Product Description

Released over 25 years into their career, this is the eleventh studio album from U2. 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' sees the band return to their classic sounding mix of rock, pop and strong songwriting skills, harking back to the days of 'The Unforgettable Fire' and 'The Joshua Tree'. The albumalso includes the singles 'Vertigo' and 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own'.

Track Listing

1. Vertigo
2. Miracle Drug
3. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
4. Love And Peace Or Else
5. City Of Blinding Lights
6. All Because Of You
7. A Man And A Woman
8. Crumbs From Your Table
9. One Step Closer
10. Original Of The Species
11. Yahweh
12. Fast Cars

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3953 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 52 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
A return to bombast and stadium histrionics, there is little disarming about U2's eleventh album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. A rather predictable if undeniably effective guitar-fuelled romp, with long-time collaborator Steve Lillywhite at the production helm, the Irish quartet's follow up 2000's 11-million selling All That You Can't Leave Behind with much of the same, something that will delight fans of Rattle And Hum while frustrating those who preferred the beat-driven experimentalism and eminently more evocative lyricism that made Achtung Baby! grab attention.

While there is certainly no "One" here with Bono proving a less politically subtle songwriter than he obviously is a proven negotiator on the likes of "Love And Peace Or Else"; "We need love and peace/Lay down your guns," he chimes simply, he does reach the heartstrings on "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own", a passionate ode to his dead father, and the equally sharp scribing "No I could never take a chance/Of losing love to find romance" on "A Man And A Woman."

As you might expect the production, assisted by the likes of Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Nellee Hooper, resounds with epic depth, while The Edge's trademark guitar sound rings throughout, cutting through the booming bass and honed rhythm section.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained then? Well no. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is the sound of a band who, with a confident swagger, have finally decided on content over style. --Christopher Barrett

Customer Reviews

More Crash Than Bang
It's difficult to surrender willingly to the musical monolith that is U2, but it is also impossible to dismiss them out of hand. They may have long since made the transition from wide-eyed Dublin four-piece to multi-national corporation, but they've nevertheless managed to maintain the reasonably credible approach of young men who see themselves as nothing more than a bunch of semi-talented chancers. The annoyingly titled HTDAAB sees them attempt to recapture the glory days while at the same time casting their nets over present day billboard watchers and sleepwalking download-types.
"Vertigo", "All Because Of You", "Original Of The Species" and "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" are all rather obviously designed to court cursory chart activity, but are rather hollow additions to the boys' canon; "Love And Peace Or Else" and "One Step Closer" are the album's requisite U2 failures; and "Crumbs From Your Table" is a rather grating stab at sincerity.
However, the album is rescued (just about) by a dyad of pieces that represent an innovative U2 endeavouring to spread their wings, and by a trio of works that sees them come close to soaring towards the old heights.
"A Man And A Woman" is a bass-heavy tune with fine uncharacteristically romantic lyrics, while "Fast Cars" is an engagingly fresh Mexican workout. "Miracle Drug" revives the backing-vocal style of "Pride", and "City Of Blinding Lights" combines stadium-rocker design with the sugary sound of tinkling keyboard. The album's finest moment comes in the shape of "Yahweh", a hair-raising hymn on which Bono successfully resurrects his "pleading messiah" persona.
In summation, HTDAAB is the work of a capable band that - with a little more passion and musical focus - could achieve a good deal more.

How to dismantle a once great band, and swell the coffers in the process
The only things U2 should get a 5 star rating for these days is total an utter hypocrisy on all levels imaginable and their propensity to produce generic, unoriginal dirge.

Here was a band that was once great, I think. Albums in the eighties such as the Unforgettable Fire and the Joshua Tree were anthemic and socially mobilising soundtracks for a generation or did I simply fall for the spin too. Sure, even then there was scope for 'I believe I am a prophet and I'm sure making one' Bono to be a little too inclined to preach to us but at least the band had something to say. Their willingness to explore new avenues in the nineties was also admirable with works such as Achtung Baby and Zooropa. As mentioned in earlier reviews even the mildly disappointing Pop was still creditable in attempts to break new sonic boundaries and experiment a little

Sadly their work since then, together with their relentless PR machine has gone a long way to undermine their earlier albums as well as to completely contradict the essence of what they apparently stood for in the first place, the integrity of which must now be re-examined.

Firstly the album title itself is fairly inflammatory for this reviewer. I mean come on.. How to dismantle a nuclear bomb? I'm struggling to imagine how U2 can enlighten us on this topic when their lead singer finds it impossible, and perhaps more worryingly unnecessary, to begin to dismantle or dissect the elements that make up his intolerably high esteem for himself.

Politics and pop music can work but if done cleverly and with a subtle touch but are U2 really capable of this anymore? Can attempts to be subversive be taken seriously by a band that have become so institutionalised over the years that they now appear to represent all that they once stood against? It seems to me that the only ones to truly benefit from what once appeared to be their honourable ethics are U2 themselves who seem to have used their PR machine to perpetuate their own longevity. One wonders how news of eternal world peace and an end to all famines would be met at U2 HQ. Would they celebrate it or panic at the lack of material for future funds to fuel their private jets as without these causes their music may be exposed for what it is or, at least, what it has become; an utter sham.

Songs like 'Love and Peace or Else' do nothing to negate these suspicions. Or else what Bono?? U2 release another album and make loads more money? Much like the band itself, the logic of the title to this song in itself is completely ill thought out, baffling and contradictory.

There is not one song on this album that shows us anything about U2 we didn't already know. There is not one new sound, one new note, one new chord progression (really) or one new message. One would have thought a band who has achieved all they have done would be inclined to experiment as artists. Instead we get U2 by numbers. More worryingly the public swallow it and buy it in their droves. Hardly behaving like the generation of empowered free thinkers U2 would no doubt credit themselves with creating through their earlier work.

The music is dull and unoriginal here and the lyrics of Bono are even worse. Listening to him sing is rather like listening to the machinations of an old drunk down your local boozer. He has become so much a piece of the scenery that no-one has the heart to tell him to go home, sober up and descend from the soapbox from which he spews his thrice told tales. You think, or perhaps hope, that once he had something to say. You want to believe his heart is in the right place but what you see before you is an incoherent shambles of a man whose spoken convictions are betrayed by his lack of action. Sure, he will befriend you. Sure, he'll charm you and appear and make the right gestures but you wonder if all this is just a means to persuade you to get the next round in.

Of further concern, and I believe of relevance to this review as result of their self-portrayed political idealism expressed in their music, is their mutually beneficial alliance with i-tunes when promoting this album. Should a band with such high pretentions cosy up to any corporate institution when promoting their music? Moreover, should they, as they did in this case, set a trend of endorsing the concept of free downloads for their music? It is viable for a band of such wealth to promote themselves in this way but what are the implications for new bands just starting out and in need of funding their artistic expression. Is this a message to these bands to also 'sell out' by forming allegiances with corporations and thus potentially compromise their artistic credibility?

It is a known fact that the compressed nature of the mpp3 format and similar reduce the quality of sound output by blocking out high and low frequencies of sound. This has reduced the dexterity of sound production and the ranges possible. One can only surmise that these implications to band who with this release have produced such a bland collection of songs that this hardly matters.

I would urge all true fans to consider these points before buying this album. If then, you choose to do so then it is your free choice but don't say I didn't warn you.

why would anyone buy this?
I don't even need to listen to this to know its rubbish, just look at the pretentious idiots on the album cover. Buy this to help bonno fly around in his private jet.