Generally, I liked what I heard. Several U2 classics (Magnificent, Breathe, Unknown Caller) mixed with some tracks where the band steps on new terrain (Being Born, White As Snow), I expected a much more electronic sound, though. Many tracks have prominent electric elements especially during the intros but there's no purely electronic song like Lemon or Mofo. Instead on gets surprised by some untypical instruments like organs, trumpets, horns or a cello. The overall feeling is very atmospheric;some songs - or parts of songs - are close to The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, partly with clear references to earlier releases. That doesn't mean that the new tracks would have fitted on earlier albums, though. To give an idea of the diversity of sounds, here's a list of songs, I was reminded of: Lady With The Spinning Head, So Cruel, Pride, Beautiful Day, In A Little While, Bass Trap, Love And Peace Or Else, Bullet The Blue Sky, Ultra Violet, Acrobat. And Passengers!
The record has some very dark parts, several interesting and uncommon harmonies and maybe more moll chords than any previous work. "gentle" and "flimsy" might be the best description of some tracks. The production is very layered, especially the rhythms which are very often mid-temp and syncopated. Larry and Adam have big moments, some strong basslines (Moment Of Surrender). The Edge is "on fire" with many typical Edge riffs - maybe even too many. Bono's voice sounds very good - best since Pop. He plays a lot with it, maybe too much. As far as I remember, no track ends with a fade-out.
All in all one of the more exciting U2 records and an ambitious work. It's biggest plus is, what was missed on the last albums: coherence. The song quality stays on a high level throughtout the entire album - maybe the gems are in the 2nd half.
Some remarks on the tracks:
1. No Line On The Horizon
Starts with a slow Synth-Intro, that changes to a wall of sound with a shouting Bono. In contrast, the chorus is very atmospheric. Distorted guitars in the end..
2. Magnificent
A short electronic Intro morphs into U2-stadium rock-mode. Rather fast, pumping rhythm with fast snaredrums similar to Streets. 3rd single.
3. Moment Of Surrender
Clearly an Eno song (a little like "A Different Kind Of Blue" but more melodic). Great bass lines. Rhythm builds up slow and makes you think of So Cruel. 7 minutes.
4. Unknown Caller
The track with the biggest Lanois influence. Recorded in Fez (you can hear it in "Here is what is"). Many Tom-Toms. The atmosphere brings up The Joshua Tree. The bridge goes somewhere else, with organs (hello Arcade Fire?) horns and a nice guitar solo afterwards.
5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight
Classic U2. Mid-temp. 2nd Single.
6. Get On Your Boots
The fastest track. Placed perfectly in the record.
7. Stand Up Comedy
70's rock, the extension of Bullet The Blue Sky (Popmart-Version with "hacked" guitars) and Love And Peace Or Else. Uptemp.
8. Fez / Being Born
Two songs. Fez is a short, experimental, mostly electronic Eno piece. Being Born is rather fast but has the "slowest" singing Bono I ever heard. Can't remember much concrete but I thought this track was genius.
9. White As Snow
Short piano intro, then built on acoustic guitars.Very slow and tender.
10. Breathe
3/4 - 6/8 rhythm like Acrobat. An anthem for stadiums. Bono's singing pretty fast - only slightly slower than Stipe on It's The End Of The World As We Know It. Mid/uptemp. Great guitar solo.
11. Cedars Of Lebanon
Midtemp, very tender and atmospheric arrangement. Bono as narrator (a voice close to One Step Closer) ends short.
As for the Beach Clips: #1 is Unknown Caller, #2 is Breathe, #3 ist GOYB, #4 ist Magnificent and #5 is Crazy Tonight in a completely different version. None of the 2006 Beach Clips are on the album.
I jeszcze znalezione na u2start.com
Możliwe bonusowe tracki
NLOTH (Verson 2) - audio
GOYB (Punk Version) - video
FEZ/Being Born (Studio Footage) - video
