U2 No Line On The Horizon_Review_Entertainment

Pothier

Contributing Writer

U2-Bono, Adam Clayton, Edge, and Larry Mullin Jr., released a new CD in multiple formats on March 2, 2009. The image of the album, No Line On The Horizon, is one of hope and optimism in a time of chaos, (interview on Good Morning America 3/6/09). U2 has always been a band of the people, both on and off the stage. Thirty years of twists and turns on the road took them to the Good Morning America Show (ABC) broadcasting from Fordham University Friday.

These singer, songwriter, musicians for the world, dedicated a song to college students; which is where U2 got their start as 17/18 year olds, and it is where generational change begins. The song, ‘I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight,’ could be a college party anthem, however, the lyrics-“Every generation gets a chance to change the world/ Pity the nation that will not listen to your boys and girls/ ‘Cos the sweetest melody is the one we haven’t heard,” seduces with the beat, to change the world as well as enjoy youth in going crazy. Later in the song there is a call of, “shouting to the darkness, squeeze out sparks of light.”

U2 still has plenty to play and say. Bono said in an interview with Kate Snow that they have many songs written and hope that they will remain a line on the horizon with no end in sight. “When we came out with our first record, Boy, we couldn’t get played on commercial radio,” Bassist Adam Clayton recalled. “And it was the colleges that kept that record alive, and we would go to every college and do interviews (, MTV interview 3/6/09).” Snow mentioned that the way music is listened to now is in a downloading of selected songs. Bono said; “that the recording is designed as an album and works as a beginning to an end.” People can listen any way they want, however, the nuance which can be heard and felt in lyrics and music would be missed in just sampling the CD.

Robin Roberts from GMA told the band that in turbulent times their music helps us to get thru difficulty. Bono expounded on the music saying; “the music is honest, rock and roll is a mixture of blues as well as the gospel highness.” The recording was done in N.Y. City, Dublin, London, and Morocco. The Morocco work was the spiritual heart of the album with the songs Magnificent, Unknown Caller and White as Snow done there in a place known for tolerance…

U2 is back and you too can go into the sound. Paraphrased from some of the lyrics, “I am gonna’ shout it…the future needs a big kiss…get on your boots…laughter is eternity if joy is real…let me in the sound…flowin’ down…wanna’ drown… let me in the sound. The reviewer went in, felt it, and it felt like blues, gospel based honest rock and roll. Roll with U2!

© Captain Ken Pothier 6/9/09