NO LINE ON THE HORIZON

I am a huge fan of U2. I have concert ticket stubs to prove it. And thats a big deal because the closest they have performed to my country is Japan and Australia.

So I hear that their new album was 'leaked' to the internet. A) Clever case of marketing as hard-core U2 fans would buy their albums anyway. B) Clever thing to do because the album SUCKS big time.

My dad downloaded the album and I asked him to mail it to me. I would buy the album anyway... and being a fan, I couldn't wait.

Now, I have never believed that these guys were great song writers - awesome melody makers yes... and probably among the best LIVE acts ever. I mean, who gets the timing of MLK's assassination wrong in a song about MLK?

The new album is full of experiments - unlike 'All that you can leave behind' and 'How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb' which were great rock albums... that grabbed your throat as you push the 'play' button.

I couldn't register a single song on NLOTH. By song 3, I dozed off and the cacophony of song 11 just woke me up. Thankfully my driver was pulling up the curb... and it was actually time to wake up.

David Fricke... fuck you. 5 stars up your ass, bitch.

A definite let down for fans like me... I can't imagine how the band will use the new material in their new gigs - because thats all they are good at really.

Coldplay will be happy - something more to copy from!!

NLOTH is one album I will wait to buy when it hits the discount shelf - like that sordid POP.