On Songs & Albums Will U2's "Songs of Ascent" Blast Off in June? Members of U2 are talking again. That usually means very little. Their release-date predictions rarely come true. But still, this report is more encouraging than the last report I heard, in which it sounded uncertain whether this project was moving forward at all. What's most exciting to me
On Songs & Albums Is U2 stealing the title of their next album from another singer? In short, it appears so. Bono has declared that U2's next album is called Songs of Ascent. With that in mind, it's worth taking note of this: http://bit.ly/1735Tl "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief," Bono once sang.
Looking Elsewhere Browser: Zbignew Priesner. Jeff Buckley. Bruce Cockburn's "Slice O Life." Bob Dylan. U2. Tauntaun. Tom Hanks. 1. Start your day with a quick dose of Zbignew Priesner, my favorite film music composer. Here's a track from A Short Film About Killing, from Kieslowski's Decalogue. 2. Another random musical surprise: M. Ward links to a recorded telephone conversation with Jeff Buckley, who sings
Looking Elsewhere Browser: U2 speaks. Filmmakers & Critics Pick Favorites. Buddy Miller. Here's one of the best U2 interviews I've seen, filmed in Fez. It's not a very professional interview -- the interviewer asks redundant questions and keeps getting interrupted. But the band seems relaxed, in good humor, and full of surprising answers. You'll
On Songs & Albums U2 Medium, Rare + Lillywhite! UPDATE: Here's Steve Lillywhite talking about No Line on the Horizon at NPR. If you're a U2 fan, you're in for a treat. Fan club members will receive a two-disc set of rarities called U2:Medium, Rare and Remastered. Here's the track
On Songs & Albums A Concert Stage With No Backdrop U2's upcoming tour is going to be something concertgoers haven't seen before. Check it out here. Be sure to use the different "cameras" listed in the corner.
On Songs & Albums U2's Best Performance in 2009 So Far... Okay, now that you've seen the best, here's a bonus. And now, check out Cathleen Falsani's wonderful meditation on the album. Okay, one more.
On Songs & Albums The U2 Late Show Continues... "Every generation gets a chance to change the world Pity the nation that won't listen to your boys and girls Cos the sweetest melody is the one we haven't heard Is it true that perfect love drives out all fear? The right to appear ridiculous
On Songs & Albums U2's next album is "Songs of Ascent", coming soon. I'm actually more excited about hearing this album, due to Bono's description (which, as most U2 fans know, usually isn't, um, precise): The new disc will be called "Songs of Ascent," and it will be more mellow than the current album, "
On Songs & Albums Breathe, U2 Fans. It's Here. And just for old time's sake... my favorite five minutes of U2's history, right here:
On Songs & Albums Andy Whitman on "No Line On the Horizon" Here's Whitman's take on U2's No Line on the Horizon.
Looking Elsewhere Andy Whitman on U2's "Really Good Non-Reinvention" Josh Hurst hosts a U2 love-in. Meanwhile, at artsandfaith.com, Andy Whitman of Paste, who is working on his review of the new album, lets this slip: Don't believe the hype. This is not U2's best album, but it is a really good non-reinvention. I think
On Songs & Albums Your First Impressions of U2's New Album While I'm waiting until March 3 so I can have my little U2 album-unwrapping ritual, I'd love to hear from you. Now that there's a way to hear the album early legally and with the band's blessing, what do you think of
On Songs & Albums Behind the Scenes with Bono: Rock, Politics, Poverty... and His Christian Faith Believe it or not, I still hear Christians who declare that Bono isn't a believer. In spite of his testimonies in public, in print, in music, and in deed. And here he is again, in a monster of an article about the band and its singer, talking about
On Songs & Albums New Zoo Reviews: U2's "No Line on the Horizon" Even the haters would have to admit: This is a pretty cool story. Yeah, the hype for U2's upcoming album has come to a boil. But is this just "hype"? Check out these reviews... The Guardian: No Line on the Horizon It starts out blustery and
On Songs & Albums U2's New Single Lets Us In the Sound WARNING: This post is written by an unapologetic U2 fanboy. Extreme enthusiasm ahead. UPDATE: Here's Ann Powers in the LA Times considering the new song. I've just listened to "Get On Your Boots" about five times through after buying it from iTunes. It showed
On Songs & Albums New York, New York: New Thoughts from Bono Bono's started work in his new job... columnist for the New York Times. And I like the first installment.
Looking Elsewhere Browser: Lennon. R.E.M. '09 films. Best Song Sequences. U2. Death of a Newspaper? 1. A new film about John Lennon is in the works from the makers of Control. Story here. And here we learn that Kristin Scott Thomas will be in it. 2. Paste is cooking up one heckuva tribute show for R.E.M, featuring many special guests like Patti Smith
Looking Elsewhere Browser - "Snowpocalypse" edition: Over the Rhine, U2, WALL-E, Sam Phillips Merry Christmas, everybody! I've just returned from Cincinnati, where I joined about 2,500 friends to celebrate Over the Rhine's 20th anniversary. We enjoyed three days of concerts, the reunion of Over the Rhine's original lineup, and music spanning their whole career. I'
On Songs & Albums U2's "No Line on the Horizon" arrives March 3. The Washington Post: The quartet's 12th studio album was originally expected to be released by the end of this year, but the band announced in September that it would keep writing more tunes. Recording took place in Morocco, Dublin, New York and London. Interscope Records will release "
Looking Elsewhere Browser: Gerard Manley Hopkins & Paul Mariani; A moratoriaum on Holocaust films?; Plus, U2, Katherine Heigl, Keanu and more 2008 Film Awards Paul Mariani, one of my favorite poets, has now penned a new book on Gerard Manley Hopkins. Books and Culture has a review. More... * Should there be a moratorium on "Holocaust films"? Stewart Klawans thinks so. * Watch out, polygamists. Here comes Katherine Heigl. Variety reports: "Katherine Heigl
Looking Elsewhere Browser, 11/5 First, the preview for Revolutionary Road... [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bOHf_EZlgg] HD here. The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. New headlines may be added as the day goes on. Stay tuned. Wow. It's 3:26PM on the
On Songs & Albums U2's New Album Arrives Early I'm listening to U2's new album right now! It's called Viva La Vida. You can stream it for free right here. U2's collaborations with Brian Eno have always been fruitful, and I'll be enjoying this for the rest of the
Looking Elsewhere The Browser, 6/5: Tolkien tidbits; Ray LaMontagne; U2 anniversary; best animated films; Farina in trouble The Browser: News & links to raise your eyebrows & furrow your brow. * Christopher Tolkien wants to "terminate" Hobbit movie It's not surprising that Christopher Tolkien isn't happy about New Line's plans for a movie of The Hobbit. He wasn't
