I love U2 as well. I thought No Line On The Horizon was an excellent album. While not as experimental as perhaps it was touted to be, it certainly created an interesting new hybrid of sounds from throughout U2's career.

Their new album is tired old shit trying far to hard to be something else.
Bono makes me want to vom in my mouth. The CD has been panned over here (Ireland).

This of course is just MHO.

mushmackalenta said:

U2 is a different monster all together. Prince is producing more albums but U2 is producing: Stadium tours, largest stage on earth.

mushmackalenta said:

there's no way a reasonable person can listen to "...atomic bomb" and "no line..." and walk away thinking there are pretty similar. the only song on "atomic bomb..." that could even fit on this record is love and peace or else. as for the new cd, the only songs that could really fit on the previous record is get on your boots and magnificent. that said, magnificent could fit on ANY u2 record, lol.

now, if you said this record sounds like "the unforgettable fire" then i would have to agree with you. the eno contribution is more prominent here than its been in ages. sure, this is not nearly as groundbreaking or experimental as achtung or zooropa but no way can a discerning ear listen to the two most recent u2 records and claim "not much of a departure."

realm said:

and prince is producing, imo, far more throwaway work. sometimes i think prince wants to be prolific for the sake of being prolific. not every thought you have or song you write needs to make it to a record. personally, i think prince should have taken some more time...he was clearly inspired by something...and made a solid 12 track record of instant classics.

there are a bunch of tracks on the lotusflower disc that are pretty awesome (the intro and outro, boom, crimson and clover, colonized mind, wall of berlin, and dreamer). another 5 or 6 tracks of the same quality would have brought prince's best disc in years. what's the problem with waiting another year while you finish things and solidify an album with a lot of potential? instead, the bria disc is a waste of space and mplsound...eh, i know a lot of people love it but that may have been better off as online b-sides or something.

sassybritches said:

I am a U2 fan, but i am not blinded by the fact that what U2 bring out is the same and more of it, it is fantastic stadium rock. This time they have managed to bring out an album where almost all the songs sound the same.

Moment of surrender is the best song they have had in yrs, but one common element of all U2 albums is the lyrics, they are merely cliches, but very good ones, and this is for once, is not so obvious on this track.

Even die hard U2 fans will admit that U2 are a big band that appeal to the masses and are second to none in concert as a band. Even Bono himself would admit that.

When U2 tried to break out of their conservatism, the fans slated them, so now we are back to where we began almost sounds like the title of a new album by them

Stadium Rock yes. But I think that is mostly due to Bono being such an amazing frontman and the money they pour into making live shows more interesting to watch in a big arena. Their songs could easily sound great in smaller venues. I recall the days when they first started playing arenas. Just them, the crowd and the arena. No fancy set up. Horrible sound. But now they are great to see in a large setting.

Sassybritches I agree with everything you said. Eno has really made this new release an enjoyable listen. Anyone see the U2 3D movie? A bit much but kinda fun to watch.
[Edited 4/5/09 13:19pm]