wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

History: My friends & I bought the hype and bought Boy when it came out. Too distracted by the Edge's lifting of Keith Levene's (PIL) guitar style to pay much attention to the the rest except to note the pomposity in utero.

Listened to Unforgettable Fire a bit as my father gave it to me (his patient worked for Island records and gave it to him). Not bad - sounded great thanks to Eno & Lanois.

Since then - radio fodder. The Irish Springsteens and irrelevant to me. All That You Can't Leave Behind was a nice surprise - just a straight-ahead, expertly done rock album w/o straining for significance or stadia.

This new one just sees them falling into many old, irritating patterns to my ears, except the lyrics are godawful. Is there no one who will say "No" to Bono? With newer bands like TV On The Radio, The Walkmen and Fleet Foxes, how can we even consider these guys the future of anything?

Also, compare them to Wire or Killing Joke - two 30 year old bands that continue to innovate and build on their considerable legacies. Much more exciting.

No Line on the Horizon is a work of greatness. The reason people don't get it is because they've become accustomed to medicore albums by just-add-water pop stars whose main goal is one single that make them a one hit wonder. This album is like a great piece of literature. The album as a whole has a theme that each song advances and it has a depth and life to it that is more engaging with each listen. If faith, love and salvation are no longer relevant in this world then God help us all. This is the most relevant album of this decade, maybe even the last 20 years. If you can't hear that, go listen to Kelly Clarkson...you'll "get" her.

Why are we talking about U-2? I think that the closing comments about the last song sum it up for me. U-2 has once again wrote a song maybe more that matter, that inspire and make you think . Isn't rock and roll supposed to do that?

Amazon is sellin the mp3 download of the album for $3.99. hurry up before they change their minds..

What about Brian Eno's footprint. I am a big fan of Brian Eno and it is great to still hear the logic of his sound within the CD.
U2 is our Beatles of the late XX beginning of XXI century, let them play.

gods.
Noel Gallagher of Oasis thoughtfully once mused that being a successful rock artist was about looking ridiculous and cool at the same time. On that score U2 succeeds while continuing to strive to make quality music and in "real life" doing a lot of good for various charitable and societal concerns. I'm buying the new album.

He doesn't like "Are you here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?"

I think he's crazy- that lyric rocks, as does:

IN THE GARDEN I WAS PLAYING THE TART/ I KISSED YOUR LIPS AND BROKE YOUR HEART

These are awesome!

Been there, heard that.

With all the interesting bands around... why are we even talking about U2?!?

Let's move on people....

The problem with U2 is that their librettist died. Since Rattle and Hum they have kept interesting music, but the lyrics are completely vapid.

wrong, joe, neil young still makes new music and still rocks. maybe more thsn u2.

not a u2 fan.

ted

gods of looking like a douche in wrap around sunglasses.

I was a huge fan of U2 up until Joshua Tree, when they kind of lost me.

That said, I find it preposterous for anyone but the artists themselves to decide where their music is going.

U2 has lost there musical way a long time ago. i think they put out an album every couple of years just to stay relevant. I was not impressed by the single or the album. if they are "returning to basics" whose basics are they returning to?

kids now-a-days barely know the band U2 when you mention U2 they think of Bono only, that have no clue who the other members are.

Soundcheck,

Thanks for making the link to listeners reviews more visible.

Hi Michael:

Your review was posted in a comment thread on the Soundcheck Blog, where we asked listeners to post their reviews before today's Smackdown. Here's the link:

http://blogs.wnyc.org/soundcheck/2009/02/25/your-line-on-no-line-on-the-horizon/

We've posted this link above now, as well.

Well, I did leave a comment yesterday...but I see it's been removed.

It was on-topic, and I believe civil and fair. I spent the better part of an hour listening and thinking about the new album and took the time to post my thoughts as I'm both a fan of U2 - since 1979 and saw them at the now long-gone Passaic Theatre in '82 - and of Soundcheck.

If you guys are going to prevent folks for saying how they honestly feel (that the record is a 'miss') then why do you ask people to spend their time putting content on your site? ...not to mention the implications to free-speak & community?

Very disappointing....

U2'S rhythm driven songs overlaid with poetic verse and guitar riffs spare on notes and chords have become as iconic as the Bo Diddley beat or Chuck Berry's chords. Younger bands such as Coldplay are using the classic U2 sound as starting point to popularity. Why shouldn’t U2 do the same?