Thursday, March 19, 2009
As U2 emerges from a years-long silence, let us forgive them for “Get on Your Boots,” because the rest of their new 11-track album, No Line On The Horizon, is a dazzling work. Horizon’s second track, “Magnificent,” is the album’s pinnacle rocker. The song begins with a bone-crunching guitar stroke, accelerates theatrically, and finally launches into an exhilarating five-minute-long thrill ride. On “Moment of Surrender,” Bono’s voice reenters altitudes like those to which he staked claim in the 1980s, and the sincerely confessional lyrics make this anthem a sure fire single. Likewise, “Breathe” will also likely become a favorite. Whatever trash bin they pulled “Boots” from remains unclear, and it’s a shame we can’t put it back, because without it this album would be perfect.