Monday morning, 30 years of dawning...

It's been nearly three decades since Bono first screamed those opening words to "Out of Control" on U2's debut album, "Boy."

If only that Bono had known that 29 years later, on a Monday morning, the world would be heralding the relase of his band's 15th studio album.

Today is the worldwide release of No Line on the Horizon, the first U2 album since 2004's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

Of course, most of the world has already heard the new album, thanks to online leaks and a massive screw-up by the band's label in Australia.

(By the way, if you can't wait until you get the real thing in your hands, you can listen to it on teh band's myspace page.)

I, myself, have heard only three songs on the new album - Get on Your Boots (the lead single), Breathe and I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight.

Based on those three songs, along with what I've heard from those who have already digested "No Line," I can say that this album promises to be a serious change-up from the band's last two albums.

"All that You Can't Leave Behind" in 2000 returned U2 to its anthemic-rock roots, with a collection of songs that were both accessible and radio-friendly (see: "Beautiful Day.")

Four years later, U2 released "Bomb," which was less radio-friendly and a bit darker than its predecessor, but still an album that appealed to the masses.

"No Line on the Horizon," I think, will evoke differing reactions among both U2 fans and the general public. I think many will love the album and insist upon its genius (like ... in the Rolling Stone, who gave the album a Five-star, "masterpiece" review).

Others may not be so sure. While I'm not going to search one out, I'm sure you can find plenty of average-to-worse reviews of the CD.

But the beauty of being a U2 fan is that - honestly, it doesn't matter. There will be plenty in this new album that connects to me and means something to me, regardless of whether it gets (or deserves) the acclaim of The Joshua Tree.

I love every U2 album - yes even "Pop." Because Pop brought us plenty of gems, like the emotional verocity of "If God Will Send His Angels," the techno-rock of "Gone," and the unique classicness of "Please."

And Pop, like all U2 albums, means more to U2 fans than just another album.

That's because U2 is not just another band.

Enjoy the new album, world.

Let me in the sound...

You know that feeling you get when a friend or family member returns home after years away?

Sure, you may have talked to them over the phone or e-mail, you've got pictures of them around your place... but there's nothing like seeing them again in person after a long break.

It's sort of like seeing them again for the first time.

Well, that's my emotion when I hear a new U2 song. I felt it when I heard "Beautiful Day" for the first time back in 2000, I felt it when I heard "Vertigo" debut in 2004, and I experienced it again in 2006 when "Window in the Skies" first hit the airwaves.

And today I felt it with the debut of "Get On Your Boots" - the new single from U2's upcoming 12th studio album, "No Line on the Horizon."

Sure, I've been listening to plenty of U2 recently. I've watched some live DVD's, read some good interviews, popped in "October" for another listen.

But there's nothing like hearing Bono scream and Edge's guitar blaze and Adam's bass sway and Larry's drums rock - and I mean, absolutely, positively rock.

It's sort of like hearing the best band in the world again - for the first time.

Check out the song here.

The best way I would describe the song to a U2 fan is: Fast Cars meets The Fly meets Vertigo meets a Muse guitar riff.

The best way I would describe it to a non-U2 fan is: this is some crazy stuff.

Lyrics to "Get on Your Boots"

The future needs a big kiss
Winds blow with a twist
Never seen a moon like this
Can you see it too?

Night is falling everywhere
Rockets at the funfair
Satan loves a bomb scare
But he won’t scare you

Hey, sexy boots
Get on your boots, yeah

Free me from the dark dream
Candy floss, ice cream
All the kids are screaming but the ghosts aren’t real

Here’s what you gotta be
Love and community
Laughter is eternity if joy is real

You don’t know how beautiful
You don’t know how beautiful
You are

You don’t know
You get it do you?
You don’t know
How beautiful you are

That's someone's stuff they're blowing up
We’re into growing up
Women are the future
All the big revelations

I’ve gotta submarine, you’ve got gasoline
I don’t wanna talk about wars between nations
Not right now

Sexy boots
Get on your boots yeah
Bossy boots

You don’t know how beautiful
You don’t know how beautiful
You are

You don’t know
You get it do you?
You don’t know
How beautiful you are

Sexy boots
I don’t wanna talk about the wars between the nations
Sexy boots, yeah

Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound sound
Let me in the sound sound
Let me in the sound
God I’m going down
I don’t wanna drown now
Meet me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound
Let me in the sound sound
Let me in the sound

Get on your boots
Get on your boots
Get on your boots
Yeah yeah, yeah
Get on your boots
Hey, hey, hey
Get on your boots
Get on your boots


Welcome home, U2...

The New Hoover?

When historians are polled on the best and worst Presidents in U.S. history, one name that seemingly always appears at (or near) the cellar of the list is Herbert Hoover.

That's probably because Hoover is remembered as the President who presided over the country as it fell into the worst economic collapse in its history.

But many historians will tell you that Hoover often gets a bad rap - that it wasn't so much his mistakes that caused the country's problems, but rather the country's problems that caused (or led to) his mistakes.

In many ways, I see a lot of similarities in President George W. Bush to Hoover.

Today, Bush has become a laughing stock around the world - the butt of political jokes, the dart-board for angry liberals, the easy target for op-ed columnists.

It seems more common to see him referred to as "the worst President in American history" than as simply "the President."

Now, I will agree that Bush's eight years in office have been far from perfect. There have been many mistakes (see: the handling of Katrina, the unchecked influence of Vice President Cheney, the WMD disaster in Iraq, the economic debacle).

But is he really the worst President in history?

Try this: next time you are hearing someone bash Bush, ask them to name a few good things President Bush did. Chances are, they won't know any. That's a shame, because they'd be missing:

- the dismantling of the suppressive Taliban regime in Afghanistan

- the turnaround of a recession early in office

- the disarming of Libya without military force

- the most diverse Cabinet in Presidential history

- the banning of partial birth abortion

- the formation of the USA Freedom Corps - the largest volunteer organization ever created

- the tripling of aid to Africa

Do these accomplishments outweigh the mistakes? History will decide that.

But for a man who inherited a recession, had to react to the worst attack on American soil in history, and served during perhaps the most heated political climate this country has seen its inception, I would say that he deserves better than a knee-jerk, emotional verdict.

Two interesting (and polar opposite) articles on Pres. Bush's place in history, each written by foreign columnists:

The Star: Goodbye to worst President ever

Telegraph: History will show Bush was right

Whatever the final judgment on the Bush administration is, it appears clear that - for now, anyway - the cloud of our current circumstances and political atmosphere won't allow much praise for number 43.

At least Herbert Hoover will have some company.

Matt...

(Set to Death Cab for Cutie's "Cath...")

Matt... he stands
With his suitcase in hand
And he can't relax
With his hand on the small of his bat
As the flash bulbs burst
He holds a smile
Like someone who won't
Be in Denver for a while

So everybody will ask
What became of you
Cause the Rockies ran out of cash
And they didn't know what to do

Matt... it seems
That you brought us
All our wildest dreams
With a hand-me-down roster mess
Where any All-Star Could have been so depressed

But you slid face-first
And Coors Field roared
Now we don't even know
Who you've been traded for

So everybody will ask
What became of you
Cause the Rockies owners are trash
And you didn't know what to do

The whispers that it wouldn't last
Turned out to be quite true
But if our title hopes were dying that fast
We might have done the same as you

We'd have done the same as you.



Thanks, Matt Holliday.

What...am I taking this too serious??

Progress in Regress

Wasn't the Democratic Party supposed to be the party of tolerance? The party without racism? The party of togetherness?

Early in this presidential campaign, it was often predicted (usually by Democratic talking-heads) that Republicans would use racist and sexist tactics to win the White House over Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

There is no doubt in my mind that some Republicans will, indeed, use those tactics come the general election.

But the Democrats themselves have already kick-started this immature, unproductive and shallow politics.

Former congresswoman Geraldine A. Ferraro's comments about Obama are not only borderline racist (and sexist), they are just down-right stupid:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position," Ferraro said. "And if he was a woman of any color, he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept. "

The only winner in this? John McCain.

As the Arizona senator sits in his couch tonight, he can rest assured Barack Obama is taking plenty hits without his involvement.

Sen. Hillary Clinton and some of her supporters are doing his work for him.

It's been said that the Democratic party is the only party that can snag defeat from the jaws of victory.

These kinds of attacks do nothing for the party, nothing for the candidates' reputation, and nothing for the future of this country.

So much for the party of progress.

This year's Rex Grossman

Move over, Sexy Rexy.

You are no longer the most bipolar quarterbck in the NFL, Rex Grossman.

Last year, your bouncing back and forth between QB ratings of 100-plus and QB ratings of 20-or-less was pretty nauseating.

But this year, you've just been consistently bad.

Philip Rivers, on the other hand...now there's a roller coaster ride.

San Diego's third-year QB has posted four games with 100-plus QB ratings, including a near-perfect 151.4 against Denver in Week 5.

He also has three performaces under a QB rating of 50, including a season-low 30.6 against Indianapolis in Week 10.

And then he has everything in between.

This translates into the most untrustworthy fantasy QB in the league. He's like that smoking-hot girl at the bar that acts like she loves you on Fridays and won't speak to you any other day of the week.

Actually, at least she's a little more consistent.

Bottom line: play Philip Rivers at your own risk.

He could be the equivalent of a night to remember, or you could be going home alone.

Many happy returns

Almost every fantasy football owner has been faced with the dilemma:

Is it worth it to start a guy who only gets points from kick and/or punt returns?

Kansas City's Dante Hall, a wide receiver, was the first to present this question to fantasy owners.

Hall would catch two or three passes a game, but his only real value came in the form of returns - he picked up 12 return touchdowns from 2002-2007.

But it always seemed too much of a crap shoot to start a guy who may take two to the house or may not touch the ball once in a game.

Well, we may have just found our exception to that theory.

Bears return man Devin Hester has become such a dominant return man (10touchdown returns in his 27 career games) that starting him on your fantasy team might not be such a bad decision.

Hester has posted 62 fantasy points this season, in contrast to starting wide receivers including Calvin Johnson, Derrick Mason and Hines Ward, who get started weekly in most leagues.

If you play in a league with 10 or more teams, look into picking up Hester.

He may not touch the ball that often, but when he does he's as good a threat to score as any player - at any position - in the league.