U2, “No Line on the Horizon” (Interscope) You’ve surely heard “Get on Your Boots,” the ubiquitous new single from Irish heroes U2. It’s a solid little ditty, a frilly rock blast that has all you love about the group: big guitars, a dedicated and strong rhythm section and Bono’s trademark tenor howl. “No Line on the Horizon” is an album that should please U2’s hard-core fans.
Neko Case, “Middle Cyclone” (Anti) Folks who love Neko Case looove Neko Case. And that group is growing larger and larger with each CD the indie folk crooner releases. While this 15-song CD includes covers — of Sparks and Harry Nilsson songs — most of the music is Case’s, and you can hear her wistful, alt-country charm all over the material. From “Magpie in the Morning” to “Vengeance Is Sleeping,” Case is in top form as a songwriter and a performer — and the guests aren’t bad, either, with names plucked from Giant Sand, Calexico and (her other band) the New Pornographers. Ricardo Baca
