U2

No Line On The Horizon

Interscope

Rating: 2/5

Let's get straight to the point, shall we? If any modern rock band came out with this record, it would be cast aside as largely bloated, plodding and outdated. Just because it's U2 doesn't mean the same shouldn't be said. Is it their worst album ever? Possibly.

It's far from an enjoyable listen, and after having it on repeat, you will NOT want to listen to U2 for a long, long time. This, their 12th studio album, typifies all that is wrong with U2 right now. They have run out of ideas. There are flecks of their touring mates here and there – namely Kings of Leon and the Killers. Bono's lyrics are generally just cringe-worthy messes of over-earnest rock star ramblings. This is the sound of a band struggling and at odds with each other. The fact that Bono is a part-time member cannot be ignored. The only interesting sounds seem either to come from producers Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno, or other U2 songs. There is, of course, a massive pretence of ideas; ridiculous elongated intros on many of the songs that are soundscapey and noodley and generally just boring, and a few nods to North African noises as if wandering the streets of Morocco getting rabid dogs to mutter into ProTools, or whatever the hell they did, is somehow innovative.

It starts well enough. The title track is rather nice, even if Bono apes Caleb Followill, and then there's 'Magnificent', which is a decent tune. After that, Bono's voice cracks and squawks everywhere, most notably on 'Moment of Surrender', where he sketches notes he can't colour in, and the whole thing just falls apart until the final song, 'Cedars Of Lebanon', saves it. Barely.

'Unknown Caller' is one of the worst songs the band has ever recorded. And, oh God, the shockingly awful 'Get On Your Boots', which is offensive in itself until you realise that it has absolutely no context at all within the record, slamming smack-bang into the album like a drunk chick crashing through the door halfway through a rather sedate dinner party; unwelcome, out of place and a little embarrassing.

U2 should stop setting themselves up for falls like this. They should stop trumpeting reinvention with every record. They should stop staring at each other with uncertainty and throwing in a few "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" when a good idea instead is appropriate. They should interrupt Bono's wanky lyrics. "Be careful of small men with big ideas," he sings on 'Stand Up Comedy'. Don't flatter yourself, dude.

Download: 'Magnificent', 'No Line On The Horizon', 'Cedars of Lebanon'