U2 – No Line on the Horizon

Corporate line:
“No Line On The Horizon,” the new studio album from U2 is the band’s 12th studio album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite. The album is available in five different packages.

The good:
“No Line On The Horizon” – Not going to be confused with any of their best songs—it’ll still have you listening over and over again.

“Moment of Surrender” – This song should have been called “Magnificent.” This seven-minute track is a showstopper. It’s simply gorgeous and proves that even a simple song can leave a big impression.

“Breathe” – Might not be a great song—however its still one that hooks you in quickly and keeps you intrigued.

The rest:
“Get On Your Boots” – It’s hard to believe this is the first single. It’s one of the album’s weaker tracks and too full of generic rock. U2 at their most average.

“Magnificent” – A slushy song that doesn’t do anything.

Finally:
U2 is one of the few legendary groups the world still waits in anticipation to hear. Which makes “No Line on the Horizon” a let down. It’s hard to listen without expecting your world to be turned upside down. Instead “No Line on the Horizon” would be above average for most bands and merely average for U2. The instrumentation is great and some of the lyrics are good—and yet there are many songs that are far too trite. If only U2 didn’t have to be compared to U2.

U2 Rooftop performance of “Get On Your Boots”

Produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, sessions for No Line On The Horizon began in Fez, Morocco, and continued at the band’s Dublin studio, New York’s Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and Olympic Studios in London.

The album will be released in a standard format with a 24- page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak 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. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl.

The cover artwork for the album is an image of the sea meeting the sky by Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.

The full track listing is as follows:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon