U2
No Line on the Horizon
Interscope
By David Chiu
It may be too early to tell if No Line On the Horizon is a great U2 album but it’s certainly their strongest in recent memory. Some of the new album songs are reminiscent of past works: the title track could have been from Achtung Baby with its electronic buzz and hum; “Unknown Caller” has a sort of anthemic quality a la The Joshua Tree; and the rocker “Magnificent,” with the Edge’s signature repeating guitar lines, recalls The Unforgettable Fire. But it doesn’t mean that the longtime Irish band is bringing anything fresh on the table: rather the new music is strong aided by the typical atmospheric production of longtime collaborators Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. There are some strong cuts such as the poppy “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight;” the empowering “Breathe,” and the intimate closing song “Cedars of Lebanon,” which carries the tradition of singer Bono’s spiritual yearning through his timely lyrics.
Watch a clip of “Get On Your Boots” by U2:
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