the Dalaverse

Okay, before I do anything else (and don't tell me you didn't know this was coming): my review of U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Reviews of individual songs behind the cut.


This is what we've been hearing it is: good, solid, classic U2. It's not brilliant, but it is the best album they're put out in over ten years. All That You Can't Leave Behind was touted as the band's triumphant return to form after the experimentalism of Zooropa and Pop, and it was, but it's also uneven and kind of...limp. Atomic Bomb both rocks harder and feels fresher. There are elements of all previous U2 albums mixed in, even the aforementioned pair of '90s duds. The Edge's guitar is a consistent presence, the rythym section is tight, and Bono's pretty much on form in terms of vocals and lyrics. You can hear the strain in his voice a bit, as you could on ATYCLB, but hey, dude's not twenty anymore, let's cut him some slack.

Sometime during the summer of the Elevation tour, I read a Rolling Stone interview with Adam Clayton in which he dropped hints about the new album being a punk venture. I got all excited about this prospect, but then the second greatest hits album came out, and though "Electrical Storm" blew me away, the emphasis on remixes and dance mixes had me worried right up until "Vertigo" was released. When I really should have stopped worrying was upon seeing the televised Boston show and the DVD of Slane Castle, because from those performances, it seems perfectly sensible that they would make this album (am still violently bitter about not attending an Elevation concert, can you tell?)

I've been poking around for reviews, too. The Washington Post correctly pointed out the album's connections to The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, and The Unforgettable Fire. USA Today seemed to think it was their best album to date and one of the best albums in recent decades, which I think is going overboard. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is really good, but it's not perfect like Joshua Tree or Achtung Baby. But hey! At least it's not Pop!



"Vertigo"
Okay, we've all heard this a million times by now, so I don't have much to say about it. I will say that I think it's one of the strongest tracks on the album, and I got sick of "Beautiful Day" much faster. It blows "Elevation," the only real 'rock' song on ATCYLB, right outta the water. Does it have a point? Not really. But turn that mother up and rock out, baby.

Favorite Thing: how much fun Bono and the boys seem to be having; the Spanish (yes, even the bad counting)

Favorite Lines: The night is full of holes
Those bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold

9.5/10


"Miracle Drug"
Very, very AB with an unremarkable chorus but great guitar work. This is one of many I hope they do live, because it'll sound awesome.

Favorite Thing: the Edge's ringing guitar

Favorite lines: I want to hear you when you call
Do you feel anything at all?
I want to see your thoughts take shape
And walk right out

8/10


"Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
This is the one about Bono's dad, a soft-ish ballad with the best lyrics on the album and Bono singing his blessed Irish heart out, with almost the emotional resonance of "One" and "Bad" (and that's saying a fucking lot). It might actually be the best song on here.

Favorite thing: the sweet, not-quite Fat Lady vocals on the "and it's you..." bit

Favorite lyrics: And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own

I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more

Can - you - hear - me - when - I -
Sing
You're the reason I sing
You're the reason why the opera is in me

10/10


"Love and Peace or Else"
This is the angry political song on the album, though it doesn't have the more complicated imagery of "Bullet the Blue Sky" or the youthful rage of "Sunday Bloody Sunday." I could see War-era Bono singing this, but he'd have Macphisto grinning over his shoulder. I really dislike the trite "where is the love" digression near the end (definitely not "Bullet"), but it's a small complaint.

Favorite Thing: the funky guitar riff, Bono's vocals on "All you daughters of Zion"

Favorite Lines: Lay down your treasure
Lay it down now brother
You don't have time
For a jealous lover

9/10


"City of Blinding Lights"
Evocative of The Unforgettable Fire and bits of AB, especially "Who's Gonna Ride Your Horses," and it also wouldn't be out of place on Zooropa (except it probably would have been a minute too long). It's not one of the standout tracks, but it's a good song nontheless.

Favorite Thing: the "ooh ooh ooh-ooh"s

Favorite Lines: The more you see the less you know
The less you find out as you grow
I knew much more then than I do now

9/10


"All Because of You"
I think this one's going to be the second single -- it's not the one I'd choose, but it'll do. Kind of forgettable, but not like the lower-end tracks on ATYCLB were.

Favorite Thing: the Edge's backing vocals, the great guitar solo after Bono's "wahhh!" near the end

Favorite Lines: I like the sound of my own voice
I didn't give anyone else a choice

7/10


"A Man and a Woman"

A smooth, fairly energetic ballad. The lyrics are pretty good, except for the fact that only Billy Idol should be able to use the phrase "little sister."

Favorite Thing: the bass line, the little tinkly noises on the chorus, Bono's voice overlapping itself

Favorite lines: For love and sex and faith and fear
And all the things that keep us here
In the mysterious distance
Between a man and a woman

8/10


"Crumbs From Your Table"
Wow, except for the bit about "where you live," I so missed the political message of this song the first few times around. It's a great song at its most basic, but it's much, much stronger taken on that level. Another one of my favorites.

Favorite Thing: everything about the chorus

Favorite Lines: You speak of signs and wonders
I need something other
I would believe if I was able
But I'm waiting on the crumbs from your table

You were pretty as a picture
It was all there to see
Then your face caught up with your psychology
With a mouth full of teeth
You ate all your friends
And you broke every heart, thinking every heart mends

10/10


"One Step Closer"

Very pretty and sedate, though thanks to a nice drum bit near the end, it never gets dull ("Grace," anyone? Such pretty lyrics, but zzzzzz).

Favorite Thing: that drum bit

Favorite Lines: I'm hanging out to dry
With my old clothes
Finger still red with the prick of an old rose
Well the heart that hurts
Is a heart that beats
Can you hear the drummer slowing?

9/10


"Original of the Species"

A more jumped-up ballad that had to have been inspired by somebody's kids, somewhere, and I can't think of very many U2 songs I can say that of. Or you could see it as a purely romantic sentiment *shrug* I'm pretty fond of it, regardless.

Favorite Thing: the faint piano

Favorite Lines: And you feel like no-one before
You steal right under my door
And I kneel 'cause I want you some more
I want the lot of what you got
And I want nothing that you're not

Some things you shouldn't get too good at
Like smiling, crying and celebrity
Some people got way too much confidence baby

8.5/10


"Yahweh"

A simple, spiritually-oriented (but not obnoxiously so) ballad. U2 have a habit of closing their albums with quiet, introspective songs, and this one doesn't work as well as most. It's not unlikable, but there's not much there to keep you from ending the album after "Original of the Species." The only song on the album I'd actively skip.

Favorite Thing: ummm...it's pretty short? It's got that whole rebirth metaphor thing going for it?

Favorite Lines: Take this soul
Stranded in some skin and bones
Take this soul
And make it sing