Review of U2's No Line on the Horizon

U2's twelfth studio album was released on February 27, 2009, 4 1/2 years after their last album, 2004's very successful "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb". So why review an album 6 months after its release? For me, U2's albums take some time, heavy listening, and life experience before their true excellence can be evaluated. I must say up front that U2 is, in my opinion, the most important rock band in the world, and have remained more musically relevant and commercially successful for longer than any other band in history. I also don't think U2 has ever made a truly awful album, but they have definitely made some albums that are much better than others. Which leads me to my review of "No Line".

I had high hopes for this album, especially since it's gestation was longer than any other U2 album in history. I had reason to be hopeful. They worked with legendary producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, who have helped U2 with all of their most critically acclaimed albums, including The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and All That You Can't Leave Behind. The cover, featuring a photograph titled "Boden Sea" by Hiroshi Sugimoto is perhaps the best U2 album cover ever. There were also troubling signs. Will I.AM. from Black Eyed Peas worked on several tracks, and in interviews Bono has mentioned being influenced by the rapping style of artists such as Kanye West while making this album. In the pop world, fine. But U2 is a rock band, for Bono's sake.

When I first listened to the album, I was initially impressed. The first 3 songs were amazing, innovative, and sounded like U2 on top of their game. The middle of the album was less impressive, and the ending was a bit of downer, but I know better than to judge a U2 album at first listen. As often is the case, their music is so layered and emotionally and musically complex that it takes a while for it all to sink in and make sense. Six months out, unfortunately, much of my initial sentiments holds true. The album seems to be composed of 1/3 brilliance (No Line, Magnificent, Moment of Surrender, White as Snow), 1/3 not-quite-brilliance (I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, Fez-Being Born, Breathe) and 1/3 incredibly far-from-brilliance (Unknown Caller, Get On Your Boots, Stand Up Comedy, Cedars of Lebanon).

The straightforward rock, and accessible lyrics of "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" made it a commercial success around the globe, selling 10 million copies and winning 8 Grammy awards (as many as Michael Jackson's "Thriller") but many critics labeled it "predictable" and charged that U2 had lost it's creative edge. U2 appears to have taken that criticism to heart. "No Line" is about as different from "Atomic Bomb" as it possibly could be, drawing more of a musical comparison to 1991's "Achtung Baby". While"Achtung Baby" was very different and innovative, the catchy melodies, and heartfelt, relatable lyrics belied that innovation, making it an amazing album both critically and commercially. More than being just innovative it was also incredibly accessible. There's a song on "Achtung Baby" for every moment in your life, and every emotion you've experienced.

"No Line" has glimpses of that innovation and accessibility in the aforementioned 4 tracks of brilliance, but the rest of the album tries too hard to simply be different, rather than just be good. "Boots" sounds like a less-catchy version of "Vertigo" while "Stand Up Comedy" is more comedy, than the sexy rocker it pretends to be. "Unknown Caller" is simply a strange song, with even stranger lyrics, and is devoid of all of U2's musical gifts. "Cedars of Lebanon", is a spoken word song that closes the album, which might have been cool had the rest of the album been more accessible, but instead just adds to the confusion of what's going on. "Breathe" has more going for it, but even here, you have to wait until the chorus until you get to something tangible and heartfelt. When Bono sings "Walk out, into the sunburst street, sing your heart out, sing my heart out...I've found grace inside a sound, I found grace, it's all that I found, and I can breathe" it's like a breath, if you excuse the pun, of fresh air, but you have to wait far too long to get there.

In the interim, the verses are a rattling off of random events, sang in a rap-like fashion that might work for Kanye, but not so much for a rock song performed by 4 Irishmen pushing 50. Give them an "A" for effort but a "C+" for execution here. "I'm Gonna Go Crazy" is another one that had potential, but misses the mark. In this case, the lyrics are there, but the music needs to be butched up about 5 notches. I'm guessing Will.I.AM. is partly to blame on this one. Most importantly, what U2 have always been best at is connecting to the heart, and writing emotionally-accessible songs that represent a particular moment in our lives. "Atomic Bomb" did this masterfully, as did "Achtung Baby". Unfortunately, there seems to be a certain detachment to many of the songs on "No Line" that don't lend themselves to being connected to those memorable moments in our lives, good or bad, when we need them. That's not something I can say about any U2 album outside of "Zooropa", and in that case, "detachment" was likely their goal. When the songs come together though, they are outstanding. The opening title track doesn't sound like any song U2 has ever made, or anyone else has made for that matter. The lyrics are outstanding, the vocals are even better, and the music is out of this world. It is probably one of U2's best songs ever, and the best opening track since "Achtung Baby"'s "Zoo Station". "Magnificent" lives up to its name, and features the moving chorus "Only love, only love can leave such a mark. But only love, only love can heal such a scar." So true, Bono. So true.

"Moment of Surrender" is another amazing song. It's long (over 7 minutes long) but it's never boring. Bono's vocals are strong and vulnerable at the same time, the lyrics inspiring, and the music is simply beautiful. "White as Snow" is a beautiful, haunting folk tune, with great harmonies and story worthy of being sung for generations to come. It's the kind of song U2 has never done before, but the wait was well worth it. All in all, the album is a mix of great, almost great, and far from great. I would rate this album tied with "Pop" in the pantheon of U2 albums, and that isn't a bad thing. While "Pop" was dissed by critics upon its release, it has fared much better over the years. "No Line" is probably a more consistent album, but "Pop" was more innovative. Listening to it now, 12 years after its release, it's amazing how much music now sounds like what U2 was doing on the "Pop" album. In fact, the album and accompanying tour haven't seemed to age a bit, which is a testament to U2's creativity. Who knows. Perhaps 12 years from now, "No Line" will be viewed in a similarly favorable fashion. Until then, enjoy the moments of brilliance contained on "No Line" and look forward to the new album, "Songs of Ascent", due out next year.