Thoughts about NLOTH six months later; actually mine are about the same as the week of release (rare for me to say about a U2 album). Here we go on another long rant, I'm sure.
First, the cons:
1. I've said it before, but why are most of the U2 songs of this decade along the lines of this whole "Human spirit triumphing in times of hardship" theme? Where is the dark energy that created all their best albums in the 90's?
2. In an album that is supposedly going into new territory, why does the Edge rarely stray away from the same old jangly delay effect that we've been hearing for about the last 10 years? The man needs to step outside the box a little; he's right in his comfort zone for most of this record.
3. Again, in an album that is supposedly going into new territory, why do you lead off with a single that is more or less Vertigo part II? (side note: not knockin' the song, I actually like it quite a bit, but it's beside the point).
4. New direction, huh? Why include two songs that fit right at home in your last album (Stand up comedy and Crazy Tonight)? My theory is they are too afraid to stray too far these days. These songs both feel like they were included as an afterthought in order to have a "safety net" in the album in case the more experimental side wasn't embraced; instead, causing the album to feel very "torn" between two sides of the fence, in turn giving the album no real cohesiveness or identity unlike all the other U2 albums.
5. Eno - is he mellowing out as he gets older? I mean, everything you hear of his influence on this album sounds a little too cheerful and/or church-y for me. I know the idea was hymns for the future, but come on guys, please tone-down the "we're saving the world through our music" idea. Although Eno had the right idea when he said they should have included "Winter" on the album (as much as I hate to admit it sounds like Coldplay (except ten times better than Viva la Vida )).
6. Moment of Surrender - hype, hype, and more hype. This is this album's "One"?! Are you kidding me?! It's a song where Bono does a yelling vocal that is almost to the point of being irritating and a chorus that is more boring than "Oh, can't you see what love has done?"...but not more boring than "No, no line on the horizon, no, no line"
7. Weak opener - Doesn't hit hard like the big album openers: "Streets", "Discotheque", "Zooropa", "Zoo Station", "Beautiful Day". The second version of No Line is by far the better version of the song; it actually brings out the experimental sounds a lot more, instead of having them forced down into the mix, creating what is for me a very forgettable U2 song.
8. The number one mistake of NLOTH: Crazy Tonight. Why? Why? Why?
Okay, the Pros:
1. Lot of gems mixed in - Magnificent, Unknown Caller, White as Snow, Breathe, and Cedars. All amazing songs.
2. Did I mention Unknown Caller? - A song with all the typical U2 sounds in it, but as a whole, not typical at all. This song is pure brilliance; gives me the chills every time and the Eno/Lanois/Bono/Edge chant-style chorus is nothing short of amazing.
3. Hope that this is a transition album into something more "out there" and truly more experimental. This album feels more like a modern "Unforgettable Fire" (which is the only U2 album I rank lower than NLOTH); which means it could give way to something incredible. If Songs of Ascent includes Winter, and whatever song it is that plays in that Electronic Press Kit from the tour, then it is already a far superior album.
4. Highly listenable - for all its quirks, it is still a U2 album and it gets a good playing from front to back at least once a month or so.
Overall: Simply feels like the band carried over too much of what they could have left behind onto this album (pun intended). This stage is very crucial for U2, I think. They either shake it off and truly venture into new uncharted territory, or they bounce back into their safety zone and produce more sequels to ATYCLB the rest of their career and more or less just settle in and ride the rest of their careers out on auto-pilot with a few remarkable songs here and there, but no real monster albums. Either way, they will probably still remain my favorite band and I'll be loyal 'til the end.