Category Archives: 2009 music reviews

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U2 – No Line on the Horizon

nolineonU2’s latest album has been hailed as a masterpiece in such publications as Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone. It’s also been dismissed as something close to tuneless garbage by Time, Pitchfork and many in the blogosphere.

What we seem to have here is the old love-it-or-hate-it situation…. all or nothing. Except that I, well, like it. It is definitely not tuneless garbage, but neither is it on par with the band’s best work (The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, or even their last two studio albums).

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Lily Allen – It’s Not Me, It’s You

notmeitsLily Allen’s second album, It’s Not Me, It’s You, sticks to the template of her smash debut Alright, Still — cheeky pop songs driven by piano and percussion — but introduces a hit-and-miss element of social consciousness.

That element is most apparent on strong opening track ‘Everyone’s At It’, about the abuse of both illegal and prescription drugs, and ‘Fuck You,’ a shot at G.W. Bush that feels about two years too late. That track, with it’s candy-sweet piano line and infectious chorus, would have made a great break-up song but it sinks fast as political commentary. It almost makes you feel bad for Bush. Almost.

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Bruce Springsteen – Working on a Dream

workdreamAs legendary a career as Bruce Springsteen has had over the 36 years he’s been recording, I believe his most successful run has been in the last four years. And when you’re talking about a rock-n-roller who turns 60 this year that’s an amazing accomplishment.

Like one of his heroes, Bob Dylan, Springsteen has somehow reinvented himself while remaining true to everything that has always made him great. There is a clear line from classics such as Born to Run and Nebraska to the provocative, inspiring albums he’s delivered since 2005 — Devils & Dust, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Magic and now Working on a Dream.

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