U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
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Free Music Notes for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Free Music Review: Zooropa, Pop done right
Hit: 5 Stars
First of all, I think the biggest thing about this album is that you need to give it a good 10 listens or so start to finish before you can start to formulate an opinion-- and I think this is true with most U2 albums, I hated Achtung Baby when I heard it, but my brother was always listening to it and finally after maybe the 20th listen I started to like it, and then after with Joshua Tree and then again with Pop it was the same deal.
Also don't base the sonic quality on MP3 versions of the songs, you really need to get the CD version to get the full clarity.
Vertigo, I first approached this song cautiously.. I liked it a lot the first time I heard it, but I thought I liked it too easily-- sort of like Discotheque, but by the time the album came out I've fallen in love with it... its very easy to like the chorus, I think the hardest part is to get used to the "rap" in the first and second verses of the song... I don't think this is U2 trying too hard to be "cool" though.. this song was originally a more traditional U2 song under the name "Native Son", but they stripped it and put it together again when they got rid of Chris Thomas and got Steve Lillywhite back at the helm as producer, and it seems as though Bono added a little bit of element of the song "Long Walk To Freedom", a song which he wrote with Joe Strummer, a member of the Clash, and it was Strummer's last song before he died, so I think it was a little bit of a tribute to Strummer and the Clash to arrange the vocals in the first and second first to the way it is now...
Miracle Drug... this song is definately a grower.. its about someone who grew up as a quadriplegic, he couldn't move a muscle, and went to school with U2, his mother would always read to him and didn't give up and then they found this drug which could make him move his neck an inch, and they hooked him up to a computer and taught him how to write, and out came all this beautiful poetry, and this song is about this person... it has a huge element of achtung baby, but its also very experimental, it could have come off of Pop or Zooropa... Edge sings a great lyric near the end of the song, and it gives the song an even more emotional feeling...
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own... about Bono's father (who was a tenor.. need to know that for the last part of the song to make sense)... definately starts off sounding like a song off of Zooropa or Pop, or even the second half of ATYCLB, with a very laid back mellow melody, the chorus is infectious, the first time i heard it i was like WHOA, is this U2?? the song really busts out 2/3rd's of the way when bono starts to sing "i know we don't talk".. the song kind of turns upside, and edge and adam start to take over... this is a classic
love and peace... great anti-war song... very punk rock, the guitar solo at the end is great.. feels like the sounds are coming from underwater, and then all of a sudden it explodes into the air as it rises from under
city of blinding lights... a fusion of bad/where the streets have no name with edge experimenting with his guitar sound a bit.. very epic song... about being in the big cities... and about new york post 9/11... probably will end up being the best live song of the bunch
all because of you... straight out rocker, great guitar solo at the end.. lyrics are great too
a man and a woman... uncharted territory for u2.. very sting feeling to this song... lyrics are great in this song.. melody is great... long after all is said and done this song will probably sound as the most original of the bunch for u2
crumbs... goes in the direction electrical storm musically, gives it less of a traditional feeling, much more feeling of pop than anything.. guitars have a wide range here.. vocals are rich... bono's double layered voice is pulled off probably the best ever that they've done with this song
one step closer.. ballad about bono's father losing faith before dying, and being closer to knowing if theres a god... very emotional.. lyrics are deep here.. probably the deepest along with the next track
original of the species.. the piano/keyboard sound here if very eerie, the first time i listened to this i got the chills, kinda reminds me of when i first heard love is blindness' intro... this is about being closed minded, like a zealot... deep lyrics, some of the lyrics do feel bland until you try to understand what it means (the first few times i listened to vertigo i had the same feeling)... end of the song, ends with a bit of hope but then shot down with a chorus of "oh no's"
Yahweh- reminds me of Always & One Tree Hill... nice closer, feeling of hope again resides in this song
Fast Cars (bonus track on deluxe/collector's edition)- very anti american, about lifestyle in the west, how people were deceieved by the media during the iraqi war, could be about the soldiers even...
Free Music Review: The masters at work...
Hit: 5 Stars
How do you qualify an artist as "great"?
I'll tell you how. There are two criteria to a master artist. First, they experiment with new and creative ways to express their feelings. This is something U2 has done to great effect over their first 20 years. By reinventing themselves with each new album, they've performed classics in nearly every genre of pop music running the gamut from "One" to "Desire." This is a qualification that everyone has, and all the people that didn't like this album are totally focusing on this, because the band doesn't seem to reinvent themselves here.
That being said, the other important measure of a great artist is defining a certain work, and perfecting it. I believe that a young U2 created a distinctive sound in "Joshua Tree", a sound and a feeling that no one had ever pounded out before, and to me, that became a signature style. As this band has matured, they've experimented, tried new things, and with 2000's "All That You Can't Leave Behind", they brought themselves back to a sound they invented, writing amazing music. They're aging, maturing, and now seemingly perfecting their original work. This is something that should not be lost on today's U2 fans, but seemingly is.
This album is fantastic. Top to bottom. We've come full circle, from an Irish teenage frustration band, to a politically charged hit machine to bringing alternative sounds to the masses and industrial skronk and techno beats in the unstable nineties to a Beautiful Day of their own making. Genius. For those of you who are disappointed that this album doesn't "rock", I'm sorry, but that's just not the authentic U2 sound. They're fully capable of that kind of effort, but what they do best is what they do best and it's in full force on this album.
This is a renaissance of an often-copied, but never fully mastered sound brought to bear by the world's preeminent rock band. Genius. Song by song -
Vertigo: This song rocks. Simply put. Just because this album is about perfecting a certain sound doesn't mean they exclude experimentation and other genres. Lots of energy, hyped like crazy, very good.
Miracle Drug: Will grow on you. Beautiful lyrics. I expect this one to gain stature as time goes on.
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own: Heard it first on SNL and was captivated. The falsetto chorus with Edge is great. The next great ballad for this group.
Love and Peace or Else: Don't like it much at all. To be fair though, it's just not my style. Too fuzzy sounding. Too heavy I think.
City of Blinding Lights: As a New Yorker, I think this is up there with Joel's "New York State of Mind" as the soundtrack to this city. Gorgeous. This captures that "Streets Have No Name", "Walk On" sound that I think defines the band. The signature ringing lead guitar is evident here as the backbone of the song. The best track on the disc.
All Because of You: Fun, throwback song. Not terribly deep, not too notable, but enjoyable.
*A Man and a Woman*: This song is SERIOUSLY underrated by every review on this site. Very sexy, smooth sound. The bass line is fantastic. For all those clamoring for new sounds, here it is, and they pull it off with flair. I mean, this has the sound like all the successful Rock/R&B acts - Stevie Wonder, ELO, now Maroon 5. Highly enjoyable. The flow from verse to chorus is beautiful.
Crumbs From Your Table: I have read many reviews saying this is the standout track. I cannot for the life of me figure out why. I think it's somewhat bland. Really. It's only been a week, so there very likely is something I'm missing here, but as of right now I'm just not feeling it.
One Step Closer: Least favorite track. Totally unnoticeable. Really very down sounding in the middle of such a high passion album. I get no feeling here.
Original of the Species: Okay, but not really making any differences here. It meanders too much. A little too complicated, maybe it's the production, maybe the lyrics, something. Has potential for a live recording.
Yahweh: I get the feeling that this could have been better, but I really am happy with it the way it is. It's soulful, simple. Chorus could be improved, but really a fine finisher.
This is NOT a sex and drugs band. This group speaks for a whole generation of people because of what they talk about in "Man and a Woman" - love and faith and sex and fear. This band creates a soundtrack for life, death, love, mortality, healing, solitude, joy, depth, fear, sorrow and just having a good time. At their very best here, is a mature band perfecting their signature sound. In the perfect follow up to All That You Can't Leave Behind, which started this renaissance, U2 takes that emotion to a whole new level. Hats off to the greatest rock and roll band in the universe - they've done it again.
Free Music Review: Take it from someone who has been a fan for 25 years
Hit: 5 Stars
When writing a review, it's always tempting to quickly dash off one's first impressions. With U2, that's not always a good idea. Their depth and vision require more than a cursory glance or listen. Beginning with BOY and with each subsequent album over the past 25 years, I have learned that patient listening yields rich results when it comes to U2. To put it in simple terms, each of their albums has grown on me over time.
That said, HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB reached out and grabbed me instantly and impresses me as one of their best works yet. It's a very satisfying marriage of the urgency and passion of WAR with the maturity, joy, and wisdom of ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND. True, the joy of HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB is also tinged with sadness, but as in all things U2, the focus is on redemption and hope. The band has a unique gift for taking large, universal themes such as love, death, heartbreak, and healing and bringing them down to a personal, intimate level. Here is a track-by-track commentary:
"Vertigo" - Lightning in a bottle; monster riffs framing a prayer for stability in the midst of earth shaking change.
"Miracle Drug" - A meditative but passionate heartcry for love that is deeper and stronger than mere romanticism.
"Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own" - A gorgeous, moving song that is reminiscent of "Walk On" and will stand up as one of the great, classic, memorable U2 tracks...the passing of Bono's Dad deeply informs this whole CD, but is especially poignant here on this poetic track.
"Love and Peace or Else" - A scruffy, grungy, menacing vibe masks a heartfelt and earnest plea...the throb and rumble of Larry Mullen Jr.'s drums and Adam Clayton's bass are nicely accented by Edge's guitar clarion call.
"City of Blinding Lights" - Shimmery gossamer track that would have sat nicely on UNFORGETTABLE FIRE, but informed afresh with a post-9/11 heart for New York...sadness offset with poppy "oohs" and romantic longing.
"All Because of You" - A happy, punky riff-a-rama filled with irony and humor, capped by Bono's rockin' yowl and Edge's vintage chiming leading into highly cool (albeit short) guitar solo.
"A Man and a Woman" - The band dials back the intesity for this mid-tempo acoustic piece that sounds lighthearted until one grasps the lyrics which ooze with loss and alienation before ultimately re-affirming the healing power of love.
"Crumbs from Your Table" - Again, the music is relatively laid back, but the lyrics are rather scathing in their indictment of those who consume all of their prosperity on themselves. The song simmers and builds, but never boils over...a wise move that prevents the song from being preachy and bludgeoning.
"One Step Closer" - An atmospheric, moody gem, summed up by this spine-tingling lyric: "The heart that hurts is a heart that beats, can you hear the drummer slowing?"
"Original of the Species" - It may be ironic to compare this song to another band, but somehow this reminds me of the very best of Crowded House or the Finn Brothers...beautiful, lilting, string-laden, alternately sighing and soaring. Bono pulls out all the stops vocally and the band plays with stately majesty. Concert-goers will need extra butane in their lighters when U2 plays this one live.
"Yahweh" - Phenomenal lyrics paint pictures of earthy spirituality build into a glorious chorus of yearning and faith. It's musically subtle and sophisticated, especially the authoritative-yet-sensitive percussion from Larry Mullen, Jr., and bears a striking resemblance sonically to "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?" which is one of my favorite U2 songs. A perfect closer!
Throughout this CD, Steve Lillywhite's production hearkens back to "old school" U2, with Edge's ringing guitars pushed to the forefront, highlighted by wide open spaces and chiming glockenspiel effects. Longtime faithful friends Flood and Eno/Lanois are along to help out, as is producer Chris Thomas.
The sound here is familiar-yet-fresh and the songs are for the most part taut and lean. The band sounds thoroughly energized throughout.
Inevitably, someone will want to know if this is U2's "best ever." Truth be told, U2's output over the years, when viewed as a whole, is like a mural. Depending upon where the light is shining upon it at any given time, different parts of that mural will stand out, and then yield to other parts as the light or perspective changes. Don't rush to judgement...step back, take a breath, and enjoy this one. Time will tell that HOW TO DISMANTLE AN ATOMIC BOMB is not simply one of U2's best works, but it may be one of the best rock and roll albums ever made.
Free Music Review: One of U2's best
Hit: 5 Stars
It is hard to believe that a band can consistently make fantastic music for over two decades and release one of their best albums 25 years after releasing their first, but in U2's case, it's true. The band members have matured both as musicians and as people, and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (HTDAAB) is an album full of wisdom and hope. If you are looking for the dark tones of albums such as Achtung Baby and Pop, this may not be the album for you. HTDAAB is generally optimistic, reaching a soaring, hopeful conclusion in the song Yahweh. Bono sung in Always (a b-side on the Beautiful Day single) to "turn each song into a prayer", and in Yahweh, he does so eloquently, acknowledging shortcomings and fears but looking forward with hope and faith.
The album's start is less hopeful: it commences with the confusion of Vertigo, a song typefying the chaos of the modern world but disguised as a shallow rocker. However, as the album commences, it lives up to its name - it dismantles the atomic bomb that is the frantic world we live in and busy lives we lead. Listen to the album straight from start to finish: you start with the everyday chaos of Vertigo and come out feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after the joyful notes of Original Of The Species and Yahweh.
The album's high point comes halfway through - City Of Blinding Lights. This is one of the greatest songs ever recorded by U2 (I personally think it's their best since Heartland on 1988's Rattle And Hum). It takes the epic nature of Where The Streets Have No Name and the anthemic power of songs such as Pride and combines them with a solid dose of heart and soul. Inspired by concerts the band played in New York just weeks after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, it is a heartfelt and reflective piece that Bono has also said looks back on the band in their early days as wide-eyed, naive youngsters travelling to big cities such as London and New York. The album is worth the price alone for this single song.
This album showcases Bono's maturing political outlook and attitude. Sure, yelling and swearing at politicians may give some people a quick bit of empassioned excitement, but it doesn't achieve anything or further any cause. Bono's criticisms are now more subtle, and more intelligent for it. Crumbs From Your Table may be U2's best political rocker since the days of War, and Love And Peace Or Else is one of the album's best songs, with a sinister, growling intro that sounds like a more evil version of Zooropa's intro. Preceding Love And Peace Or Else are two tracks conveying rather different emotions: Miracle Drug, a song that synthesises the themes of science, love, and God, and Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, an exceptionally well-sung and very emotional song that Bono sang at his father's funeral.
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own deals with Bono's difficult relationship with his father, and All Because Of You is partly autobiographical too. This song, described by Bono as a "love song to The Who" and also in the vein of Rattle And Hum's Desire, can be taken to mean many things: an expression of Bono's faith in God and His power, a look back on the band's career, or a thanks to the band's loyal fans (or a myriad of other things to different people). It is followed by A Man And A Woman, a song that, if not unique to rock music, is at least rare. Why? Because it preaches loyalty and love in relationships and marriage, rather than the shallow excesses common to rockstars. It's also a great summer song.
Some songs are like a fine wine, and One Step Closer is one of them. This tender, soft song is one you need to permit to wash over you; taste its rich texture, sample its rich flavours, and become lost in its beauty. It may not sound particularly exciting on a casual listen, but if you sit back and take a deeper look, you will find much in the way of vibrance and value.
HTDAAB, like any album, has its negatives. Most of these are found in the mixing: I personally feel Larry's drumming is not as prominent as it should be, especially in songs such as Love And Peace Or Else. I also think it's a true shame Fast Cars is only a bonus track in some countries rather than a full album song placed either before or after A Man And A Woman. If you can get a copy containing Fast Cars, do so.
Those negatives do not significantly detract from HTDAAB's great worth, and certainly not enough to lower the star rating from five. If I could give it more, I would! This album is a wonderful work, hopeful and realistic at the same time, made by four accomplished musicians with mature and thoughtful outlooks. No good collection of albums should be without How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
Free Music Review: The best since Joshua Tree
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been trying to understand why the reviews are either 1-2 stars, or 5 stars. People seem to love or hate this album. Heres why, I think:
1. Some people hate Bono because he is a public figure without having an office. He is probably the most immensely successful frontman to a rock band, followed closely only by Steve Tyler from Aerosmith. Some people have a problem with popularity. At the first sign of being universally successful and popular and writing songs that people love, you're immediately a "sell-out."
2. I dont think some people understand that a 25 year old rock band has defined what makes their fans loyal, and they LOVE the feeling of thousands a fans loving how they make them feel..and thats why U2 is writing music that fans will be drawn to...because ultimately they're doing it for themselves too.
3. People just dont like them because they're still around and still the best.
My opinion of this album is that it is the 3rd best U2 album (the first two being Joshua Tree and Unforgettable Fire), and I think it is by far the most definitive U2 sound, even over The Joshua Tree. Let me explain:
This is U2's 11th album. This album strikes me as having taken the sound of all previous 10 albums and combining them into one album, and therefore defining U2's sound as a whole. It has the rock elements from early U2 in Vertigo, the unique Edge and Larry Mullen sound from Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree, the Americanized sound from Rattle and Hum and the wonderful Adam Clayton bass sound from Achung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop. Finally, they took the 4th era redefined U2 sound with ATYCLB and put all that into one album, and the outcome is by far one of their top 3 albums.
There is so much emotion in this album. Death, love, politics, spiritualism...everything that U2 puts into an album is here. Song evaluation:
1. Vertigo..perhaps not the best first single or first song for the album, because it is a little misleading. Its the only song like it on the album. 3.5/5
2. Miracle Drug...I dont really have to much to say on this song..its good, but certainly doesnt stand out too much. 3.5/5
3. Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own...wow...this is maybe the best power ballad in the library, surpassed only by With or Without You..it reminds me of the Joshua Tree and would have been perfect for that album. 2nd best on this album. 5/5
4. Love and Peace or Else...good song. And who says this album has no experimental aspects? The only really political song. I'm not too big on the bridge though. Could have been on the Rattle and Hum or Achtung Baby. 4/5
5. City of Blinding Lights...by far the best on the album and one of the best songs U2 have done. Reminds me at times of Where the Streets Have No Name...Edge sounds great. Also could have been on Joshua Tree. 5/5
6. All Because of You..good song overall. the first few bars are fantastic. I really cant stand the chorus though, but the verses and the coda of the song are great. Great work by Edge here. Could have been on Rattle and Hum. 4/5
7. A Man and a Woman...this is the most underrated song on this alum. 3rd best, in my opinion, and absolutely SEXY. This song sounds like their Pop album to me. The most unique sound on the album, and Adam really makes this song. 5/5
8. Crumbs From Your Table..I dont understand why people think this sound be a single. Not nearly the calibur of City of Blinding Lights or Sometimes. Theres nothing catchy about this one at all. 2/5
9. One Step Closer...this is a really boring song. Nothing emotional here to me. This is the lowest point of the album. 2/5
10. Original of the Species..a little better than the previous two, but this is a really sporatic song with a couple good melodies. Not deserving of a single position though. 3/5
11. Yahweh...the first bars of this song remind me the most of any U2 album, and the entire song fits perfectly onto Unforgettable Fire..the problem here is that the song is the same thing over and over again, and therefore it receives. 3/5
The only complaint that I have about this album is Bono's voice. At times, it absolutely soars, such as in Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own in the really long, great bridge, or City of Blinding Lights, but a lot of times on the album he seems weak and thin. I realize he is getting older and he wont have the power that he did in 1987, but I also think he's adjusting his singing style appropriately to his weakened voice..so it all works out.
Amazing album. Hope I get a chance to catch them on this tour.