Exclusive: U2's new album No Line On The Horizon reviewed track by track
Feb 27 2009 By John Dingwall
U2 may be the biggest band on the planet, but they have admitted they are taking nothing for granted with their new album No Line On The Horizon.
The Irish superstars delivered an electronic version to the Razz this week, the first time a newspaper in the UK has been given the tracks in full.
But despite excitement from rock fans, Bono, Larry Mullen, The Edge and Adam Clayton insist they are having to work hard to make sure their fans stick with them.
Bono said: "A lot of people have a U2 album, why would they want another one?
"We feel we have to fight hard to convince people as to why they should come on this ride with us."
The band insist they are not resting on their laurels - and say they are still as rooted to the punk rock ideals that led them to form in 1976.
The Edge explained: "Punk came at the right moment to shake everything up and challenge everybody on the basis that music had to mean everything.
"Because we started out in the audience at those punk gigs, we felt what it was like to be at a Clash show or a Buzzcocks show.
"We were 15 and it made such an impact. Being there, you never lose what it is like to be in the crowd."
The band are giving a series of sneak previews of tracks on MySpace ahead of the album release next week.
It will be released in a standard format with a 24-page booklet and in adigipak format, which includes an extended booklet and the album's companion film, Linear, by Anton Corbijn.
A limited edition 64-page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens and new Anton Corbijn photographs.
The band will also release the album on 12-inch vinyl in homage to the classic punk albums that inspired them to get together.
Helmed by heavyweight production trio Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, No Line On The Horizon is a global affair, having been recorded in Morocco, Dublin, New York and London.
"We always seem to need locations," Bono said: "It was Berlin for Achtung Baby and in our heads the landscape of America for the Joshua Tree, and Miami for Pop."
Four of the songs on the album were recorded in one take, A Moment Of Surrender, No Line On The Horizon, Being Born and Unknown caller.
Here's the lowdown on the new album:
1 No Line On The Horizon
Droning keyboards and krautrock beats, it's apparently disco rock. The track opens with trademark Edge guitar. 8/10
2 Magnificent
The Edge delivers growling guitar over a synth canvas and a pounding beat, before Bono lifts the song into classic U2 territory. 9/10
3 Moment of Surrender
This is U2 at the height of their powers. A gospel-tinged power ballad. 10/10
4 Unknown Caller
Electronic loops slowly bring Unknown Caller to life before the song bursts to life. 9/10
5 I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Bono does his falsetto best on this laid-back track. 8/10
6 Get On Your Boots
The big hitter single that introduced us to the album, influenced by Elvis Costello and Muse. 7/10
7 Stand Up Comedy
This is a banker to become a future single. Big and beefy. 9/10
8 Being Born
There's a Middle-Eastern feel to this song but also features Radiohead-like beats and Bono sounding like Thom Yorke. 8/10
9 White As Snow
The Middle East features here and ends in country and western territory. 7/10
10 Breathe
A track produced by Lilywhite, it turns into a bar room blues rocker. 7/10
11 Cedars Of Lebanon
A trippy way to close what must be one of the most original U2 albums in years. 9/10.
[no album score, but the average is around 8.3 I believe]