U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

U2
Artist: U2
Title: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Label: Interscope
Rating: 7/10

CORPORATE LINE: U2 is releasing their eleventh studio album!!

“Without sounding totally phony,” Bono says, “I think this might be our second best — if not our best —album. It’s up there with Achtung [Baby]. It had to be. You can’t live like this and put out a crap album or else people are going to want to shoot you.”

Bono’s relationship with his dad (Bob Hewson) is tenderly documented on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, directly on “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” (which U2 played at Hewson’s funeral and “One Step Closer To Knowing,” and indirectly on “All Because of You” and “Crumbs From Your Table.”

“These are the most direct and concise lyrics we’ve done,” says the Edge thoughtfully. “There’s no hiding behind mysterious metaphors.”

THE GREAT:
“Miracle Drug” – Even sounding regurgitated it’s a show stealer.
“City of Blinding Lights” – Gorgeous. The more you listen the more you realize how much you love it.
“Vertigo” – Comes without pretense and only seeks to prove rocking is the only way to go.

THE AVERAGE:
“Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” – Very average. Another song that sounds entirely regurgitated—an attempt at the power and emotion of “With or Without You.” There is significance to the song its just too bad it means more to the group than the listener.

THE BAD:
“Love And Peace Or Else” – Just plain bad.

FRANKLY: The last four songs on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb leave you wondering how it could start so high and end so low. There is no doubt that U2 is a band that is still relevant and better than most bands who get shoved down our throats everyday on radio. Let’s hope U2 never stop rocking and rolling.

+ Rae Gun


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