Soon,
however, Rick Rubin was replaced by the dream team and long time
U2 producers, Steve Lillywhite, Brian Eno and Danny Lanois.
Like a jigsaw puzzle falling in place, the four men and their producers
went about working on the album with a new found vigour and passion
and flew across continents recording bits and parts of albums at
different studios with different ideas, and the eventual result
is a resounding triumph of music, albeit with its share of flaws.
Let
me in on the sound
To begin with, the first single is perhaps the weakest song of the
album too. Bono has been known in the past for coming up with undecipherable
gibberish, but this time round, the lyrics are quite diabolical
in nature. Case in point, these lines from 'Get on Your Boots'…
"I got submarine / you got gasoline / I don't want to talk
about / wars between nations" hardly drives the point across
the listener.
However, if we go by the set list of the album, No Line on the Horizon
has arguably the best opening sequence after The Joshua Tree and
Achtung Baby.
Opening strongly with title track, an invigorating bass line runs
throughout the song which allows Bono's vocals to mesh well with
chiming guitar work by The Edge.
'Magnificent' follows next and it is quite simply, the most glorious
of all songs. Edge is absolutely on fire. The guitar virtuoso, known
mostly for his minimalist technique, indulges himself with a fine
solo towards the end of the song which Bono fittingly ends with
verses "Only love can leave such a mark / only love unite our
hearts".
'Moment of Surrender' is a seven and a half minute slow burner,
rivaling Magnificent as the standout epic from the record. Edge
is again in fine form with the rhythm section providing a divine
like serenity. Bono belts out some of the most poignant lyrics ever
penned by him - "At the moment of surrender / of vision over
visibility / I did not notice the passers-by / and they did not
notice me" - as the song concludes yet again with a classic
Edge guitar solo, restrained yet memorable.
'Unknown Caller' is a truly Brian Eno number, opening with different
musical instruments layering on each other, as the most melodious
track of the album takes shape where Bono speaks about speed dialing,
restarting and rebooting and finally, freeing up.
Next three songs are technically the weaker ones on the record,
but 'I'll Go Crazy Tonight' (the most catchiest of all and possibly,
their next single), 'Get on Your Boots' and 'Stand up Comedy' all
have major potential to be the next stadium hit during tours.
This is followed by the last phase of the album where the four men
from north side of Dublin combine to stitch together songs which
speak of the willingness to experiment and expand their horizons.
Bono's ode to a dying solider in Afghanistan, 'White as Snow' is
an evocative number which has an eerie quality to it. It stand out
among rest of the songs.
'Breathe', the penultimate song on the album is the most ambiguous
one. With heavy guitar riffs to start off strongly, Bono joins in
with yet another set of nonsensical lyrics where he talks about
ju-ju men and cockatoos. This song, besides 'I'll Go Crazy Tonight',
is going to have the most divisive effect on audience who will either
love it, or hate it. However, credit must be given to real flourishing
guitar work from The Edge.
'Cedars of Lebanon' follows in footsteps of 'White Snow' as Bono
dons the cap of a war weary journalist reporting from Middle East.
As the song develops in a brilliant monologue, it is backed by some
truly haunting bass line throughout the song which ends with an
advice from Bono, 'Choose your enemies carefully / 'cos they will
define you'. Quite relevant, if one may say in accordance with current
times.
Verdict?
After giving the album a repeated listen, it seems that despite
having some epic anthems in the mould of U2 of old, this album cannot
necessarily be touted as the third of the U2 masterpieces, behind
The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. Maybe the closest thing - but
it seems evident that despite the band striving really hard to experiment
and move away from their comfort zone, there seems a slight bit
of restraint.
Without a doubt, No Line On The Horizon is not a typical U2 album
with straightforward rock numbers which are easy on ears and catchy
enough to sing incessantly. This one is more of a grower and will
slowly draw the listener in, weaving its magic. There are songs
which will leave people puzzled and scratching their head. But what
is obvious is that U2 certainly moved away from their tried and
tested formula they applied on their two records released earlier
this decade.
No Line on the Horizon remains among the most melodious yet experimental
of U2 albums, with Edge in absolutely stunning form with his atmospheric
guitar work and able support by Adam Clayton's booming bass and
Larry Mullen's drumming. However, some of the lyrics fall flat slightly,
which is rather unexpected, given Bono's prolific lyric writing
abilities as witnessed in past.
In the end, the thirst hasn't been quenched the way one expected
after waiting for five long years, yet No Line on the Horizon delivers
just enough for one to eagerly look forward where U2 will go from
here.
*****Get
the CD NOW!
****Just get it
***Maybe maybe not
**Just download the best song
*Forget that this was made
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