U2 - No Line on the Horizon (Limited Box Set including CD, Film, Hardcover Book, Poster)
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Free Music Notes for No Line on the Horizon (Limited Box Set including CD, Film, Hardcover Book, Poster)
Free Music Review: Lots of new ground in a CD that grows and grows on the listener
Hit: 5 Stars
First off, the book is cool and worth the price of admission here. Nice photography and great interviews.
The album is simply stellar. On first listen, some of the "wierd" melody and different approach can be a little jarring, especially on a song like "unknown caller", perhaps the track that takes the longest to "grow on you", but the whole CD grows with repeated listening. I love especially the beautiful "white as snow" with its revisiting of an ancient melody, the very different and "un-U2-like harmonies, especially on that song and "moment of surrender".
Fair warning: As was true, in my opinion, of "How To Dismantle..." there is a lot here that if you aren't a reasonably biblically literate Christian, you won't totally get. "White As Snow" comes to mind, as well as "Magnificent", which is basically a Christian worship song (a little like "All Because of You" was). So if you dislike that aspect of U2's music, I think this CD might disappoint you (maybe not, though...)
It must be hard to expect a band that has been around this long, long enough to be in that ridiculous Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, each one almost 50 years old, to come up with a really "new" sound and yet still maintain their identity. I think they failed to do that 10 years ago with "Pop", and more recently returned (successfully) to their roots on their 2000 and 2004 CDs rather than exploring drastically new sonic and structural territory, but this time, they've really crafted a new kind of sound. The CD grows on you with each listen, and there is so much new musical and lyrical territory charted here. It's refreshing, especially since they worked with longtime producers Eno, Lanois, and Lillywhite. (I expected a little more of the same... not what happened...)
A lot of the "Edge"-guitar sound and the very typical (thank goodness) Clayton/Mullins rhythmic driving force, and yet lots of very creative keyboard stuff, unexpected changes, different kinds of tonal landscapes (I'm diggin' the french horns more and more), and harmonies that are, as I said, very different from the norm.
If you're looking for part two of their last album, look elsewhere, but this is a classic in its own right.
Free Music Review: A Gospel album worthy of multiple grammys
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is full of fabulous elements of joy and redemption and reminders of our purpose in life: to live to touch our fellow humankind. You may wonder where I'm getting some of these insights, but just remember what Bono is into, and some of the characters he said he created as sources of inspiration for some of the songs-the junkie,the cop, the dying soldier. This is just like his "Actung Baby" concert days when he would live out his characters on stage- like the mirror cowboy, Macphisto,etc. Some may call it genius, others madness. Perhaps it is a little of both. Together they work to the advantage of all the elements-music, vocals, lyrics,to create a unique experience. I was astounded. After hearing "Boots", I was a little wary that this may be a flashback to what "How to Dismantle..." did to me after the expectation from the pre album hype of Vertigo, but I was so wrong. To see some of these songs live on David Letterman for a whole week was icing on the cake, since I had listened to the whole album prior to that on U2's MYSPACE page. I have to say that White As Snow and Cedars of Lebanon kind of reminded me of the tracks Exit and Mothers of the Disappeared from Joshua Tree, which I could never hear properly to understand them. These two songs on the new album are more lyrical and a little less heavy as those previous songs. I have said enough, let the music speak for itself, and it speaks volumes on "No Line...."Free Music Review: U2-No Line on the Horizon
Hit: 5 Stars
I remember last summer talking to friends about the next record and wondering, how they could get any better. I've been preparing myself spiritually and mentally for the new release for about a month. I watched with excitement as they appeared for a week on Letterman's show, and loving every performance. For the release date I was planning strategy on when I would be picking the record up. Should I go before or after work? And when will I be able to really sit down and apply my heart to it and give it a good deep listening? The day arrived and as I walked into my local appliance store? Uhh, DVD Supply House? Maybe my I Pod Accessory Station? (Well, What ever you want to call it, that's where I went, since this town no longer has real record stores), to pick up the new CD and vinyl as well of U2's,'No Line Upon the Horizon'. It would be a few more hours until I slid the disc into the player, but when I did, it was magic all over once again. U2 has once again stepped up to the plate and made a record worthy of being called perfection! Indeed, this was a new sounding, yet familiar U2. I really think the addition of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois not only producing, but this time around contributing to the musical ideas and some of the writing, challenged the band tFree Music Review: Moment of Surrendering your money to buy this!!
Hit: 5 Stars
If Achtung Baby is number 1, then the list goes:
1. Achtung Baby
1.5. The Joshua Tree
1.5. No Line on the Horizon
2. All That You can't Leave Behind
All the songs are amazing, the lyrics are as creative as can be, Bono has a nice restrain in his voice(a nice touch), spiritual, fun, emotional, this album has it all. Magnificent will probably be the fan favorite. For me I find Moment of Surrender fabulous,not only the lyrics but Bono sings his butt of on this track. Also I'll Go Crazy if I Dont Go Crazy Tonight is a another great song, very fun, you will find yourself singing to the "I'll go crazy" part. Stand Up Comedy is also one of my favorites, very fun and interesting lyrics that only Bono can pull off, any other would be weird. Breathe is another good one, the beginning is very interesting and fast-paced and brings out the bass and drums. Then there are the slow songs, like Cedar of Lebanon and White as Snow which show off more of Bono's vocals. Also a follow-up album called Songs of Ascent has been said to be released in 2010, so I'll be waiting for that. To wrap up, U2 has done it again, another full-blown classic!
So if your a U2 fan, what are you waiting for, get the box-set, you won't regret it.
Free Music Review: Squeezing complicated lives into a simple headline
Hit: 5 Stars
I love U2. I have loved them for decades. They have written a powerful and evocative soundtrack to my life. However, I don't always necessarily automatically love everything they produce. That said, I love NLOTH.
I heard snippets that leaked, including song titles and comments made by the band and various collaborators, and I was tentatively trying to prepare myself for another, different album. Then Boots was an interesting first single. It really plays much better in the album flow than on it's own. Magnificent truly is and every time I really listen to the haunting and beautiful White as Snow, Breathe and Cedars of Lebanon trilogy I could cry. . . and hope. Everything I love about U2 is in this album.
At the Moment of Surrender - just go with it and you'll get there. It's a great work and well worth the wait and the cost. Part of the enjoyment of this edition is being the long time fan and seeing where we are now. I want to experience everything they want to share with me. I would have felt like I was missing part of the story if I didn't get the accessories to the music. Just listening to the music is powerful, but there is another level and I want U2 to take me there.
Enjoy...no, Savor it.