Album Review: U2’s No Line on the Horizon

I think I am finally ready.

Bono declared this of How to Dismantle an Atomic bomb, claiming it as a contender among the top 3 albums - “There are no weak songs. But as an album, the whole isn’t greater than the sum of its parts, and it fucking annoys me.”

He must have not been referring to that album with One Step Closer, Crumbs from Your Table and All Because of You. But I’m really not here to dismantle the Atomic Bomb.

Fact is, that somewhat overwrought statement may have been somewhat justifiable in describing  No Line on the Horizon, because this time, there are no weak songs on this album. Certainly different songs with varying styles but as a benchmark for songwriting, this is a huge step up from HTDAAB. Get on Your Boots is still incredibly groovy and together with the “pop-ish” but irresistably catchy I’ll go Crazy if I don’t go Crazy Tonight and the fun-funk piece Stand Up Comedy form the crazy fulcrum of the album, which swings wildly from stadium-ready anthems (Magnificent, Breathe) to whimsical but strangely satisfying experimental tracks (Unknown Caller, Fez: Being Born).

One of the key criteria in evaluating U2 albums has been innovation – the past two albums took some flak from fans craving for another big sonic shift for the perceived lack thereof.  I am of the school of thought that says, “Let U2 be U2″ – I’m really not ready to see Bono banging on a bongo or the Edge on bagpipes in the name of experimentation and a “new sound”. Ultimately, it boils down to the music – and lyrics, and this time U2 has found more than just a decent melody.

They have evidently kept an eye on the two albums that defined them as a band and ultimately validated their status of the demigods of rock music. (Ed: for casual fans, that would be the albums Joshua Tree  and Achtung Baby). Songs like Moment of Surrender and Cedars of Lebanon accentuate and showcase the power of the narrative against a restrained but magnetic backdrop, while Fez, Breathe, Magnificent and Unknown Caller lift off and find their soul on the strength of the tune.

Make no mistake, NLOTH is still classic U2 – an epic journey with epic songs and the most cohesive and diverse album musically in their collection yet. The band has gone as far as they can in producing innovative yet engaging music, a coralling of new sonic territory without crossing over the border into the land of weirdness and alienating the average music lover. They’ve also finally put together an album with two strong halves (after two tries) and while not every song may be a hit,  fans will be hard-pressed to find a better anthology of rock music in the industry right now. As much I love and admire Chris Martin’s diffidence and deference to U2, he was merely stating the truth – they’re only occupying the space right now before U2 storms back.

So begs the question – is the album greater than the sum of its parts? Or to put it more bluntly, can the album stand shoulder to shoulder beside JT and AB?

Frankly, only time can tell. But right now what we have is an utterly majestic record that presents a compelling case for canonization alongside the aforementioned. Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullen Junior and Adam Clayton are the people of the sound – the U2 sound – and certainly wearing it as a crown. I think we’re all the better for it.

No Line on the Horizon – 5/5