Originally posted by Lightmyway92:No Line does have some excellent songs, especially "Moment of Surrender." There has been some speculation about what the song is about. A lot of people think it's the story of a drug addict hitting rock bottom and finally asking for the help he needs, possibly from God. I'm sure there's an old thread about MOS somewhere where all the possible interpretations were discussed.
I also have a soft spot for "Magnificent." Now there is an uplifting, joyful and spiritual song in the classic U2 tradition. Maybe if they had picked it as the first single it would be much better known now, and who knows, maybe the album itself would have made more of an impact. First singles can be critical. I always thought Every Breaking Wave (or maybe even The Troubles) would have made a better first single from SOI than The Miracle, but that could be a discussion topic of it's own and probably has been! Breathe is another favorite from NLOTH. I love the energy of that track!
Originally posted by LikeASong:[..]
Moment of Surrender - All discussions - lots of thoughts there for your enjoyment
1. No Line On The Horizon - 10/10
2. Magnificent - 10/10
3. Moment of Surrender - 10/10
4. Unknown Caller - 10/10
5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Crazy Tonight - 1/10
6. Get On Your Boots - 1/10
7. Stand Up Comedy - 5/10
8. Fez-Being Born - 10/10
9. White As Snow - 10/10
10. Breathe - 4/10
11. Cedars Of Lebanon - 10/10
Originally posted by MattG:Re-listening to this today...I was a huge advocate of this album when it came out, thought the songs were intriguing live, and liked the more "out there" approach they took to structuring the songs.
It's a bad album, looking back on it now. I must have just been caught up in the hype. Things I found almost charming or inoffensive then are grossly obvious now and, for the most part, tacky. For example...
-The chorus of Unknown Caller...used to love it, now I cringe
-Crazy Tonight as a whole. Used to think the album cut was at least fun...it's dreadful. The remix they played live was ghastly as well...far worse than the biggest embarrassments of the I&E tour
-The fact that "Magnificent" seems to exist because Bono found a new word he hadn't used in a song yet
Nothing really holds it together apart from the fact that its all pretty mediocre...there's simply no explanation for "Get On Your Boots" and furthermore, no explanation for why it is forced upon us after "Crazy Tonight" is trying to alleviate us from the confusing "Unknown Caller" as it jumps the shark. Even "Moment of Surrender," the album's saving grace, is way too long...either to make it appear to be a "Bad"-like epic, or just to be different...who knows.
I still think the 360 Tour was one of their more incredible trips out, though, just for the massive list of songs they ended up pulling from over the course of the whole tour. Went through so many changes and was one of the only times we've ever seen U2 be experimental with new material out on the road (the obvious early '90s case aside).
Anyway, just my two cents that - with a little more perspective and confidence in my opinion - this album is pretty bad. Wanted to collect my thoughts somewhere I could revisit them in later years
Oh and just for fun, while we're all here, let's look at my all-time favorite user (don't worry JohnTheDude, you're my #2 "dude")....bobplaysthedrums, ranking tracks on NLOTH 2 years on, in 2011.
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