First listen: U2 – Get On Your Boots
In keeping with tradition ‘Get On Your Boots’ the first single from U2’s new album No Line On The Horizon was debuted on 2FM this morning by Dave Fanning. Upon first listen, the song is quite a traditional rock tune in line with the kind of song that appeared on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. The song is stripped of any large rock histrionics in favour of some treated drums and is certainly a less dramatic affair than recent material.
You can listen to the song here
The song will be released as a digital download on February 15th with a physical format to follow on February 16 through Mercury/Universal (UK).
Produced by Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, No Line On The Horizon, the 12th studio from the band will be released on March 2nd. The album will come in a standard format with 24 page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album’s companion film “Linear” by Anton Corbijn. A limited edition 64 page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens, and new Anton Corbijn photographs. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl.
The album cover artwork above is an image of the sea meeting the sky by Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto.
Tracklisting:
1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon
I couldn’t disagree more, it sounds nothing like the last 2 records. It’s almost as fresh as “The Fly” was.
Listen to it 10 times and then see if you say the same thing. There is a lot going on with this tune.
I quite like this. Lots of odd/weird guitars parts with odd noises samples and sounds like some of their older stuff I think. A good guitar riff. Can’t deny that.
It sounds like they’ve been listening to Queens of the Stone Age and crosssed it with Subterranean Homesick Blues. Nothing new here.
“…It sounds like they’ve been listening to Queens of the Stone Age and crosssed it with Subterranean Homesick Blues. Nothing new here…”
couldn’t have said it better. can’t help but feel that this could be so much better
daycent enough i suppose considering how cack their last few albums were
I like the fuzz bass and it’s somewhat better than the lead singles off the previous 2 albums but the rhyming dictionary type lyrics, uninspired vocal performance from Bono and canned-sounding beats let it down, I reckon.
Really not feeling this at all. I don’t think we’ll be hearing old U2 again…
oh man! i bought the new single from itunes. ROCKS! and yet it’s sexy enough for the ladies true to what’s been said – lot’s of layered electronic percussion or processed percussion perhaps. I think, for me, the thing that really strikes me is the production. Everything is upfront and present, and yet they’ve achieved space and clarity around each sound. It’s somehow full and yet lean at the same time. I think by going with the fuzzed-out guitar and traditional drums as one drum layer, they keep the Rock edge. And, yet the vocals and the other percussion/sounds seem to utilize modern/R&B production…compression techniques? For sure this rocks but it also sounds so modern! I guess Edge wasn’t bluffing – It really is Rock 2009!
I’ve got to admit, I didn’t get what they were going for on 1st listen. But, that’s when you know you’ve generally got U2 at their best. Glad they’ve decided to innovate & evolve this time around!
The U2 haters are going to criticize it no matter what. They jumped on the anti-U2 bandwagon a few years ago because it’s “cool” to hate U2. They usually claim to be indie fans and discard any band that becomes big enough to escape the tiny club scene. Most of them are tone deaf and have never picked up an instrument aside from that Guitar Hero device.
Go back to your Guitar Hero and leave the music criticism to those of us who can actually read notes on a page.
This song rocks.
@ daedalus
Actually, the truth is, it’s quite an average song. Nowt new, nowt interesting or truly engaging.
It’s ok. Which is a surprise, I was expecting rubbish.
wtf is dis shit lol! I tink dey trying 2 exprimint!
subterranean homesick blues – moroccan dangermouse (the cartoon) covered by QOTSA – fleet foxes – dj hype – shaun ryder. not a bad soundtrack for a song about bono’s strained relationship with george sexyboots bush and most exciting U2 in years. hope album is as intriguing
I must have missed the part where it was “cool” to hate U2. I did not read that issue of Hot Press!
They’ve clearly worked very hard on this. The production is incredibly complex, they’ve gone right down to the note level, and it’s sonically very rewarding. Like a lot of new U2 material, the first listen is not where you fall in love with the song, but rather where you think “I’m not sure if I like this” but there is some spark there which keeps you coming back from repeated listens… and then suddenly it clicks and you “get” it and it’s awesome.
I’ve listened to it about 10 times now.
I’m afraid my verdict is that the song itself is not great. I like the lyrics. I think it’s pretty cool. The production is top notch. But the song is pretty flat.
The song reminds me of Discotheque.
But it’s different, odd, they have taken chances, and that’s to be applauded.
Justin said:
“I couldn’t disagree more, it sounds nothing like the last 2 records. It’s almost as fresh as “The Fly” was.
Listen to it 10 times and then see if you say the same thing. There is a lot going on with this tune.”
If I did that I would have to put a gun to my head and kill myself!
Leave your response!
Alison Curtis:
Whole Lotta Hole
Jim Carroll:
Pro Choice
Dan Hegarty:
Age Of The Astronaut
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