U2 "No Line on the Horizon"

I'm going to be straight up here - I'm not going to review the album as I have not heard it and probably may not pick it up; if you hang on for a second, I'll explain.
But first, one must point out that judging from the comments in the linked posts below, a number of U2 detractors and fans completely lost the plot. Some of the sheer vitriol and unconditional love displayed is clearly standing in the lost end of absurdity and is looking in at the rest of us, but if you don't believe me...

On the Record review - Jim Carroll
State.ie review - Johnnie Craig

To be honest, I've no plans to review this at any stage as I simply haven't got the will anymore. U2 at one stage in my life were one of my favourite bands', but have annoyed me a number of times since Pop came out in 1997. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to blather on incessantly about Bono and his publicity train, because what would be the point - I am annoyed that U2 died as a creative force forever when they released the numb sounding All That You Can't Leave Behind in 2000. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb fared little better quality wise and what limited snippet that I have hears off of No Lines... never really engaged.

The best way to describe U2 would be that they are the friend that I used to hang out with at school and have deep philosophical conversations with; but now when I see them, they maybe get a knowing nod or maybe a "hi, what are you at nowadays?" You chat vaguely for a few moments and on passing say that you'll call sometime and have a beer, but you know that it will probably never happen.
There in lies the problem with U2 - they have morphed into a somewhat cleaner Rolling-fucking-Stones and I fucking despise the Stones; surely arena rock at it's most excessive. When watching the Rolling Stones, there is often a keen feeling of disinterest and detachment.

A level of comfort has also seeped in - producing this album are Steve Lilywhite, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno. It really is unfortunate that both Lilywhite and Lanois peaked some time ago, while Eno's only shining moments in the last few is probably his work with David Byrne, Father Ted, Grace Jones and Massive Attack - is it such a crazy that the production team that the band always turn to have also had their day? There are apparently tracks recorded with Rick Rubin; but unfortunately those tracks were ditched, so we may not not know (until they're leaked) how they may have ended up.

No Line... was also leaked on the web last week, but this all seems a little too much like a shit press jibe to raise even more awareness the album is coming out. This was followed by Universal's identikit call to arms that you really should buy the CD and then maybe you should also buy the special edition CD with bonus tracks and then the CD/DVD package with live material from Croke Park (naturally) and the music videos and then the CD special special edition that has bonus tracks with added material from the Rick Rubin sessions and a vuluptious booklet - then maybe later on, a remastered version will appear to celebrate 35 years of the band (August 2011 to be approximate).
(This has turned into a much longer rant than I had in mind.) So could someone please send my deep regards and apologies to the lads; but I think I'll have to give No Lines... a miss this time out...

Current listening:
Blonde Redhead "Misery is a Butterfly"


Leigh