So if you were up early. Or late. Or just… up, you may have been awake for the brief window of time during which getmusic.com.au, which is Universal Australia’s official download platform (!), accidentally sold mp3 downloads of all of the songs on U2’s No Line on the Horizon, more than a week before its official release. Not just for Australian customers… this international cat used Paypal to legally get her paws on the album.
Brief review? Lovin’ it.
According to atu2.com it wasn’t even the first leak. It’s just that nobody noticed the first one. For a few days, the songs were available individually on Napster Mobile. Apparently, not a whole lot of people use that – legal – service.
We hope you got lucky too. Let us know what you think of the album.
Nice: U2 fans are pleading with the web shop not to fire the guy that caused the leak. (Update: fans’ comments have been removed from the site!)
Where might that album be available?
It’s not on torrents….and all you piratepolises watching this post, i’ve bought all 5 versions of the product so fuck off 😉
Where might that album be available?
It’s not on torrents….and all you piratepolises watching this post, i’ve bought all 5 versions of the product so fuck off 😉
Sitting in a laundromat watching my business shirts tumble dry. Here are my brief reactions after my first listen, track by track:
1. NLOTH: New sound, new vocal, exciting direction, exactly what I was hoping for.
2. Magnificent: If 1983 U2 could time travel into the future, they’d record this. Perfect U2.
3. Moment Of Surrender: Simple, complicated, contradictory. I’ll have to listen to this one again.
4. Unknown Caller: Birdsong is apt, this song flies like a bird. Soaring, it trumpets joy.
5. I’ll go Crazy: Not grabbing me at first listen, may take a while to grow on me.
6. Get On Your Boots: Needs a rest in favour of the new stuff. Not my favourite U2 song, but not my least favourite either.
7. Stand Up Comedy: Instant #1 hit single, U2 stride like giants with this track, I’m loving it. That riff, Edge is on fire.
8. Fez: This is the sound I was hoping for. U2/Eno/Lanois brilliance. Let me in this sound. More please!
9. White As Snow: Great change in tempo, U2 should do more country. Conjures Zooropa’s the Wanderer with today’s War On Terror.
10. Breathe: The best song REM never recorded. Love it. This has to open the next tour, Larry’s on fire, imagine this drumming opening a concert with Edge kicking in. Bono does a great Stipe/Dylan.
11. Cedars: Meditative, with a hint of hip-hop? Haunting, didn’t think I’d like it but it’s sneaking up on me.
Sitting in a laundromat watching my business shirts tumble dry. Here are my brief reactions after my first listen, track by track:
1. NLOTH: New sound, new vocal, exciting direction, exactly what I was hoping for.
2. Magnificent: If 1983 U2 could time travel into the future, they’d record this. Perfect U2.
3. Moment Of Surrender: Simple, complicated, contradictory. I’ll have to listen to this one again.
4. Unknown Caller: Birdsong is apt, this song flies like a bird. Soaring, it trumpets joy.
5. I’ll go Crazy: Not grabbing me at first listen, may take a while to grow on me.
6. Get On Your Boots: Needs a rest in favour of the new stuff. Not my favourite U2 song, but not my least favourite either.
7. Stand Up Comedy: Instant #1 hit single, U2 stride like giants with this track, I’m loving it. That riff, Edge is on fire.
8. Fez: This is the sound I was hoping for. U2/Eno/Lanois brilliance. Let me in this sound. More please!
9. White As Snow: Great change in tempo, U2 should do more country. Conjures Zooropa’s the Wanderer with today’s War On Terror.
10. Breathe: The best song REM never recorded. Love it. This has to open the next tour, Larry’s on fire, imagine this drumming opening a concert with Edge kicking in. Bono does a great Stipe/Dylan.
11. Cedars: Meditative, with a hint of hip-hop? Haunting, didn’t think I’d like it but it’s sneaking up on me.
I’m just so annoyed I’m at work with NO HEADPHONES right now.
Let’s not blame the Ozzies. It’s not their fault… they’re upside down, after all.
I’m just so annoyed I’m at work with NO HEADPHONES right now.
Let’s not blame the Ozzies. It’s not their fault… they’re upside down, after all.
some Aussies are un-upside down and missed the kerfuffle. 🙁
some Aussies are un-upside down and missed the kerfuffle. 🙁
Actually, we Aussies are on top, it’s you northerners who are down bottom. 😉
The use of Sugimoto’s seascape is apt, NLOTH ebbs and wanes like the tide, calm one moment stormy the next. There’s a mood for every U2 fan. Magnificent and Fez are getting the most plays on my iPod.
Actually, we Aussies are on top, it’s you northerners who are down bottom. 😉
The use of Sugimoto’s seascape is apt, NLOTH ebbs and wanes like the tide, calm one moment stormy the next. There’s a mood for every U2 fan. Magnificent and Fez are getting the most plays on my iPod.
Don’t be pissing off us northerners now! There’s more of us… and you know what that’ll do if we all jump up and down at the same time? We’ll blow you right outta the water champ! 😉
Don’t be pissing off us northerners now! There’s more of us… and you know what that’ll do if we all jump up and down at the same time? We’ll blow you right outta the water champ! 😉
If we both jump up and down at the same time, things’ll get interesting. 😉
If we both jump up and down at the same time, things’ll get interesting. 😉
The force is with you, young padawan.
The force is with you, young padawan.
Men at Work!
Men at Work!
Jesus…everything for everybody. I would say this one is for repeat mode! Me reallyreallyreally love it!!!
Jesus…everything for everybody. I would say this one is for repeat mode! Me reallyreallyreally love it!!!
I thought it was going to be a good, perhaps great album, but I hadn’t expected to be blown away. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted from U2, a wonderful blend of JT + TUF. I love 9 out of 11 songs, that’s never happened before (Usually it’s only 2 or 3.)
I thought it was going to be a good, perhaps great album, but I hadn’t expected to be blown away. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted from U2, a wonderful blend of JT + TUF. I love 9 out of 11 songs, that’s never happened before (Usually it’s only 2 or 3.)
There’s some really dodgy lyrics in there.
“I’ve got a head like a lit cigarette?”
There’s some really dodgy lyrics in there.
“I’ve got a head like a lit cigarette?”
It’s everything I could have wished for it to be. I’m overwhelmed, and, as I was just telling myself this morning, I have outrageously high expectations. Love it.
It’s everything I could have wished for it to be. I’m overwhelmed, and, as I was just telling myself this morning, I have outrageously high expectations. Love it.
I’m loving Unknown Caller and Cedars of Lebanon so far. Title track just feels odd to me – especially having it bookend the album. Have to remove it from the end of my playlist that I have looping I think.
I’m loving Unknown Caller and Cedars of Lebanon so far. Title track just feels odd to me – especially having it bookend the album. Have to remove it from the end of my playlist that I have looping I think.
The second version of NLOTH is just an ‘extra track’ that comes with the AUS/NZ/Japan release. So the real album ends with Cedars, which is a fitting end, I think.
Oh and the 2nd version is apparently meant to have a Buzzcocks vibe.
I think ‘Boots’ is actually the only song that has a bit of an Achtung Baby vibe.
The second version of NLOTH is just an ‘extra track’ that comes with the AUS/NZ/Japan release. So the real album ends with Cedars, which is a fitting end, I think.
Oh and the 2nd version is apparently meant to have a Buzzcocks vibe.
I think ‘Boots’ is actually the only song that has a bit of an Achtung Baby vibe.
Yeah I figured as much. Can’t decide which version of NLOTH I like better.
Definitely don’t really hear the Achtung vibe through the album.
Yeah I figured as much. Can’t decide which version of NLOTH I like better.
Definitely don’t really hear the Achtung vibe through the album.
MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!! WOW never expected anything like this when Boots came out thought it was gonna be like POP how wrong. ps thanks to the Aussie for leaking it on repeat play on my ipod will be buying it when it comes out in UK
MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!! WOW never expected anything like this when Boots came out thought it was gonna be like POP how wrong. ps thanks to the Aussie for leaking it on repeat play on my ipod will be buying it when it comes out in UK
First listen, think this is a good one – well a one I like, unlike the last two albums… Don’t know what Bono did with his vocal chords, but it’s been a long time I liked his voice as on this album. Already was happily surprised with his voice on Boots. Hail to the Bonoboys for not producing yet another boring album 🙂 And thnx to people at Australian record companies for making mistakes. Got my legal copy ordered on iTunes 🙂
First listen, think this is a good one – well a one I like, unlike the last two albums… Don’t know what Bono did with his vocal chords, but it’s been a long time I liked his voice as on this album. Already was happily surprised with his voice on Boots. Hail to the Bonoboys for not producing yet another boring album 🙂 And thnx to people at Australian record companies for making mistakes. Got my legal copy ordered on iTunes 🙂
Universal Music didn’t just remove the comments, they removed the entire page!
The Wizards of Oz have been PeemcGeed!
Universal Music didn’t just remove the comments, they removed the entire page!
The Wizards of Oz have been PeemcGeed!
Wow, I’m really digging Moment of Surrender.
Magnificent is Magnificent and Fez is groing on me.
I like it much more than the last album.
Can’t wait to see them live.
Wow, I’m really digging Moment of Surrender.
Magnificent is Magnificent and Fez is groing on me.
I like it much more than the last album.
Can’t wait to see them live.
I thought Track 3, Lights and Rainbows was the best. Good to see the use of a Cow Bell again!
Ryan
I thought Track 3, Lights and Rainbows was the best. Good to see the use of a Cow Bell again!
Ryan
Just got the record. I dig it accept for the 3 middle tracks Ill go crazy, boots, comedy. Seems they are MOR type stuff. The other tracks (except for the slightly pompous Surrender) are terrific. The Lanois influence is clear !
Just got the record. I dig it accept for the 3 middle tracks Ill go crazy, boots, comedy. Seems they are MOR type stuff. The other tracks (except for the slightly pompous Surrender) are terrific. The Lanois influence is clear !
First listen was in the car on a drive to hear it thru, I was pleasantly surprised, much better than the previous effort, for me Track 7: Stand Up Comedy- Stands out and will become a U2 classic, Track 2: Magnificent- made me think gee are they as good as they use to be – Yes they are.
First listen was in the car on a drive to hear it thru, I was pleasantly surprised, much better than the previous effort, for me Track 7: Stand Up Comedy- Stands out and will become a U2 classic, Track 2: Magnificent- made me think gee are they as good as they use to be – Yes they are.
I want to hear it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I want to hear it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Moment of Surrender is the big problem for me. Track 3… It goes NOWHERE. It’s 7 minutes long and REALLY goes nowhere. Thing about a song like All i Want Is You which is 6.5 minutes. It goes through every emotion, every musical dynamic…
At track 3, Moment of Surrender is long, dull, self indulgent nonsense that kills the vibe of a great opening duo. As a track 3, look at New Years Day, Wire, One, Desire, With or Without You, Sometimes you can’t make it, Walk on…
It’s so out of place as track three.
I’ll go crazy and White as snow are the others that aren’t rocking my boat at the moment. Everything else… very very happy with it.
But moment of surrender is like the big fat friend who asks if they can sleep on your couch for a ‘couple of days’ and 3 months later they’re still there, you can’t shift em, and they haven’t done the washing up…
AB
Moment of Surrender is the big problem for me. Track 3… It goes NOWHERE. It’s 7 minutes long and REALLY goes nowhere. Thing about a song like All i Want Is You which is 6.5 minutes. It goes through every emotion, every musical dynamic…
At track 3, Moment of Surrender is long, dull, self indulgent nonsense that kills the vibe of a great opening duo. As a track 3, look at New Years Day, Wire, One, Desire, With or Without You, Sometimes you can’t make it, Walk on…
It’s so out of place as track three.
I’ll go crazy and White as snow are the others that aren’t rocking my boat at the moment. Everything else… very very happy with it.
But moment of surrender is like the big fat friend who asks if they can sleep on your couch for a ‘couple of days’ and 3 months later they’re still there, you can’t shift em, and they haven’t done the washing up…
AB
I’m an old Eno fan. Though I enjoyed Achtung Baby/Zooropa, etc, this album is just great. There’s the typical U2’isms both good and bad (I agree with the theme of the occasional dodgy lyric and wandering song) but my GOD I was thinking of ‘Remain in Light’ while listening. Magnificent, Unknown Caller, and Fez are certainly the most amazing songs they’ve ever done. For whatever reason, it’s taken 24 years for Eno and the boys to mesh perfectly, but it’s worth it!
I’m an old Eno fan. Though I enjoyed Achtung Baby/Zooropa, etc, this album is just great. There’s the typical U2’isms both good and bad (I agree with the theme of the occasional dodgy lyric and wandering song) but my GOD I was thinking of ‘Remain in Light’ while listening. Magnificent, Unknown Caller, and Fez are certainly the most amazing songs they’ve ever done. For whatever reason, it’s taken 24 years for Eno and the boys to mesh perfectly, but it’s worth it!
there are 5 great songs:
-NLOTH -MASTERPIECE
-Magnificent -MASTERPIECE
-Moment of surrender -MASTERPIECE
-Unknown caller -MASTERPIECE
-FEZ -MASTERPIECE
stand up commedy is embarrassing.
I’ll go crazy…it makes me think of ATYCLB.and it isn’t good.
breathe is ok.
cedars.. nice.really nice.
get on your boots is ok.
white as snow …it goes nowhere.useless.
5 songs out of 11.
I’m happy.
up until PoP it was 11 great songs out of 11.
but after ATYCLB and how to dismantle..
well it’s good to know that they can stil write songs as they used to do.
there are 5 great songs:
-NLOTH -MASTERPIECE
-Magnificent -MASTERPIECE
-Moment of surrender -MASTERPIECE
-Unknown caller -MASTERPIECE
-FEZ -MASTERPIECE
stand up commedy is embarrassing.
I’ll go crazy…it makes me think of ATYCLB.and it isn’t good.
breathe is ok.
cedars.. nice.really nice.
get on your boots is ok.
white as snow …it goes nowhere.useless.
5 songs out of 11.
I’m happy.
up until PoP it was 11 great songs out of 11.
but after ATYCLB and how to dismantle..
well it’s good to know that they can stil write songs as they used to do.
i think U2 should have stopped years ago….
“another boring cd”
seriously why do they even bother, all there ideas,have been done to death over and over again.
i think U2 should have stopped years ago….
“another boring cd”
seriously why do they even bother, all there ideas,have been done to death over and over again.
You’ve got to be kidding, Stand Up Comedy is “embarrassing”?! I really do wonder if people are listening to the same record. It’s got the best lyrics on the entire album if you ask me, and it’s free of the “ooh ooh oooooohs” drowning every other song. Now IGCTIIDGC (gah, just call it I’ll Go Crazy!) can be considered embarassing, it makes me cringe. I do like the “baby baby baby” bit though, reminds me of the Corrs from thereon. However, it works wonderfully in context of the album and really gives Boots a step up. As a threesome, it works. But geez, Stand Up is a brilliant tongue-in-cheek pop song, unashamedly. People take U2 more seriously than they do themselves sometimes. Just enjoy the music for what it is.
And I’m going to give ATYCLB some love, even though it feels like two-thirds of a record. I really don’t understand the hate, it’s a great bunch of songs with fantastic melodies, probably some of the best melody work Bono’s ever done.
Oh well, tom-aye-toe, tom-ah-toe. I like it and that’s all that matters to me.
You’ve got to be kidding, Stand Up Comedy is “embarrassing”?! I really do wonder if people are listening to the same record. It’s got the best lyrics on the entire album if you ask me, and it’s free of the “ooh ooh oooooohs” drowning every other song. Now IGCTIIDGC (gah, just call it I’ll Go Crazy!) can be considered embarassing, it makes me cringe. I do like the “baby baby baby” bit though, reminds me of the Corrs from thereon. However, it works wonderfully in context of the album and really gives Boots a step up. As a threesome, it works. But geez, Stand Up is a brilliant tongue-in-cheek pop song, unashamedly. People take U2 more seriously than they do themselves sometimes. Just enjoy the music for what it is.
And I’m going to give ATYCLB some love, even though it feels like two-thirds of a record. I really don’t understand the hate, it’s a great bunch of songs with fantastic melodies, probably some of the best melody work Bono’s ever done.
Oh well, tom-aye-toe, tom-ah-toe. I like it and that’s all that matters to me.
Gets better with every single listen.
First listen – Unknown Caller my least favourite tune on the album. Now I reckon it’s up with Breathe and Fez for me as one of the best.
Moment of Surrender though… gawd I’ve given it a chance. A massive chance. not happening at all.
Can those that like it (‘masterpiece’) let me know what I’m missing?
Gets better with every single listen.
First listen – Unknown Caller my least favourite tune on the album. Now I reckon it’s up with Breathe and Fez for me as one of the best.
Moment of Surrender though… gawd I’ve given it a chance. A massive chance. not happening at all.
Can those that like it (‘masterpiece’) let me know what I’m missing?
You are missing out on the show stopping, heart breaking, mind blowing, emotional delivery of the vocal.
And a beautiful melody that’s in my head when I wake up in the morning, and go to sleep in the evening.
You are missing out on the show stopping, heart breaking, mind blowing, emotional delivery of the vocal.
And a beautiful melody that’s in my head when I wake up in the morning, and go to sleep in the evening.
Cool, ta. I’ll try to find it.
Can’t help but think if that one line about ATM machines was removed…
Cool, ta. I’ll try to find it.
Can’t help but think if that one line about ATM machines was removed…
I agree that the line about the ATM machine, out of context, is a bit odd. However, the image is more about the punching in of the password (called the numbers here), which seems to be a symbol of our mechanized world, and the dissociation it causes, and the next song’s image glides against the ATM image nicely, punching in the password YOU, you know your name, so PUNCH IT IN. Then you are “free to go”. Very nicely done.
I agree that the line about the ATM machine, out of context, is a bit odd. However, the image is more about the punching in of the password (called the numbers here), which seems to be a symbol of our mechanized world, and the dissociation it causes, and the next song’s image glides against the ATM image nicely, punching in the password YOU, you know your name, so PUNCH IT IN. Then you are “free to go”. Very nicely done.
well, at 1st i was angry listening to NLOTH. got used to bomb misseling speed and loud rockn out style.
so surprised i stumbled across the album online, and now listening to it for 2nd time with my guard down. growing. takes me back to tree days personally. reminds me of then i listened to tree riding in the mountains in chile.
was dissapointed at the album being “slow” as i 1st put it. seemed a it mixed up with all eras of u2 present. lot of zooropa type beginnings seems to me.
as a u2er i will relish it either way. i was at 1st thinking concert-wise. seemed it would mellow out the crowd TOO much.
at any rate, IMO im thinking boots, horizon, stand up, mag, breathe, snow, fez and cedars being most entertaining live. thes rest for us u2ers.
just seems very mellow b-side type stuff at 1st listen.
well, at 1st i was angry listening to NLOTH. got used to bomb misseling speed and loud rockn out style.
so surprised i stumbled across the album online, and now listening to it for 2nd time with my guard down. growing. takes me back to tree days personally. reminds me of then i listened to tree riding in the mountains in chile.
was dissapointed at the album being “slow” as i 1st put it. seemed a it mixed up with all eras of u2 present. lot of zooropa type beginnings seems to me.
as a u2er i will relish it either way. i was at 1st thinking concert-wise. seemed it would mellow out the crowd TOO much.
at any rate, IMO im thinking boots, horizon, stand up, mag, breathe, snow, fez and cedars being most entertaining live. thes rest for us u2ers.
just seems very mellow b-side type stuff at 1st listen.
Wow, an amazing album that sees U2 point blank refusing to churn out 11 safe songs, which I’m sure would have been so easy for them to do, bear in mind how many songs were actually written during these sessions – I believe something like 150 songs exist in some form from these sessions.
U2 have thrown out the rulebook used on the last two albums which produced 2 really great albums, but albums that played it safe imho, now they’re living dangerously again, and whilst I think some fans won’t get this album, it will probably be up there with the bands most critically acclaimed albums.
The creativity shown here I find very reminiscent of that shown with Zooropa, Passengers, and MDH.
The killer track for me right now, is most definitely ‘Unknown Caller’, it seems to be on a different level to anything I’ve ever heard by U2. The song reaches moments of blissful sonic joy, blended with lines that are chanted that are almost Orwellian like in nature and conjures up 1984 imagery, but in a strangely positive vibe ‘Restart… and Reboot yourself… You’re free to go… Shout for joy…’. The coda of this song goes to that other place, where U2’s entire arsenal and then some(!) is thrown into the pot, including xylophones and horns if I’m not mistaken.
Can’t wait to hear and see how this all pans out live.
Wow, an amazing album that sees U2 point blank refusing to churn out 11 safe songs, which I’m sure would have been so easy for them to do, bear in mind how many songs were actually written during these sessions – I believe something like 150 songs exist in some form from these sessions.
U2 have thrown out the rulebook used on the last two albums which produced 2 really great albums, but albums that played it safe imho, now they’re living dangerously again, and whilst I think some fans won’t get this album, it will probably be up there with the bands most critically acclaimed albums.
The creativity shown here I find very reminiscent of that shown with Zooropa, Passengers, and MDH.
The killer track for me right now, is most definitely ‘Unknown Caller’, it seems to be on a different level to anything I’ve ever heard by U2. The song reaches moments of blissful sonic joy, blended with lines that are chanted that are almost Orwellian like in nature and conjures up 1984 imagery, but in a strangely positive vibe ‘Restart… and Reboot yourself… You’re free to go… Shout for joy…’. The coda of this song goes to that other place, where U2’s entire arsenal and then some(!) is thrown into the pot, including xylophones and horns if I’m not mistaken.
Can’t wait to hear and see how this all pans out live.
I’m ready to say this: NLOTH is approaching the airspace currently occupied only by Achtung Baby for me. This album keeps getting better and better and better.
I can’t stop listening to Magnificent and Unknown Caller.
I’m ready to say this: NLOTH is approaching the airspace currently occupied only by Achtung Baby for me. This album keeps getting better and better and better.
I can’t stop listening to Magnificent and Unknown Caller.
Freaking amazing album. Diverse as never before.
I wrote a detailed review: http://markfreedman.com/index.php/2009/02/21/u2-no-line-on-the-horizon-review/
That rumble, rumble, rumble in “Magnificent” is very reminiscent of “Streets”.
Caroline, the most AB song for me is the title track. Just the mood of the guitar on that one brings me back to it.
Freaking amazing album. Diverse as never before.
I wrote a detailed review: http://markfreedman.com/index.php/2009/02/21/u2-no-line-on-the-horizon-review/
That rumble, rumble, rumble in “Magnificent” is very reminiscent of “Streets”.
Caroline, the most AB song for me is the title track. Just the mood of the guitar on that one brings me back to it.
Hey, I was really wondering about “Moments of Surrender”, but then I replaced the official version of the 1st track (No Line) with the 2nd version. The 2nd version is so energetic and high powered, that the flow to Magnificent really continues into Moments of Surrender in a different way. Moments suddenly soars, despite it’s slowness. (The 2nd version of No Line is really frenetic in a great way). And then Unknown Caller. WOW.
Hey, I was really wondering about “Moments of Surrender”, but then I replaced the official version of the 1st track (No Line) with the 2nd version. The 2nd version is so energetic and high powered, that the flow to Magnificent really continues into Moments of Surrender in a different way. Moments suddenly soars, despite it’s slowness. (The 2nd version of No Line is really frenetic in a great way). And then Unknown Caller. WOW.
Wow! This album is tremendous, and I really think that it was made to play live! Great mix and will be an amazing show! Well done lads…
Wow! This album is tremendous, and I really think that it was made to play live! Great mix and will be an amazing show! Well done lads…