Try hard

Before the release of their latest album,Bono had declared,If this isnt our best album,were irrelevant.

U2s twelfth studio album is a good effort,but nowhere near expectation

Before the release of their latest album,Bono had declared,If this isnt our best album,were irrelevant.

While this isnt necessarily their best effort yet,it still doesnt mean U2 is irrelevant. The band is still one of the more significant musical acts of our times. And while theyve had many hits in the past,its possible that this collection might be considered only adequate.

The album takes a bit of getting used to.

Hearing it for the first time,one is left slightly confused by the many layers each song has. By the third listen though,its easy to settle into the melody.

Bonos characteristic bawling is complemented by Edges trademark riffs. The most radio-friendly tracksNo Line on the Horizon,Magnificent and Get on Your Bootsare also the ones where the music takes precedence over the vocals; which is not easy,considering the poignant appeal of the Irish crooners honey-laced voice.

Some of the songs,unfortunately,sound a little pedestrianMoment of Surrender,with Bono wailing on the vocals sounds too much like the love anthems that dominated the 90s,even if the lyrics do talk about an existential crisis,rather than an affair of the heart.

The lyrics,in general,could have used a bit more thought. Clichés are rife. In Moment of Surrender,Bono sings,Its not if I believe in love,but if love believes in me. Such stock sentiment would be unforgivable in a band as iconic as U2,if it werent for the fact that the album does make for very easy listening. While Bono is known for jazzing up his tunes with his trademark Oh Oh Oh,one wishes there was a little less of it.Thankfully,the activism that U2s vocalist is well-known for is kept at a distance. But the one song where it finds prominence,Cedars of Lebanon,is a laughable attempt at best.

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Bonos effort to sing about the extremely complex conflicts that plague the Middle East are just too cliché-ridden to be taken seriously take for instance the lines,Child drinking dirty water from the river bank/ Soldier brings oranges he got out of a tank. They add absolutely nothing meaningful to an already over-crowded discussion.

No Line on the Horizon
Rs 495

Pooja Pillai

Pooja Pillai is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, working with the National Editorial and Opinion section. Her work frequently explores the intersection of society, culture and technology. Editorial Focus & Expertise Pooja’s writing spans several key domains, often blending analytical commentary with cultural critique. Art & Culture: She writes extensively on cinema, books, and the evolving landscape of arts and entertainment. Technology & Society: Her work examines the human impact of the gig economy, the rise of AI in creative fields, and the cultural shifts driven by digital platforms. Food & Lifestyle: She often uses food as a lens to explore history and politics, covering everything from the origins of pantry essentials to the impact of nutrition policy. Politics: She closely tracks political developments in South and West India and provides commentary on international political transitions, including the shifting landscape of American politics. Multimedia & Podcasting Pooja is a prominent voice in the Indian Express’s digital ecosystem. She is the host of 'DeshKaal with Yogendra Yadav', weekly video podcast where she facilitates deep-dive conversations on Indian democracy, social movements, and current political affairs. Notable Recent Works Cinema & Identity: “SRK@60: Why Shah Rukh Khan is Bollywood's last, and only, superstar” – an analysis of stardom and the changing face of Indian identity Global Politics: Commentary on the Trump administration’s misguided “war on woke culture” via typography and analysis of the visual semiotics of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s attire during successive visits to the White House. Art & AI: “An unequal music: AI is lowering barriers at the cost of music itself” – a critique of how technology is redefining artistic value. Professional Presence Pooja is active on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, where she shares her latest columns and editorial insights. Her full archive and latest updates can be found on her Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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Try hard

Before the release of their latest album,Bono had declared,If this isnt our best album,were irrelevant.

Before the release of their latest album,Bono had declared,If this isnt our best album,were irrelevant.