Review: “No Line On The Horizon” by U2 (CD, 2009)

Today’s Pop Rescue from an uncertain fate, is 2009’s No Line On The Horizon – the twelfth studio album by Irish rock band U2. Will this album be worth Lining up for, or should you Get On Your Boots and run away? Read on…

U2 - No Line On The Horizon (2009) album — U2 – No Line On The Horizon (2009) album.

This 11 track CD goes straight into the opening and titular track No Line On The Horizon, which gives us some great guitar and Bono sounding fantastic. There’s elements here of what you can hear on their earlier album Zooropa, and the song allows us to hear Bono’s raw-ish vocals flit between rock and melodic. By the mid-point, the shuffling drums hit a fill and arrive properly. It’s a nice start to the album.

Then it’s second single Magnificent which gives us a thudding bass drum and growling guitar that for a moment reminds me of Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes, but then a wave of synths throw in some pads and bleeping that make you think briefly of the BBC News theme. Then, the track changes again to give you a full drum and vocal line, and we’re into a familiar U2 sound. Bono again sounds like he’s effortlessly delivering these reflective lyrics as the song flows easily. Nestled in the album’s credits, i find Will.i.am on keyboards, but unfortunately this wasn’t enough to save the track when released as a single – and it stumbled outside the Top 40, where it reached #42.

Moment Of Surrender follows this, and it’s a gentle mid-tempo track. Here, the track plods along with a really nice bass line, and an almost sermon-like Bono is flanked by semi-heavenly organs and vocals. I’m not sure whether this makes it dreamy or almost terrifyingly psuedo-religious in sound, but either way it’s a nice enough track. However at 7m 24s, it does feel a bit too long.

Then we’re on to Unknown Caller, which opens with a gentle sort of simulated Teams call sound from guitars as the rest of the instruments seem to arrive. Eventually, the track picks up its pace as the drums drop in. Bono arrives with a ‘sunshine, sunshine’ vocal that ushers a fully-formed sound. The vocal harmonies here are really nice, and Bono manages to deliver his familiar vocals with seeming ease.

That’s followed by I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight, which was the album’s third and final single. Here, Bono’s vocals dominate the sound levels, with meandering guitars sitting behind him. Rumbling drums help to sew the parts together well, as it flows along. Again, Will.i.am has credits here on keyboards and production. Its single releases managed the impressive feat of reaching #100 in the UK singles chart, but then had a second wind that took it to #32.

Next up is lead single Get On Your Boots which gives some wonderfully sounding growling guitars, beats, and a playful sound that you mind find in some Beck tracks. It also has a ‘vintage’ sound to it, with some nice Queen-esque vocal harmonies. This catchy and energetic little track rightly led the album’s release schedule and gave the band a #12 UK single.

That strides straight into Stand Up Comedy. This track continues the bright and energetic sound as heard in the previous track – giving us some more wonderful guitars and bass. At times this track doesn’t really sound like it’s being sung by Bono.

Then it’s FEZ – Being Born, which takes us down to a much more mellow sounding song full of drifting harmonies and soft percussion – it’s a nice sound. Then, after 1 minute, the song takes a sharp turn and throws in beats and guitars. Bono arrives on the mic, that’s shared with soprano Louis Watkins, for what is a fairly minimal vocal track referring to Fez in Morocco, where some of this album was made.

White As Snow is next, and this allows us to hear the richness in Bono’s voice in this narrative song, backed by an acoustic guitar. The track slowly builds up with bass and keyboards. A french horn also joins in briefly before giving way to Bono’s reaching vocals, resulting in a song that almost sounds like a lullaby.

Next up is Breathe, which gives us roaring guitars duelling with a piano. It screams angst at times as Bono gets some harder and rapid-fire vocals here, and almost sounds like Feeder. The inclusion of piano and cello here is welcome alongside the wall of guitar, giving the track a stand out dimension to it that’s absent in other tracks here.

The album closes with Cedars Of Lebanon which features Harold Budd. This track opens in a wafting and dreamy sound. The brushed snares and reminiscent near-spoken lyrics from Bono set a mellow tone that matches the drifting sound. It’s a nice gentle ending to the album.

U2’s lead single ‘Get On Your Boots’ (2009).

Verdict

Over all, this album is another exhibit in U2’s great albums list, flittering between mellow reflective songs and growling wannabe-hits.

Having really enjoyed Zooropa when it was released in 1993, but struggled to enjoy much since, I was delighted to hear some similar sounds here – a mixture of rock and other sounds that make it sound reminiscent, plus of course Brian Eno is involved.

My highlights here are the titular No Line On The Horizon, Magnificent, and Stand Up Comedy, but these are led by Get On Your Boots which is a fantastic energetic and catchy track that easily stands out here. The rest of the album is a solid ‘good’ with nothing that would cause a stinkface or a skip, but just good solid U2.

Those electric guitars, bass, and drums are flawless, and Bono really shines throughout this album. Not quite Magnificent but do get on your dancing boots.