I got a hold of U2's How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Here's a song by song take by yours truly...
1. Vertigo: This song is by far the most rockin. However its disappointiing because its the first released song and we all were expecting something like this, a homage if you will to earlier punkish U2. The rest of the cd is very different than this in mi opinion.
2. Miracle Drug: One of the best songs on the album. A very honest and touching song that still has a good beat to it. Its hard to explain, similar to where the streets have no name would be my guess.
3. Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own: When i heard this title I immediately thought of "Stuck In a Momment" which is funny since the song is similar, a little slower and a little more passionate.
4. Love and Peace or Else: This song is pretty cool cause its way different. I'd compare it to "Bullet the Blue Sky" as far as that song didn't fit with the tone of Joshua Tree, but was still a great song and fit with the theme. I think this one will be a fan favorite. I can imagine a movie fight scene with this song in the back. Which would be ironic cause it seems to advocate non-violence.
5. City of Blinding Lights: Intro is great, piano and guitar, Edge most likely playing both. Then an electric mandolin sort of thing pops in and rocks it up. The corus is great, "Oh oh oh you look so beautiful tonight, in the city of blinding light..." Great song for those kids to hook up with on when trying to score that first kiss. Play that in the back and go in for the kill!
6. All Because of You: Elevation??? Sort of similar, with a duller guitar. Its a decent song, but not as lyrically good as I think the others are.
7. Man and a Woman: A really weird song... nothing like U2 has done before. I think Tony Bennett, or Mel Tormay for some reason. Its almost got a night lounge feel to it, but its good. Its similar to Ground Beneath her feet. Actually it sounds like something off the U2 b sides of the 80s but i can't recall which one.
8. Crumbs from Your Table: A slow decent song but nothing super duper. Its good, not a skipper (skipper = one you hit the next song button on the cd player/mp3 player).
9. One Step Closer: Very simple song, barely any instruments, a guitar faintly in the back, mostly Bono. A song about life in my opinion, as we get older, take more steps we get closer to... in my life, closer to my heavenly father... not sure if thats what Bono's going for.
10. Original of the Species: Sounds like a beatles song...
11. Yahweh: "With or without you" =-----"take this soul stranded in some skin and bones and make it sing" good line.
The album is a very very good album. Very powerful, has possibly the most commongrace/christian imagery of any u2 album. Its not hard like Vertigo, vertigo almost doesn't belong with the cd in my opinion. Its a great song don't get me wrong, but doesn't seem to be the same tone/pitch of the rest of the album. I'll be very interested to see these songs live as it will be interesting if they make them more upbeat. Otherwise it will be more like a slower concert, which wouldn't be too bad. I'm not sure what the Atomic Bomb title has anything to do with this CD, there's no song with that title. Josiah asked me 'how does one dismantle an atomic bomb?" I told him Bono would say, "With Love man!" Anyway, the cd is good, not what I was expecting. Though i still like it alot. It doesn't have any annoying songs like "In a little while" and "wild honey" which i thought were really lame girly songs.
For those who worry, I will still buy the album. I like the case, thats why I don't like buying i tunes because I don't get a booklet and cool little cd thingy. My favorite song has to be "city of blinding lights," its just great. I'll be jamming to this all day at work. Thanks Josiah for hooking me up, you're always the man to go to for stolen music, you're like Red from Shawshank, "I hear you're a man who can get things..."
Bring me an extra one at work tomorrow...pretty please! My desktop is on the fritz, so I can't burn a copy.
Posted by: Scott at November 9, 2004 11:18 PMNice review... I've been looking for someone else who's heard it to talk it over with.
I think my favorite might be "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own." The passion in Bono's vocals when he's singing "You're the reason I sing" and "Dont leave me here, alone" just kill me every time.
I'm also really digging "One Step Closer." It's a really minimal track, but the slide guitar and the vocal delivery really make it one of those "hidden gems" -- it'll never be a big hit, but fans will talk about it for ages like they do "Running to Stand Still" or even "The First Time."
I'll give you the lyrics on "All Because of You" but the guitar solo and Bono's primal scream in the middle of the bridge are killer.
PS: You don't like "In A Little While"? It's got soul, man, and as Bono says, it went from a song about a hangover into a Gospel tune. I love it!
Posted by: John at November 10, 2004 09:39 AMI totally agree..."In a Little While" is fantastic.
Posted by: u2fan at November 10, 2004 09:48 AMCity of Blinding lights is my favorite hands down. But Yaweh, and one step closer are up there too.
Posted by: holton at November 10, 2004 10:14 PMIf I had to pick my three favorite, two of them may be Holton's least liked. Tracks #7, #8 and #11 just do it for me. As John said on his blog, these guys are on top of their form. This is a more mature U2. I need to listen to it for a couple more days before any attempt at a review, but overall I like it a lot.
Posted by: Scott at November 11, 2004 12:48 AMWow, I am very pleased in general w/ the album ( I listened to the whole thing on Vh1.com). "City of Blinding Lights" is stunning, one of my all time favorites after just a few listens. Vertigo is in your face and energetic. The ballads are sure to be instant classics. Love and Peace or Else is a trip, and I love it. I am ecstatic over the album, I can't wait to own it.
Posted by: Ryan at November 16, 2004 07:44 PMNice review. I like to see what other fans think.
A friend gave me a copy yesterday, I think the HTDAAB is awesome, another master piece!
I can't decide which song I like best. I really like like them all.
I like Original of the Species but I think its sounds better "Unplugged" and Live (link off Apples website has part of it during the unvailing of the U2 ipod). Kind like New York and Sunday Bloody Sunday really come alive when played live.
I still have my collector's edition of HTDAAB pre-orderd from Amazon.com because it is the right thing to do and I to love the books also.
Posted by: Grace at November 16, 2004 07:57 PM
HTDAAB is truly a classic U2 Album. Songs like All Because Of You, Miracle Drug and not to mention Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own are inevitably going to be the singles off the album. City of Blinding Lights and Love and Peace or Else? are truly fanastic album songs.
P.S The solo guitar riff end of All Because Of You will knock You out!!!
BUY THE ALBUM.... U2 ARE BETTER THAN THE BEATLES!!!!
Posted by: Mani at November 17, 2004 08:48 PMThis may be a sob story, but I have to help someone at the hospital tomorrow instead of buying the album. I ordered it from Best buy via mail, but I'd like to hear the album before I return. Can you email me or post a link?
Posted by: Todd White at November 22, 2004 11:55 AMSorry TOdd, I got my copy via a cd from a friend. I'm hoping to save up some moolah to get the special edition from amazon.
Posted by: holton at November 22, 2004 07:55 PM"Crumbs" is definitely one of my favs. i can't believe you came that close to calling it a "skipper". bah. i must disagree with you people on One step closer: i think the vocals are pretty bad and sound forced into the music. ie, "i'm on an island in a busy inter----pause---section" boo. That's funny cause i think that "All because of you" sounds like the beatles, not original of the species.
Posted by: benner at December 6, 2004 07:59 PMFreedom has a scent, like a top of a new born
babys head...
What a line!
like your comments but why hasn,t the baaand tried a new look . they should hold off on the bono for a while and try some holesome summer views to track thier yankees. how do you catch fish in a fishbowl youmn you just do. so great review but a little to hixxy on the b side i review it too . dont get sick out there and remember we love you too. miss you me
Posted by: CHRISTINA at January 7, 2005 11:35 AMby the way thanks for the posterboards and hizzys. i needed to grasp reality for a while so i sank low to find the deminsion of my life . change the specs dude and find out what your grace is all about. no fighting and stay with god one day you,ll find it too. much luck me............later
Posted by: chris at January 7, 2005 11:38 AM