To start, I want to clarify my position on U2: I love them, but I am not in love with them. My musical relationships (actually, all of my art relationships) are a series of passionate, shooting-star-esque love affairs; not a marriage to one band, one film, one author.

So when I hear people talk about U2 like they invented music itself, frankly, it turns my stomach. Yes, Bono’s awesome. Yes The Edge can rip. Yes Larry Mullen started one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Yes Adam Clayton is starting to sometimes look like that guy from Conan The Barbarian. No, they are not the greatest band of all time. They are one of the greatest bands of all time.

I was just listening to a podcast where a bunch of very intelligent people were slobbering over U2 (and they’re most recent album, No Line On The Horizon) like they were four archangels of God sent to earth to bless us with their message.

Bono’s one of the best songwriters ever…but he’s still a rock star, people. He and the rest of the gang do infuse their faith into their lyrics more than just about any mainstream band, but they also write about sex, drugs, and wanting sex and drugs. Honest, yes. Saints, no.

I really do love the Bono, though, as any card-carrying white guy in his 30’s must. I mean, what better example of a christian is there in the universe? Care for the sick: check. Care for the poor: check. Relatively humble (within reason…I mean, he’s Bono): check. Talk openly and HONESTLY about your faith and your struggles with faith: check. The guy’s a stud.

But for the love of God, PLEASE stop over-analyzing the lyrics he writes. Is it possible that “sexy boots” literally means “sexy boots” and not “America’s Bohemian Obsession With Violence, Sex, and Materialism”?

PS, I love the new record. Love it. Been listening to it for weeks now.

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