This "Bomb" Isn't Quite Explosive, But It's Good Enough.

Review Score: (8/10)
Given the dreck to which radio subjected us in 2004, it's easy to overrate U2's "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." The superlative praises by professional critics raise this CD to a standard it simply does not meet. Face it: this is a GOOD, but not great, U2 album. It has its share of filler, and it covers well-worn territory (spirituality, war, death, and so forth) but with slightly less satisfying results. That said, "Bomb" rocks when Bono, the Edge, Mullen, and Clayton put their minds to it. The kickoff upbeat single, "Vertigo," is the strongest track and it projects with full force, while the lovely "A Man and a Woman" and the memorable "Yahweh" make strong impressions. It's brief running time of 49 minutes is welcome in an age where lesser artists feel the need to pack in as much material into an 80 minute album as possible. Thankfully, this band realizes that less can mean more. U2 really haven't turned the page on this new album, nor have they revealed anything particularly new. Still, this is a flawed but solid offering that may not win over any new converts, but it won't discourage the faithful, either. Grade: B.


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