U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
|
List Price: Our Price: $2.92 You Save: $11.06 (79%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Music CD See more new music releases 
|
|---|
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
Free Music Notes for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Free Music Review: Very good CD!
Hit: 5 Stars
THIS CD IS VERY VERY GOOD. It's ok to dislike it of course, but it's really sad and weird to be so unfair about it. It's not anything as bad as some of the strange sad people who write multiple negative reviews under many fake accounts here are saying even to the most discriminating people. To me, it's another great CD from U2 who's worst CD remains "October".
Also, there's another weirdo who thinks he's so clever writing idiotic fake positive reviews when he already wrote (and re-posted numerous times--gdb) a very daft and irrationally negative review.
I'm not part of U2's marketing team and I really love this CD. It's so sad to read so many negative reviews of this CD. It reminds me of when Pop came out and the same happened and now, generally, people consider Pop a great CD. If you're a new buyer, I'd have to recommend trying this CD for yourself. For some reason, a lot of negative people who seem to have different tastes than those who like U2's music have chimed in here. This is a SOLID CD! It shines above so much else out there (except for, maybe, Ian Brown's Solarized which is a TOP CD.)
Oh, also, see Necromancing's alternate track order below, he (or she!) is on to something. I programmed that track order in iTunes and it's really good!!!
So, here's my original review:
Ok, I've absorbed this CD for a couple weeks now and about 15 listens. I didn't exactly dig it at first, but then I realized I was humming "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" or "All Because of You" when I least expected it. Now, I see it for what it is...another HIGH QUALITY U2 release.
They have such an ability to tap into human emotions, redemption, kindness, support, strength, weakness. It's enlightening and self-revealing to listen to their recent CDs. My interpretation, although not literally what they're doing is, instead of pointing outward to political social issues, they point inwards at their feelings and the feelings of loved ones.
I think one of their best songs ever is on this CD. My personal favorite: "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" which is a loving, emotional tribute to Bono's dad, who passed away recently and who he claims in the song was the reason Bono sings. It really brings tears to my eyes when listening to it sometimes. It has that lovely crescendo near the end where the whole song explodes in a wonderful outburst.
Vertigo is catchy as hell and rocks very well--especially for U2. Great guitar tone from the Edge. The ONLY song I'm not extremely fond of is "Man And A Woman" because it sounds pretty cheesy to me. I like the lyrics, but not the music, oddly enough. I'd give it 4 and 1/2 stars because of that song.
The rest is pure U2 genius. Frankly, saying it was "a lame effort" or "they're past their prime" is JUST an opinion (and a off-the-mark one at that if you ask me). A LOT of work goes into a U2 CD. They have integrity beyond belief and their effort shows.
I think they're creating mature, wonderful music to this day and in many regards are writing better music than ever. It comes across as genuine and mature instead of simply self-righteous like their older music (which I LOVE too, it's just a subtle change in the emotional content).
The Edge is brilliant as always--as are some of the great basslines from Adam and beats from Larry. If you're not expecting War II and have a fairly open mind (with some good taste thrown in) you'll probably like this. It's destined to be a classic.
Free Music Review: U2 is what they are
Hit: 5 Stars
I bought this album the night it came out. I will admit that it took me one listen to get attached but once i sat through it once I was hooked. Of course I know its not their best album (though I do think it belongs in the top 5). The Joshua Tree will always be considered their best and that will never change. I firmly disagree with anyone who thinks that this album is the next Joshua Tree or Acthung. Even a monkey could see thats not the case. After that, it could be War but I think this one is next in line. Needless today, its the best U2 since Acthung Baby and you are foolish if you think otherwise. People are missing the whole thing about what U2 is all about. The key word is experimentation. They did it the Joshua Tree and Acthung. They've been doing it throughout the 90's. They did it at the turn of the millenium with ATYCLB. Here once again they are experimenting, this time on a bit more of a political and personal level in regards to the songs themselves. With the actual production of the songs, it feels as if the band digs back to their basic roots, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The opening five songs could be the best opening we've heard on a U2 album since the Joshua Tree. Vertigo (once you get past the millions of times it has gotten airplay) is alot like Elevation from ATYCLB. Nowhere near the best U2 song but it holds you over for some better work and it opens an album perfectly. Miracle Drug and Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own could be the best 2-3 punch we've seen from U2 to date. The former ties in emotions with politics (I get the feeling it is an anti-"pull the plug" song, U2 being probobly the most pro-life group on the market). It features beautiful lyrics: "Freedom has a scent like the top of a newborn baby's head" is the most memorable line. "Sometimes" is a personal statement from Bono, to his father who died in 2001. Bono sings his heart out and you can feel his passion. Anyone who thinks he sold out for this album should listen to this song if they want to be proven wrong. "Love and Peace or Else" is an anti-war statement no doubt aimed at the War in Iraq. Although it may get drowned in liberal politics, if you look at it as a song it is quite impressive. "City of Blinding Lights" is an absolutley incredible song. It might be the best song on the album, or close to it. From the intro to the powerful bridge to the striking conclusion everything about it screams classic U2. the album takes off in another direction from tracks 6 to 11. "All Because of You" is the second single. Here we hear U2 stripped down. Hard guitar riffs, screaming lyrics, incredible bass line, gets U2 away from its poprock 90's appeal. "A Man and a Woman" is the first of three "subpar" songs. "Crumbs From Your Table" and "One Step Closer" are three weaker U2 attempts but that is to be expected. Like I sayd, this album is not like The Joshua Tree in which every song was basically a gem. At "Original of the Species" U2 mixes rock with pop, in a Beatlesque performance which I think works very well, contrary to many beleifs. The lyrics are great, the melody is catchy, and the song means something which is hard to say about many rock performances today. The last song, "Yahweh", is a religous cry and one of the better U2 closers. "Take this mouth, so quick to criticize, take this mouth give it a kiss" is a brilliant line which basically sums up the album. Love, and then do what you want, which is basically what U2 has been trying to say since 1980. The album is great, and I think in time people will begin to see that.Free Music Review: Destined to be a classic
Hit: 5 Stars
Who hadn't heard Vertigo before Atomic Bomb album came out? U2, in brilliant marketing, decided to be very active before this album came out, putting Vertigo all over the baseball playoffs, introducing a great U2 iPod, and featuring articles in newspapers and magazines. And they are allowed to, thanks to the album they have put out.
Much like "Pride" was the hit single off The Unforgettable Fire yet felt out of place with the sound of that album, so too does Vertigo belie the rest of Atomic Bomb. There are no songs that rock like Vertigo does, not even Love and Peace or Else, which sounds like a mix between Achtung and "Bullet the Blue Sky." No, the rest of the album is indeed a little slower, but not quieter. ATYCLB was a tremendous album for me, but if anything was wrong with it, it was fairly weak musically for these guys, with the exception of Beautiful Day. But on Atomic Bomb, even if you think the songs are too soft, they're active, and the instruments sound great.
As has been said, this is indeed an Edge album. He takes over many of the songs. His sound is at once something I've never heard from him yet hearkens back to Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree time.
His best songs are Bono's best as well. Vertigo (which does have significant lyrics, if you listen for meaning behind the great music), Miracle Drug, and City of Blinding Lights are the songs that will be classics. Original of the Species and One Step Closer to Knowing are both very good, and we knew all about Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own before it came out, and the lyrics are truly open, vulnerable, more emotional than anything else on the album, which is a personal one. The best part of this song is the bridge, by far.
The guitar coming from Edge on Miracle Drug and City of Blinding Lights, in particular, is tremendous, epic, anthemic, intimate, emotional, just like the lyrics. More than anything, the words to this album fit the music.
And Bono's lyrics are great, as always. "Would you deny for others what you demand for yourself?" ...On Vertigo, he portrays himself trying to find good in a world of terror and anguish. In Miracle Drug, a person (from someone he knew) trying to get the thoughts out of his head despite a brain disorder - "There is no failure here, sweetheart / Just when you quit." ...In City of Blinding Lights, is it a loss of innocence? A love song to New York? A great landscape song? Bono is famous for his ambiguous lyrics, which is perhaps why so many people relate to them.
But we have had only a day to listen to this album. U2's albums often require time to fully appreciate them--Unforgettable, Achtung, and ATYCLB are examples. (Boy, War and Joshua are great from the start.) In a way, all we're listening for now is the sound, the instruments, and they sound great. After a few listenings one can begin to dissect the lyrics, but the sound is what hits you first. But U2 has accomplished what has always been a trademark - each album has a similar sound throughout, yet one that is different from each other album's.
U2 are one of rock's last remaining greats, and they've eclipsed most of the ones before them. Instead of talking about sex and drugs, they manage to put emotion, hope, faith, death, mortality, and feeling into rock. For this we should be grateful.
Free Music Review: Almost perfect!
Hit: 5 Stars
"Uno, Dose, Tress, Catorsay" and we're off into one of the all time greatest albums ever made. Opening with the lead single, 'Vertigo' the hardest rocker and fastest song on the album. This albums Elevation if you will. The Edge plays one of his all time best guitar riffs on this track. 'Miricle Drug' is next with it's awesome lyrics and vocals by Bono, and amazing drumming by Larry. The Chorus is one of Bono's best about giving up all the romance in the world just to find a cure for the diseases that are killing millions in Africa. Truly one of the best songs U2 ever wrote. 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' maybe the best song U2 ever recorded. Easily Bono's most personal and beautiful lyrics, about the morning he fells toward the death of the father he barley knew. Bono's vocals sound amazing here and The Edges signature guitar playing comes through loud and clear. The slide Edge plays on this track is out of this world! If you dont believe me just listen to this song and tell me it's not the very best song that U2 ever recorded. Next is a song that is almost reminicent of RADDLE AND HUM, 'Love And Peace Or Else' has an amlost rock a belly feel to it, great guitar and great feel. Not the best lyrics bu still a very good rock song. Next is my favorite song on the album and probley my second favorite U2 song behind Where The Streets Have No Name. 'City Of Blinding Lights' is classic U2, killer delayed guitar playing, out of this world vocals, easy drum beat, and a fat bass line. This song is so perfect that I dont even know where to start, From the skin chilling verses, and chorus, to the perfectly complamenting piano line, this song is perfect ladies and gentlemen, buy the album for this song alone! Rock a Belly once again with 'All Because Of You' a harder edged song, with cool lyrics and just a great rock feel to it. To me it sounds nothing like any other U2 song. This was released as the second single but went nowhere because no one played it and I dont see why because it's a really cool song. 'A Man And A Woman' is a beautiful love song about Bono and his wife, and yet at the same time it's not, it has two meanings and its a really cool song, especially when Bonon sings "Little Sister." 'Crumbs from Your Table' is a good song but nothing too special to talk about other then it's really cool title. 'One Step Closer' is a slower song, that I dont really care for, but I'm sure someone might like it. 'Original Of The Species' is a really cool song with really great lyrics, this is one of my favorite songs on the album, and the production on this track is just plain amazing! 'Yahweh' is a instrumental and a pretty good one at that. I always said the one band that should never make a insrtumental is U2, but this one is great and an awesome way to end the album.
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was U2's first album since the classic All That You CAn't Leave Behind, and this is so much better then that album. Bono's lyrics are far more personal and meaningful, The Edge's guitar playing has more feeling and versitility to it, Larry's drums are more prominant, and Adams bass is better then it has ever been! As I said before How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is one of the best albums ever made and quite possiabley the best album U2 ever recorded and yes I think it's even better then the Joshua Tree.
Free Music Review: Grow with the band and enjoy their whole catalog!
Hit: 5 Stars
Let's start this review with a critique of the negative critiques here. True, professional critics and the market can affect an album's success, but we're talking about a band that has existed (in the same lineup) since their high school days in the late 70's! You're either a fan of the band, the genre, or the particular work. There's also something to be said about the growth of the band and their fans and listeners. For my part, I've always loved U2 since I first got into them 20 years ago, but I could not dig their 90's work, so I enjoyed the albums that I loved and anticipated the punch line to the 90's schtick. Sho'nuf, All That You Can't Leave Behind was that moment, and 9/11 seemed to provide the climactic Moment that Bono couldn't "get out of."
We all should know by now that U2/Bono have made their music and fame a vehicle for their message. Even the MacPhisto and Fly acts were part of a perverse statement about perversity -- it's art, okay!!?? If you have a close relationship with someone, and they do things that anger you or turn you off, are you shallow enough to break off the relationship or judge their character? I'm one of legions who have related to U2 in a personal way (though not emotionally, I do have a life), and that is what has made them the megaband that they are! There's none of this has-been, use-to-be-a-great-band crap that the more fickle reviewers whine about.
I admit, that I have to let this album grow on me, but it's a pleasant experience of familiarity -- like that friend who went wayward is ready to do his part to rekindle the sparks that made your friendship so rich and enjoyable. I'm not particularly impressed with the Target-style, I-Pod marketing of "Vertigo", and that makes that track the hardest to like. "Love and Peace or Else" is the biggest pleasant surprise musically, with the bluesy feel -- which is ironic, because U2, at least The Edge, avoided any bluesy hints when they collaberated with B.B. King on "When Love Comes to Town." I have to admit the desire to know the overtly spiritual titles due to my own desire to know Yahweh more closely.
I don't buy the aspersions of the band's purported cartharsis, because it is just a sign of maturity. Do people prefer 50- and 60-something relics like Aerosmith and the Stones to continue their perverted antics on stage? I don't even favor younger bands who revel in debauchery as part of their act or persona. I'm glad U2 is continuing to develop, and I'm speaking as an AOR-type music fan, as opposed to finicky listeners who expect instant, chart-topping gratification or whatever suits their fancy. The good bands are the ones who do their own thing despite the whims of the masses. U2 has proven that they're a great band, despite what I always thought was a cheesy response to their megastardom by mocking the vices and debauchery expected of huge stars. I guess that the fans who tell me that I just didn't get the point with the 90's material should try figuring out the New Century material and grow up with the band. And remember to enjoy your favorites -- that's what music is about, isn't it?