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No Line On The Horizon | 
| Artist: U2
Label: Interscope Records
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
Buy Used: $2.25
as of 7/29/2010 18:50 PDT details
You Save: $11.73 (84%)
New (49) Used (41) from $2.25
Seller: buybackscolerain
Rating:  582 reviews
Sales Rank: 1022
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
UPC: 602517960374
EAN: 0602517960374
ASIN: B001O0EQ5U
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | No Line On The Horizon | | • | Magnificent | | • | Moment of Surrender | | • | Unknown Caller | | • | I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight | | • | Get On Your Boots | | • | Stand Up Comedy | | • | Fez - Being Born | | • | White As Snow | | • | Breathe | | • | Cedars Of Lebanon |
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Product Description
No Line on the Horizon is the twelfth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released on 27 February 2009. The album is U2's first since 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, the longest gap between studio albums in the band's career. The material was originally intended to be released as two EPs, titled Daylight and Darkness, but the band later decided to combine them into one album.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 582
 Fantastic album... it will grow on you! March 4, 2009
J. Chrisman (New York, NY)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Except for Magnificent, most of this album will not be an instant hit. But it will grow! The more I listen, the more I'm tappin my feet to the beats of these songs. Moment of Surrender is probably one of the most touching songs U2 have come up with. I've been an avid U2 fan for almost 15 years and it's amazing to see albums of this caliber still coming out.
Can't wait for their other album to come out this year!
Listen Closely -- The Rewards Reveal Themselves Over Time March 4, 2009
K. Briscoe (Toronto, Ontario)
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
To produce this album at this point in U2's career is nothing short of miraculous. They deserve tremendous credit for pushing their sound in new directions and not succumbing to the irrelevance that has plagued other veteran rock acts. They are simply playing better, writing consistently strong, innovative songs and finding new sonic avenues to deliver their message. I haven't heard Bono sound this impassioned (and sometimes broken) since Pop at least, and perhaps since Achtung Baby. This is truly an album in an era of ADD pop trifles and throwaway, manufactured assembly line hits. For all you instant gratification youngsters out there: give it time and find the value in music that takes its time to seep into your unconscious. That's U2's magic: tapping into the zeitgeist that illuminates what it's like to be alive in 2009. Highlights: Moment of Surrender, Magnificent, FEZ-Being Born, Breathe and Cedars of Lebanon.
U2's Masterpiece for this Generation: No Line on the Horizion March 3, 2009
The Headphone Transmissions (USA)
32 out of 43 found this review helpful
Expectations stem from many conditions, including informative past events and extensive prior knowledge. Most importantly though, expectations are born from first impressions.
My first impression of U2 was The Joshua Tree; an album so perfect, so inventive, that every pop act following it would reference its artistic and musical beauty. The sounds, the consistency, the innovation.. It was all there. It was my first concept of what a real album looks, sounds, and feels like.
Needless to say, as a long-time, avid U2 fan, I have been searching for that second Joshua Tree, that follow-up that would make me remember hearing "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" for the first time. I found great material in older recordings, War and Rattle & Hum, but everything after those was too difficult and different to make me feel satisfied with their releases.
No Line on the Horizon is an invention of a new U2; an energetic, imaginative U2 that we've missed for the past 15 years or so. This is the U2 that broke barriers, had no musical limits, and was considered one of the greatest rock bands around. This U2 is ALIVE.
Let us disregard the newest single, "Get on Your Boots," for the moment- It's a poor representation of the album. Instead, I will begin with what the band truly wants the listener to begin with; track one- "No Line on the Horizon."
"No Line" is a busy, mid-tempo surge of contrasting verses and choruses; the first being muddy and strained, and the second being smooth, clean and cleverly melodic. Bono's vocals are the obvious highlight here- It's as if he's suddenly rediscovered his youthful inspiration to sing with passion again. His legendary vocal range is again utilized to a legendary extent in second track, "Magnificant." The song itself is reminiscent of The Unforgettable Fire era, with its anthemic drums and its powerful lyrics ("Only love / Only love can leave such a mark"). Can't wait to hear this one live.
"Moment of Surrender" is seven-and-a-half minute groove that rests comfortably on an angelic musical aura and a dreamy bass line, which slowly builds to a gripping refrain. "We set ourselves on fire!" cries Bono. It's very contained, while somehow being so wild and emotional. The Edge tests out some new techniques, surprisingly not relying on his signature moves for this track. This arrangement is perfect though; just enough of everything to fill the song structure out while keeping it raw. It's beautiful.
It's phrases like "I was lost between the midnight and the dawning" and "[It was] 3:30 when the numbers fell off the clock face" in fourth track, "Unknown Caller," that make me idolize a lyrical narrator such as Bono. He's not just admirably sincere or modestly convincing or intriguingly straightforward; he's a master of the voice, the sultan of the story, molding the plot and the narration until it becomes a palpable reality. He's confidently complimented by The Edge's always creative guitar sound streaks, as well as Larry Mullen Jr.'s percussion shuffle and Adam Clayton's silky bass drive. Overall, it's another lengthy, but great one.
The next track, "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight," is reminiscent of the sound of the past few records (All That You Can't Leave Behind and How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb); however, it still boasts the new U2 energy and feel. The chorus and bridge are the biggest parts of the songs, banking on more key Edge guitar manuevers and solid arrangement. Let's just say, it's definitely a U2 creation. "Get on Your Boots" is next, and as mediocre as it may be as a single, it surprisingly makes much more sense as part of the album. If you haven't heard it, it's basically a revamped "Vertigo" with high-voltage verses, a rollercoaster chorus, and a mad bridge. The lyrics are a bit scattered, and the "sexy boots" line seems a litte out of theme with the album. It is still very inventive and, like I said, works better as a part of the album than as a lonely single.
Track seven, "Stand Up Comedy," is another strong rocker from the group, overflowing with contagious melodies and smart lyricism. The chorus tune vaguely resembles "In a Little While" (from All That You Can't Leave Behind) with its partially wordless structure, but the arrangement and surrounding melodies are something completely different. There's not much else to say about the track; it's just a straight up great song. "Stand Up Comedy" is followed by the über experimental "FEZ-Being Born," a track whose title is more than fitting. Bono moves between wordless cries and obscure lyric fragments while the band pulls off an incredible collage of colorful, passionate soundscapes. It's groundbreaking, captivating, and appealing all at once.
Next is a spell-binding rendition of a traditional tune, but with a U2 twist. "White as Snow" is a deep, chilling track treated much like a poem set to music. In no way is this a negative approach; the production on this track by Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois is absolutely flawless, and the band's presentation is inimitably imaginative. Especially noticable are the Edge's unorthodox guitar parts and impressively fine-tuned tones.
After a song like "White as Snow," the listener feels the need for something upbeat, and "Breathe" is the answer. Beginning with a jingling percussion intro, "Breathe" moves quickly through fiery verses into a controlled chorus and back out into a brief, but mesmorizing interlude, only to wrap itself up neatly at the altered end chorus. It's best described by one of its own lines- "Like loose electricity."
"Cedars of Lebanon," the closing track on No Line on the Horizon, is an intellectual, dreamy sensation of storyplot and ominous uncertainty. It's mostly quiet and uninvading, leaving the subtle, haunting lyrics to do most of the talking. It's difficult to describe the track; throwing adjectives and descriptions at the reader is ultimately pointless and falls short of truly representing the musical experience. It's nothing less than a masterpiece, and could easily be one of U2's best compositions.
After admittedly falling into a "doubting Thomas" state of mind after hearing "Get on Your Boots," I am relieved to announce that No Line on the Horizon has renewed my hope in the future of U2, and music in general. The album surpasses all expectations and finally gives the fan a reason to believe in the band again. In essence, No Line is U2's modern Joshua Tree; a bold, brilliant, fulfilling, faultless and edgy (no pun intended) record for this generation. It's accessible at it's core, but is still certainly durable and additionally artistic. Don't hesitate to spend your ten on No Line- You'll have finally found what you're looking for.
U2 re-light the fire March 3, 2009
G. Vernon (Seattle, WA USA)
16 out of 21 found this review helpful
When the U2-as-celebratory-rock-saviors rush of "War"/"Blood Red Sky" era gave way to 1984's U2-as-atmospheric-art-rockers in "The Unforgettable Fire," many fans were left scratching their heads. Sure, "Pride" was an enormous MTV hit but the reviews were uniformly poor and the band's image as wild-eyed innocents was suddenly tarred with words like "pompous" and "grandiose." Despite its strong singles, TUF seemed relegated to the category of "mis-step," one the band quickly "righted" in many minds with 1987's "The Joshua Tree."
So for a band that knows all about left turns it should come as no surprise that "No Line on the Horizon" veers wildly from its predecessor "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." What is surprising, and welcome, and perhaps even revelatory, is how good NLOTH really is.
NLOTH does precisely what the very best U2 albums can do in a way few other bands even attempt - go straight for the heart with pulsing rhythms, soaring guitars and vocals that soar higher still. In a way it reminds the listener that U2 is almost singularly capable of scaling these heights. My suspicion is that many will find themselves asking, "Where has this U2 been?"
Also like the best U2 albums, NLOTH is no one-trick pony and it's not all about euphoria in these eleven tracks. What appears to be their next single, "Breathe," certainly fits the description of a celebratory rocker in the best U2 tradition, what with Bono exulting finding "Grace in the sound," but it's sandwiched between two of the most powerful moments in U2's catalog. "White As Snow" and "Cedars of Lebanon" are spare, gentle, emotional ruminations on humanity within the context of war and each are as confidently and quietly assured as anything on "The Joshua Tree."
Does that mean NLOTH doesn't kick out the jams? Far from it - and like a statement of purpose, the album opens with the kind of controlled cacophony that U2 hasn't touched since "Zoo Station" and "The Fly." The title track is a jarring, melodic, freewheeling explosion of sound that answers anyone who felt that their previous two releases were too safe or controlled. The aforementioned "Breathe," "Magnificent," "Stand Up Comedy," "Get on Your Boots," and "Unknown Caller" all sound like future U2 classics, each a rocker with its own pace and style, each layered with both the new and the familiar.
So what does NLOTH have to do with TUF? Perhaps thanks to its producers; perhaps thanks to its willingness to experiment; perhaps thanks to something more intangible, NLOTH is the joyful sound of U2 stretching its legs to magnificent effect. The cover of the album may be black and white, but U2 hasn't painted its sound with this many colors since the 90's. That said, I think it's shortsighted to call it U2's best album since "Achtung Baby." It's the fearless sound of 1984's U2, entering uncharted territory with bold ferocity and in my opinion a stronger set of songs. Which makes it, more accurately, their best album since "The Unforgettable Fire," and in the context of what followed that 1984 milestone, that's the highest praise I can think to give it.
It should be noted that as with "Fire," NLOTH will most certainly shake loose a handful of former fans who don't get their new direction and have difficulty hearing the band they "think" U2 should be. What makes U2 brilliant is that they have endured such defections multiple times in their nearly 30-year history (see TUF, "Achtung," "Pop," etc.) and they continue to defy expectations. And to defy better than any working band.
magnificent, yes - a masterwork, definitely March 3, 2009
soffio (Somerville, MA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
In reading previous reviews, I've seen those who love the new album as much as I do, and I've seen reviews from people calling it too slow, not catchy enough, and a general downer. I could not agree less.
This album may just prove to be their best yet; I already think it is. It takes the leap forward they made with Achtung Baby & Zooropa and kicks it into the stratosphere. This may sound like sheer hyperbole for those who see the album as just "eh," but it isn't. At first listen - the 1st time I listened to the whole album streaming on their website - I had a similar reaction. Weird intonations, really odd amalgams of sound, space and rhythm, and just a general "what the hell are these guys up to with this one?" But then, just like I did after the first time I listened to HTDAAB (which I also thought was oddly flat on that first go), I listened to the whole thing again, straight through. And I decided to put my initial judgments on the shelf, just to see if the experience would be any different. And holy bleep ... it was. I've heard it described as creating a new sonic landscape. I think it's created a whole new sonic universe (ok, this might be hyperbole...).
This album's a genuine wonder, full of wonder and awe and sorrow and joy. It's not meant to be Top 40 (though I don't think a band exists that wouldn't like to make that cut). It was written and recorded as an album - a musical experience that only truly makes sense if you listen from start to finish. True, the songs should stand on their own, and I think they do (some perhaps more than others). But the whole here is definitely better than the sum of its parts.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 582
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