it's U2 only not as great.
I love U2, but I didn't get into this one as much. eh, it's ok.
U2's Most Unjustly Criticized Album
Yet, some do. I can't understand why those who love the music of U2 would hate How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. When All That You Can't Leave Behind was released back in 2000, it was hailed as a big breakthrough and comeback. One of the reasons why it did so well was because the albums Zooropa (1993) and Pop (1997) had gone virtually unnoticed by the public. They were judged as too "experimental" and "challenging. " The music leaned towards techno, and there weren't enough fans of techno music to bring the two albums up the charts. So U2 went back to basics and made one of their greatest albums, All That You Can't Leave Behind. It was considered U2's best album since Achtung Baby, as if there had been a 9 year gap between the two albums and that Zooropa and Pop were only brief interludes.
So naturally, the band felt vindicated by their new approach and recorded How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Since its release, the album has been unfairly criticized repeatedly. What's really surprising is that the same "fans" who didn't care much for Zooropa and Pop and loved All That You Can't Leave Behind hate How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Why?! U2 gave you what you wanted, but then you immediately judged the album as too "ordinary," that it didn't take risks, and was not even as good as the "underrated" Pop (over the years, Pop has gained a respect that it never got in the first place). Non-fans hate the album simply for the fact that it won a Grammy for best album of the year and their favorite hip-hop album didn't.
The truth is that How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is U2's most unjustly criticized album. It's actually superior both musically and lyrically to All That You Can't Leave Behind. Don't believe the negative reviews. While not U2's best album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is fantastic. It deserved that Grammy. .
A very good U2 again
I was not very impressed by this band until "The Unforgettable Fire" in the 80's. I just love this band, this a a very good U2 release.
They have lost me with "Pop" and "Zooropa" but they have touch right on target with "All that you can't leave behind". "How to dismantle an atomic bomb" is in the same field of the previous cd. Many hits, very good ballads, incredible voice by Bono. For sure, as some reviewer mentionned, his voice is not as it once was, but the emotion is there as never before. I just love "Sometimes you can't make it on your own", this is an amazing song with such a level of emotion. I have the edition "Deluxe" and to me, the couch version of this song is a pure jewel. It is an acoustic version that is incredible. Buy it !.
Not the most creative album but still very good.
U2 always prided themselves on writing music that was new, fresh, and original. I have read many reviews of this album and I can see why some people are upset. Now it seems that they would rather sample themselves and stick with the formulas that they know, rather than get creative.
I have to be honest and say that this is not something that bothers me the way it does many other reviewers on this site. When I put this CD in my player, I like what I hear. The music is good even if it's not U2's most creative adventure.
Let's not forget that U2 have been around a long time. It is very hard for them to please everyone. The young fans want one thing. The twenty and thirty somethings want something else. The 40+ crowd might even want U2 to return to their roots completely.
I remember the 1990's when U2 got creative and funky. . . and you know something, everyone complained back then too! "Where is the old U2?" people used to say. "Why did they change their style when everyone loved their 1980's sound". So you see, you can't please everyone.
Why not just listen to the music and see how it makes you feel rather then throwing around all this analysis. Try that, and you will see that the songs on the album are very deep, meaningful, and exciting to listen to. personaly, I can't get it out of my CD Player.
A good album
A couple of tracks do very little for me, but there are some that shine!! Reading the Bono Interviews book also helped me to understand some of this album a bit more, especially those songs dealing with his father's death. Overall this is a good album. Favorite songs: Vertigo, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (I still cry every time I hear it), Original of the Species, and Yahweh.
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