U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (HTDAAB)

Great Album.

Review Score:

(8/10)
Well, as usual with any new U2 release, half the fans say the album stinks because it isn't as good as "The Joshua Tree" or "Achtung Baby", while the other half will continue to hail U2 as the greatest band in the world. I am part of the latter half. Fans complain about U2 not experimenting enough on the new album, while others are thanking the heavens for U2 reverting to a more "classic" U2 sound. Everyone seems to want either more of the classic "Joshua Tree" sound or more of the "Achtung Baby" experimentation phase. Geez. Get over it. Quit living in 1987/1991. These guys made great music then, and still do today. It's been 15+ years since then, and people still take the time to write "ONE STAR!! IT IS NOT JOSHUA TREE!!!"
This album has grown on me more slowly than "All That You Can't Leave Behind", but is still a great album. Who knows, given enough time, I might even wind up liking this one better. "Crumbs From Your Table" is one of my favorite U2 tracks ever. "A Man and A Woman" is an upbeat romantic song that I also found enjoyable. For those of you that like the deep, slow U2 songs, there's "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own". Basically, every song is good. "Vertigo" although very rocking and receiving heavy radio play, is probably the weakest song from a lyrical perspective. "All Because of You" is probably the best guitar driven song on the album, but it was actually my least favorite song at first. Generally, the lyrics on this album are good, usually great, and never "bad". This album seems well thought out, and the lyrics, although occassionally fun and/or laid back, are never "crap" as some reviewers on amazon would have you believe.
Yet again, when you've written a songs like "One", "Where The Streets Have No Name" and "With Or Without You" people tend to call anything less than a complete masterpiece a piece of junk. On a songwriting level, like their albums, new U2 songs are continously in the shadow of their past work. For being in a rock band since the late 1970's, the boys are doing a darn good job of keeping their legacy of good music alive and well, with each album adding to their already great catalog.
If the album has a flaw, I think it likes in that the album isn't as immediately as accessable as "All That You Can't Leave Behind" or some of their older albums. This album takes time to grow on you. If you can handle that, then you'll love the album.
--After having the album for 2 months, I still prefer "All That You Can't Leave Behind", but like I said, that might change given enough time.
--This is great music. Quite hoping for a re-hash of "The Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby" and get with the program. Quit living in 1987/1991.

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