NO LINE ON THE HORIZON FOR U2

It’s no secret, I’m a big U2 fan. Have been for years. Years... I think it was Kevin Kelley at Alabama Youth Camp who first exposed me to the music of U2. I've loved their music ever since.

U2 have sold more than 145 million albums. They’ve won 22 Grammy Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 the first year they were even eligible.

QUESTION: What does a band like U2 have to prove on their 12th album? NOTHING! And it shows. On “No Line On The Horizon” U2 builds on their previous work, while forging ahead into new territory. The experience is amazing. The album an artistic triumph!

I’ve been listening to the album since Tuesday. At this point, it’s one of my favorites in the U2 catalog. Time will tell where it ultimately ranks, but at this point, I would rank it among one of their best.

The album kicks off with the title track, “No Line…” A rock and roll anthem with Bono’s voice cutting through a wall of sound anchored by The Edge’s guitar, Adam’s steady bass and Larry’s pounding drums. Lyrically, you probably won’t nail down what the song is about. That’s okay… U2 has often been more about emotion, than a literal reading of their lyrics. But “No Line…” seems to hint at the thought that there’s no limit or end to the amazement this guy feels about girl, about life.

The second track on the album is my favorite right now. Simply titled, “Magnificent,” this is U2’s most straightforward, all out worship anthem, ever. Wow! No questions what this one is about. It soars.

On “Moment of Surrender” the tempo of the album slows a bit. The track features an organ pad and understated slide guitar solo by The Edge. Make no mistake about it, Bono’s vocal is what makes the song work. You feel this guy’s passion and emotion as he sings about coming to a moment in life when he completely surrendered… Since the song references the “stations of the cross” in the last verse, it’s apparent that Bono’s surrender involves His surrender to Christ and choice to believe. This is a deeply beautiful song.

"Unknown Caller" is one of the most interesting tracks on the album. I love it! The Unknown Caller is none other than God, calling out in the middle of the noise and insanity of this world… Asking us just to stop talking long enough to hear His voice so He can remind us that we really can start again. This is rock music at it’s best! I love the way the song uses technical or computer terminology to point us to truth. “Restart and re-beoot yourself…” Great track!

"I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight" is another rock song that describes Bono’s frustration with the world as he sees it… But the song also expresses the resilient belief that we’re going to make it. Bono seems to be saying, “Sure, sometimes I might just need to lose it. But ultimately going to make it!”

By now everyone has heard, "Get On Your Boots." The first few times I heard the song, I thought it was a pretty weak track – by U2 standards. The more I listen to the song, the more I’m blown away by U2’s sheer brilliance.

As part of his humanitarian efforts, Bono has traveled extensively to Africa seeking justice for the oppressed. In some areas of Africa, women are raped, abused and oppressed. Many bloggers believe the song is appealing to women in Africa to take a stand for other women. The more I listen to the track, the more I like it!

"Stand Up Comedy" is an all out, in your face rock and roll anthem. My favorite lyric in the song is the line, “Stop helping God across the road like a little old lady…” In other words, “Let God out of the box… You don’t have to protect Him… He is God and He is great…”

"Fez…Being Born" is probably the most experimental track on the album and seems to describe a “rebirth” of sorts that Bono may have experienced while on a trip… Of course, since the band recorded part of the album in Fez, Morocco the song may describe some inspiration or renewal these guys experienced as a band while recording in that part of the world.

"White As Snow" feels like an Irish hymn that finds Bono longing for redemption and the “lamb who is as white as snow.” In an interview Bono also indicated that this song contains the thoughts of a soldier dying in Afghanistan after a roadside bomb. Amazingly, the song contains parts of the melody from the Christmas hymn, “O Come, O Come, Immanuel…” The song is beautiful.

"Breathe" is another scorcher. It’s an anthem of defiance in the face of a world that is cold, harsh, hopeless and cruel. Bono looks that world straight in the eye and is still able to challenge anyone who will hear,

“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
Breathe now…”

The album closes with the ballad “Cedars of Lebanon” that contains the confessions of a war correspondent in Lebanon. The song poetically describes the pain and horror of war and the regrets we all live with… The album ends somewhat prophetically, with a warning of sorts to not allow your enemies to define you.

Watching the band perform every night last week on Letterman, seeing the band perform live on ABC’s “Good Morning America” (thank God for DVR), after repeated listenings to their newest work of art, there really is “no line on the horizon” for this quartet from Dublin.

I love this CD. Love it! If you like great music, download it today. If you want to check the album out first, don't forget you can listen to the entire CD through once for free at lala.com. Hope this helps.

“Sing your heart out, sing my heart out
I've found grace inside a sound…”