No Line on the Horizon... [Archive]

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mylittledemon

03-04-2009, 04:42 PM

anyone get the new U2 yet?

Now, I really like U2 a lot. This new album...definitely a STEP BACKWARDS. I have listened to it 3x thru. I don't really enjoy any of it. Maybe the track "Magnificent" but thats it. I'm sorely disappointed.

shackin'up

03-04-2009, 04:54 PM

HejiraNYC

03-04-2009, 04:58 PM

I'm going to download it tonight... I saw them on David Letterman last night and I thought they sounded fantastic. From the handful of fan reviews I've read on Amazon, it seems that this is an album that you either love or hate- I've never seen such sharply divided sentiment ever. Since I've never been a fan of their "soaring, majestic" power ballads, I have a feeling this one is going to be good for me...

chiliD

03-04-2009, 05:09 PM

Well, for me "a step backwards" for U2 is a GOOD thing. :shrug:

I kind of "dropped" them after Achtung Baby. The two or three albums after that didn't do much for me. The last couple of albums have kind of spurred my interest in them again.

SortaSavageLike

03-04-2009, 05:09 PM

If anything on this album is even half as good as The Fly, I'll eat my underwear.

Okay, I'll eat a can of anchovies. :rolleyes:

LukeA

03-04-2009, 05:17 PM

I downloaded it right after it leaked, so I've had a few weeks to sit with it. I didn't like it at all the first 3 or 4 times I listened to it, and didn't really know what to make of it. I chalk it up to being conditioned to automatically expect the mostly-bland U2 by-the-numbers of the last two albums- albums that sounded great upon the first couple listens, until repeated listens exposed what dreck some of those tracks truly were (ex. "Miracle Drug").

Its definitely their most experimental album since "Pop", or even "Passengers" (ex. "Fez/Being Born" on a U2 album in 2009 is a minor miracle)- and this is largely a good thing. "Unknown Caller" is the low point- a droning clunker that goes on two minutes too long. All the others grew on me, and continue to do so. A perfect example, "Crazy Tonight"- a total "WTF" on the first listen, but its got a great hook. The title track is very good (if not great), as is "Magnificent" and "Moment Of Surrender". I can take or leave "Cedars of Lebanon".

mylittledemon

03-04-2009, 05:22 PM

Wow, I think it's their best in years and years. I really like it.

Really? Wow. I love almost all their albums from the 80s.

90s era...I love Achtung Baby...I like Pop...and I love the last two albums (All You Cant Leave Behind, and Atomic Bomb)...this new album seems morose. All sizzle with no steak.

LukeA

03-04-2009, 05:31 PM

this new album seems morose.

Apropos for the time, no?

All sizzle with no steak.

To me, this sums up "Bomb" far better. Tracks like "All Because Of You" immediately spring to mind.

mylittledemon

03-04-2009, 05:42 PM

Apropos for the time, no?

To me, this sums up "Bomb" far better. Tracks like "All Because Of You" immediately spring to mind.

I guess it depends on your point of view. I suppose they could've gone and made a happy go lucky record despite the current times.

Atomic Bomb speaks to me. On an emotional level, at least. When I hear some of those songs (like Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own)...i'm moved. I can identify with it. Maybe NO LINE is too new for me to pass judgement. It just seems I can't identify with whatever they are trying to say with this record.

LukeA

03-04-2009, 06:00 PM

Atomic Bomb speaks to me. On an emotional level, at least. When I hear some of those songs (like Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own)...i'm moved.

I feel the same way about a couple of tracks from"Bomb"- "City of Blinding Lights" and "Crumbs From Your Table" are both better than anything on this new album. But there are some songs (here's another one- "A Man and A Woman") that are amongst the very worst U2 has ever recorded.

mylittledemon

03-04-2009, 06:18 PM

I feel the same way about a couple of tracks from"Bomb"- "City of Blinding Lights" and "Crumbs From Your Table" are both better than anything on this new album. But there are some songs (here's another one- "A Man and A Woman") that are amongst the very worst U2 has ever recorded.

Wow. I actually really like "A Man and a Woman"

BombaySapphire3

03-04-2009, 08:41 PM

KFOG played the entire album a week or so ago..Bono in typical fit of grandiosity is proclaiming that if it isn't U2's best album then U2 are irrelevant..by his own definition then U2 are irrelevent.

mylittledemon

03-04-2009, 08:42 PM

KFOG played the entire album a week or so ago..Bono in typical fit of grandiosity is proclaiming that if it isn't U2's best album then U2 are irrelevant..by his own definition then U2 are irrelevent.

Yeah its not their best album...not even in their top 5

MacMan

03-04-2009, 09:18 PM

I did not like any of it except for Magnificent after the first listen ... That was the only track that reminded me of anything U2 has done and that sound of theirs was there and familiar. I'm still not blown away by the album... I think it's a sound/production issue.. it sounds condensed or compressed or something - I don't know I can't explain it - it doesn't seem to have that BIG sound. I like a number of tracks on it now after listening to it repeatedly. I kept reading so many positive reviews on this, I thought WTF, what am I missing...Why don't I feel the same? I still don't get all the high praise it's getting... But it's not bad...

LukeA

03-05-2009, 02:15 AM

I think it's a sound/production issue.. it sounds condensed or compressed or something - I don't know I can't explain it - it doesn't seem to have that BIG sound.

Yes- this is a MAJOR issue. This album and the last one both had this huge problem. In particular, Bono's vocals on "Crazy Tonight" are so poorly compressed & mixed that its impossible to believe that its the final version. Just like "Bomb", it does detract from the quality & overall experience of the album.

This is a problem that has plagued a number of high profile releases recently. A group of Metallica fans signed a petition seeing to remix their most recent album due to similar problems- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_magnetic#Criticism_regarding_production Its an issue too complex to elaborate on in one post.

MacMan

03-05-2009, 07:49 PM

Yes- this is a MAJOR issue. This album and the last one both had this huge problem. In particular, Bono's vocals on "Crazy Tonight" are so poorly compressed & mixed that its impossible to believe that its the final version. Just like "Bomb", it does detract from the quality & overall experience of the album.

This is a problem that has plagued a number of high profile releases recently. A group of Metallica fans signed a petition seeing to remix their most recent album due to similar problems- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_magnetic#Criticism_regarding_production Its an issue too complex to elaborate on in one post.

What I recall reading about Metallica and their fanbase being somewhat pissed/disappointed in was one of their songs from the new album ended up on Rockband or one of those new recent video games or something like that - and the sound on it was apparently phenomenal compared to what they got on the cd. They then realized they had been somewhat shafted with the cd version and it's sound.

Lee

03-06-2009, 08:51 AM

I took the day off to go shopping with my Mom today & I'm going to Target to get this album. I'm a big fan of U2's.

They are on right now on Good Morning America. As I am typing this, they are singing, It's a Beautiful Day. They sang quite a few songs from their new album. I wonder if any Ledgies are there watching them.

Lee :)

mylittledemon

03-06-2009, 12:20 PM

Stew_Matthews

03-06-2009, 01:35 PM

anyone get the new U2 yet?

Yes I have the album. I tend to agree with everything that Luke has said. This is the best album in quite some time from U2 though you need to listen quite carefully to appreciate it. The first three tracks are as good as I've heard from this band in many years.

mylittledemon

03-06-2009, 03:19 PM

Yes I have the album. I tend to agree with everything that Luke has said. This is the best album in quite some time from U2 though you need to listen quite carefully to appreciate it. The first three tracks are as good as I've heard from this band in many years.

Meh! I've listened to it 5 times thru now...it's still stuck in "BLAH" land for me.

Stew_Matthews

03-06-2009, 03:25 PM

Meh! I've listened to it 5 times thru now...it's still stuck in "BLAH" land for me.

Are you playing it on the right speed? :laugh: Maybe your cd player is faulty.

I know a lot of U2 fans who aren't keen - at least they have tried something a bit different - you'll probably like the next album...........

Erin

03-06-2009, 03:40 PM

I just got around to listening to this. I'm digging it. It's not Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby, but I didn't expect it to be.

mylittledemon

03-06-2009, 04:39 PM

Are you playing it on the right speed? :laugh: Maybe your cd player is faulty.

I know a lot of U2 fans who aren't keen - at least they have tried something a bit different - you'll probably like the next album...........

Morose. It's just very morose. That's the best way I can describe it. I don't enjoy listening to it. It makes me sad that I dont like it.

Lee

03-07-2009, 09:52 PM

Well, I listened to it today in our truck with my husband, riding around doing errands. Though he kept turning the volume down & I kept turning it back up, I liked it. And I'm not just saying that because I like U2. I've only listened to it one time, and there are some songs that I favor over others, but in general I liked it. My husband has seen U2 in concert with me once & his opinion was that it was "OK", so it must be good for him to say that. :laugh:

Lee :)

mylittledemon

03-07-2009, 11:07 PM

Maybe if I see them live again it'll grow on me.

estranged4life

03-09-2009, 05:25 PM

http://www.u2.com/tour/presale/index

The U2 360° Tour will visit 14 cities across Europe including dates in Milan, Gothenburg, Amsterdam, Paris, Nice, Dublin, Chorzow, Berlin, Gelsenkirchen, London, Sheffield and Glasgow before finishing at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on August 22.

The European tour will be followed by dates in North America beginning at Chicago’s Soldier Field on September 12th, 2009.

In September and October, U2 360° Tour will also visit: Atlanta, GA; Charlottesville, VA; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Las Vegas, NV; Los Angeles, CA; Norman, OK; Phoenix, AZ; Tampa, FL; Washington, DC and Vancouver, BC. Complete Tour and ticketing information to follow.

Long-time U2 Show Director Willie Williams has worked again with architect Mark Fisher (ZooTV, PopMart, Elevation and Vertigo), to create an innovative 360˚ design which affords an unobstructed view for the audience. U2 360° also marks the first time a band has toured in stadiums with such a unique and original structure.

----------------------

As for "NLOTH", It is starting to grow on me. Been in my cd player since this past Saturday. Have to say my favorite song thus far is "Cedars of Lebanon" - Cool to see that they have finally decided to come back to Oklahoma!

Lee

03-10-2009, 02:02 PM

mylittledemon

03-10-2009, 04:43 PM

I really can't understand why some people don't like this album. The more that I listen to it, the more that I like it. I'm on my third time right now.

I don't think that I'll get to see them live this year unless they decide to come to Philly somewhere. :(

Lee :)

Ok, so i went out with my wife today. Nice sunny day. I replayed the CD in my car while we were out and about. And the verdict is still...no good. It's not a good album.

Lee

03-10-2009, 07:09 PM

Ok, so i went out with my wife today. Nice sunny day. I replayed the CD in my car while we were out and about. And the verdict is still...no good. It's not a good album.

Wow, to each his own I guess. :confused:

Lee :)

mylittledemon

03-10-2009, 07:20 PM

Wow, to each his own I guess. :confused:

Lee :)

I'm as puzzled by it as you are.

LukeA

03-10-2009, 07:51 PM

I think that casual U2 fans who were put off by "Pop" and feel that the last two albums were a "return to form" for the band (for the better) are bound to be disappointed by an experimental album (by U2 in 2009 standards) that isn't presented in quite the spoon-fed manner as past efforts. I say that not as a criticism, just an observation.

After the flop (relatively speaking) of "Pop", U2 needed to cast as wide a net as possible to regain the mainstream popularity they were accustomed to. There was a determined focus/effort of/by the band to make those albums as accessible as possible, to the point where basically any of the songs on either of those two albums could have been released as a single. Longtime fans and even the band itself (based on numerous statements of theirs) felt that the band needed a new direction after "Bomb"- frustrated by the stagnation.

I am worried that the band is being a bit overambitious with this stadium tour. U2 deeply regrets that they didn't book stadiums in North America back in '04 (they really should have- the momentum & market was there). I think that between their deal with Live Nation & their desire to overcompensate for their "mistake", they are shoving this tour into stadiums at the worst possible time (the all-important casual fans not digging the new album, and the suckitude of the economy). Some of the announced dates (Norman, OK on a Monday night?) give me flashbacks to what could end up being a Popmart ticket sales fiasco all over again, which would be most ironic and unfortunate all the same.

mylittledemon

03-10-2009, 08:03 PM

I actually like Pop more than this new record.

LukeA

03-10-2009, 08:05 PM

I actually like Pop more than this new record.

I do too- "Pop" is a superior U2 album, on par with "Achtung Baby", "Joshua Tree", and "Unforgettable Fire".

mylittledemon

03-10-2009, 09:42 PM

HAHA...well I wouldn't agree with that. I like Atomic Bomb and All You Cant Leave Behind better than Pop. But, POP is better than this latest record.