Guitar Chords of Mass Destruction
A Brief Review of U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
U2's new record hits stores next week, and the hype machine is, well, kinda loud right now. How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is U2's first studio album in a few years (not counting the Best of 1990-2000 release), so the first question that comes up is are they washed up yet?
No.
This is probably their best record since Achtung Baby. I'm unusually fond of Pop, one of their least popular records, but this record is more consistent than that late 1990's album, and has more punch than the moving but front-loaded All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The Edge has covered this record with HUGE guitar riffs, in a variety of styles that all sound like...The Edge. Mullen & Clayton continue their climb from weird sounding rhythm and bass combo to very talented weird sounding rhythm and bass guys. Bono is slighly less didactic than on their previous record, which is a good thing.
Their are a few tracks which stand out, but nothing on the album is particularly bad. Most of U2's records have a tendency to burn out after their "A-side", but HTDAAB manages to stay consistently engaging throughout it's eleven tracks. The opening single, "Vertigo", also opens the album, and is probably the most radio-friendly of the album's tracks. "Miracle Drug" plays the role of thoughtful heart-tugger, and largely works, even if it sometimes yields to moments of the aforementioned "didactic Bono" songwriting.
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" might be the most effective song on the album. It's a lovely pop ballad, clearly about Bono and his recently deceased father, that nicely melds BeeGees style falsettos in it's chorus with a slow emotional grandeur that builds in the song. The song probably has the best "U2 Moment" on the record, where Bono manages to take his own pain and yearning and fill an arena with it...and that's just the studio recording.
The Eno & Lanois produced "Love & Peace or Else" is a strong track, mixing blues with a dash of industrial fuzz that works well. "All Because of You" brings a slightly more casual rock, but it's a fun tribute to Stones style rock and roll. Two of the later songs on the album, "Crumbs From Your Table" and "One Step Closer", offer a respite from the harder material of other songs, and work better than much of the late album filler of All That You Can't Leave Behind.
Of the album's other tracks, only "A Man and a Woman" is a dissapointment. "Original of the Species" is surprisingly lively, and "Yahweh" is an appropriate album closer.
A Brief Review of U2's How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
U2's new record hits stores next week, and the hype machine is, well, kinda loud right now. How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is U2's first studio album in a few years (not counting the Best of 1990-2000 release), so the first question that comes up is are they washed up yet?
No.
This is probably their best record since Achtung Baby. I'm unusually fond of Pop, one of their least popular records, but this record is more consistent than that late 1990's album, and has more punch than the moving but front-loaded All That You Can't Leave Behind.
The Edge has covered this record with HUGE guitar riffs, in a variety of styles that all sound like...The Edge. Mullen & Clayton continue their climb from weird sounding rhythm and bass combo to very talented weird sounding rhythm and bass guys. Bono is slighly less didactic than on their previous record, which is a good thing.
Their are a few tracks which stand out, but nothing on the album is particularly bad. Most of U2's records have a tendency to burn out after their "A-side", but HTDAAB manages to stay consistently engaging throughout it's eleven tracks. The opening single, "Vertigo", also opens the album, and is probably the most radio-friendly of the album's tracks. "Miracle Drug" plays the role of thoughtful heart-tugger, and largely works, even if it sometimes yields to moments of the aforementioned "didactic Bono" songwriting.
"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" might be the most effective song on the album. It's a lovely pop ballad, clearly about Bono and his recently deceased father, that nicely melds BeeGees style falsettos in it's chorus with a slow emotional grandeur that builds in the song. The song probably has the best "U2 Moment" on the record, where Bono manages to take his own pain and yearning and fill an arena with it...and that's just the studio recording.
The Eno & Lanois produced "Love & Peace or Else" is a strong track, mixing blues with a dash of industrial fuzz that works well. "All Because of You" brings a slightly more casual rock, but it's a fun tribute to Stones style rock and roll. Two of the later songs on the album, "Crumbs From Your Table" and "One Step Closer", offer a respite from the harder material of other songs, and work better than much of the late album filler of All That You Can't Leave Behind.
Of the album's other tracks, only "A Man and a Woman" is a dissapointment. "Original of the Species" is surprisingly lively, and "Yahweh" is an appropriate album closer.
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