retroblog.net

After seeing U2’s limp debut performance of the song “Get on your Boots” during the Grammy telecast last month, I was all too ready to dismissed their latest release as weak filler from a “legacy band” struggling to keep relevant. But now that I’ve actually listened to No Line On The Horizon for the last couple weeks, I’m relieved to say that the new album is a lot stronger than I expected. I suppose it’s easy to be a bit cynical about one of the world’s most popular rock bands especially with someone as outspoken as Bono as your frontman. But with No Line on the Horizon, they demonstrate once again that they’re still capable of delivering the goods. With familiar faces behind the recording console (Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite), the band plows through the new material with energetic enthusiasm. Honestly, it’s not a perfect album and definitely won’t be considered their *best* album but there are some moments of bliss sprinkled throughout that keep the listener coming back for more. The multilayered aspect of the recordings provide listeners depth when the album is put on repeat. Indeed, there are some missteps such as those clunky techno-speak lyrics in “Unknown Caller” (Force quit and move to trash, Restart and re-boot yourself). But overall, NLOTH is an enjoyable album, nonetheless.

standouts include: Magnificent, Breathe, White as Snow, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight

retroGrade: B

No Line On The Horizon
by U2
Interscope Records
released March 2009
Produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Steve Lillywhite
—-

Here’s U2 performing “Magnificent” on David Letterman:

—-

U2 Stadium Dates 2009 : the 360° Tour

here are the confirmed tour dates:
June 30 Barcelona (Nou Camp)
July 7 Milan (San Siro)
July 11 Paris (Stade de France)
July 15 Nice, France (Parc Charles Ehrmann)
July 18 Berlin (Olympic Stadium)
July 20 Amsterdam (Arena)
July 24 Dublin (Croke Park)
July 31 Gothenburg, Sweden (Ullevi)
Aug 6 Chorzom, PL (Slaski Stadium)
Aug 10 Zagreb, HR (Maksimir Stadium)
Aug 14 London (Wembley Stadium)
Aug 18 Glasgow, UK (Hampden Park)
Aug 20 Sheffield, UK (Don Valey Stadium)
Aug 22 Cardiff, UK (Millennium Stadium)
Sep 12 Chicago (Soldier Field)
Sep 16 Toronto (The Rogers Center)
Sep 20 Foxborough (Gillette Stadium)
Sep 24 New York (Giants Stadium)

and the following aren’t official yet (subject to change):
Sept 29 FedEx Field, Washington DC
Oct 1 Charlottesville, VA
Oct 3 Raleigh, NC
Oct 6 Georgia Dome, Atlanta
Oct 9 Raymond James Center, Tampa, FL
Oct 12 New Cowboy’s Stadium, Arlington (Dallas), TX
Oct 14 Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
Oct 19 Norman, OK
Oct 20 Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale (Phoenix), AZ
Oct 23 Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Oct 25 Rose Bowl, Los Angeles
Oct 28 BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, BC

—-

Filed under:
music, reviews by retroDan