Is there any bigger news today than mega-gargantu-enorm-o-huge band U2 taking over the galaxy? Oh, I think not. The group's 12th album, "No Line on the Horizon", hit stores today. Last night, the group set up shop at the Ed Sullivan Theater in NYC, where they'll spend the whole week as the band on "The Late Show With David Letterman".

First, I've gotta say how much I love that Letterman used a vinyl version of the album to introduce the band. Yeah, Ms. Information is so old she still likes to listen to records... as in putting a big disc on a turntable and manually moving an arm so a needle touches it then sends music into her eardrums.

Let me hear from you vinyl-philes! Woot!

Anyway, the performances were (especially given the tiny space this huge, arena/stadium playing band were confined to) epic!

Here's a taste of what was on last night.

But let's get back to the album! Because, while we live in the age of downloading songs as singles, I'm still a die-hard album listener. And thank goodness U2 is still an album-making band!

By that I mean that, while each tune stands on its own (yes, even "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight," which reminds me of Bruce Springsteen singing a Journey song), listening to this whole album straight through is an experience in and of itself. And a great experience, too. Now I've gotta admit, there was a point where I had to get used to what they'd started doing with, say "Achtung Baby" in 1991. But I've always been able to say that U2 is just an amazing group.

Then I get to track 9, "Fez Being Born." Wow! It's so now (especially since they did some recording on this album in Morocco and that shows), but also so old-school. Bono's wailing vocals, the Edge's signature guitar riffs and Larry Mullen, Jr. and bassist Adam Clayton's driving rhythms feel so familiar, but it's all entwined with a trippy intro and sweeping ethnic melodies. It's the ultimate reconciliation of the band I fell in love with way back when and the band they've grown to be!

Hear for yourself. The whole album is available streaming online at u2.com!

It's the kinda music that makes me want to lace up my Docs (Don't have 'em? Head to Shoebuy to grab a pair), invite my pals over to my room and crank up the stereo for a listening party!

Listen for yourself and shoot me a Znote to tell me what you think!