U2 Communities and Websites Reawaken as Fans Gear Up for New Album

It has been four years since the release of U2's last album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" and two years since the final dates of the Vertigo tour. For months, U2 fan communities and websites have been rather sleepy- resting as the band itself has been. Oh, there has been the occasional comment on some event one of the band members attended, or regarding one of the many charities and organisations the band has founded and/or supported. There have also been the rare paparazzi sightings, and the results of a fan stakeout at the studios where the band were reportedly working. There might be mentioned something another celebrity said about them and there have been the usual polls regarding fans' favorite songs and why. But compared with the feverish activity during tour months, these sites have been wintering.

Now has come the spring. Beginning with the 20th anniversary release of the "Joshua Tree", the Edge has slowly churned out remastered versions- complete with rare and unreleased tracks- of nearly all of U2's early albums that were originally recorded on analog equipment. (Not really worth the money unless you do not already own those albums or are a hard-core fan interested in those rare and unreleased bits. The fact that song lyrics are included in the packages is also a positive.) These have reawakened discussion and interest in the band as fans hash out opinions on the extra material and whether their favorite related story was included in the booklets that double as jackets. This was a smart marketing move for the boys to make since it whetted everyone's appetite for new material.

The new material is slated to be released in November 2008. Thus far there is little official information regarding the new album, but rumors are beginning to surface as fans become eager. The temperature is rising.

Universal reported buying the domain name "nolineonthehorizon" recently. Due to the fact that Bono intimated this as a possible song title 2 years ago, fans are asking: "Is that the name of the new album?" It is known that Bono has the habit of listening to new albums rather loudly and repeatedly after final production. A fan set up a video camera on the beach outside his home and managed to record 4 songs as they drifted out from an open window, including the song that it is said will be the first single and which is supposedly titled "Sexy Boots". The video received many views on You-tube before being taken down due to copyright infringement. But the damage was done. Several others made videos from that first video and these copycat versions are, as of now, still available for viewing. Some online ticket vendors are attempting to sale tickets for the upcoming tour, to the band's dismay. As a result, they have posted a warning to fans on their official website, http://www.u2.com, that dates have not been announced and these sales are illegitimate.

All of this underscores the excitement that surrounds the release of this album. According to the timetables that Paul McGuinness, U2's manager, has utilised in the past, the release of the first single for radio play is imminent. November is crawling ever closer. U2 fans everywhere are anticipating this release as never before and discussion is rapidly growing. Summer is coming.