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How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb Audio CD

A fair review of the U2 "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all U2 reviews here, or go back to the U2 tabs.

Band: U2
Title: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Rating:

Release Date: 2004-11-23
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Vertigo 2: Miracle Drug 3: Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own 4: Love and Peace or Else 5: City of Blinding Lights 6: All Because of You 7: Man and a Woman 8: Crumbs from Your Table 9: One Step Closer 10: Original of the Species 11: Yahweh

One of U2's best (and most criticized) albums
They claim it's too focused. A lot of people don't like this album. That, however, is exactly why it is such a great album, especially after the unfocused (but still great) music U2 made during the 90's. There aren't just a few standout songs and then some filler songs; every track is superb.

Vertigo starts the album with a bang. While a little too rock'n'rolley to be considered "classic" U2, it definetly works. (5/5)

Miracle Drug comes next, a prayer for a cure for someone sick. It starts out slow, but builds to Bono (or is it Edge?) saying "Beneath the noise, below the din, I hear your voice: it's whispering. In science and in medicine, I was a stranger you took me in. . . " before Bono comes in with the chorus. (4/5)

Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own is about Bono's Dad, who died a few years ago. Bono's singing is raw and emotional. This song could be synonomous to any father-son relationship ("I don't need to hear you say that if we weren't so alike, you'd like me a whole lot more," and "It's you when I look in the mirror, it's you when I don't pick up the phone. ") (5/5)

Love and Peace or Else follows, with Adam regining over this track. Great song, great lyrics- "And I wonder where is the love?" (5/5)

City of Blinding Lights is a U2 anthem at its best, with Edge's signature guitar chimes. (5/5)

A Man and A Woman is one of the more relaxed songs, with mostly acoustic guitar. (3/5)

Crumbs From Your Table contrasts how spoiled and well-off americans are compared to other strugglin nations ("Would you deny for others what you demand for yourself?")
(5/5)

One Step Closer is a prayer, a yearning. Bono pictures himself in different places of lonlines, ("across the road from hope," "on an island in a busy intersection,") but is still one step closer to knowing for it.
(3/5)

Original of the Species was written for Bono's, Edge's, and Larry's daughters. The song is about enjoying every moment of life, becuase life is all too short. ("The end is not as far as the stars")
(4/5)

Yahweh ends the album on an uplifting note, a prayer asking God to be better. Bono asks for his hands to be taught what to carry, and for his heart to break.
(5/5)

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is as breathtaking as it's name. Before you decide you don't like, listen to it a few times.

Stripped-back U2
Here, they strip away pretty much everything that defined their sound from 'Achtung Baby' onwards, resulting in an album as direct and straightforward as 'Boy' or 'War'. 'Atomic Bomb' continues the trend of U2's previous album, in stripping away the electronic and dance influences from their 90's work in favour of a more straightforward rock sound. This results in a very conservative-sounding album, which might disappoint those fans who appreciate the more experimental side of the band. However, U2 still sound strong and energetic on 'Atomic Bomb', and there are enough subtle twists to keep the album interesting.

Fans of old-school U2 will find plenty to love here: standard U2 rockers such as 'Miracle Drug', 'City of Blinding Lights', 'Crumbs From Your Table', 'Original of the Species' and 'Yahweh', plus the emotional ballad 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own', will please long-time fans. Not exactly breaking bold new artistic ground, but the songs all have strong melodies and hooks, plus huge choruses.

The four biggest departures are:

'Love and Peace or Else', a compressed, heavy rocker reminiscent of 'Bullet the Blue Sky'.
'One Step Closer', a very subdued, keyboard-tinged ballad
'A Man and A Woman', a mandolin-driven pop piece similar to 'Wild Honey'
'All Because of You', driving rocker that's probably the closest U2 have ever come to let-it-all-hang-out rock.

The best aspect of this album is the consistency. There aren't many obvious standout singles, but there are no weak songs either (although 'Vertigo' is a little clumsy). And while the album is very immediate, there are enough things under the surface (buried keyboards, subtle production effects) that keep the album interesting on repeated listens.

The touch of conservatism is the only slight concern, and at this stage of the band's career could be seen as the beginning of a decline. But for now the band sounds in top form, turning out one of their most direct, powerful albums.

'.

U2 Can Enjoy This CD
You won't regret this buy. This is one of U2's greatest CD filled with numerous songs that elicit all of your emotions to sing, dance and just have great fun! U2 always bring out the best in people to reflect as to our purpose and responsibiltities during our lifetime.

Album has weak ending.
I was greatly disappointed. After immediately falling in love with NLOTH, I remember my feelings when listening to this album for the first time. I was like WTF? However after listening to the album several more times, it grew on me. My biggest problem with the album is that several songs seem to be just filler.

Positive Thoughts:

The first 6 tracks are great! I really like "Miracle Drug". IMHO, this song is the most underrated song on the album. I love this song!

"Love And Peace Or Else" is another song that is great! It is even better live!

"One Step Closer" is a slow song that I really like.

"Yahweh" is the best closing song since "40". This song is great and ends the album well.

Negative thoughts:

"A Man And A Woman", "Crumbs From Your Table", and "Original Of The Species" are boring. I found these tracks to be uninspired, lazy, and just bland! These songs should have been B-sides.

Other Songs that would have been better choices, IMHO opinion would have been: "Are You Gonna Wait Forever" a B-Side from the Vertigo Single. "Smile", "Fast Cars", or "Love You Like Mad" would have made a more interesting album for me. "A Man And A Woman", "Crumbs From Your Table", and "Original Of The Species" were just filler! .

How to dodge a rock bomb
" The songs themselves are linked by themes of love, peace, war, harmony, and death, themes which need the majestic grandiosity of U2 records like "The Joshua Tree" to be fully expressed. Their would-be comeback mixed the scope of their Eighties work with fragments of their Nineties experiments to breathtaking results; its would-be successor arrived courtesy of Steve Lillywhite, their original producer, and took them "back to basics. By returning to a raw--U2's version of raw, anyway--sound, similar to the basic grit-ishness of "Boy" and "October," they become more musically conservative, in the process ensuring songs that promise to catapult into "Beautiful Day"-esque highs barely even reach for those heights. It's on the exceptions, like the guitar fireworks of "Miracle Drug" or the midnight sensationalist glimmer of "City of Blinding Lights," that the record soars. There's some great material here, but the songs deserve better. And let's not get in to Bono calling this their first "rock and roll" album. Yeah, and the Stones are glam rock.

You can see a complete list of all U2 discography, or go back to the U2 tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.