U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (HTDAAB)

SAFE SAFE SAFE

Review Score:

(2/10)
Although U2 is not one of my favorite bands I always stick up for Achtung Baby, which I consider to be an excellent album and the band's best. I went into this album with reasonable expectations. I also noticed that this album was on several top 10 album of the year lists and was heartened by Brian Eno's involvement since his integrity and talent improve virtually any project that he is involved in. So I thought this would be a very good to excellent album.

Well after several spins I am disappointed to say that Bono and the boys have dumped a steaming turd on my doorstep. And adding insult, it's on fire -- and I am in my bare feet.

The record is as safe as Derek Jeter's left foot landing on home plate. The lyrics are insipid and include several self-important cliches that suggest profoundness but say little if anything. The singing is forced melodrama. The guitar playing is what we heard 20 years ago. The arrangements are pedestrian. The instrumentation is conventional. There are no sonic flourishes and there is no experimentation like we heard in the risk taking 90s. The energy also flags despite the propulsion of a few quasi-constipated forced rave-ups.

On U2.com Bono said of this album:

"It's full-on, a full-throttle record. It's like punk rock made on Venus. It is a mad sound The Edge is making."

Sorry Bono, but you lose immense artisitic credibility when comparing The Edge's (stupid name too) repetitive and atmospheric guitar playing to punk.

What planet are you living on? Oh, I forgot. Venus. That's odd. It seems like you are still deep in Uranus.

More Reviews: