U2 for me and you - An Album Review

No Line on the Horizon is the 12th studio album by U2. After twelve albums and over 30 years as a band one might wonder whether or not U2 still has any relevance, musically and commercially or if they, like many other bands of equalled success are simply trying to cash in.

The band's recent success has had some critics suggesting that the band has lost it's edge, relevance and thirst for making important music. U2 before 2000 was if anything an adventure in music. The journey beginning with the youthful exuberance and simplicity of their debut, Boy. It would continue with the post punk sound and social relevance brought upon by War and the Unforgettable Fire. To some the journey would reach it's peak when the band explored America, classic rock and definitions of spirituality in The Joshua Tree. For others, the peak of the mountain would be Achtung Baby, the album that saved the band from internal turmoil. It was an album covered in layers of fuzzy guitars and dance grooves, along with Zooropa, the two albums explored the bands more intimate conflicts such as the sacrifices of faith, devotion, love as well as the idea of solitude in a digital age.  Pop (a personal favorite, despite poor reviews) would be the bands confession on commercialism and the guilt brought upon excess and ignorance presented in techno-color and techno music. After Pop and the Popmart tour received mixed reviews, U2 would emerge triumphantly in 2000 with All That You Can't Leave Behind. It was a back to basics return for U2, an album comprised of pop songs reminding many fans of the inspired and hopeful U2 of the 80's. U2 would continue this rejuvenation with How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in 2004. Both albums would have some of the personal touches of their 90's work as Bono would explore themes brought upon by his father's death but many would find the music as well as the lyrics complacent. The two previous efforts were comprised of well crafted, signature pop songs that did nothing to challenge the band but simply staple their legacy.

Since 2000 some have wondered whether or not U2 could push the envelope once again. Some forget or casually dismiss that 15 - 20 years ago U2 was one of the great and innovating bands of their time. Before Nirvana or Radiohead, before Coldplay and TV On the Radio,  U2 was a leading force in creating new sights and sounds for the musical landscape. Much of that innovation seems to have been lost on their previous two records but...No More!

No Line On the Horizon is a welcomed return of a band wanting to shake things up. It no longer plays on the successful sounds of their previous records. Instead U2 have chosen a path somewhat reminiscent of their Zooropa era sound. Zooropa which is clearly the bands darkest album filled with dance hooks, keyboards and pulsing bass lines is the younger brother to this new record. Or if you will the album you got drunk to the evening prior. No Line On the Horizon could easily be seen as a follow up, or the hang over cure. 3 of 4 best (and absolutely fantastic) tracks, "Magnificent," "Fez-Being Born" and the title track all have a familiarity to them that jump start where Zooropa left off. There is a drive, a punch and a reach to the sky on these new recordings that was missing from Zooropa. The synth on the title track reminiscent of some of the U2 b-sides of the early 90's, while "Magnificent" starts off like a New Order track, only to be broken by Bono's soaring vocal. "Fez-Being Born" begins with a Bono shouting from a distance, "let me in the sound," a theme repeated throughout the album. As if Bono and company have been left off the guest list.  If you are yearning for the U2 of the early 90's but crave their current optimism then these tracks are for you.

"Moment of Surrender" is an absolutely beautiful song. It is a soulful harmony with musical touches that might remind some of the U2/Eno collaboration, Passengers: Original Soundtrack 1. It is also a reminder, like the track "White As Snow" that U2 can write a decent ballad while trying to reach for the stars or a warm blanket instead of the top 40 charts. "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" is really the only pure single on the record and it is the most catchy U2 song since, "Beautiful Day."

"Unknown Caller" is an interesting concept but falls a little flat at times, due to some vague lyrics. It is a song in which a dazed figure receives messages from his phone via caller or text to push forward. The song never achieves the darkness or the heroic rise that it should call for. "Breathe" is a frantic song that is quite solid as well as the the confessional, "Cedars of Lebanon."

The albums two weakest moments are the tracks, "Get On Your Boots" and "Stand Up Comedy." Why, "Get On Your Boots" would serves as the first single is beyond me. Both songs try to promote opposition to those who oppress and open arms to love but Bono has written many lines that don't make sense or do not correlate with one another. If getting on your boots is the one thing we must do, to take charge then why don't we know how beautiful you are, as the music suggests in "Get On Your Boots." Not to mention the other occasional lyrical missteps. "Stand Up Comedy" references the Twin Towers and Napoleon and with each reference comes the "what?" response. It is a shame because both songs have a great sound. "Boots" is the most theatrical and glam song that the band has written since, "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me."

Is it the definitive U2 record? Absolutely not. Is it their best record ever? Absolutely not but if anything it could have been. After making two of the best albums in the past 30 years, (The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby) it is a delight and honor to suggest that U2, can still make volatile music. With many doubters spitting in their face, while those they have inspired copycatting their way to musical supremacy (yes, you Coldplay) U2 does not seem ready or happy to simply coast into the sunset. It is an album that displays many of the bands musical strengths like the simplicity and muscular drive of the Edge's guitar work. Larry Mullen Jr. (drums) and Adam Clayton (bass) understand their roles as time keeper and hip shaker but there is such a clean precision to their craft that one must deaf not to appreciate their craft. Inspired, concerned, informed, romantic, questions with one answer, love. 

The title of this new record, No Line on The Horizon might suggest that U2's music and personality are not easily defined. Like the photo by Hiroshi Sugimoto used as the album cover may suggest, U2's music follows a diverse path in which the sky and the ocean collide into one, where the depths of the ocean and the limitless sky fade into one another and we become lost, not knowing where the journey truly ends or begins.

the Grammy Awards and why they suck!

I don’t know about you but I hate the Grammy Awards. I am not a big fan of most awards shows but I hate the Grammy awards because like most awards shows the Grammy’s do nothing but kiss industry ass. The Grammy awards are nothing but the music industry self-gratifying itself.

 

Here are some of my arguments.

 

The Non-Winners Argument - Sure, there is nothing wrong with a good debate about who wins awards and who doesn’t, why or how the award is won and so forth but here is a list of bands/artists that have never won a Grammy.

 

Led Zeppelin

Diana Ross

Queen

Neil Young (including Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

Bob Marley

Grateful Dead

The Doors

Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Who

Tupac

The Smiths

Sly and the Family Stone

Public Enemy

 

            Pretty impressive list, isn’t it? Also consider that the Clash hadn’t won a grammy until 2002, long after their career as a band was over. It took Steely Dan almost 30 years of recording to win their first grammy. Jimmy Cliff has only one Grammy. David Bowie has just one Grammy Award for best music video in 1984. Nirvana and Black Sabbath have only one victory while The Kinks, New Order, and the Cure don’t have any Grammy wins.

 

            Just Because You Win Doesn’t Mean You Are Any Good Argument – yes, winning might mean something like it was your year or you didn’t offend too many people with your music but there is a bias to these things. The Beatles, for instance is considered by many to be the greatest band of all time and they have only 7 Grammy awards. Sting, with or without the Police has almost double that at 13, which is the same amount of awards that Michael Jackson has won. Paul Simon has 12. Sheryl Crow has 9. Eric Clapton has 17. Norah Jones has 9. Not to discredit my two favorite artists, U2 and Bruce Springsteen but combined the two acts have 40 Grammy awards. Are any of these artists greater or more important than The Beatles? I am sure some of the artists above deserve some of their awards but I find it hard to believe that those who have never won, great acts like Sly and the Family Stone or the Who could not get any love.

 

            The Best New Artist Argument – Winning the Best New Artists can be a blessing or a curse. Since 1960 there have been artists like Jose Feliciano, Marvin Hamlisch, A Taste of Honey, Marc Cohn, Hootie and The Blowfish, and Shelby Lynne that have faded into obscurity since winning the award. Many of the nominees over the years have not fared very well either… do you remember Timi Yuro or Morris Albert? How about Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band? Nu Shooz? The Kentucky Headhunters? The Tony Rich Project? Heck, believe it or not Robin Williams was nominated for a Best New Artists Grammy.

Let us not forget that some artists when nominated weren’t exactly new. Fountains of Wayne were nominated for the award in 2004 after they had released their third album. Feist had won fans across the country and a Grammy nomination for best new artists in 2008 even though her debut album was released in 1999 with another album released in 2004 and a remix album in 2006.

 

 

            110 winners Argument- This year awards will be given out for 110 categories. Wow, can you even think of that many genres of music? I cannot. Is there really a necessity for an award given to the Best Surround Sound Album or an award for Best Album Notes? Is it necessary to have two spoken word categories, one for children and the other for adults? And do not get me started on why there are separate awards for contemporary and traditional world music, contemporary and traditional folk music and contemporary and traditional blues. What is the difference between the best R8B album and the best contemporary R&B album? The same question could be asked for best pop vocal and best traditional pop vocal. I don’t know why there is a separate award for Tropical Latin album and Urban Latin Album? Why is there a separate award for best Rock/Rap gospel album, best pop contemporary gospel album, best southern, country or bluegrass gospel album, best traditional gospel album and best contemporary R&B gospel album?  Oh I think I know why there are so many separate categories and nominations…. It is because with more nominees comes more winners and quite possibly bigger record sales. If you didn’t know, Grammy awards promote records sales and if you don’t believe me just keep reading.

 

Maybe these arguments don’t convince you at all. Maybe you love the Grammy Awards that much and could care less whether or not a mistake is made here or there. Maybe you think all those artists who never won a Grammy should not have won any. Maybe you think that the Grammy Awards are free from error.

 

If you are like me then you think the Grammy’s suck and they are nothing but a giant advert and campaign to sell more records. USA Today reported in 2007 that Grammy winners and performers had a boost in their record sales the week after the ceremony. Some artists had a small but still noticeable bump of 19% while acts like the Dixie Chicks had an increase in sales by 714%. That is no laughing matter. The Red Hot Chili Peppers had 194% increase. John Mayer had 182% increase. Artists like John Legend, Gnarls Barkley, Tony Bennet and Mary J. Blige all experienced increased sales of over 100%. Digital sales and radio audiences also increased following the 2007 Grammys.

 

I don’t know how much faith you put in the Grammy’s but maybe, just maybe after this or after your own careful examination you will think twice about the value of a Grammy award. 

what you buy, where it comes from, where the money goes and more... SOME QUESTIONS?

I am not an economic advisor, counselor, scholar or anything remotely close. I am not even that good with my own finances but let me ask you this...

do you buy American? I am not simply talking about cars but cloths, furniture, or electronics. Do you buy American? or is it hard to buy American because it is impossible to find anything made in this country. 

Do you buy foreign products from an American company? How many American companies sell products that are made in Taiwan, Colombia, Japan, China, Germany, or Mexico. Why are these products made there and not here. Well, for my money and from what I've heard it is so that the products you buy can be cheaper for you. The cost to make your television, car, shoes or watch is simply lesser than if it were made in the US. 

I am not going to talk about the tremendous job loss caused by companies selling out the American dream for their own pockets. The job loss SUCKS and if I could do something about it I would, like slap an executive or try to buy more American made goods rather than foreign. 

The purpose of this blog is to pose a couple of simple questions that I do not have the answer for? If it costs so much less to make products outside of the United States of America then why is everything cost the same or more? Why do sneakers still cost hundred of dollars despite being made in China where the minimum wage in the most economically sound province (yes province) is the american equivalent to $120 per month? Yes per month. Yes, that does seem like a lot when you can buy A Big Mac at McDonalds for slightly less than 2 bucks. Colombia has a minimum wage for a 48 hour work week and is also based on a monthly wage. But some jobs do not qualify for minimum wage status. As of 2008, the monthly minimum is equivalent to $229 US dollars. Despite many earning decent hourly wages, as of 2007 Germany had no minimum wage. 

With the economy in flux, why aren't prices dropping instead of rising? Sure some of those discounts might be greater at your local mall but check the list price and you may not be surprised to discover that the original price has gone up by 20% and that additional promotion of 15% off is not that exciting. 

I am not wise enough to connect all the dots and if I could the dots might look like a Stegosaurus instead of a real answer to our economic problems. All I know, is that I would like to buy more American made things but where and how? any suggestions would be appreciated. 

I could be wrong but I am not making any claims to be right. I am just confused and wanting some answers. 

A Personal Moment - A life without

I don't know about you but I think or would hope that every individual is blessed with at least two things; One is a talent and the other is a release. Hopefully your talent and release are connected in some way. Performing your talent would help you release your fears, frustration, sadness or whatever else ails you, to give you moments of joy unparalleled by the cosmetic or commercial things in your life. That talent and that release is something in your bones, soul and mind where no one can take that away from you. Well, so you think. 

I am not sure if I have a talent, I am not a very cook, I cannot hit a 95 mph fastball, I cannot paint your portrait or even break dance but I always thought of writing as my release and a talent I can work at. It has been one year to the day that my block started. I have written some scraps and some notes but nothing of value and nothing I care to share. My struggling attempts to build a talent has been on the lamb for a year and I am left without a release. The fears, frustrations, sadness along with the other ailments of my life reside inside this body lacking a map, flashlight, compass and key to escape.

No one has kidnapped my writing. My hand has not been broken even though the same could not be said for my mind and heart. My computer is ever present. My thoughts have been running a marathon in which the conclusion never seems to be near. I do not know how to get back on this horse and I am even running out of metaphors for this blog. I can only blame myself for losing my talent and release. 

It is amazing how your sadness brought upon by continuing failures becomes heightened by an incapability to do what you love the most. Once again... I hope your talent and your release never leave your side. No one can take it away from you but you might lose it along your way and the trouble is finding it once it is has been lost.  

a moment about Snow

I don't know about you but when I was a child I loved the snow. Now as an adult, snow takes on a completely different meaning.

If you were in Ohio or some other parts of the midwest this past weekend then you saw the snow fall like household pets. In my hometown, a suburb in the southern metropolitan area of Cleveland, Oh, over one foot of snow fell. 

I like an idiot drove around in my small car through hell, high water, slippery slopes, and frozen tundra with lousy windshield wipers. While driving to work or to meet friends, I was frustrated and  challenged by how normal drives were made more complicated and how the typical drive down the block was double or triple the time. I thought back at when snow became an obstacle instead of natures entertainment. 

When I was a child snow meant skiing, sledding, fort building, snow fights, shoveling snow in drive-ways for some extra cash, snow angels, and the ever constant amazement of how the snow fell. Snow had the amazing power to cancel school. It had the amazing power to cover up the ugliness of winter and outline it with something pure and sweet. Now, snow is brushing off my car, hoping it starts because the temperature dropped to 10 degrees. Now I hope salt trucks clear off the roads and make it that I don't crash into a tree, fire hydrant or worse, someone else. Not only do salt trucks prevent me from crashing but hopefully it will prevent the idiot in some SUV or truck, driving 10 -20 mph faster than the rest of society from crashing into me. Now, snow is much more complicated then it was when I was a young boy. 

I was driving a couple of days ago and even though I had been doing my best to stay focussed on the road, I was overcome by a group of children playing in the snow. They looked to be having the greatest time of their lives. I am sure they weren't but they certainly fooled me. I thought for a moment about my youth and how I lack the time and the energy to play in the snow. 

I hope that I do not lose the boy inside and that time will not melt all the innocence I once had for one of natures most beautiful actions. 

heath ledger and awards, this is not a kiss ass blog

let me say this... i am very sorry for his death. Not because I had something to do with it or could have prevented it but I am sorry that he died because his death brought pain to so many. 

let me say this... because he is dead I am not going to kiss his ass. I have seen The Dark Knight and I have seen pretty much every other film he has performed in and I have never been that impressed. He has never been a great actor and on occasion has been a good actor. He was good in Brokeback Mountain and in the Dark Knight but I am not like the rest who were/are ready to give him every award known to man for his performance as The Joker. 

Ledger was never a good actor. He was not a good actor for many reasons, primarily his inability to convince me of any role he had played. He always looked mechanical. He rarely spoke his lines like they were not overly rehearsed. He never convinced me that he was the role and not heath ledger. If this last sentence doesn't make sense to you then study some acting but I will elaborate for a moment. When you watch a play, a television show or movie and see an actor there should be moments or hopefully the whole performance when you forget that the person acting is an actor. When you see Brando perform, you do not see Brando you see the character he is playing. The same thing could be said for DeNiro, Streep, and a few other actors.  I hate to break this to you but few actors are great actors.  

Yes, the media has proclaimed Ledger heroic in his performance as The Joker but what major media journalist or critic is going to criticize his performance. Few were even daring to say that his performance was not superior than Jack Nicholson's performance, which by the way, are two radically different interpretations of the role. What critic or journalist is going to say that Ledger was decent or serviceable in his performance after his tragic death leaving behind a new born baby. I don't think there are many brave enough to criticize Ledger's performance or not kiss his ass. If there is an article, critic or journalist who has done this then please inform me and I will write a letter to him or her and praise them for not being a sheep. Well they have to have a good reason for their criticism.

Heath Ledger, i am sorry for you, your family and friends and hope that you are in a better place but i am not going to say you were a good actor or a great talent. You may have been a good person or a great guy to play a round of golf with or grab a pint with but i didn't know you and i don't think think your death was any greater or lesser than any other person who has died in the past. Death is never a good thing but it is a part of life, unfortunately it is one of the sadder moments in this roller coaster ride. 

the Best albums of 2008...

Every year I write a Top Ten Albums of the Year list because I feel that my list is better than the competition (amazon.com, Rolling Stone, Spin, etc.). My list is better because I don’t know any of the artists and do not feel a need to kiss their ass. My list is better because I do not feel the pressure of the record industry to push certain records to the masses. My list is better because it simply is. Now, with this in mind I am just one man and I do not work at a record store, record company or record review magazine so I do not get a chance to listen every record that is released. I cannot afford to listen or buy every record that is released but I do read plenty of articles from various magazines. I do try to listen to any record recommended to me or that has any type of hype going for it, commercial, word of mouth or critical. I love music.

 

The Top 10

10. The Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead

This Portland duo usually finds their sound buried in sonic boom and subtlty but this time it is the folk acoustics that have made this album unique. After spending two months in which lead singer Brandon Summers was ordered to stop singing and talking, the band remerged with a new commitment to their craft. Inspired by Dylan but sounding a bit more like Springsteen, the Helio Sequence combine their keyboard, loop, and computer infused rock with the soft sound of acoustic folk guitar. A great album to dust of those headphones and enjoy.

 

9. Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It

Raphael Saadiq has always had talent, whether in Tony! Toni! Tone!, Lucy Pearl or in his solo career but his talent alone or with group has never produced a quality record like this one. Philly Soul and Motown are revived in this fun record in which most of the cuts are shorter than four minutes and they twist, shake, rattle and roll. Saadiq’s voice will remind anyone of Smokey Robinson and though his lyrics may not be as clever the Motown glory days, Saadiq makes up for it in honesty and directness. Contributions from Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z do not hurt either.

 

8. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell

Ontario’s favorite sons bring a bit more muscle to their hipster rock than let’s say Vampire Weekend but the muscle doesn’t lack intellect.  Rhythm changes, great hooks and shout out choruses make this record work. Tokyo Police Club were able to ditch some of the Strokes comparisons and make a hit record even if I have to look up words like ‘tessellate.’ 

7. R.E.M. – Accelerate

Many of us have been waiting for a return to form, while others thought that R.E.M. had really become the Michael Stipe Band since the departure of drummer Bill Berry in the late 90’s. Their new record rocks. R.E.M. is rarely remembered for their rocking days and many often forget how unique their rock sound is. After all, R.E.M was able to inspire bands like the Pixies, Radiohead and countless other groups. This album captures, Peter Buck’s great electric sound on guitar, the diversity of Mike Mills on the bass, keyboards and backing vocals, as well as their strongest lyrics since Automatic for the People. This album is a wonderful return for arguably America’s greatest rock band.

 

6. She & Him – Volume One

Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward released the most charming record of the year. A bit of California, the south and a lot of sunshine make this record work. That might seem like the loftiest praise I could give but it is true. They might not receive points for complex composition but over time the originals outshine the covers and after every listen Deschanel’s voice becomes another legal addictive.

 

5. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Jim James is a genius. From the audacity of “Highly Suspicious” to the sexuality of “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, Pt. 1 & 2” to the simple beauty of “Librarian.” It might be a long record but is that a bad thing when discussing this band? My Morning Jacket could have been the band of year due to this album and a slew of impressive performances including a 4-hour set at Bonnaroo that rocked the world. It is hard not to think that this is a mere sample of what James can do when he truly wants to explore soul music. Unlike any of their previous records, I love and hate this record, push it away and pull it closer to me. Maybe it was all the hype before the album’s release or the sheer anticipation of the (unfairly labeled) Radiohead of America? Needless to say, this is a record that I listen to a great deal not just because of how interesting it is but how good it sounds. 

 

4. The Gaslight Anthem – the ’59 Sound

This New Jersey band made the best straight forward rock record of the year. A singing style and lyrics that emulate a youthful Springsteen, the Gaslight Anthem explore love and open spaces, the nostalgia of great music, sneakers and tattoo art. Often overlooked as just another punk band, The Gaslight Anthem brings the fist pump to a Springsteen like rock’n’roll. A great album to drive 65 (or faster) on a the highway to be closer to the people you love.

 

3. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

Think of the more delicate moments from bands like My Morning Jacket and Arcade Fire and you have Fleet Foxes. Indie rock trying to make Appalachian folk, classic rock and SoCal pop cool. (again?) The best harmonies of the year can be found on this record. Oh yes, when listening to this record one cannot help to think of vast tracks of land and the beauty of rural aesthetics.

 

2. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

If you know me at all then you had to imagine that this record would find itself on this list. I do not deny I was hesitant. I do not deny that I was nervous. I do not deny that I love this record. Are they the Talking Heads for a new generation? Probably not but that doesn’t mean that African drums cannot influence them in a similar way. Do I understand all of the lyrics? No. Do I love the name dropping (a la Peter Gabriel and lil’ Jon)? Yes. Do I wish I was a hip New England kid that could pull off top-siders? Maybe, the jury is still out on that one. Vampire Weekend is everything you love and hate about youthful indie rock. Their fans are everything you love and hate about indie rockers. All this love and hate doesn’t make this record any less delightful and it won’t make any of it less delightful ten years from now.

 

1. TV On The Radio – Dear Science

Hopeful but bleak, dark and beautiful, chaotic but tempered, inspired and lacking certainty are the components that define Dear Science, plus it’s essentially a dance record. How can any album top that? Oh you can’t and no record in 2008 does. It is the best produced, most lyrically potent record that exemplifies the year past. You can dance to it, you can hum to it, by god, what can’t you do to this record? TV On The Radio continue to get better and better. They still have the biggest small sound in the music business but now you can dance to it. I cannot stress the dance theme of this album enough because while other bands like MGMT or LCD Soundsystem make dance music fun and unique their music is socially and emotionally vacant. Other dance records find swim in the shallow end of the dream pool while TV on the Radio explores the lower depths of a social ocean called America.

 

 

Quick side notes

 

Best Producer – Danger Mouse. You cannot produce four quality records, one deserving to be on my top ten list (the Black Keys – Sorry) and not be the best producer of the year.

 

Biggest Disappointment – No great hip hop records this year. Very sad year for me and the first time in a long time that a hip hop record does not make my top 10 list.

 

What I don’t understand – the Jonas Brothers. Seriously? They suck.