The New U2 Record Drops Today

Okay, we'll be frank: we haven't heard U2's new record No Line On The Horizon, but we are completely excited about it. Yes, the web is rife with talk of their "loss of relevance", and the initial live appearances (see above and below) haven't exactly been their best ever. That being said, you have to have a little faith, and until you've heard the record, you haven't heard anything at all.

Now, we're willing to admit that we're U2 devotees, and things like b-sides and demos from the band get us excited, so a new record is certainly cause for celebration. What's more, the band seems to be (at least in spirit) getting a tad more edgy than they were on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, and that's a very good thing. You can be sure we'll be at the record store picking this disc up, no matter how many snarky haters are surfing the interwebs.

As you may have heard, the band has a Letterman residency all week, and the debut appearance featured "Breathe", from the new record. You can check it out above - our take? It rocks. Bono's sorta-speaking delivery is refreshing, and something we're pretty sure we've never really heard from him before. What's more, the tune pays off in the last minute or so with Bono really kicking the singing into high gear. The Edge's parts are a bit reminiscent of "Electrical Storm", which we feel is a pretty underrated facet of the band's catalog, so that's nice to hear as well. The mix is a little thin, but it's live TV, so make of that what you will.

Meanwhile, the band played a rooftop gig in London featuring the new song "Magnificent". This one's a tad more middle-of-the-road to us, with a bit more of that "stereotypical U2" vibe. You can check it below.

So, in conclusion: the new U2 record drops today. We're going to go buy it, and play it very loudly. Then, and only then, will we be forming an opinion about is.

xoxo