I couldn't resist buying the new U2 album for 4 bucks from Amazon.com's MP3 store. I don't know U2's albums at all other than the Joshua Tree which starts off great and then gets really boring. I sort of assume they all have one or two good songs and a bunch of filler. I don't know why. But this new one - No Line On The Horizon - is really good. There are four legitimately great tracks (the title track, "Magnificent," "Moment Of Surrender," and "Breathe") and only two terrible songs ("Get On Your Boots" and "Stand Up Comedy"). (The attempt at political commentary from the POV of a journalist ["Cedars Of Lebanon"] is laughable but I imagine that's par for the course with this band.) You have to be impressed with a rock band that can still write great songs into their third decade of existence. And I love that they've stuck with their signature sound. Everything they do still sounds like U2. The guitarist knows all of two tricks, and he repeats them over and over and yet it never gets old. Definitely worth your 4 bucks. It's worth noting that I never would've bought this album if not for the el cheapo price. I don't know if there's a lesson there or what but them's the facts.
I also got a copy of the new All-American Rejects album, When The World Comes Down and I'm happy to report it's fantastic from beginning to end. The thing I love about AAR is that, like U2, they know what they're good at and they do it better than everyone else. And what they do is write ridiculously catchy pop songs about girls and love and breakups. They don't subject you to lame, awkward insights into war or politics. It's just great pop music played by an outstanding rock band. That's the funny thing about AAR - so many punk rockers give 'em shit for being pretty (guitarist Mike Kennerty has noted that being in AAR marks the first time in his life anyone's ever referred to him as "pretty") and playing pop songs, but they still rock harder than 95% of the punk bands out there. See them live sometime and try to tell me different! I really liked the band's last album, Move Along, but this one's even better. My top three songs at the moment are "I Wanna," "Fallin' Apart," and "Mona Lisa," but they're subject to change at any time.
And finally, speaking of Amazon.com's MP3 store and great rockers who wrote killer pop songs (among other styles), looks like yet another Buddy Holly anthology has been released. These Holly collections are pretty much all the same, but what makes this one special is that Amazon.com MP3 is selling it for a measly 2 bucks! If you don't own any Buddy Holly you owe it to yourself to buy this. Trust me, sportsfans. Seeing the Ramones live gave me the kick in the ass I needed to start my own band but discovering Buddy Holly at the tender age of 11 was a quantum leap forward in my rock education and the most important musical landmark in my life. To this day a better rock and roll songwriter hasn't come along. Believe me. You need to own this at any price, but 26 of the master's best songs for two bucks? Come on. You have no excuse not to buy this. Don't put it off. I promise you'll thank me.