U2 releases details of their new album ‘No Line on the Horizon’

U2 have uncovered the sleeve, tracklisting and formats of their new album ‘No Line on the Horizon’ and the single ‘Get On Your Boots’ on their official website.

‘Get On Your Boots’ will be released as a digital download on February 15th and a physical format will follow on February 16th.

The statement on the website continues:

“Produced by Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, sessions for No Line On The Horizon began in Fez, Morocco, and continued at the band’s Dublin studio, New York’s Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and London’s Olympic Studios.

Released on March 2nd (March 3rd in the US), the album will come in a standard format with 24 page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album’s companion film “Linear” by Anton Corbijn. A limited edition 64 page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens, and new Anton Corbijn photographs. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl. (More on the formats below)

The album cover artwork is an image of the sea meeting the sky by Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.”

Here’s the full track listing:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon

No Line On The Horizon will be available in five formats;

• Standard jewel case – with album CD and 24 page booklet (Amazon)
• Digipak format – limited edition with album CD, 32 page colour booklet and fold out poster. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film. (Amazon)
• Magazine format – limited edition with album CD, with 64 page magazine. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film. (Amazon)
• Box format – limited edition bespoke box containing digipak format album CD, DVD of Anton Corbijn’s exclusive film, 64 page hardback book, plus a fold out poster. (Amazon)
• LP vinyl – limited edition with 2 black vinyl discs, gatefold sleeve, and a 16 page booklet. (Amazon)

Radio release

Not mentioned in U2′s press release is the single’s radio premiere, which will take place this Monday (January 19th) at 8.10am GMT on The Colm & Jim-Jim Show on RTÉ 2fm, in Ireland. Dave Fanning will play the new single and he will be talking to Colm and Jim-Jim from 7.30am about ‘previous U2 albums, his relationship with the band and memories of one of the greatest bands in the world today’. You can listen to the show online on RTE.ie.

U2tour.de has details on radio premieres in various European countries.

U2 announces new album ‘No Line on the Horizon’

Mark your calendars! U2.com reports that ‘No Line on the Horizon’, the new studio album from U2, will be released on Monday 2nd March, 2009.

They write:

Written and recorded in various locations, No Line On The Horizon is the group’s 12th studio album and is their first release since the 9 million selling album How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, released in late 2004.

Sessions for No Line On The Horizon began last year in Fez, Morocco, continued in the band’s own studio in Dublin, before moving to New York’s Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and finally being completed at Olympic Studios in London.

The album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite.

Billboard runs the story and has a quote from a ‘source’ who heard songs in their early forms: “…amazing and a little out there. I hope they don’t change anything.” (Read more.)

U2 receive Grammy nominations

U2 received a whopping five Grammy nominations from the Recording Academy today in the following categories:

• Album of the Year (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)

• Song of the Year (“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”)
• Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal (“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”)
• Best Rock Song (“City of Blinding Lights”)
• Best Rock Album (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)

Friend and producer Steve Lillywhite also was nominated in the category of Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, for his work on How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

The 48th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on February 8, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Hall of Fame: Rebels without a pause

U2 were surrounded by the people who have been instrumental in their career as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week. Among those supporting the band as they were ushered into the prestigious music organization were the band’s wives; manager Paul McGuinness with his wife Kathy Gilfinnan; many from Principle Management’s team (both past and present), including Keryn Kaplan and Ellen Darst; “band consultant” and friend Gavin Friday; producer Steve Lillywhite; concert promoter Barry Fey; sound engineer Joe O’Herlihy; and Until the End of the World author Bill Flannagan.

U2 owned the night, even though it wasn’t solely their party. Also inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame with U2 were Percy Sledge, The O’Jays, Buddy Guy, and The Pretenders. Sire Records exec Seymour Stein and talent agent Frank Barsalona were honored with the lifetime achievement award in the non-performer category.

In rebel style, U2 played by their own rules for the entire induction ceremony. They skipped the red carpet arrivals, disappointing the paparrazi and mob of fans who hoped to catch a glimpse of them. (They had arrived at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria, where the event was held, earlier in the day to rehearse and avoided the arrival hoopla.) Instead of playing the three songs they were scheduled to perform, they threw in a fourth — and, as usual, Bono couldn’t be contained on stage while they performed.

Cindy Trickel and Ruth Barohn report for U2log.com
(Includes full transcripts of speeches. Click on images for enlargements.)

Continue reading »

Lillywhite fears The Gav

The second part of producer Steve Lillywhite’s interview with U2.com contains this priceless quote.

“Dublin in the late Seventies was not the vibrant, multicultural city that we have now. I used to hang out with Adam a lot. We were the party boys. Larry and Bono and Edge were into their own thing. These very strange guys with make-up would come into the studio and never say ‘hi’. They weren’t from the side of the street where you were taught the social niceties of life. I was scared stiff of Gavin Friday, and still am.”

To which we can only say: Steve, you pussy!

Read more about U2′s spirituality, musicianship and family obligations at U2.com.

Atomic Details

U2log.com has learned a few more details from yesterday’s preview of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in Australia, including the running time and producer of each song:

1. Vertigo 3.11 (Steve Lillywhite)
2. Miracle Drug 3.54 (Steve Lillywhite)
3. Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own 5.05 (Chris Thomas)
4. Love & Peace 4.48 (Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois)
5. City of Blinding Lights 5.46 (Flood)
6. All Because of You 3.34 (Steve Lillywhite)
7. A Man & A Woman 4.27 (Steve Lillywhite)
8. Crumbs From Your Table 4.59 (Steve Lillywhite)
9. One Step Closer 3.48 (Chris Thomas and Daniel Lanois)
10. Original of the Species 4.34 (Steve Lillywhite)
11. Yahweh 4.22 (Chris Thomas)

Other details emerging from the preview: