Given all the hoopla surrounding this week's Super U2esday, I'm a little surprised to see this many artists putting out something new this week. Maybe it has something to do with those long Irish coattails...
But lets get down to business, shall we?
U2's new No Line on the Horizon is finally out...and it's pretty damn good. While I'm not quite ready to call this their best album to date yet (as some already have), it's good to see U2 is still willing to take some risks at this stage of the game — even though they don't really have to.
As a band that has always walked a bit of a tightrope between the big anthemic rock of albums like War and All That You Can't Leave Behind, and the more experimental fare of Achtung Baby and Zooropa, U2 have struck a balance between the two that works just fine here.
No Line is produced by longtime U2 collaborators Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois (who provide the atmospherics), and Steve Lillywhite (who brings the ooomph!). Best of all, the chiming guitars of Edge are front and center on tracks like "Magnificent" and "Breathe." The setup for this one has been masterful — U2 are on Letterman every night this week, and close things out on Good Morning America this Friday. Word is the big stadium tour announcement is also just days away.
In non-U2 news, England's "nu-rave" pioneers The Prodigy are back with Invaders Must Die. Midnight at the Movies is the new one from second generation alt-country dude Justin Townes Earle (Steve's kid, named after his idol Townes Van Zandt). Classic and prog-rock fans have Rush's new Retrospective, Vol. 3 and the newly discovered Still Dangerous: Live at Tower Theatre Philadelphia 1977 from Thin Lizzy waiting in stores for them.
Mark Saleski will be along shortly to confess his inner-Lilith-ness as he talks about Buddy & Julie Miller. But first, here's Tom Johnson with the lowdown on Neko Case.
Article comments
1 - Josh Hathaway
Nothing on the Rush comp, Tom? Really?
2 - Glen Boyd
Come to think of it, that surprised me as well...
-Glen
3 - Tom Johnson
Don't think I didn't consider it! I'm saving my thoughts for a full write-up soon. Gotta watch the DVD. I figured I'd rather write here on something all-new that was really special rather than a re-hash package that I might have too much to say about in a short space (I know, that's kind of messed up, but you'll understand when I explain the Rush set. It has some unique, and frustrating, properties that deserve extra time.)
4 - MarkSaleski
besides...the Neko Case is sooooo good!
5 - bliffle
I've heard a couple of the Neko Case cuts on radio and so far I've been able to resist their charms.
I didn't know that Patsy Cline was a belter.
6 - Tom Johnson
I didn't either. I said Neko belts out a combination of Patsy and Loretta. Reading comprehension time. And you're REALLY missing out if you're passing up Neko. Don't blame me if you get to the pearly gates and St. Peter says, "Sorry, can't let you in. You spent your time listening to what?"
7 - Glen Boyd
I'll have to check out the Neko Case. I've actually got another friend who's been twisting my ear about that one. Nice to see some folks commenting in this space again too.
-Glen
8 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Yea..checked out some Neko Case. Pretty good stuff. Like a female version of Johnny Cash. The songs were nice but, unfortunately, nothing that moved me a whole bunch. But, that's how I felt about Mr. Cash except for his version of "Hurt". Still, I would rather listen to artists like her & Brandi Carlile then most of the shite that is popular these days.
The new Prodigy, U2 & Chris Cornell albums are fucking frustratingly horrible...*Ugh*