Definite Tracklist & Cover

U2.com has confirmed the definite tracklist of "No Line on the Horizon"

"Produced by Brian Eno, Danny Lanois and Steve Lillywhite, sessions for No Line On The Horizon began in Fez, Morocco, and continued at the band’s Dublin studio, New York’s Platinum Sound Recording Studios, and London's Olympic Studios.

Released on March 2nd (March 3rd in the US), the album will come in a standard format with 24 page booklet and in digipak format. The digipak includes an extended booklet and the album’s companion film “Linear” by Anton Corbijn. A limited edition 64 page magazine will also be available, featuring the band in conversation with artist Catherine Owens, and new Anton Corbijn photographs. No Line On The Horizon will be released on 180gm vinyl.
The album cover artwork is an image of the sea meeting the sky by Japanese artist and photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto. (as posted here yesterday)

Here's the full tracklisting:

1. No Line On The Horizon
2. Magnificent
3. Moment of Surrender
4. Unknown Caller
5. I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight
6. Get On Your Boots
7. Stand Up Comedy
8. Fez – Being Born
9. White As Snow
10. Breathe
11. Cedars Of Lebanon
No Line On The Horizon will be available in five formats;

- Standard jewel case - with album CD and 24 page booklet

- Digipak format - limited edition with album CD, 32 page colour booklet and fold out poster. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film.

- Magazine format – limited edition with album CD, with 64 page magazine. Features access to exclusive downloadable Anton Corbijn film.

- Box format - limited edition bespoke box containing digipak format album CD, DVD of Anton Corbijn’s exclusive film, 64 page hardback book, plus a fold out poster.

- LP vinyl – limited edition with 2 black vinyl discs, gatefold sleeve, and a 16 page booklet."

They also confirmed the release of "Get on your Boots" as first single.

Get On Your Boots, the first single from U2’s new album No Line On The Horizon, will be released as a digital download on February 15th with a physical format to follow on February 16 through Mercury/Universal.


source: www.u2.com

The Cover of No Line on the Horizon???

"Mystery of mysteries, water and air are right there before us in the sea. Every time I view the sea, I feel a calming sense of security, as if visiting my ancestral home; I embark on a voyage of seeing..." H.Sugimoto

Rumours go that the cover of the new album could be a picture by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto.

Born on 1948, Sugimoto is a Japanese photograher currently dividing his time between Tokyo and New York.His catalog is made up of a number of series, each having a distinct theme and similar attributes.Sugimoto has spoken of his work as an expression of ‘time exposed’, or photographs serving as a time capsule for a series of events in time. His work also focuses on transience of life, and the conflict between life and death.Sugimoto is also deeply influenced by the writings and works of Duchamp as well as the Dadaist and Surrealist movements as a whole. He has also expressed a great deal of interest in late 20th century modern architecture. he has said:"I try to never be satisfied; this way I will always be challenging my spirit."

See his website: www.sugimotohiroshi.com

Some think that the above picture could be the cover of the new album. It may be true, but I also think that if U2 chose Sugimoto (whose work philosophy seems similar to that of the band's)
it could due to his originality so the photographer might have made a new piece of work for the band. But as I said before these are all rumours...

Deconstructing Larry: the creative tension behind U2

Interesting article in the online version of the Irish Independent.

"With their first album in five years due, Richie Taylor examines the chemistry that makes the band tick.

On first glance it looked like the multi-million U2 bubble was finally about to burst. UK music magazine Q conducted four separate interviews with Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge for their new issue.

So far so good -- except that when finally given a chance to air his world views at length, drummer Larry unleashed what seemed like a broadside on Bono, his politics and his seemingly non-stop humanitarian campaign work.

Larry is best known as a backroom boy, even though it was he who formed the band all those years ago in Mount Temple School on Dublin's Malahide Road. To begin with, it was his band and they all deferred to him. In fact, they apparently still do, to a certain extent.

Larry is the no-nonsense sticksman who prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight, is extremely protective of his family and is usually the one to cry halt to the other three when things are getting a little bit out of hand.

Larry rarely gives interviews, with himself and bassist Adam Clayton seemingly happy to leave all that extra work to the loquacious frontman Bono and stoic guitar ace The Edge.

Therefore, it was all the more surprising to read Larry declaring that he believes former British Prime Minister Tony Blair should be tried as a war criminal over the Iraq invasion.

"Then I see him and Bono as pals, and I don't like that," he said. But according to Larry, Bono is well aware of the drummer's political views, which seem to be at the opposite end of the spectrum to his own.

And Larry went on to state how Bono is using his weight as a celebrity at great cost to himself and his family, to help other people.

"I don't think there's much of an upside to it for him, I don't think he chooses where he goes and who he meets. But as an outsider looking in, I cringe."

While the above statement could possibly be interpreted as an implication that Bono is neglecting his family and even the band, according to a close friend of the quartet, who are all now rapidly approaching 50, Larry's words were actually spoken in a tone of admiration for the singer.

Since they first came together over three decades ago, the four members of U2 have always enjoyed robust debates and discussions. They have been known to argue vehemently over music, tours, attitude and direction. Despite the high profile of Bono, they have somehow remained a democracy -- of some kind. And when somebody doesn't like something, they are quick to speak out, without caring about the consequences.

At the time of recording their last album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, in their Dublin studios on Hanover Quay, Larry exclaimed in an interview that Bono's constantly having to take off somewhere on his charity work was slowing down their progress in the studio. The only solution for them at the time was to continue to keep on working with the producers until he returned. Which he always did.

The friend said: "The relationship between the four of them is really like a marriage. Sometimes we've expected to see blood and guts on the floor when an argument kicks off at a meeting or in the recording studio.

"But I think that is what keeps them going. They're pulling in four directions all the time and it somehow seems to fuel their creativity, their purpose and their mission."

In the early days of U2, Bono and Larry were actually the closest in the band and used to bunk in together back in the days when sparse finances necessitated cheap twin rooms on the road instead of suites. And insiders believe that in some strange way they possibly still are the closest.

But they hardly ever socialise together now when they're not working. While Bono regularly hits the town with old childhood pals Guggi and Gavin Friday, and occasionally The Edge, Larry prefers to spend time in his retreat in Howth with his family.

While Bono, his wife Ali and pals are photographed every summer with supermodels and Hollywood superstars in the south of France, Larry and his family are never pictured with them. But then neither is Adam Clayton, who reportedly spends a lot of his time abroad with his current girlfriend whenever U2 take a break.

But the ever-so-slightly serious Larry revealed: "When I'm finished on a Friday, I'm straight home to see my family. That's my choice. So we spend less time together on a social level. We're still friends, but it's a lot more difficult now.

"It's not the four guys fighting the world. That doesn't exist anymore. The opportunity to just sit around the pub and have a pint and talk about nothing doesn't happen as often as it should."

And in a way Larry probably does miss the old days when they could pop around to the famous Dockers pub beside the old Windmill Lane studios for a pint, one of their famous sausage sandwiches and a quiet chat, with only the occasional foreign fan dropping in to distract them for an autograph.

"I liked it (back then) because it created a bond that was unshakeable. Because the studio can be a difficult environment to work in, when people get het up and passionate. And when people become passionate they become difficult. So the further away you go from confirming your friendship, the harder it is."

Larry has stubbornly remained the only group member to stay based on their native northside. His house looks out on the beach and he has also quietly bought up nearby properties to safeguard his privacy.

The enigmatic Clayton, who has been teetotal for many years now, lives in the Daneswood mansion in Rathfarnham, while Bono lives in Killiney and The Edge lives in Dalkey.

It sounds like the forthcoming album No Line On The Horizon is the result of much hard work and blood, sweat and tears in the numerous recording studios where it was made.

The first single off the album, Get On Your Boots, will be performed live by the band at the Brit Awards in Earl's Court, London, on February 18. US rock bible Rolling Stone described it as "a blazing fuzzed-out rocker which picks up where Vertigo left off".

The album was initially to be produced by the legendary American knob-twiddler Rick Rubin, the man who turned the late Johnny Cash's career around for the last 10 years of his life.

But the sessions didn't work out quite as expected, and they subsequently called in Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, who have worked with them since The Unforgettable Fire in 1984. And they are quick not to blame Rubin, who apparently just has a different method of working in the studio than the Dublin supergroup.

Former Roxy Music member Eno and New Orleans legend Lanois were also involved in some of the writing process, and sessions took place in the south of France, Morocco, London and, to a small extent, Dublin. It was initially supposed to be released last November but was put back until the end of February as all concerned felt that they could do better.

But Larry isn't the only one to sometimes get concerned by Bono's extra-curricular activities. Bono revealed: "Edge always says to me, 'You're an artist, remember that. You're not a politician.'

"But if you've looked into the face of a mother whose daughter or son has died for no good reason, they don't know or care who is president of America. It's something that once you're a witness to, you can't get it out of your head and so you don't take s**t on their behalf."

And when asked why the now veteran band don't just go out and play all the old hits, Bono is adamant in his response.

He said: "Chemistry is a very peculiar thing. As you get older, males want to be lords of their own domain.

"They rid the room of argument and miss out on the friction that caused the spark of their genius. The really sad and pathetic thing is me and Edge have two sons around the same age whose names rhyme -- Eli and Levi. God forbid they should ever form a band, Eli and Levi. It's like a bad joke."

But Larry's comments seem to have caused little worry to Bono, who was out partying last Saturday night with his coterie of close friends. They hit Lillie's Bordello, their favourite late- night haunt, and according to onlookers, Bono was in sparkling form and enjoying a few beers, as well as strutting his stuff on the dancefloor for a few numbers.

Larry was probably tucked up in bed at home by then, dreaming bad dreams about Tony Blair and George W Bush, and how to keep the band on the straight and narrow, without any detours and compromises. Good on him!

source: www.independent.ie

Get on your Boots Official Radio Debut

"Get On Your Boots" will be world premiered by Dave Fanning on 2FM on Colm and Jim Jim's morning show on Dublin's 2FM on Monday just after the 8 a.m. news.

While 2FM does stream live online, when "Vertigo" was premiered, 2FM's live stream was cut for the premiere.Hope this does not happen again.

The radio can be tuned worldwide here:

www.2fm.ie/2fm/

source:http://www.atu2.com/

U2 Tour: A Feat of Genius

I guess we´d have to calm down with all the news about U2 in 2009 or we fans won´t be able to cope with the anxiety.

www.pr-inside.com has published that U2's new tour will be a "feat of genius". The Irish rockers have been secretly creating a technologically-advanced stage set for when they hit the road later this year, and have promised fans something spectacular. Frontman Bonosaid: "It's fair to say what we've planned for our outdoor shows has never been done before and that we've been working on it for a long time. "It's a feat of engineering genius." Before they go on their proposed tour, U2 will debut their new single 'Get On Your Boots' - taken from their upcoming album 'No Line On The Horizon' - at this year's BRIT Awards on February 18. Ged Doherty, Chairman of the BRITs committee, said: "We're thrilled to confirm U2 have chosen the BRITs for their first global TV performance of their new single." The band has not yet announced any live dates. The group's new album is to be released worldwide in March.

If this is true, get on your boots to walk the U2 road in 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It´s in the Drums!!!!

According to www.atu2blog.com, Barely Larrry, the drummer for Zoo Station,in addition to being the Hit Man for San Francisco’s resident U2 tribute band, he works at a radio station in The City. and he was invited into a meeting with Universal today, who premiered the new U2 song for the station. S. This is what he had to say about it:

"God bless ‘em, it opens with a drum fill, not unlike “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn & John, and then we’re on our way. The signature riff is muscular and catchy in the “Vertigo” vein, with a rapid fire vocal pattern. I read Alan Cross’s blog this morning and he compared the verses to “Pump It Up” by Elvis Costello. I can’t say I disagree with that. It’s evocative, but I wouldn’t call it a rip-off. The chorus takes a trip through the Middle East with Bono singing, “You don’t know how beautiful you are.” There’s a half-tempo breakdown/bridge with a processed drum loop that I cannot wait to hear in a stadium. It’s like John Bonham playing on a Massive Attack song before the song lurches back into the main riff for another verse and chorus. And then before you know it, it’s all over. It feels like a seven minute epic crammed into about three minutes, although I didn’t check my watch for the time.

The single most striking thing about this song for me are the drums. Or at least I think they’re drums. I’ve never heard so many layers of rhythm on a U2 song. There are a lot of very processed drums (I thought of Kasabian at one point and N*E*R*D* at another) and loops going on, coming in and out of the mix and then at points it goes back to traditional sounding drums for emphasis. It’s extremely tasteful, but complex enough to make my head spin. And I have no idea how I’m gonna manage to pull it off when my band learns it, so stay tuned for some comedy while I work that business out.

Anyway, this is NOT U2 by the numbers. This is not a “return to form” or “back to basics.” This is, what the kids like to call, some OTHER s**t. And I loved it. I think you will too. And I can’t wait to hear it again."

OMG!!! With all the pieces of news we are gathering waitng for 19th is becoming an ardous journey!!!

source:www.atu2blog.com

WE ARE ONE: THE OBAMA INAUGURAL CELEBRATION AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL

U2 join a stellar line up of artists at The Lincoln Memorial in Washington this Sunday for 'We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration'. Don't miss it. It's open to the public and aired on HBO.


Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, Usher, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder are among the acts performing while Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington are among those reading historical passages.

'We Are One:The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial' is the opening celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural, presented by HBO this Sunday, January 18 (7:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT).

source: www.U2.com