After two mediocre albums in a row I thought U2 was due for something really special. I was wrong. This is one of my least favorite U2 albums (and they are my favorite artist). It's like they lost all sense of melody and creating something interesting.

U2's weakest in almost 30 years... Clumsy lyrics, and nothing really exceptional. For U2 fans only.

Nothing really stands out on U2’s latest. “Unknown Caller” and “Moment of Surrender” have some real emotional potential but drag on way too long. “Magnificent,” the obvious intended radio-friendly megahit, has some nice instrumentation from Edge and Co., but the melody is ordinary. The flatness of this record doesn’t necessarily mean U2 has nothing left in the tank. But if they wanted to reestablish themselves with a modern record-buying public, they should have waited until they had a stronger batch of songs in the hopper.

u2 mixes poo and crap together to make a shit that isnt as good as NEthing by built to spill!

look further

This is one of their worst albums, but by U2's standards that's still pretty good. Some songs are annoying but some are good.

Mediocre album from a once great band. U2 has not aged all that well in terms of talent.

I think this is as much a return to form as you can hope for from any band as ridiculously massive as U2 and all members pushing 50 years old fergodssake. Unknown Caller is as good a song as anyone has written in the last ten years. Moment of Surrender is a valiant attempt to recapture the passion of their youth even if it misses the target. Other tracks like Breathe and I'll Go Crazy are also pretty good for a bunch of old coots. But seriously, the boys could do just as well to do what REM has done and gracefully exit the stage.

Interesting to see an_outlaw rate this twice and it change. Isn't said that good music is a journey. I know I had issues with this album at first. Every song individually I love, minus Magnificent (can't put my finger on why), but as a whole album, it doesn't piece together so well. Songs by themselves awesome/ album altogether weak. Interesting from U2 who has in the past been really good at making albums work with the tracks into something whole. This album has grown on me a lot. For some reason, sometimes I am wondering if I am listening to U2 at all because their signature sounds, etc. aren't here. Hard rocking guitars, which I guess was kinda their thing in the 2000s, but this tops it off for sure. Get On Your Boots is their fastest song yet... and their old go figure. Too serious when they were young. Anyways solid album, but 2nd album to not feel like a solid U2 album- Dismantle fell flat at the end.

"I know a girl, who's like the sea, I watch her changing everyday for me" we have are singer announce right off the bat. And from there, where does it go? Well the music is playing and it sounds... oddly panoramic. This is like U2 making music as film in the vein of Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' and while that may seem bad it sounds good. Good? Very good. This is a lead laden sonic blast across a grey Devon beach. Grey because it isn't a bright piece. Whole album is rather somber actually. I mean he is not a happy chappy on 'Moment of Surrender' with punching the ATM machine and all. You know what, go at it Bono! YEAH! UNLEASH THE BEAST! PIECE OF TRASH THINKS IT CAN TAKE YOUR MONEY!? TAX THE HOPES, DREAMS AND PAINT WORK OFF IT WITH YOUR BARE FISTS! Not a bad song it is. Good several minutes spent. Like 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' this one turns up the volume from its predecessor. Unlike Dismantle's conventional sound, these guitars are much more rooted in Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. You can hear it on the title track and the back to work lead single 'Get On Your Boots'. Although... it is not these parts of thunder from the stage lights guitar might where the real strength lies. Yes, it is when they go back to 'Where The Street's Have No Name' that they get the best. The well worn blueprints help create 'I'll Go Crazy If I don't Go Crazy tonight' and 'Magnificent'. Both songs intended to play on stadium tours around Europe and beyond, shining as bright as glitter bombs and subtle as special snowflakes. Some out-across-the-water music in the later half with 'FEZ- Being Born' and 'White as Snow' proving U2 can sometimes go off and do someone elses thing. But they should be doing there own thing more. It worked quite well on this piece.