Hale Kilinahe: Pith of Pop: U2-How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

I love U2. I even like Pop, the album many U2 fans say they hate. Pop is an anomaly; it's the album that sounds nothing like any of the other albums, but there's still not a thing wrong with it.

However, U2 seem to be going back to what works for them on their latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. This album sounds a lot like the band's Boy era, but slicker. HTDAAB is, in my opinion, way better than their last studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind.

By far, my favorite song on this album is the opening track, "Vertigo". It's relentlessly catchy; the kind of song that stays stuck in your head all day. It has the classic "I Will Follow" stomp.

"Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own" is a dead ringer for one of my all-time U2 favorites. It reminds me a lot of "Bad" from The Unforgettable Fire. "Love and Peace or Else" seems to be an odd combination of "Revolution" by the Beatles and "The Vampire Song" by Concrete Blonde.

While listening to "City of Blinding Lights", you can hear how much U2 has influenced bands like Coldplay. It sounds just like "Clocks", but then, you realize U2 has been around for much longer but has been writing and performing songs like "Clocks" for decades now.

"All Because of You" sounds like a standard U2-type song but dissolves into an odd arena-rockish guitar solo. It stands in stark contrast to "A Man and a Woman", which is moody and romantic, blending right into "Crumbs From Your Table", which sounds just like a rainy day. "Original of the Species" features some lovely strings, but is perhaps the weakest song on the album.

I think "Yahweh" is destined to become a big hit. The Edge provides backing vocals that add just the right touch. The song is the best way, I think, to close the album.

I actually had to take out "All That You Can't Leave Behind" to do an A-B comparrison of which I liked better. I think I'm going to be in the minority by preferring "All That You Can't Leave Behind". I've grown to like "Atomic Bomb" but it took work, and there isn't actually anything on the album that stays with me. But this album reminds you of "Boy"? I'm hoping their next album would get closer to that untrained exuberence -- they've been at this for too long to not sound slick.
Posted by NemesisVex at December 15, 2004 4:27 AM