unforgettable Fire illustrated the sort of avante-garde ambient flavor that I'm a completer sucker for, while Joshua Tree was just a perfect album! (I wonder if Bono ever did find what he was looking for... :thinking: I mean it hass been over twenty years)

...less than two weeks to go for NLOTH!!! :dance:

[chuck kottke]

The Joshua Tree:Yucca brevifolia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia)

[Tnspieler1012]

Sadly, the Yucca Brevifolia from the album cover died sometime back in 2000. :cry:

[footyfan10]

I was not involved in any pre-buzz for any other U2 album because I was a U2 fan before HTDAAB but I was not a "current" U2 fan, meaning I had no large scale knowledge of the band.

Now that I'm fully entrenched in U2, I'm not quite sure to make of all the reviews and buzz around this album. Some people are saying its like Zoorapa and others are saying its like The Unforgettable Fire.

Some say its a huge departure from the last two albums and others say its pretty consistently U2 (which doesn't seem to make much sense unless you consider "how" U2 plays music as opposed to what music they play - which is largely varied).

I guess I'm fairly nervous. I listened to the album clips and only found a few remotely impressive. I guess this album is going to be a grower. I guess thats what I want to an extent. It's just I always think the best albums are the ones that grow for a little while and then you can get into them. That doesnt mean once the music finished growing that it becomes less interesting or nuanced, its just I don't want to force myself to listen music I think I dislike.

This is just fears though, I don't know if any will materialise.

[Tnspieler1012]

Now that I'm fully entrenched in U2, I'm not quite sure to make of all the reviews and buzz around this album. Some people are saying its like Zoorapa and others are saying its like The Unforgettable Fire.

Some say its a huge departure from the last two albums

.

Judging by the previews, I think it's all three of those in a weird way...

[footyfan10]

Judging by the previews, I think it's all three of those in a weird way...

I know. Which leads me to think this could be the biggest mess or the most beautiful masterpiece. It's really hard to tell.

[Tnspieler1012]

Or the messiest masterpiece ever! Pollock meets Da Vinci! :P

[MrMagpie]

So, stupid Briggins. I thought the album came out on March 20th. I'm excited its 2 weeks before that though!

[Dejan]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rNiAQZwXJo

[Malcolm-Edge]

Its cool seeing Will.i.am in there. I am so excited for this. 10 more days till the Ireland release!

From the previews. This is their best stuff since Joshua Tree. The bass grooves sound amazing. Edge in full, well...Edge mode. From the new songs Bono is singing in very hard keys, and singing very well.

All the reviews have been positive, for the most part. This will be a classic, because for the first time in a long time they are going back to the blues, and the recorded and cut 5 songs in 24 hours! More bands need to do this! I miss bands cutting album in virtually one day.

[MrMagpie]

U2 PLANNING ANOTHER ALBUM IN 2009
February 14, 2009
posted by: m2 The Observer has a terrific article by Sean O'Hagan about the making of No Line On The Horizon, which includes the revelation that U2 is planning to release another album before the end of 2009. Bono describes the next album as "a more meditative album on the theme of pilgrimage." There's also a 3-minute video from various recording sessions, lots of background on the album and songs, and ... just go read it!


http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/feb/15/u2-no-line-on-the-horizon

[Tnspieler1012]

^Is it just me, or do Coldplay and U2 copy each other like...all the time!

[MrMagpie]

Haha in what ways?

[Tnspieler1012]

well, apart from the fact they've both said they'll try to release another album before the end of the decade...

In 2003 Coldplay tracks like one I love, and moses were straight out of the early u2 textbook. The song and videos for Speed of sound and city of blinding lights are surprisingly similar. And oddly enough I've seen both bands cover "Lost Highway"... Okay it's really not much, but kind of entertaining.

[MrMagpie]

haha yeah....I see it more as Coldplay in U2's footsteps.

[Malcolm-Edge]

NO LINE ON THE HORIZON

Its leaked boys. I'll be on for an hour or so. PM me for link!

[clockpolitiks]

I'll be listening to it soon! Getting it now! Yay

[Timothy Q. Mouse]

LEEEEEEEEEEEEAK

U2 DOWNLOADS THREAD

GO GO GO

[Batmotor]

Where is the U2 Downloads topic?.

[Batmotor]

i found it already.

[Osaka Sun]

Listening to it right now...I'll make a concise review later. :D

[Batmotor]

Maybe is 'No Line On The Horizon' the worst U2 album i have heard,it's nothing special in my opinion,there are too much drum sounds more than before,and that's bad i think,there other album 'How To Stop An Atomic Bomb' is much better maybe there best.but this is really bad.

[IneedYou23]

Just got done listening to the album.And I must say that I am a little dissapointed with this effort.I really like u2.I loved their last album and the many before it.But this album to me seems like they were trying a little too hard.The songs seem too long.Bono seems to be talking in a lot of the songs and not singing.Or maybe a little too much than i would have liked.The drums to me sounds the same in most of the songs.And what suprised me the most is that the Edge really didnt impress me at all on this album.It may seem that they have run out of ideas or so.But I wasnt really impressed on this album.The only song I can remember really liking was Ill Go Crazy.I mean they are all pretty decent songs but nothing rememerable.Oh well.I still like them.Would have expected a little more from them also working with Eno.Thats just my opinion.We will see what others have to say.

[Dejan]

U2: No Line On The Horizon - full review (plus what Bono really thinks)

The new U2 album, 'No Line On The Horizon' will be released on March 2nd. It is a great record, and greatness is what rock and roll and the world needs right now. From the grittily urgent yet ethereal title track all the way to the philosophically ruminative, spacey coda of 'Cedars Of Lebanon' it conjures an extraordinary journey through sound and ideas, a search for soul in a brutal, confusing world, all bound together in narcotic melody and space age pop songs.

Get On Your Boots: an escape from politics

"Let me in the sound" is a repeated lyrical motif (showing up in three songs, including current single 'Get On Your Boots'). The theme of the album is surrender, escaping everyday problems to lose (or perhaps find) yourself in the joy of the moment. For Bono, it clearly represents an escape from the politics of his role as a lobbyist and campaigner into the musical exultation of rock and roll, yet the very notion of escape remains political, if only with a small p. "Every day I have to find the courage to walk out into the street / With arms out, got a love you can't defeat" is the inspirational bridge in an epic, explosive rock anthem 'Breathe', that could be set in Gaza or at your own front door. Scattershot half-spoken verses fire images like news reports from the battleground of life ("16th of June, Chinese stocks are going up / And I'm coming down with some new Asian virus ... Doc says you're fine, or dying") til he is "running down the road like loose electricity", tension building in thundering drums and grungey two note guitar riff until it all lets loose in a soaring, anthemic chorus, as Bono tells us "I found grace inside a sound / I found grace, it's all that I found / And I can breathe".

The theme is even more explicit on 'Moment Of Surrender', a pulsing, dreamily gorgeous 7 minute weave of synths, silvery guitars, sub-bass, handclaps, Arabic strings and soulful ululating vocals, in which the narrator experiences a spiritual epiphany at the very prosaic setting of an ATM machine. It is a beautiful piece that provides the album's beating heart and shows how far U2 can drift from their stereotype as a stadium rock band into unknown territory while still making something that touches the universal.

Musically, these songs might be the two poles of an album that switches between overloaded rockers and hypnotic electro grooves: the U2 / Eno divide. 'No Line On The Horizon' was produced by the professorially brilliant Roxy Music synth magus Brian Eno with his rootsy, muso collaborator Daniel Lanois, the same team that has presided over U2's finest albums, Unforgettable Fire (1984), The Joshua Tree (1987), Achtung Baby (1991) and their latterday reclaiming of pop's high ground 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' (2000). The chief difference is that here they have been explicitly invited into the songwriting process, with 7 of the 12 tracks credited to both band and producers, and recorded with a six-piece line up featuring Eno on electronics and Lanois on acoustic and pedal steel guitar. It is these songs, in particular, which push U2 towards the invisible horizon of the title, at once more linear (they tend to be driven, with singular grooves, often pulsing along on particular sound effect or rhythmic repetitions) and lateral (they defy obvious song-structure, choruses drop rather than soar, Bono's rich, high voice subsumed into stacked harmonic chants). These tracks draw out of Bono a contemplative depth, so even the fantastically odd 'Unknown Caller' hits a vein of emotional truth, when the spaced out singer is cast adrift on the soundbites of computer and communications networks ('Password, you enter here, right now / You know your name so punch it in') yet seems to find himself talking to the inner voice of God ("Escape yourself, and gravity / Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak"). Words and music dovetail in surprising ways that send the senses spinning.

Left to their own compositional devices, U2 produce rock songs of high-wire adrenalin and in-your-face immediacy. It is almost a relief when they arrive like a troop surge in the middle of the album, reclaiming familiar territory with a burst of shock and awe. This is U2 on safe ground, ramming home the kind of smack bang crunch pop rock that they know radio programmers will fall at their feet for, yet there is almost too much melody and a surfeit of lyrical ideas. Current single 'Get On Your Boots' is the prime example, walloping along with two note punk rock energy, a low-slung heavy metal guitar riff, an expansively melodic psychedelic chorus and playful sloganeering lyrics in which Bono gets off the soap box to pay homage to the more prosaic pleasures of a beautiful woman in comically "sexy boots". Along with the Oasis on steroids singalong pop of 'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight' and pop Zepplin-esque grooviness and shuffling beats of 'Stand Up Comedy', these songs are the albums most immediate and yet least resonant tracks. They are light relief from the more demanding adventures into new sonic terrain.

Bono's worst reflex as a lyric writer is sloganeering, partly because he is so good at it. On the three songs just mentioned, he piles catch-phrase upon soundbite to build up a thematic idea, often one that plays with his image. So in 'Stand Up Comedy' the diminutive rock star in stacked boots warns us to "stand up to rock stars / Napoleon is in high heels / Josephine be careful of small men with big ideas" and in 'I'll Go Crazy' he confesses (or complains) "there's a part of me in the chaos that's quiet / And there's a part of you that wants me to riot." It is all good fun but too often sounds like a series of t-shirt slogans rather than a song with a heart of its own. His phrasemaking is put to much better effect when it pared back so that the emotion of the song takes precedence, as on the strange, addictive title track, where he loses himself in the blur of a mysterious love, a person whose unknowability represents a kind of Godliness and who tells him "infinity is a great place to start."

On 'Breathe', U2 locate the emotional and philosophical heart in an out and out ball busting U2 anthem (which Eno, apparently, asserts to be "the most U2 song" they have ever recorded). It is matched, in this respect, by the quite wonderful 'Magnificent', in which the U2/Eno/Lanois combo conjure up an instantly recognisable U2 classic in a love song with the flag waving pop drive of 'New Year's Day'. These are songs that will fill their fans with joy, but it is in the album's more intimate, off beat adventures that U2 lock into something that forces listeners to sit up and take note of them anew. There is a busy-ness in terms of sonic tapestry, the meshing together of Edge's sci-fi guitars and Eno's synths providing an intricate, detailed soundscape that constantly tugs at the ears and mind, but the U2/Eno/Lanois songs hold the centre, slowly revealing themselves, demanding repeat listens. It certainly sounds like U2 (as do a lot of groups these days) but in its boldest moments is as fresh and ambitious as the work of first timers, not veterans 33 years on the road.

If it has a flaw, it may be in U2's inherent tendency to want to be all things to all people, so that in album of surrender, they can't quite let themselves go all the way. They still want to bat the ball out of the stadium everytime, and so instinctively counterbalance their desire to reach something otherwordly with the safe bets of crunchy rock hits. In that respect, it doesn't have the innocence or singularity of 'Unforgettable Fire' or 'Joshua Tree', nor does it quite affect the bold re-wiring of their sound that was 'Achtung Baby'. To me, it is probably the album 'Zooropa' was supposed to be, building on the sonic architecture of classic U2 and taking it into the pop stratosphere. But what a place for a band to be, in orbit around their own myth, making music that bounces off the inside of a listeners skull, charged with ideas and emotions, groovy enough to want to dance to, melodic enough to make you sing along, soulful enough to cherish, philosophical enough to inspire, and with so many killer tracks it might as well be a latterday greatest hits. It is, at the very least, an album to speak of in the same breath as their best and what other band of their longevity can boast of that?

Anyway that's my opinion. I can tell you what Bono thinks, because he has been texting me. He comes (as he explicitly says on 'Breathe') "from a long line of travelling salesmen" and he would probably sell his album door to door if he could. "Lifeforce, joy, innovation, emotional honesty, analogue not digital, home-made not pro-tooled, unique sonic landscape," are his buzzwords (although punctuation and spelling are mine). "I pinch myself every morning, evenings no longer a trial. Soul music for the frenzied, rock music for the still. The album we always wanted to make. Now we f*** off ..."

Not for a while yet, I suspect.

(telegraph.co.uk)

[footyfan10]

NOOOOOOOO. I have class right now so I can't listen. It's a lecture and my prof can barely see me, but I'm not sure I have the balls to pull out the headphones. Damn it. I want to listen to it so badly!!!

Oh and the idea that I would wait for the release date like some will is just preposterous. I used to be that person, and if U2's album came out in November when it was supposed to and leaked in October I am sure that I would have had the strength to not listen (maybe not :\), but I've had to wait so much longer.

I got all the files onto my iTunes and heard about three seconds of each opening. The differences are SOOOOOOO profound. I'm really excited.

AH...got to go!

Oh and I've already got the album on pre-order on iTunes...in case anyone thinks I would cheat U2 out of what they deserve.

[FixYougirl]

Where could you listen to it ? :shocked2:

[Open, Politik]

^U2 download thread

[Tnspieler1012]

wow. a leak? really? Well have fun with that. I'm taking this one 'cold turkey'.

[MagooUK]

Love the album. Absolutely fantastic, with some very special tracks.

[FixYougirl]

Quite good, indeed !

[a-chan]

I-like-it. No need to say more!

Favorite song: magnificient (all is in the title)
Less favorite: Get on your boots XD

[Tnspieler1012]

U2: No Line On The Horizon - full review (plus what Bono really thinks)

The new U2 album, 'No Line On The Horizon' will be released on March 2nd. It is a great record, and greatness is what rock and roll and the world needs right now. From the grittily urgent yet ethereal title track all the way to the philosophically ruminative, spacey coda of 'Cedars Of Lebanon' it conjures an extraordinary journey through sound and ideas, a search for soul in a brutal, confusing world, all bound together in narcotic melody and space age pop songs.

Get On Your Boots: an escape from politics

"Let me in the sound" is a repeated lyrical motif (showing up in three songs, including current single 'Get On Your Boots'). The theme of the album is surrender, escaping everyday problems to lose (or perhaps find) yourself in the joy of the moment. For Bono, it clearly represents an escape from the politics of his role as a lobbyist and campaigner into the musical exultation of rock and roll, yet the very notion of escape remains political, if only with a small p. "Every day I have to find the courage to walk out into the street / With arms out, got a love you can't defeat" is the inspirational bridge in an epic, explosive rock anthem 'Breathe', that could be set in Gaza or at your own front door. Scattershot half-spoken verses fire images like news reports from the battleground of life ("16th of June, Chinese stocks are going up / And I'm coming down with some new Asian virus ... Doc says you're fine, or dying") til he is "running down the road like loose electricity", tension building in thundering drums and grungey two note guitar riff until it all lets loose in a soaring, anthemic chorus, as Bono tells us "I found grace inside a sound / I found grace, it's all that I found / And I can breathe".

The theme is even more explicit on 'Moment Of Surrender', a pulsing, dreamily gorgeous 7 minute weave of synths, silvery guitars, sub-bass, handclaps, Arabic strings and soulful ululating vocals, in which the narrator experiences a spiritual epiphany at the very prosaic setting of an ATM machine. It is a beautiful piece that provides the album's beating heart and shows how far U2 can drift from their stereotype as a stadium rock band into unknown territory while still making something that touches the universal.

Musically, these songs might be the two poles of an album that switches between overloaded rockers and hypnotic electro grooves: the U2 / Eno divide. 'No Line On The Horizon' was produced by the professorially brilliant Roxy Music synth magus Brian Eno with his rootsy, muso collaborator Daniel Lanois, the same team that has presided over U2's finest albums, Unforgettable Fire (1984), The Joshua Tree (1987), Achtung Baby (1991) and their latterday reclaiming of pop's high ground 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' (2000). The chief difference is that here they have been explicitly invited into the songwriting process, with 7 of the 12 tracks credited to both band and producers, and recorded with a six-piece line up featuring Eno on electronics and Lanois on acoustic and pedal steel guitar. It is these songs, in particular, which push U2 towards the invisible horizon of the title, at once more linear (they tend to be driven, with singular grooves, often pulsing along on particular sound effect or rhythmic repetitions) and lateral (they defy obvious song-structure, choruses drop rather than soar, Bono's rich, high voice subsumed into stacked harmonic chants). These tracks draw out of Bono a contemplative depth, so even the fantastically odd 'Unknown Caller' hits a vein of emotional truth, when the spaced out singer is cast adrift on the soundbites of computer and communications networks ('Password, you enter here, right now / You know your name so punch it in') yet seems to find himself talking to the inner voice of God ("Escape yourself, and gravity / Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak"). Words and music dovetail in surprising ways that send the senses spinning.

Left to their own compositional devices, U2 produce rock songs of high-wire adrenalin and in-your-face immediacy. It is almost a relief when they arrive like a troop surge in the middle of the album, reclaiming familiar territory with a burst of shock and awe. This is U2 on safe ground, ramming home the kind of smack bang crunch pop rock that they know radio programmers will fall at their feet for, yet there is almost too much melody and a surfeit of lyrical ideas. Current single 'Get On Your Boots' is the prime example, walloping along with two note punk rock energy, a low-slung heavy metal guitar riff, an expansively melodic psychedelic chorus and playful sloganeering lyrics in which Bono gets off the soap box to pay homage to the more prosaic pleasures of a beautiful woman in comically "sexy boots". Along with the Oasis on steroids singalong pop of 'I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight' and pop Zepplin-esque grooviness and shuffling beats of 'Stand Up Comedy', these songs are the albums most immediate and yet least resonant tracks. They are light relief from the more demanding adventures into new sonic terrain.

Bono's worst reflex as a lyric writer is sloganeering, partly because he is so good at it. On the three songs just mentioned, he piles catch-phrase upon soundbite to build up a thematic idea, often one that plays with his image. So in 'Stand Up Comedy' the diminutive rock star in stacked boots warns us to "stand up to rock stars / Napoleon is in high heels / Josephine be careful of small men with big ideas" and in 'I'll Go Crazy' he confesses (or complains) "there's a part of me in the chaos that's quiet / And there's a part of you that wants me to riot." It is all good fun but too often sounds like a series of t-shirt slogans rather than a song with a heart of its own. His phrasemaking is put to much better effect when it pared back so that the emotion of the song takes precedence, as on the strange, addictive title track, where he loses himself in the blur of a mysterious love, a person whose unknowability represents a kind of Godliness and who tells him "infinity is a great place to start."

On 'Breathe', U2 locate the emotional and philosophical heart in an out and out ball busting U2 anthem (which Eno, apparently, asserts to be "the most U2 song" they have ever recorded). It is matched, in this respect, by the quite wonderful 'Magnificent', in which the U2/Eno/Lanois combo conjure up an instantly recognisable U2 classic in a love song with the flag waving pop drive of 'New Year's Day'. These are songs that will fill their fans with joy, but it is in the album's more intimate, off beat adventures that U2 lock into something that forces listeners to sit up and take note of them anew. There is a busy-ness in terms of sonic tapestry, the meshing together of Edge's sci-fi guitars and Eno's synths providing an intricate, detailed soundscape that constantly tugs at the ears and mind, but the U2/Eno/Lanois songs hold the centre, slowly revealing themselves, demanding repeat listens. It certainly sounds like U2 (as do a lot of groups these days) but in its boldest moments is as fresh and ambitious as the work of first timers, not veterans 33 years on the road.

If it has a flaw, it may be in U2's inherent tendency to want to be all things to all people, so that in album of surrender, they can't quite let themselves go all the way. They still want to bat the ball out of the stadium everytime, and so instinctively counterbalance their desire to reach something otherwordly with the safe bets of crunchy rock hits. In that respect, it doesn't have the innocence or singularity of 'Unforgettable Fire' or 'Joshua Tree', nor does it quite affect the bold re-wiring of their sound that was 'Achtung Baby'. To me, it is probably the album 'Zooropa' was supposed to be, building on the sonic architecture of classic U2 and taking it into the pop stratosphere. But what a place for a band to be, in orbit around their own myth, making music that bounces off the inside of a listeners skull, charged with ideas and emotions, groovy enough to want to dance to, melodic enough to make you sing along, soulful enough to cherish, philosophical enough to inspire, and with so many killer tracks it might as well be a latterday greatest hits. It is, at the very least, an album to speak of in the same breath as their best and what other band of their longevity can boast of that?

Anyway that's my opinion. I can tell you what Bono thinks, because he has been texting me. He comes (as he explicitly says on 'Breathe') "from a long line of travelling salesmen" and he would probably sell his album door to door if he could. "Lifeforce, joy, innovation, emotional honesty, analogue not digital, home-made not pro-tooled, unique sonic landscape," are his buzzwords (although punctuation and spelling are mine). "I pinch myself every morning, evenings no longer a trial. Soul music for the frenzied, rock music for the still. The album we always wanted to make. Now we f*** off ..."

Not for a while yet, I suspect.

(telegraph.co.uk)

That is one impressive review! Thanks! Should hold me over 'til the album is released.

[footyfan10]

Review if you want to call it that.

The Edge said in Q Magazine that he wanted this to be like the albums he loved. The one you could listen to again and again and always find nuances. You could grow with the album. You could take a lot from it over a long period of time.

On the outset this seems that very album. It's going to take patience and it's going to take a lot of time. I'm really happy I got started. The thing is, we're all at a Coldplay forum so I'll assume we're all Coldplay fans. Viva la Vida was the most exceptional album. I thought it had a lot of color and flavor. I think it was a great move forward for Coldplay. I listened to some of those songs again and again. I still do. But the thing about Coldplay, the thing about most music, is that after a while it's just the song. The deconstruction period ends. You know the lyrics. You have your take. You like the sound or you don't. Maybe a song that didn't grab you at first now has or maybe a song you loved has drifted into oblivion. That's what happens to me with most albums. Even a lot of U2's. But I know this album isn't just going to end up being background noise and melody for me while I do homework. It demands to be listened to. It's going to take a LONG time to digest.

This album is full of paradoxs. It's not a singles album, but it will probably have at least two big singles. This is not a mainstream album but I assume it's sales will only be affected by the music industries climate and not by U2's own music. This album is loud and it's quiet. It's generic and it's experimental. There are a hundred and one binaries.

This being said...I'm not sure what my take is.

While I'm into some mainstream music, a lot of my palette exists a little off of mainstream. I cannot listen to The Fray over and over again, but I can listen to them a little. I can listen to Coldplay a lot because I find their music exists in that a little off to the left of mainstream. When they go all out mainstream, in songs like Lost! and Lovers in Japan, I tend to cringe a little after my initial enjoyment of a song.

I guess I'm just trying to set up my take. To make sure everyone understands I would only be a little annoyed if this album had no really radio worthy songs.

The thing is I think it does. I think this is a type of album that will move U2 fans. The thing about U2 is that they change. The change a lot. Yes there's always Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry, but they have evolved beautifully and turned their sound upside down before.

This album doesn't go that far. If you want to know what I thought song by song on first listen I will say, but I doubt it will hold for long.

No Line on the Horizon was not what I was looking for. I sort of found this song boring to be honest.

Magnificient, which seemed such an apparent U2 song, is not working for me. There are parts where I'm moved, but only just. This might grow on me, although I think for most it will be one of the more apparent hit songs.

Moment of Surrender might be the most profound track I've heard U2 do in a while. When U2 is at their best for me, is usually when Bono is at his best. It's about so much more than the music. It's about the soul. This track has soul. I'm not sure how to say it any better than that. It is beautiful and profound.

Unknown Caller is one of those tricky songs that anyone with any knowledge of Bono and U2 should figure out is about God. I like it a lot for the most part. I don't like how they tried to do a robotic voice - I thought that was poorly thought out. I liked the organ coming in though, it just validated my thought it was about God (I say this because of church organs). Oh and I love the bird sound.

I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight is an unabashed pop song. I love it though. It's going to be on their decade album. All the reviews said it'd be happy and it is. It's a feel good song. The mood I achieved while listening to it was sort of like what Strawberry Swing did to me except to a lesser extent - which does not mean I think the songs worse.

Get On Your Boots...is their really something for me to say. Everyone has pretty much come to their opinions. I just know mine has evolved since my initial disgust. There's some satisfaction I draw from this tune.

Stand Up Comedy...hmm. I wish they just did Stand Up. Some review was complaining about song names. I concur. The comedy should have been dropped. I didn't feel it really, but there's some wacked out part near the end. Very quick though. I think you'll know what I'm talking about. I liked that.

Fez - Being Born was as weird as I expected. There are a few moments on this album where it did really stop being a U2 album. The beginning of this song is one of those moments. If I thought U2 had Eno's usual style in them full blown I would say that they could come up with something like this, but I feel it's them just letting Eno do more than he should. I like the guy. I like his music even, but I don't like it taking over a record. I like the atmospheres when they compliment U2's style, but not for the sake of atmospheres.

White as Snow is a song I think will grow on me. I like how its constructed. I like what it says. It's just one of those songs thats going to take a while to get into.

Breathe I liked. How much I liked it I'm not sure. It has brilliant parts. I like the idea of grace through sound. I like the idea of this song. I like that it's not blowing me away yet.

Cedars of Lebanon is stripped down. This song seems to exist to let Bono do what he wants. You almost forget there's music. You just hear the character Bono has created for you (has anyone thought about how these characters might end up in the concerts? I think that'd be pretty damn cool). It's a solemn way to end an album. It's not uplifting like Yahweh. I sort of wish it was.



I'm sorry this was so damn long. I just devoted a lot of time to listening and paying attention, so I had a lot of thoughts. Regardless I think we are all going to hear a lot of fringe U2 fans taking the piss out of this album. The fans who could only get into albums like The Joshua Tree, All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Distmantle an Atomic Bomb. Basically the singles fans. But if you're into music at all I can't see how you could dislike this album or what U2 are trying to achieve. They aren't sitting on their laurels everyone, and that's quite a thing for four men about to hit 50.