No Line on The Horizon

So, after a few days and a dozen listens, here is my blow by blow review of the new U2 Album No Line On The Horizon.

1. No Line On The Horizon - It reminds me of Lady With The Spinning Head, a B-side from Achtung Baby. Cool song, cool lyrics, good start.

2. Magnificent - I really want to like this song, but I go back and forth. Why is Brian Eno in love with the sonar sound? I hear overtly Christian lyrics. But, Christ can be in anything if you are looking for it.

3. Moment of Surrender - Edge plays an actual factual guitar solo. It's long, over 7 minutes. Themes of sin, repentance & giving up control. Making a case to be one of my favorite u2 songs...

4. Unknown Caller - I like it. Different, long intro with That U2 Sound (TM). I like the chanting. "Go. Shout it Out. Rise Up. Escape yourself, and gravity...Force Quit and move to trash." I dig it.

5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - Awkward falsetto. I dunno, might be this Album's A Man And A Woman.

6. Get On Your Boots - I like the stream-of-consciousness lyrics. The music part is good. I'm gaining more and more respect for Larry and Adam. But still, it could be named "Vertigo, pt2". I can't help but hear "Wild Wild West" in some of the lyrics. I could take it, I could leave it.

7. Stand Up Comedy - Led Zeppelin Guitar anyone? I like.

8. Fez: Being Born - I can't see me singing this in the shower. (deal with THAT visual for a second). But, I like it. It's Zooropa-y.

9. White As Snow - First listen: hated it. Second listen: only lasted halfway before skipping to the next track. But, I'm learning to appreciate it.

"Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not

Only the lamb as white as snow"

10. Breathe - Bono writes a Bob Dylan song! Tell me these lyrics aren't Dylan-esque:

16th of June, Chinese stocks are going up
"And I’m coming down with some new Asian virus
Ju Ju man, Ju Ju man
Doc says you’re fine, or dying
Please
Nine-oh-nine, St. John Divine on the line, my pulse is fine
But I’m running down the road like loose electricity
While the band in my head plays a striptease

The roar that lies on the other side of silence
The forest fire that is fear so deny it"

Anyway, i like it.

11. Cedars of Lebanon - ahhhh the Daniel Lanois sound. Cool, slow, ambient music. Half-spoken lyrics. I really dig it. I really dig most of the last songs on their albums.


So, it's no Achtung Baby, or Joshua Tree. But better than How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and might be better than All That You Can't Leave Behind.

Back to doing my Awesomely Bold Leading Leader's of Bold Teams Workshop Homework.