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No Line On The Horizon Image
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 409 Ratings

  • Summary: The 12th studio album for the Irish rock band was produced with Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite.

Top Track

Magnificent
Magnificent Oh, oh, magnificent I was born, I was born to be with you In this space and time After that and ever after I haven't had a clue Only to... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 30
  2. Negative: 2 out of 30
  1. 100
    No Line on the Horizon is U2’s third killer in a row--by now, it’s bizarre to remember that just 10 years ago, everybody thought they were headed toward the dinosaur band tar pits.
  2. No Line on the Horizon offers idealism spliced with new attitude and the same old grace, and is all the better for it.
  3. No Line on the Horizon is a considered and nuanced work with significant depth beneath the dense, sometimes thorny exterior. Getting there, though, requires some work.
  4. It has the pomp and arrogance of their best work, enough new sounds and interesting new avenues to satisfy the musos and, at its core, is a very good collection of very good songs played very well. A little more silliness would go a long way, though.
  5. All in all, a departure from recent forays into overt commercialism that doesn't always work but provides a little U2 juice to keep the true believers happy for a little bit longer.
  6. A person of a certain disposition might feel the will to live seeping from them at the very thought of a U2 song called Cedars of Lebanon, but it turns out to be one of the album's biggest successes: a beautiful, downbeat coda to a confused and confusing album, one that can't decide whether it's ironic or sincere, experimental or straight-forward, and instead attempts to be all things to all people, with inevitably mixed results.
  7. NOW Magazine
    20
    The problems that litter No Line fall into two categories: mind-numbing blandness on the part of the band or embarrassing, face-palm-inducing vocal choices by Bono.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 121
  2. Negative: 15 out of 121
  1. ChrisJ
    Mar 3, 2009
    10
    No Line On The Horizon is a fantastic return from U2. It's a perfect mixture of classic sounds and U2 experimenting into uncharted territory.
  2. DarenW
    Mar 26, 2009
    10
    Nick S, I'm right there with you, I've been a fan since War, early 80's, my college days... I wasn't expecting a whole Nick S, I'm right there with you, I've been a fan since War, early 80's, my college days... I wasn't expecting a whole complete album where every song is great, I was expecting a few, like their most recent. The first listen, hum, no bad... But after 10 listens, I can't get enough, it definitely grows on you, those are the best kind... Each song is unique... It's the best since Joshua Tree, but I'm now lending "that it's their best"! I bought the CD now I'm buying the Vinyl! U2 is back, never gone away just back to the top of my list... I'm excited to hear the next album is already done!! Expand
  3. Aug 21, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Un grand disque de U2. Fusion parfaite entre The Unforgettable Fire, Achtung Baby et All That You Can't Leave Behind. Magnificent est un joli single. Expand
  4. NielsenC
    Mar 4, 2009
    9
    The opening 4 songs showcase U2's strength and at the same time, their desire to change their sound; Unknown Callers's weird lyric The opening 4 songs showcase U2's strength and at the same time, their desire to change their sound; Unknown Callers's weird lyric structure and delivery; No Line On the Horizon's atmospheric but dense guitars; the mournful Moment of Surrender; and Magnificent is, (wait for it) magnificent. The rest of the album is strong - the weird but haunting Fez - Being Born and the powerful crunch that is Breathe are already up there with U2 classics. To be short and sweet, it is an album that requires time to be loved. The album format as we know it is dead, but U2 revives this concept - creating the first true album in years. Expand
  5. Jun 15, 2012
    8
    Although I feel this effort from U2 lacks a classic track or anthem, overall it's a very high quality record full of interesting ideas. A bitAlthough I feel this effort from U2 lacks a classic track or anthem, overall it's a very high quality record full of interesting ideas. A bit like their "Pop" record, I reckon this could have been a bit better if it was given a bit more time to mature before the band recorded it. Bono's vocals are as good as ever and the musicianmanship in general is top rate as always with this band. "Breathe" towards the end of the record is the stand out track for me and it should have been a massive hit single. As it turned out, the singles U2 released off this record were probably amongst the poorest tracks on the album. There is lots to admire and very little to dislike here and the fact that U2, after close to 30 years together can still put out records of such high quality has to commended. Expand
  6. Apr 4, 2016
    7
    No Way!!!!!!, This Album is Better than How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004), But clearly is better than Songs Of Innocence (2014)...No Way!!!!!!, This Album is Better than How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004), But clearly is better than Songs Of Innocence (2014)...

    After the Masterpiece of 2004 year U2 It is going Downhill Musically...
    Expand
  7. CameronM
    Mar 11, 2009
    0
    U2 is the MOST OVERRATED band EVER! They suck PERIOD. When I hear the words "Lame", "Bland", "Basic", i think of bands like U2 and U2 is the MOST OVERRATED band EVER! They suck PERIOD. When I hear the words "Lame", "Bland", "Basic", i think of bands like U2 and Nickelback. Its such a shame to see these ultra crappy bands gain so much popularity when they come out with such filth. Thanks America for making people with sub-par musical filthy rich while all the true artist suffer. One of the many problems with this country. Like Ford cars. Expand

See all 121 User Reviews