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‘No Line on the Horizon’ leaves nothing whatsoever
U2’s new CD leaves rock feel, attempts experimental sound
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Also by Stephen Christensen:
- Men in red take stage at Overture with oldies, hits (April 23, 2009)
- 'Joe Zopp' an inventive comedy (April 2, 2009)
- 'No Line on the Horizon' leaves nothing whatsoever (March 8, 2009)
- 'Spring Awakening' composer performs at Union (March 4, 2009)
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If the essences of words like boring, uninspired or average could somehow magically be converted directly into music, the outcome would certainly sound almost identical to the brand new U2 album No Line On The Horizon. The record is a lifeless collection of limp rhythms, perplexing lyrics and forgettable melodies.
The 12th official studio release by U2 represents an admitted attempt by the group to reinvent its sound. In an interview with CNN conducted by Denise Quan, Larry Mullen Jr., drummer and utility percussionist for the band, said, “It’s not an easy record, and it’s complex… I’m very pleased with it. I think it shakes it up a bit, and we need to do that.”
Mullen added, “We’ve had two albums — All That You Can’t Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb — and they were very U2 as U2. This album is a lot more experimental.”
While the album does represent a departure from the expected U2 sound, having an overall quite ethereal and at times almost meditative quality, saying the album “shakes” anything up is like saying that “Dora the Explorer” is a compelling dissection of the criminal mind.
Known for catchy melodies and driving rock-pop rhythms, U2 decided to abandon those qualities for a sound that could be characterized by its indistinctive and unmoving style. “Get On Your Boots,” the first song released for radio play by the group, features an almost indistinguishable melody, a generally synthesized, disjointed, over-produced sound, and lyrics as poetically insightful as “I got a submarine/ You got gasoline/ I don’t wanna talk about wars between nations.”
Other songs are amorphous blobs of sound. “Fez-Being Born” offers the listener no clearly defined structures, dramatic builds or tensions. The lyrical content, when not a muddled series of hard-to-differentiate words, is painfully obvious, simply narrating a birth as a metaphor for the experience of escaping to Fez. Rather than offering anything thought-provoking or engaging, the song washes over you like some passive and inoffensive wave of mediocrity.
But, since it’s still Bono singing and it’s still Edge playing, fanboys and ravenous groupies will of course find something to love about No Line On The Horizon. Whether they will invent great poetic meaning for the band’s ambiguous and lazy lyrics or proclaim the laid-back, inoffensive and entirely forgettable nature of almost every song on the album a triumphant shift in the U2 aesthetic is difficult to predict, but surely they will figure something out.
However, the album’s failure is not that it’s impossible to tolerate or understand. If or when you listen to the album, you will probably not be struck by how poorly it is put together. You will probably not start laughing over how horrible and ill-conceived the project is. The truth is you probably won’t think about it at all. The problem with the album is all the songs are so average and dull that it doesn’t engage the listener on any level.
The work’s redeemable quality is perhaps that it would make great napping music, if you enjoy a little atmosphere while you sleep, but even then, it might be just obtrusive, with enough clanging sounds and power chords to prevent you from getting a decent rest.
No Line On The Horizon may satisfy those who need their U2 fix, but everyone else will be disappointed. It’s not so bad that you’ll be upset. But it is so quintessentially mundane you probably will never find occasion to listen to the album after the first time, and that is the mark of a very weak record.
2 stars out of 5.
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Hmm — I find this review interesting, but not surprising considering U2 was more “punk” and less “mainstream” when your mama was in school.
Honestly, as someone 44 years old, I would expect college radio and college newspapers to be at the top of the “let’s bash U2” crowd — U2 is not perceived as “your generation” so its a bit like me trying to figure out the list linked below — I missed the Frightened Rabbit and Gabe Dixon Band are really cool memo. To each his own, but give some of the songs a listen or two, especially in a re-ordered PlayList and there are some strong songs here.
http://thejuice.baseballtoaster.com/archives/1190420.html
i’m loving the album to the max! Magnificent is my most favorite.it explicitly glorifies God. Cedars of Lebanon, i can feel the heartaches and longing of a soldier and journalist.
perhaps the writer would change his mind should U2 decide to perform in their school like what they did in Fordham University hehehehe.. my username if U2 forums is j2736. so you may call me as such.
This album is right up there with Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby! When those two first came out there was little to no fanfare. I will take U2 over any band (except Radiohead) that has came out in the last 20 years.
I’m a college student…but I don’t listen to any “modern, mainstream stuff”…its all bands from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. including their new stuff. So I guess it doesn’t suprise me that you gave the new U2 album such a low rating. other reviews I’ve read, including in papers such as the Wall Street Journal, thought it was a great album. I agree whole-heartedly! I can’t stop listening. Sure, the first listen was like, what is this? but after the second time, I couldn’t stop. This album really explores the band’s Christianity, which I think is great, and there are some catchy songs, like “Stand Up Comedy” I really like “White as Snow” and “Magnificent” as well. Just a good album! Just listen to it a few more times and it will click. First listenings are never that great. U2 should come to Madison!!!
Stephen forgets again that U2 was at first and will always be a live band. Their strength lies within their ability to put on a great performance and their songs are meant to be played live. Where the streets have no name wasn’t taken to very well at all immediately and could fall under the same rhetoric Stephen speaks of here… but is one of the greatest live songs across the board. My feeling is that he only listened to the album once on his ipod on his way to class and never really let the album sink in.
FEZ-Being Born has a definite structure… i just don’t see that argument at all. Very distinct verses,
His argument for lyrical structure is absurd. Have you listened to any music today? It is full of simply literal lyrical nonsense. “I did not notice the passers-by and they did not notice me”… in itself is 100x better than anything out there now besides what John Lennon could produce.
I don’t find a single limp rhythm in get on your boots… breathe… stand up comedy… i’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight.
I could argue this all day but it simply comes down to the fact that you didn’t really listen to the album and had your mind set before you heard it. With any U2 album you need to listen to it several times to let it sink in and make the connections on how genius it really is.
Look, it’s not their greatest album ever, but come on! Whoever wrote this article needs to have his diaper changed. You simply haven’t lived long enough to appreciate something good when you see it.
So — given that most would disagree with the review, and most reviews are very positive to positive, I wonder if the reviewer will have the courage to re-consider; listen some more, and then update the reading and internet audience IF he changes his mind a bit.
Just bought the album yesterday and played it through a few times (no time to listen with full attention). Its growing on me. There are some gems and some duds. My first impression is that u2 needs an editor more than they need a producer. At times the album seems overproduced. I think it will be more enduring than the previous U2 album (Bomb). There seems more in it to keep me interested for longer. The last album just hurt my ears…
This reviewer is obviously unaware of the “last great, universal, communicative, poetic arena bands” left standing. Please name one other (besides coldplay) that actually can carry the torch of arena (and by implication, universality0 Rock? where are they? please tell me.
He’s also sadly unaware the the music business (and the planet) only creates globally compelling bands that can communicate not only “big ideas” with a “big sound” about once every 20 years. Bands that actually speak to the universal human condition and actually pull off filling arenas in the process happen about 2 times in anyone’s youth. Not to mention bands that actually stick together for decades and actually create relationships within with integrity, accountability and democratic conflict. Please!
I am also a Coldplay fan, but they lack the global universality, political edge, anger and hard rock punk ethic that U2 has carried for close to what 30 years?
this reviewer has almost ZERO historical perspective, and also zero lyrical perspective on this band. it’s actuall quite sad that this guy actually has a pen and a website, since this type of band and music is a dying breed on a dying planet.
it’s not about your personal taste sir, it’s about the fact that in this day and age there are a group of rockers still keeping themselves relevant, who are still hungry, who are still challenging themselves to evolve musically and also stay together.
i don’t care if coldplay “wants to be U2” (in their own words) but please tell me who else is actually pulling off large rock in such a way on the planet now and for this long?
and who’s music you actually can listen to in long form album format.
$%^&* the single and Itunes, there’s a reason that the full album is dead and U2 is NOT one of them.
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