2009 will see my attention generally and here on this blog, as well, turn to U2 as their long-awaited 12th studio album release approaches (March 3 in the USA). The UK music magazine Q (think Rolling Stone) is releasing a cover article on the band, including a song-by-song breakdown of the Album similar to what Blender did for 2004's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Here's the link to a Q article teaser if you can't wait to read more (or can't find the magazine).
One quote:
"Q initially heard previews of seven tracks at various stages of completion as the band were winding up. First impressions were that, while the two most recent U2 albums (2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind and 2004's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb) marked a return to basics, No Line On The Horizon is more in keeping with the spirit of 1991's Achtung Baby: which is to say, a bolder, more testing collection."
Another:
"Within the U2 camp, this is the general consensus around the album as a whole. A clearly excited Eno told Q No Line On The Horizon could be the band's greatest album, a view also echoed by the Edge. 'We've learnt a few things over the years,' said the guitarist. 'So I think (the album) could be a bringing-to-bear of all those eureka moments from the past.'
From the song breakdown, it looks like war and peace is again a prominent feature of the lyrics. Someone ought to do a study of the overall peace work the band has done, both on records and beyond. It is getting to be quite substantial, and as with poets and artists generally, the band have some very insightful and imaginative--not to mention activist-inducing--things to say about it.
Peace,
Chris
I don't want to be anxious or excited about a new U2 album but I am despite myself. They always chat up their albums and (for me) I've been disappointed horribly with the last two. My vision of that band is obviously completely different from how they see themselves.
Hopefully, I'll be pleasantly suprised in March.
Posted by: Josh | January 05, 2009 at 04:36 PM