I’m on the wagon of positive reviews for U2′s “No line on the horizon” which came out this week.
To put this comment in perspective -
U2 mean more to me personally and musically than probably any other band. They have been with me since I was a strapping young teenager when they first came here on the Boy tour (actually I was 12), and, with each record and tour they have continued to blow my mind. I challenge anyone to name a band that has consistently dared themselves and their audience to change with every single record.
So, with that said, I was beyond depressed at how much I didn’t like their last record (How to dismantle an atomic bomb). It was a totally new event to NOT like a U2 record. It felt half finished to me. And honestly I still feel the same about it. So I was rather skeptical about this new one especially with the usual “this is better than anything we’ve done in years” stuff that band’s usually say before a release.
I’m proud to say that I not only agree with the hype, but “No line…” is far away the best thing since “Achtung Baby”. It’s an immediate listen but like their greatest records it unravels new layers of cool and complexity with each listen. I’m thoroughly impressed but more relieved that my pillar of musicianship delivered the goods again.
To top it off, they played EVERY NIGHT this week on Letterman.
Here’s the 3rd track called “Magnificent” from Letterman:
According to Rolling Stone, the new U2 album has leaked but more important than the leak is the source of said leak.
Supposedly the Australian division of UMG put the album on the GetMusic website (Australian division of course) 2 weeks before the release date. Additionally, this was done without consent from the band and management? I’m sorry but how does that happen?
If I’m U2 or Paul McGuiness I am looking for blood and heads. Its not like this record needs any more hype than it has already so what’s the point of early release?
Let’s get that out of the way.
Have you seen his new talk show on Sundance called “Spectacle, Elvis Costello with…”?
EC has always been a very good interview subject. He loves to talk and is insanely eloquent and intelligent. A true historian of music and all its forms. If you haven’t seen the show, I highly recommend it. So far my favorite episode was one of the first with the Police. It was filmed at the tail end of their recent reunion tour. Here’s a clip of him asking the band to name their favorite Police songs.
Somehow today in my work, I felt the need to delve deep into my 90′s rock.
I stumbled onto the first Everclear record (Sparkle and Fade) and was taken aback at how great it sounds today. It also took me back to a vivid place in time in my musical past. Many bands during this period were realizing it was “ok” to be real in their lyrical content, to convey a message that was pure and relevant to your own life. This album was like a diary of Art Alexakis’ life on the streets of LA and it sounds as good today as it did back then.
Anyway, felt like sharing that and sharing one of the best songs on the album, “Heartspark Dollar Sign”:
The Allman Brothers are celebrating their upcoming annual run at the Beacon Theater in New York by allowing concert goers that CAN’T get tickets to watch EVERY show online!
This might be the future of concert going and I am very curious to see how it plays out.
Allman’s drummer Butch Trucks built www.moogis.com strictly to support the Allman’s audience but I can see where this model becomes very popular to people that can’t afford to see Coachella, Lollapalooza, etc.
User’s pay a flat fee ($100.00 site subscription) to access all of the shows in the Beacon set and watch from the comfort of their own home. What’s not clear to me is if users also get a file of the show that they keep but I doubt it. Fascinating nonethless.
Butch claims this will be the longest webcast in the history of the internet!
We’ll see.