Keep on rocking!

It’s nothing new.U2 aren’t innovators, if they put stage almost in the center of the stadium and to be surround in 360-degree with the audience that sitting.Celine Dion used this idea on stadium tours in the past, and again on last “Taking Chances” tour 2008-2009.Then Foo Fighters borrowed this idea to be surround with the audience “live at Wembley” concert in 2008.

Glad they decided to have The Ruse open up for them in a few US cities. They really rock.

I love Midnight in the City….

Neil Diamond, Garth Brooks, Def Leppard, Rod Stewart and others did it in stadiums and arenas. I agree with Max, nothing new but interested to see their flavor.

I’d love to see it if they come anywhere close by. I saw them in Memphis on the Popmart tour, and it was awesome — Rage Against The Machine opened for them. If they do the “50-yard-line” concept to the max and take over the whole football field, it’d make the whole crowd feel like they were close to something cool.

HEARD THE NEW MUSIC’ I AM SORRY TO SAY IT IS FAR AND AWAY THE WEAKEST EFFORT EVER. IT IS EVEN AS GOOD AS ZOOROPA. IT SEEMS ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF US DIEHARD U2 FANS HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WE ASKED OURSELVES, ALL THOSE YEARS, HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THESE GUYS BE THIS GOOD? THE ANSWER IS UP UNTIL, AND INCLUDING HOW TO DISMANTLE…., THE END IS CLEARLY HEAR, AND WITH 5 YEARS BETWEEN ALBUMS I WOULD BE SUPRISED TO SEE ANOTHER ONE. UNFORTUNATELY AN UNCERIMONIOUS END TO A BRILLIANT CAREER.

HEARD THE NEW MUSIC’ I AM SORRY TO SAY IT IS FAR AND AWAY THE WEAKEST EFFORT EVER. IT ISN’T EVEN AS GOOD AS ZOOROPA. IT SEEMS ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END AND UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF US DIEHARD U2 FANS HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION WE ASKED OURSELVES, ALL THOSE YEARS, HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THESE GUYS BE THIS GOOD? THE ANSWER IS UP UNTIL, AND INCLUDING HOW TO DISMANTLE…., THE END IS CLEARLY HERE, AND WITH 5 YEARS BETWEEN ALBUMS I WOULD BE SUPRISED TO SEE ANOTHER ONE. UNFORTUNATELY AN UNCERIMONIOUS END TO A BRILLIANT CAREER.

this isn’t a great record. it’s very subtle and some of the songs actually have grown on me (of course i downloaded it, i’ll buy it too, even though i don’t like it, i’m just like that about these guys). what i really didn’t like were two things: first, bono is writing and singing for the wrong band on this one. second, they didn’t go really out there — this record isn’t at all risky. i suppose the only real risk is again how subtle this record can be, it’s a 3 star effort, but a few of the songs do manage to grow on me after several (dozen) listens.

it just sounds too familiar and generic and the risks are pushed too far back in the mix, and bono wails like a dying moose.

As a lifelong fan, I have to say that this is great news. The new album is their best in years, and the songs just get better and more complex with each listen. This album compares favorably with TUF, Achtung Baby and the underrated Zooropa for me. It’s atmospheric, experimental and beautiful. Heart wrenching in places, and just plain rocking in others. U2’s best effort in decade or better, they show no signs of slowing down.

um excuse me?…to the person who said U2 aren’t innovators perhaps you missed the ZooTV and PopMart tours. Say what you will about their music, they set the standard for monitors and music and being over the top for any recent band. Even things which seem obvious, like a b-stage and a loooong catwalk into the audience are from them

Great news, hope they do a NZ show though.
Otherwise I’m flying over to the US aslong as I see them in concert

MELANIE. WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING.

The album is not weak, it is one of their best. It’s innovative.I know you like the Jonas Brothers, but you should really try to branch out into some good stuff.

I think we need to think a bit outside of the box for what’s in store for the upcoming “Horizon” tour. Having a stage in the center of an outdoor stadium is one thing. It’s been done before as mentioned on this post. So let’s try to imagine and combine the enormity of ZooTV/Popmart tours and the intimacy of Elevation/Vertigo tours and put them togehter in the middle of a huge stadium with technologies that’s never been used before, which is almost always the case with U2’s stage design. Personally, I think I will have my mind blown on this upcoming tour.

YOU ARE RIGHT!
U2 SUCKS ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

..I just wanna see the guy in the white shirt…sorry Bono….

These are good news to hear and the concept of the stage sounds innovative! I attended four concerts and each one was an awesome experience. It´s always great to celebrate my favourite band together with so many others. I have some beautiful memories like a “Vertigo” concert where the crowd were singing the chorus of “I Still Haven´t Found…” about ten times after the music had stopped. Bono just stood there and listened and then he shook his head. This concert was on July 2nd 2005 (no, it wasn´t Live8, because U2 played a second concert on the same day). Hopefully they´ll have enough time for my country again.

Yesterday I heard the new album for the first time, but it´s much too early to comment on it except to say that I love it. Listening to it is an intense experience, “No Line…” impresses me in particular, after four hours of sleep a dream about “Magnificent” woke me up. If there´s music that can fill a hole in the heart-this is the music.

..I just wanna see the guy in the white shirt…sorry Bono….

Please please come in Romania, I speak on behalf of tens of thousands of Romanians now We’d so much like to see you in our country, in our capital city for the first time!

Having listened to the new album already, I’m kind of disappointed to hear that their doing stadiums this time around personally. NLOTH has alot of intimate songs that would go along much better being played in an arena.

John, if you want to think out of the box, try shutting the fuck up about “the box” first. Enough with the fucking box.

I quite love No Line on the Horizon. Still discovering it one song at a time, but Magnificent is my favorite so far.

Don’t compare it to previous albums. I love Pop and Zooropa too. Honestly. You can’t expect Walk on or With or without you in every album, you know. This is a band that doesn’t really repeat itself much, which is why they are still relevant in their fourth decade together.

What a bunch of BS. The “innovative” 360 degree stage is a rip-off concept from the Secret Machines “in-the-round” tour, where they did the same exact thing except on a smaller scale. I don’t find this a coincidence given that Bono has stated himself that the Secret Machines are one of his favorite bands…posers

Actually the 2005/2006 Vertigo Tour was in indoor arenas in the US, Canada and Japan. Everywhere else was in outdoor stadiums, so it wasn’t intimate arena shows in all places.

Also the 1992/1993 Zoo TV Tour was done in both arenas and stadiums in all markets. The 1997/1998 Popmart Tour was in stadiums only.

A ripoff from the Secret Machines? Do you know who U2 is?

This albumn is old news. It leaked weeks ago. Everyone in the free-trade internet community has already heard it. As far as the RS review, 5 stars should be reserved for truly classic albums. I’d give this one a 4. The RS reviewer is not an impartial observer here.

I love U2, but their new album is absolutely horrendous. I can’t even picture them playing any of the songs live, they are so unbelievably bad and boring. Rollingstone is retarded and should be embarrassed for giving it 5 stars.

I agree with some of the comments below regarding the use of a “360″ arena show. I still havent listened to the new album but I heard them play one of their songs live and it didnt really grab me as a “OMG I HAVE TO HEAR THIS ALBUM” type of song. As far as the 360 stage thing though, I reckon its just a clever way of getting more bums in seats. Cheaper tickets? but more tickets. And we know what that means more money for the obviously cash hungry band. Lets just hope that they can continue to tax evade in their home country… that way they can rob us blind with extortionate album prices, concert ticket prices and merchandise prices, and then effectively rob the Irish people of much needed tax revenue which in essetially means they are robbing the very people who they claim to ‘care so much about’, their fans. I really hate to say this but I think that U2 ceased to be a band about four albums back and are now just a brand! For the last couple of albums their music has seemed formula driven and lacking in the integrity and real emotional punch which some of their earlier work dripped in.

It seems to be a trend that people will find ways to hate a band as huge as U2 for their own gradification. Bono never said they invented the 360 stage setup, they said that they are innovating it. People also seem to forget that U2 was once a band like the secret machines or kings of leon, struggling to get noticed. Now that they are on top it’s the most convient thing to hate on them. People need to read up, study up, or shut up. P.S. I don’t even like U2, but i’m sick of the whining and complaining, they are talented, innovative, and i’m pretty sure at this stage money is not an issue, they are one of the last bands that actualy do what they do for the right reason, the music and the fans.

I’m amazed the U2 went to Morrocco to record this record with the likes of Eno and Lanois and came up with a collection of songs that have absolutely zero Middle Eastern influence. Don’t get me wrong. I like the record but it is a missed opportunity for them to do something different instead of the same old thing which is what this is. As for the 360 stage, it’s the only “innovative” thing about this venture.

Great news U2 are going back to stadiums. I thought their sound
system was really bad the past
two arena tours. The POP tour
the sound was great…so this is
good news.

U2 are easily the most overrated band on the planet. Oh and Bono could do with climbing out of his own arse.
Yawn Yawn! RS get a grip. This band is dull

U2 are a monument of the world, also the rolling stones e dylan

Jesse, you are wrong! its not a trend to dislike band such as U2!!!!
maybe some people really OPENING their eyes and seeing what late U2 has become! which is _____ boring, unoriginal and FUCKING OVERRATED!

They lost their sound, i am not a fan anymore…

jesse, you are wrong

U2 has become really boring and its a fact

Brazil wants u2 again and always!!! U2 is always reinventing!

Antichrist.

How can Rolling Stone give 5 Stars to this awful album?

I love U2, but this album sucks a lot, hard to listen.

The Prodigy did a fantastic album “Invaders Must Die” and RS gave 1 Star and half!

RS always give high rates to artists like U2, Guns and Roses, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, no matter the album is good or not, it’s all about profile and cover magazine sales.

I think U2 is living off their previous successes. Heard all the new tracks and there is nothing special. In fact, they seem to be way behind the other bands that have come in the last 10 or 15 years. I’m tired of them living off of Achtung baby and slapping these mediocre song collections together. U2 seems to be more artificial with every new tour.

this is a great album. their last two were good, but this new one has put u2 back on the map. Bono reinvents his singing, the rythm section of Larry and Adam are using new tools and the Edge is the Edge. If you don’t like it, then I guess you don’t get it, or you think your too clever for u2, so go drink your cappuccino’s like the rest of the herd.

you suck

any fans out there?
still ?
i feel sorry
african americans

about the band and the new record…they rock the seen…they are going on close to fifty in a couple of years…when you break this record down…and dont over jump conclution and let the record set in…my take is that this record will be a huge success……this record has staying power…it is like a Foreign language to be learned…as bono sings nothing is as simple as you think…Dirty Day zooropa

In The Round was invented by the band Yes in the 70s. They did for decades.

yeah! we get it, you appreciate the band because they are getting OLDER!
but it doesn’t mean you have to disable your hearing because you worship the band! this “new” album is nothing NEW and importantly not enjoyable even TIME MAGAZINE says IT!

To awey, in regards to Time magazine review is this the same review that said Wild Honey was one of their big hits in the last 10 years. Wild Honey Ha Ha Ha, hardly (if ever) played live and not released as a single. Gee I would be putting a lot of status on that review or maybe he is just one of those U2 haters who could not be bothered listening to the album properly and just jump on their soapbox as they know that at least they will get some publicity form the huge number of U2 fans. Please, get use to the fact they are going to be around for another 20 years when all the current bands are long long forgotten.

I agree with some of the ealier points. I’ve always thought that RS is rolled tightly up the arses of bob dylan,U2 and Bruce Springsteen. Somehow these guys cant do wrong in RS eyes. I think they need some fresh writers as i’m sick of the crap reviews these days.

This album is great (I also wrote a review) and in my opinion it´s true what some others say: This is their best record. I particularly love the title track “No Line On The Horizon”. Now I think it´s my favourite song from all songs I know, the way the raw power is combined with atmosphere moves me. It kind of connects with me, every time I listen to it I feel shivers.

As an old fan of U2 I must admit there may be sometning wrong with the band now. I mean there seems nothing fresh in this music. Although heard only the album twice, too many songs have too simple choruses simply. It’ not like stupid disco songs,though sometimes it looks like they cannot produce anything more but that! Sorry to say that but that’s it. Nevertheless I hope after 5th or 6th time the record will sound better to me. The initial impression is definitelybelow average.

The album is good, no its not that innovative, and the edge is rehashing riffs, but but so what,i still like it.
Magnificent, NLOTH, Stand UP Comedy, breath, will kill live.

RESTART..AND..REBOOT YOURSELF..SHUSH NOW!!
This album is great, in fact it is grand!How come all U2 haters seem so attracted to post their empty spaces here.Shush now!Listen to your boring coldplay songs…herd music…

new album is pretty stale and boring, even compared to the last 2, which at least had some hooks and solid songs, even if they weren’t groundbreaking.

3 maybe 4 solid songs on No Line and that’s it. even the “sonic textures” are below what ENO/Lanois are capable of. Lyrics are sub-par and EDGE needs to find a new guitar sound-the chiming echo is PLAYED-OUT already. adding over-drive on one song (”boots”) doesn’t count as “experimenting” guys. this album needed some more inspiration. although there are similiarities to Unforgettable Fire and that album’s atmosphere over songs, this one is way less interesting. POP is better than this!

Before everyone rushes to criticize new stage setup, let’s see just exactly what it is.

Okay, it may be center stage/in the round, as other bands have done for decades, but I fully believe there will new groundbreaking visuals that have never been done before, as part of it. U2’s stage shows have always been brilliant, and I don’t have any reason to believe this one will be any less special.

As far as the album goes… I do admit Rolling Stone went a little overboard, giving it 5 stars… But its certainly a good album, and I enjoy it better than the last 2, which were coming a little too close to ‘adult-contemporary’ for me.

Some of these new tracks are hit or miss. But the opening two songs alone, are inspiring.

U2’s album is good..the concert will be even better..the best. rolling stone always gives out good grades to everyone…the one that shouldn’t get these good reviews is springstein…his album sucks out loud.

We are waitting for more great show’s, here in Portugal!!!!

I hope see U2 again over here!

Listened to the new album four times today, and I like it, but I’d hesitate to bestow it with 5 stars, 4.5 maybe. I hope to see them in concert again, and since I live near Detroit I imagine they’ll play Comerica Park (home of the Tigers). Play ball!

I Quote Bono from Boots

“You Just dont get it do you?”

Long live the greatest band ever, love the new album boys. They bashed you for Achtung Baby, and now they praise you. When your on top, somone is always trying to bring you down. Keep up the great work fellas, and see you on tour this summer!

OK this has now gone from a 3 star to a 4 star record for me. still won’t ever get to five stars — just a couple of really bad songs. but this is amazingly subtle. the most subtle record they’ve ever done, by far. this goes back more to the non-single parts of ‘unforgettable fire’ than anything. and the songs always transform live — what’s good on the record can suck live and vice versa.

i saw some drawing, i could buy into the 360 stadium set up.

maybe they are on to something.

the record’s growing on me. it just takes at least a dozen or 2 listens.

i’ll buy the multimedia pack tuesday for sure.

Everyone has their own comments. If you guys don’t like th album, don’t buy it and don’t go to the shows. More tickets for their real fans to grab up!!!

U2 is and always has been ahead of its time! People didn’t like POP and it had some of their greatest songs on this album – Please, Staring at the Sun, etc.

Listen a few times and you will see how great this album really is!!!!

A true fan forever!!!

You have really old self esteem!
Even tho they didn’t really produce new and fresh you still think their awesome your denying the fact that they actually LOST their creativity and soulful sound and for that i am really sorry! ( I was expecting some precious stuff from them.)

If U2 plays in the middle of a football stadium,they won`t have any video screens behind them,or their L.E.D. curtains behind them like on 2005 tour,because it would block people`s view of the stage.Reading older U2 articles from `97 popmart tour,U2 played some shows in half empty stadiums back then,especially in the south.The good news about that is U2 ticket scalpers won`t be able to rip anybody off like they did the last 2 tours when U2 played nothing but small hockey arenas.

Woo Hooo!!!!!! Can’t wait. I’ve been waiting to see these guys in concert for 5 years!

I am not a u2 hater, as a fellow Irishman I completely respect them, as a fellow human rights believer I can only admire bonos unrelentless will to try to make a difference, but as a fellow artist and as an academic I cant bring myself to rate this album anywhere over a 2.5/5, because to put this simply, so that the rest of the “herd” can understand it, if you rate this album as a 4 or a 5 what do you rate sgt. peppers at? Electric ladyland, Joshua Tree, Innervisions, Nevermind, Highway 61, Ziggy Stardust, this list is endless. because if you tell me that this album is as good as any of the albums just mentioned then to but this bluntly, you havent got a clue about anything nevermind whats good or bad in music.

GOSH WHATA DISAPPOINTMENT!

U2 is more than merely a band, at this point, they are quite frankly a dimension of their own with a language that is only understandable and accessible within this dimension (called U2 World) and when people say “U2″ they refer to both the band and the dimension or perhaps not. New album is great!

U2 is more than merely a band, at this point, they are quite frankly a dimension of their own with a language that is only understandable and accessible within this dimension (called U2 World) and when people say “U2″ they refer to both the band and the dimension or perhaps not. New album is great!

my favorite u2 albums are boy.war.Unforgettable.Joshra.Z ooropa.Pop. and now this one…it is a classic…It is put together like a classic u2…cant wait for live recordings..white as snow..Moment of surrender..Unknow caller…

Pitchfork gave 4,2 to this album!

I think they are right!

LOL

U2 is not boring, if you yhink that then you dont appricaiate the true art of music.

What do you know, while the rest of the critical world lays down the fitting lukewarm reviews (NME 7/10, Spin 3 1/2 stars, The Times 3 1/2 stars, Entertainment 3 stars, etc) RS annoints another average record with “classic” status after a week of listnening (maybe a week?). A classic?

Jesus, these turds always seems to know something the balance of the critical music-world doesn’t.

How does that happen?

I’ve followed U2 since 1985. I think this is one of the best CD’s they’ve done in a long time.

OK U2 HAVE MADE A COUPLE OF GREAT RECORDINGS. MAYBE I’M GETTING OLDER BUT I CAN’T RECALL ANYTHING VERY DECENT OR MEMORABLE OFF THE LAST 2 MAYBE BEAUTIFUL DAY. I REALLY CAN’T SEE THIS ONE BEING ANY DIFFERENT SO FAR, I WILL HAVE TO BUY AND SEE. AS FAR AS OLD 70′S WAR HORSES GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS I BELIEVE HE IS SPEAKING OF THE STONES BECAUSE I HAVE READ BONO CLAIMING THEY WERE THE TOP DOGS AND SOMEBODY HAS TO DO IT. WELL U2 WILL NEVER COME CLOSE STUDIO OR LIVE TO THE ROLLING STONES AND THAT IS A FACT. BONO HAS A LOT OF NERVE. SAVE YOUR MONEY AND WAIT FOR THE STONES TOUR THEY ARE AND ALWAYS WILL BE TOP.

LEAVE IT TO ROLLING STONE TO DELETE MY POST JUST BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PRAISING THE GREAT LIBERAL NONSENSE BAND U2. WHY DON’T WE TAKE A LOOK BACK ON MANY OF THERE 4.5 TO 5 STAR REVIEWS U2 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN THE LIST GOES ON ALWAYS WITH THE LIBERALS. GIVE IT A REST. U2 AND BRUCE’S NEW ONE’S WILL NOT BE MEMORABLE AND THAT IS WHAT MAKE’S A 4 TO 5 STAR RATING A FEW YEARS FROM NOW IT WILL BE YEAH WHAT GOOD SONG WERE ON THOSE SOMEHOW I CAN’T RECALL. WELL THE GREAT ONE’S, MOST PEOPLE KNOW EVERY SONG FROM HEART.

I really wonder for how ‘irrelevant’ of a band U2 is that people are complaining that they suck and they are washed up.

No line on the horizon is a complicated album that opens up the more you hear it. People are just used to simple crap that permeates the market.

u2 rocks

Rolling stone is not alone!!

Blender magazine 5 stars
Q Magazine 5 Stars
USA Today 5 Stars

People are talking about it, this is what makes U2 so great! In its third decade of pushing the envelope…a feat no other band has ever accomplished. Another brilliant album by The Edge. Welcome to U2 week in America! Lets blow them away on Lettermen!

I agree… This album is not 5 stars.. neither is the Bruce album.. Starting to believe RS is not relevant anymore with reviews… You pretty much kiss ass to the elite bands irregardless of what they put out.. It’s a shame..

Who can we trust??

In Rolling Stone who gives a 5 stars to a mediocre record or at a Pitchfork who gives 4,2 and has the greatest reviews nowadays??

I Think Pithfork is right, I thought I was crazy to not like this album!

u2 blows

ARE YOU PERFORMING WITH THEM ON LETTERMEN ? COME ON THE STONES HAVE OVER 250 GREAT SONGS TO CHOSE FROM WHEN THEY GO OUT. U2 HAS MAYBE 20 GOOD SONGS.

HTDAAB is far much better than NLOTH. i’d give 3.5 stars out of 5 for this last feat from U2.

LMAO at the haters here. the same harsh sledge was given to their last two albums when they first come out, but they still turned out to be critically acclaimed. u2 is one of the greatest bands of all time!

I love U2 from “War” to “Achtung Baby”, but no way is this new cd as good as those. Maybe 3 stars at best. TIME magazine’s review was much closer to the truth.

It is very tough for a band to create higher emotion when it’s not genuine. Rattle and Hum, Joshua tree, UF Fire, Boy were made with raw emotions connected with the bands feeling. Now they are looking from inside of the glass window will never have the same affect as being part of it, feeling it smelling, sensing and most importantly fear and venerability of rejection or joy of success that must be lost and stale by now, doesn’t matter what is pinnacle of there prize. As a spoiled fan I want them to take me to street that has no name so I don’t have to be BAD anymore. MLK was for love, how long we sang 40..elevation didn’t rise much…why would daddy pay for your car…just Please all I want is I have not found as I look in the Horizon, But I will follow with my desire until Irish in America running from the starvation no more in that bloody Sunday and we become ONE

Agree with the final number or not, the observations of the Pitchfork review were pretty accurate, and actually reflected things I thought upon first listen: that the intros are too longed/tacked on, awkward lyrics, a lack of experimentation. Not their best.

Who gives a rat’s ass what RS, Pitchfork or the detractors think of the new album? Like any band in the world wants these “fans”.

Pitchfork slammed it, not that any one review should determine an albums fate, its just that its probably pretty fair to say that ‘masterpiece’ or ‘revolutionary’ is a bit “over the top,” but then again when you [RS] give Jonas Brothers 4 stars, you’re certainly no stranger to that particular phrase. You wanna be different and come up with a new redefined U2 sound, um, U2? Go use another producer for once. Christ, I think Eno is your fifth band member.

Pitchfork slammed it, not that any one review should determine an albums fate, its just that its probably pretty fair to say that ‘masterpiece’ or ‘revolutionary’ is a bit “over the top,” but then again when you [RS] give Jonas Brothers 4 stars, you’re certainly no stranger to that particular phrase. You wanna be different and come up with a new redefined U2 sound, um, U2? Go use another producer for once. Christ, I think Eno is your fifth band member.

6.0 is the right rate not 10.0. HTDAAB is much better then NLOTH, is just another U2 album, overrated, nothing new they didn’t already make. NLOTH is the bastard brother of TUF.

Pitchfork review is excellent, RS overrated this mediocre album.

5 stars is for something new, there is not nothing new ih this album.

RS is totally sellout and some readers here too…

I checked out The Ruse new album “Midnight in the City”…John, you are right. It seems that U2 has def. “borrowed” a lot of ideas from The Ruse.

Midnight in the City is a classic album. Not totally sold on the new U2 disc however…

I wonder if Bono’s comment about seventies dinosaurs was a dig at Pink Floyd? I can think of no other band of that size and calibur to fit that comment…

Looks like a lot of pitchforkers are out here to particularly to downplay the latest u2 effort. haha keep rambling. or give the new album a few lissens and then see if it grows on you. no one’s telling you to straight up buy pitchfork or RS reviews as the holy truth. they are critics. they can say what they want. you may or may not agree with them. so what if the new album is mediocre by some standards? as far as this fan thinks, it doesn’t tarnish the legacy and its actually great to see how highly one expects of u2 music. can’t wait till the lively tour concertsss!!!

For the record, I like the album (particularly Being Born and Magnificent), but if I make some criticisms, I’m automatically a detractor, not a fan? So I guess if I criticize the government, I’m anti-American, too, right? Listen, if the “real U2 fans” are anything like “real Americans,” then count me out.

I haven’t heard the new album yet but was mostly underwhelmed by the HTDAAB and don’t expect much different this time around. All great artists peak – McCartney peaked in the late sixties (he wrote most of the later Beatles hits) and early seventies as did Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, and dozens of others. The Stones haven’t put out a truly great song since 1980 and U2 has not put out a consistently great (front to back) record since 1994 (Zooropa). Well, as George Harrison put it; all things must pass.

U2’s new stuff is’nt AS good. But it’s better than some really shithouse music out there. I did’nt see them last time they performed on my side of the planet but would be just as happy to see them now. And where the stage is don’t mean shit. It’s what’s on the stage that matters.
Anyone who knows rock would agree with me.

Forgive me my cynicism, BonoSpeak-“It’s an engineering feat that creates this real physical proximity to the crowd,” Bono tells Rolling Stone, adding that the band wants to maximize space in the enormous venues to accommodate the many young fans it has made this decade with hits such as “Vertigo.” “We’re going outdoors to try to meet that audience.
RealSpeak-We’ve taken a page from the Stone’s playbook and want to maximize the number of gold circle seats we can sell. We should really rake in the cash on this tour!

I read the Pitchfork review, and wow, it sounds like the write has wanted to sleep with Bono for 20 years now but has never had the chance, so he trashes him. Their last tour was amazing, by far U2’s best, but Pitchfork starts off by trashing it?!? Hmmmmm, suspect. You know Pitchfork sucks when they give Coldplay, the masters of plagiarism, a much higher score than U2. I just listened to the new album 3 times, and it is amazing! Rolling Stone was spot on with this review. Pitchfork proved just how irrelevant it has become.

Rolling Stone suck young blood from Pitchfork.

RS is a totally nationalist American magazine, they don’t care to alternative and world sound.

When Pitchfork recommends a band RS reviews after a long time.

U2 is Irish, but they always makes a lot of Money and sells magazines, because they are huge.

Who Cares when you see a 1/2 stars to the great new The Prodigy album “Invaders must Die” ??

I recommend everybody to read this non sense review.

i can’t get behind any RS review anymore. after giving knee jerk 5-star reviews for everything springsteen has put out this decade, is it any surprise that RS falls all over themselves for another cash cow? Not as bad as Pitchfork makes it out to be, but they are definitely closer to the mark.

Screw Pitchfork. Their readers can take their thick-frame, record store clerk glasses and hipster beards and can listen to rehash crap like Fleet Foxes in hell for all I care.
RS nailed it. This album is U2’s best since Achtung Baby.

BOno talks about giving but he stashes his money in the netherlands and screws the people of his own country a total HYPOCRITE

Oh dear Rolling Stone gets it badly , very badly wrong again.

There is no way that the new U2 album is a 5/5 “Masterpiece”.

It is at best 3 / 5 and that is stretching things.

I like U2 but Achtung baby was their last (out of a run of three of them ) 5 / 5 albums. They haven’t come close since and this new one isn’t for sure.

Rollingstone just can’t gert their reviews right

U2 IS THE BEST.(PERIOD)
5 STARS ARE ALWAYS DESERVED.
UNLIKE THE FALSE WORKING MAN SPRINGSTEEN…UNDESERVED.

what do you got to say now critics..i told you these songs would sound good live..u2 killed letterman last night…buy pulling out song no one expected..live breath…told you these songs would rock live now didnt i

First of all, I am a huge U2 fan. Every time they put out something new I will try to convince myself to like it (can’t help it, it just happens..) I always have the best intentions when it comes to giving my opinion about their work.

The truth is, however, that for the last decade they’ve been disappointing me constantly. After having listened to their 3 latest albums, including “Horizon”, I come to realize that they just don’t “got it” anymore. They sound tired and uninspired.

Yes, I read the Pitchfork review and I agree with the statement at the bottom which says that “U2 with “Horizon” play not to lose”. For me that says it all.

There is nothing wrong with getting old and losing your inspiration. It happens to everyone, it happened to U2. I guess the point that I’m trying to make is that we should “take it or leave it” and let them do the only thing they can probably do well!

Let me first state that I am a die hard U2 fan. That said, this is a good album, but a “Masterpiece”? Rolling Stone gave it a perfect 5 stars, but only awarded 4 ½ stars to Achtung Baby. The rerelease of Joshua Tree received the same praise as NLOTH, but ask yourselves, is “Magnificent” the new “Where The Streets Have No Name”? Is “Moment of Surrender” the next “One.” I think not. NLOTH is what it is. A “cockatoo” with “sexy boots.” Some interesting experiments (thanks to Eno), some quality rocking from the Edge, a sold 8 note rythme section, and some power full vocals with mediocre lyrics from Bono. I don’t mean to bash the album, but I think it deserves ****. It’s solid with some good modern rock, experimental, stadium tunes with heart. But the problem lies in Rolling Stones assessment of a “Masterpiece”

Remember, Rolling Stone is “the magazine that trashed Eric Clapton, broke up Cream, ripped Led Zeppelin!” A self-important music critic snob of a magazine that would actually employ a useless piece of shit like John Mendelsohn. They have no credibiliety any more in the minds of REAL MUSIC FANS. Instead they put fonies like Britney Spears on the cover in hopes of sucking money out of the new breed of music fans (the people who don’t know the difference between true musical art and pop bullshit).

So listen to the album with an open mind a few times (it’s that type of album, one that you need to hear a few times to truly appreciate it) and think for yourself. In my humble opion, ****. Good job U2, shame on you Rolling Stone.

i havnt heard the whole album though. just “get on your boots” and i must tell you, it was NOTHING like what i was expecting.it lacked the POWER of a normal U2 song. it wasnt as HUGE as most U2 songs are. it was a fine, overproduced little song. hopefully, when i listen to the rest of the album, i will be pleasantly surprised.

i havnt heard the whole album though. just “get on your boots” and i must tell you, it was NOTHING like what i was expecting.it lacked the POWER of a normal U2 song. it wasnt as HUGE as most U2 songs are. it was a fine, overproduced little song. hopefully, when i listen to the rest of the album, i will be pleasantly surprised.

I’m just hoping they come to Calgary this time around, but not holding my breath on that one.

Masterpiece = Classic

So why this ordinary album deserves 5 stars???

RS is suckin’ U2 balls a lot!

The maximum of this album is 3 stars!!

The Pitchfork review is the best until now, they don’t fear big companies.

They should have named the album “the Emperor’s New Clothes”
All the critics are pretending to see something that’s not there.

They should only allow people to listen to this music that have the capacity to understand it.
U2 have never been threatened by big corps to do what they insist…that’s why it’s always new and refreshing.
*****

Why did a band from the 80’s has to be so old in 2009 to do an album with song so slow……..
Where’s 2 heart beat as one, sunday bloody sunday, song that people can dance….Probably U2 is to old to sing those kind of song anymore!!!

Great album. Challenging album. It’s a, um, beautiful day!

Steve: You are right on point about U2 ripping of The Ruse. The similarities between No Line and “Midnight in the City” are too close for comfort.

I just hope U2 gives The Ruse its props, and sends them some cash.

Give the songs a chance. As some have said these songs sound great live. No the new collection is not the greatest but its new music and people should enjoy it some day all bands are going to run their course and will not be around anymore (yes Bono even these 70s bands which some of us listen to still and go to see to relive moments and times in our lives the same bands that made you want to become the group you are) Form your own opinions just because someone tells you something is great or sucks doesnt mean that it does to everyone.

I have not bought the CD yet. Yes, I will buy it, as I have every U2 and Radiohead album. My bro downloaded the album via torrent, but I will wait. i have heard the fans, I have read the reviews, and I cannot say if I like it or not, but one thing is sure, there is a whole lotta racket going on with the release of this album. If only R.E.M. had garnered as much attention with the excellent “Accelerate”.

1. No album must receive 5 stars upon its release. Only time and fans can make an album a classic, not the artist or the critics. Rolling Stone must release a special crowning review on any album that became a classic.
2. When Achtung Baby was released people were bitching even worse than now about U2. RS gave it 4.5. They actually got it right.
3.All this bitching going on actually makes me think the album must be good.

I still think RS give too much credit to U2!
but whatever… they still gonna sell the album no matter what reviews say, as for me i am little
OOH NOT LITTLE I AM HUGELY DISAPPOINTED BY THIS GUYS!

I love when fans state that Band X can never be as good as Band Y. It’s called taste…it’s subjective. So if you don’t like the record, or don’t like the band, take your negative BS elsewhere and bark up someone else’s tree.

Unfortunately, a large percentage of folks on this board are going to reject anything that represents the “establishment.” Too bad. NLOTH, like any record, isn’t perfect. But for those who give it a try they’re going to find a lot of pleasant subtly and texture. Personally, given the last two records, it exceeds my expectations. And like someone said earlier…if you don’t like it, don’t buy it. And most importantly, if you insist on being a negative arse, please save the concert tickets for those of us who have a little perspective and enjoy U2’s output for what it is.

thats all

Look, you can’t please everyone. To each his/her own, but musically this is an amazing album. I think the huge disagreements on this release have to do with generational differences. Recent generations need something more immediate lacking sophistication, while slightly older generations have heard a few more genres and can appreciate a well crafted song that can either split your ear, or stimulate your brain waves.

Discriminating Listener:

There’s something more complex and beautiful than Animal Collective’s album Merriweather Post Pavilion released this year, have u ever listen??

What you are saying is absurd, music in the new generation is much more complex than U2 ever did in life.

I’m not young, but unfortunately U2 didn’t prove anything to me with the new album, everybody talked about revolution, but I only listen ANOTHER U2 album, even Brian Eno couldn’t help to fail.

5 Stars is: S. Pepper, Exile on Main Street, Dark Side of The Moon, Nevermind, every album changed way of rock.

And NLOTH what gives to the World?

Is great only for HARD fans, sorry.

I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight – clearly the best track.

The album, like the economy, is a little too slow for my taste…

I’ll go crazy if I don’t go crazy tonight – clearly the best track.

The album, like the economy, is a little too slow for my taste…

I have been an ardent fan since Boy. And because I’m nearly as old they are their artistic journey rings true for me, musically and lyrically. I don’t regard this album as something new for them. NLotH mostly closely resembles the Unforgettable Fire which wasn’t the hit War was and didn’t come close to matching the popular success. Frankly, UF was the more daring, lush, and complex of the two. That album had an ethereal quality much like this one. I like the Eno-Lanois influence and I like S. Lillywhite’s spin on U2 as well. What makes U2 the best rock band, perhaps ever, is the beautiful simplicity of a very powerful, soulful voice paired with guitar that sounds more like a human voice or bells than it does electronic. The Edge doesn’t play his guitar, he makes it sing. Bono and Edge are like the soprano and alto parts in a piece of polyphonic church music. They don’t compete, they complement. And their melodies are never banal-there is always a truth and beauty in them. If Bono is indeed ‘”just trying to find a decent melody”, I’d say he succeeds 99% of the time. The only reasons I give this album a 4.5 instead of a 5 is that some of the beauty that makes them great is lost in Eno-esque fuzziness. Some of it works, some of it doesn’t. It’s a trifle overwrought at times. I do like Bono’s voice in the higher register, though-he is a tenor and he’s at home there. No one matches him. Loved how Eno drew that out of him on the Unforgettable Fire. NLotH will sound incredible live and that is the measure by which all music and musicians should be judged.

A correction for a few commenters here: “White as Snow” is not based on a traditional folk melody. It is based on an ancient 12th Catholic chant melody written for the 9th century antiphon “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel”/O Come, O Come, Emmanuel-an Advent prayer.

that should have read..”didn’t come close to matching the popular success of The Joshua Tree”

Bono’s quote is tantalising, as is the idea to wait till next year before releasing ‘Ascent’. You know, build up interest, hype and maximise the success of its release.
And sorry, but ‘Magnificent’ is definately the stand-out track on this new growing-on-me album!!

i think the album is pretty dang good. i wish people would stop saying, “it’s no Joshua Tree but..” there is nothing more frustrating to an artist than that. they have evolved and continue to recreate their music and their message in a very real, compassionate, urgent and global way.

Remember. They gave the worst Who album, Its Hard, 5 starz so I don’t belive anything

I love U2 but I don´t know why RS wants so desperately lick Bono´s ass.
You are pathetic magazine.

Hello people..about the record I’m hearing a lot of flac about boots and what a bad song it is…boots has a great rythem and acoustic sound..this is the Disco tect of pop..it will take conditioning much like Disco did…but might find yourself humming this toon before long…slow down world..listen…u2dam

Couple of comments in there about Pitchfork (which, by the way, doesn’t enable readers to comment, which is annoyingly Web 1.0). If RS is overly pandering of popular artists like U2, Pitchfork tends to piss on them. Pitchfork is like that annoying music fan who dismisses any work by a band after their first album, because they’re no longer “pure in their intentions”. After their first album they become careerists who are more interested in the trappings of celebrity than the pure joy of music making. In some cases, it’s probably true, but if Pitchfork had its way U2 would have broken up after “Boy”.

YEAH I LOVE YOU GUYS ALL OF YOU ARE SO INSANE ITS COOL AND MY LTD EDDITON ALBUM WITH BOOK CD DVD POSTER ETC HAS ARRIVED I LOVE IT , JUST A COUPLE OF SONGS WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET INTO BUT THAT WHAT MAKES THEM GREAT. EVEN THOUGH MY WIFE FIRED ME AFTER TWENTIES YEARS WE ARE ALL GOING AND I HOPE THEY DO SLANE CASTLE AGAIN AS I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ONE THERE AND WE ARE GOING SO PLEASE U2 ROCK DUBLIN TO THE MAX. I AM A MUSICIAN AND HAD TO CHANGE HANDS TO BECOME A LEFTY WHICH ONE DAY I SAID FUCK I WILL AND I AM AND THIS IS A REAL COOL ROCK ALBUM WITH FEELING EMOTION BEAUTIFUL VOICES WITH EDGE THEIR , THE WHOLE BAND THE ENGINE ROOM LARRY AND MAN ADAM POWER IT OUT .

JUST ONE THING BONO GROW YOUR HAIR SHORT HAIR IS NOT YOU MY GREAT FRIEND TO ME ANY HOW, KEEP ROCKIN AND FUCK NEGATIVITY

Edge: Hey Bono, I have a unique idea for a live version of “Stand Up Comedy”! You have to listen to that guitar sound. I wanna create a monster for our audience, you know!
Bono: Sorry, Edge, but I´ve just started to dissect the RS. I mean, I´m Dr. Bono!
E: And I´m a scientist!
(a few minutes later)
E: Well…I have to say…some opinions about our new album aren´t very enthusiastic…
B: Don´t worry, my dear friend, this is the same every time. Just remember November `91. And now everyone regards our old “Baby” as a masterpiece…But I can tell you another reason: Some people just don´t like the small man with the big ideas.
E: Maybe you should try to grow a littlebit and talk less.
B: If God had given me that ability…I only have my boots………Better bring me a Guinness, Edge…

I have to agree with Generation X’s post somewhere below. Through its shockingly bad grammar – it appears as though someone used FreeTranslation.com to get that into English – there is some sense to the statement. While No Line is arguably a halfway decent collection of pop songs (”Magnificent” is the one that strikes me as quality-comparable to U2’s more aged catalog pieces), the record is neither a bold exploration of sonic corners or a solid enough effort to be considered ‘timeless,’ ‘legendary’ or ‘defining’ on any level. It’s a shame that Rolling Stone has a habit of doing this with artists who have achieved deity-status among their readership.

Conversely, a publication like Pitchfork tends to be harsher on artists like U2 in order to create some kind of ‘balance’ in the critical music world; but their critiques are equally as personal and often as unfounded in terms of musical quality assessment as the reviews on RS.

So when people make their arguments about why either of these magazines is terrible or great, it’s really just a result of how each publication has branded itself, aligned itself with a certain reader group or demographic, and become so entwined in it that entire other groups become completely turned off by it. When it comes to major music criticism, content doesn’t matter anymore. Unfortunately, that’s just the product of outdated consumer trust.

Forget all the ratings. Music is one of the more subjective things in life. You simply can’t evaluate this or any album this quickly. I hope to not like the songs much at first. To me that means they are more complex and take time to reveal their beauty. Remember, they are artists. They are leading us to some place new. It takes time to understand. You have to invest time and yourself to get there.

I think it’s odd how so many people find “Magnificent” to be the best track. I think “No Line On The Horizon” and “Breathe” are cooler and more interesting.

I think it’s ironic that we are all having this discussion on the RS website, because the cowardly Pitchfork website DOESN’T ALLOW YOU TO FUCKING POST!! They don’t want to hear anyones opinion but their own. That said, I’d give the U2 album 4 stars (out of 5) and Bitchfork a 3.141592653 out of 10.

I totally LOVE No Line On The Horizon!!! It quickly became one of my favorite U2 albums, and I have them all. Can’t wait to see the band in concert for the first time ever in September!!

Not all that impressed with this new album. I for one, am not buying the hype these media outlets are trying to sell me. The music is quite boring and Bono’s wailing over senseless music does not equate to being a masterpiece. I like U2 but they are by far, the most overrated band in rock-n-roll. I’ll take bands like Bon Jovi, Journey and Van Halen over them anyday.

never mind touts ripping off fans what about the tens of thousands being charged to sit or stand and watch four dots on the horizon? i saw them on atyclb and zoo tv tours aswell as other tours but on these 2 tours in particular lots of people were leaving before the end of the show, complaining about the lack of atmosphere. its ok if youre right at the front but not if youre over about 20 rows back! in my opinion u2 are just making money not really doing much else on this tour. they should call it the bums on seats tour. the album is unexciting compared to most of their other albums (not including pop!) . the thing that put me off on this tour is the line “sponsored by blackberry”. enough said really.

funny how most of the posts ive seen on here that show praise for the new album are from people who have never seen them live, who probably got into them after vertigo was released. (the same kids who were at twickenham 05 who only knew tracks from htdaab and knew none of their back catalogue!)
if you havent heard all their previous albums i suppose the standards you expect fom a u2 album are lower.

new album v poor. u2 by numbers these days. nothing exciting.

U2 are an unbelievable band and I love them. There previous albums have been brilliant. You just get the vibe that they aren’t going anywhere anymore now

Jovi Fan,
I agree with you, the new music is garbage. I think the title on the album is appropriate. I like this band but they are by far the most overrated act in rock-n-roll. Bands like Bon Jovi deserve more credit for their music because they certainly been more productive than U2 in the last five years.

U2 is lame. This new album is horrible but I bet the bozos at the Grammys will still give them nominations for this garbage. They have the selection committee in their pockets so they have no desire to do anything musically worthwhile anymore. I’ll be skipping this tour for sure.

This album is to the teenage standards i think there target market has lowered significantly but being a 15year old this is more my level i enjoy this album, i can see where you people who have listened to U2 all your lives are coming from because this isn’t how they used to be.
U2 COME TO CANADA
EDMONTON

360D tour will be the first U2 concert I’ll have seen. I have been a fan since the beginning.Yes, I am very excited as is my husband Paul. So, there will be definitely two older fans there. It doesn’t bother me if they are trying to appeal to a younger crowd. If you ever read The Unforgettable Fire: The Story of U 2 you’d understand how amazing they really are. The obstacles they had to overcome. At one point, Bono(Paul Hewson) actually getting discouraged enough to want to give up! Thank God he didn’t! Not everything they have done is fantastic (like many other bands) but what is fantastic is that they are still together playing for their fans after more than 20 years. Who the hell said Bono couldn’t sing? Who was the idiot?! Not only can he sing but he writes the deepest, most poetic lyrics I have ever heard. The references he makes to the bible are done in a way that no other band would have the intelligence to be able to.LONG LIVE U2! Long live Paul Hewson, Adam Clayton. Dave Edmund and Larry Mullens Jr. A fan then and now!

Wow..who are these “so called fans” who are “stuck in a moment at they cant get out of it”…

The new album is brilliant…back to the great U2…you people need to EVOLVE. Every major music magazine has given it great reviews…its time for you to step into the 21st century.

Great album boys!

Wow..who are these “so called fans” who are “stuck in a moment at they cant get out of it”…

The new album is brilliant…back to the great U2…you people need to EVOLVE. Every major music magazine has given it great reviews…its time for you to step into the 21st century.

Great album boys!

Bono Bono: the actores: instrument players get the instrument: three in one: you too: DERDIYOKLAR: this intrument exists over than 30 years: you do not play: 30 Days Of Night: you can do it like: all three instruments as guitar: you can beginn with little guitar: in the middle long: and the normal guitar: do what you like but do it right: you can try to diserve my instrument too: with 12 strings: a combination of the tradional instrument SAZ:BAGLMAMA: and: the Guitar: 12 strings: looks like a guitar: like: but at first three in one: guitar: do what you like but do it right: one guitar is very long: middle: see you later: http://www.you tube com.de, broadcasr yourself, search for: Finger Tapping: or: Stanley Jordan: The Uninvited: The Unborn: The Grudge: Wicked Little Things: Benjamin Button: try to combinate: with your instruments: May It Be: awarded: step by step we do 3D: 3DIP: 3D: dimensional: three dimensional instument production:s: don´t forget it: the rhythm of: Umbrella: is a two grammy rhythm: video: instruments: awarded: and: singing: SUNRISE: N.J.: singer: Stanley Jordan: see you later: ain´t no other man: umbrella: break a down: girl you know it´s true: awarded: rhythm:instruments: video: design, colors: quality awarded: i take this instrument from you: this is submitted: see you later !

Well I wish people who dont like U2 would wrack off- we are talking about something U don’t get after all I believe this is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard- ever -I am so absolutley happy to be a fan since the first album, to right now- it’s amazing to hear how they never ever let their real fans down! – so please -don’t post here if you dont like U2 – we dont care m’kay? U2 fan forever !

If this is such a great album, how come the vast majority of the buying public is ignoring it? How many singles off this are in the regular rotation on the radio stations? None. How come U2 is buying up radio ad time hyping up the review from Rolling Stone? I smell a turd here and it’s the music on this album.