Horizone Lines

I hate album reviews. How should they matter, in any way, to our own opinion? Unfortunately, they do. And we follow them to our own opinions. On that note, I hate to think this is an album review. This is more of a reaction to the general feedback I’ve mistakenly overheard. So U2 just released an album…

So, true to form, my opinion of No Line On the Horizon: Love it. Half of you just rolled your eyes and clicked a random link out of here. The other half just mentally fist-pumped in agreement. And therein lies the strange thing about our state of mind about U2 in 2009. It’s all in or all out. What I’ve noticed, anyway.

I spent some time seeking out the negative reviews. I’ve never done that before. I think I wanted to gauge just why we’re starting to rage against the Band of Good (or always have?). Bono has certainly painted a target on his back. By helping others. Cruel irony. Some consider his actions an equal reaction to his huge ego. And make no mistake, his ego dwarfs elephants. But why should that matter? Shouldn’t great rock bands throw gigantic lead singer egos in our faces?

We seem to expect (and hope) for the huge ego. Only then can we complain. What if Bono was the dude with a great voice, and complete silence off-stage? That would be horrible. The reaction, unfortunately, is feelings of annoyance over this dude that won’t shut up.

And then, some moment in the distant past, he decided to change the world. At least attempt to. I can understand the reaction to such a bold move. We wish he’d leave everyone alone. Why the hell can’t he just stick to music with the rest of the band? Now we have to deal with this Africa bullshit? Well, shame on us.

My own reaction to his politicking is annoying gratitude. I get tired of hearing about his world leader affairs, yet somehow realize the world needs a couple of Bonos around, keeping us honest. Even if for his own ego. In the end, it doesn’t matter why he does what he does. If a few lives are saved, so be it.

Shit, I’m getting off course. You can tell I’m a defender. Sorry. I’m trying not to take sides.

Back to the idea of a U2 in middle age era. We’ve lived with them for 20+ years. That’s a long fucking time. Plenty of time for our natural inclinations to surface. I think, in coming to terms with a band that refuses to go away (and might not deserve to), we go in two directions:

1. Go away! No matter how amazing their future albums are, we decide to call them “no longer current”. For all we know, No Line On the Horizon is their most impressive album since Joshua Tree. I don’t agree with that statement, but stay with me here. If we subconsciously wrote them off before hearing one chord or lyric, how could we possibly listen to the album unbiasedly? That’s the thing. We can’t. So we don’t. Yet our opinions pour into the ether, full of negativity and hate. All for a band that has decided to keep making music. Or…
2. Don’t ever leave us! We decide U2 is the greatest band ever, thus believing every single step they take is pure genius. On the level of Jesus Christ, Gandhi, and the like. For all we know No Line On the Horizon is a complete turd, conjured up by four guys who’s time has passed. I don’t agree with that statement, but stay with me here. We have written them off as Gods of chords and song, so how could anything they do be wrong? If Bono recorded himself throwing up into a toilet, we’d consider it a strange, Da Da-esque departure, yet pure genius. So what pours into the ether? Positivity and praise. All for a band that has decided to keep making music.

That’s all they’re really doing. I don’t think they’re making a conscious effort to “remain current”. Perhaps due to their own egos of owning the world, not sure. In the end, it’s a simple decision they made. Let’s make another album. Let’s try some new things. Why? We’re artists. If we don’t challenge ourselves, why should we continue?

Had they made an album similar to the last two, we’d rage against their settlement on a sound. Hell, we’d rage against any move they make at this point. They’ve entered the territory few huge bands have entered. It’s a territory of battle scars and middle-age wrinkles. It’s a territory where we know them, and know them well. It’s a territory where our own biases take center stage.

So they continue. And we roll our eyes and shout for joy.