11.30.04

Dismantling an Atomic Bomb

Posted in My Immaculate Taste in Music at 11:36 am by Adriene

Ah, it’s finally here. I have in my sweaty little palms U2’s latest CD, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. I’ve waited four long years for this, but hey, these guys are nothing if not patient when it comes to releasing CDs. After listening to it for the better part of a week, I think I’ve finally come to the point where I can review it accurately. So, here are my thoughts:

If you know me, you know that the apex of U2 musicology (to me, at least) occurred in 1991 with the release of Achtung Baby. With such songs as “One,” “Mysterious Ways,” etc., AB broke new ground for U2 and brought about a new sound that up until that point U2 had not explored. I think it’s the best thing they ever have and probably ever will release. Firmly entrenched in second place, you have the perennial fan favorite The Joshua Tree, which really needs no explanation, as anyone who calls themself a U2 fan has this one in their collection. It’s classic. Up until last week, third place was awarded to 2000’s release, All That You Can’t Leave Behind.

Sorry, bud, but you’ve been replaced.

How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb has a sound to it that can probably be best described as what would happen if you took All that You Can’t Leave Behind, threw in a little Achtung Baby and The Joshua Tree, and hit “frappe.” Quite frankly, I think it’s the best thing they’ve put out since Achtung Baby, and that’s saying something. What places it above ATYCLB for me is that it’s much closer to the classic feel of U2 - it’s much more rocking, much more emotional, much more complex musically. I don’t find myself skipping songs as much on this one as much as I did on ATYCLB. So yeah, it’s fair to say that is now placed at #3 on my list of U2’s albums.

Songs:

“Vertigo”
Hello, hello/ I’m at a place called vertigo/it’s everything I wish I didn’t know/and you give me something I can feel….
I’ve heard this song described as this CD’s “Elevation.” Pretty apt, I’d say. It’s got an infectious beat, but as far as the rest of the CD goes, I’d say this one doesn’t quite fit the mood of the others. It’s a good song, but I’d place it about halfway down on my list of favorites from this release. It would be a great concert-opener, though, much like they did with “Elevation” on the last tour.

“Miracle Drug”
I’ve had enough of romantic love/yeah I’d give it up, yeah I’d give it up/for a miracle drug…
Great song. I’m not 100% sure of the story behind it, but it appears to be taken from the point of view of a man who recently lost a loved one and is praying to God for a miracle drug to bring that love back from death. Enough to make a girl like me a bit weepy.

“Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”
And it’s you when I look in the mirror/and it’s you when I don’t pick up the phone…
Another great song, though I was a bit worried about it at the beginning. It starts out kind of down-tempo, but Bono breaks into his falsetto at the chorus and, well, I love that. Layer Edge’s guitar under Bono’s falsetto and I am a happy woman. It’s an aching song about Bono’s often-tumultuous relationship with his father, who recently passed away. It speaks of how often they fought, yet he finds it hard to let go of the memory of him after he died. Again, another tear-jerker for me. It’ll hit home for anyone who has a parent who they are so like that they can’t see eye to eye on many things. (Guilty here…)

“Love and Peace or Else”
As you enter this life/I pray you depart/with a wrinkled face/and a brand-new heart…
Oooh. Fuzzy guitars. Great beat to this one, too. It reminds me a lot of the Beatles’ “Revolution,” both in tempo and in sound (the afore-mentioned fuzzy guitars). The message of this song hits you flat over the head in classic U2 political fashion. Basically, it’s calling for everyone to just lay down arms and work on getting along. I like it.

“City of Blinding Lights”
Oh you look so beautiful…
This is probably my second-favorite song on the CD. It’s just one of those songs that you sit there and go “ah” when it gets to the chorus. U2 at its best is Edge hammering away on his guitar, Adam and Larry laying down an incredible rhythm line, and then Bono just going at it on the lyrics. This song has all of it. And is that a mandolin I hear at the beginning?

“All Because of You”
I’m not broke/but you can see the cracks/ you can make me perfect again…
Eh. Not my favorite. This is probably the one I skip over on the CD most often. The lyrics are great - it’s definitely about how broken we are on our own, and how we owe everything we are to God. But musically, bleh. Not so great. Bono’s voice has been better, and well, I think they were trying a little hard to rock out on this one.

“A Man and A Woman”
And I could never take a chance/on losing love to find romance…
I love it when Bono writes about his wife. It’s so sweet. But on top of that, this song explores the complexity of how love changes the older you get. The “romantic” feelings may come and go, but love is always constant. This song is a bit of a break from the electric sound the past songs have, relying heavily on acoustic guitars. Another one of my favorites on the CD.

“Crumbs from Your Table”
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….
I LOVE this song. Love it. Definitely my favorite on the CD. Probably the best way to describe it is “shimmering” or even “seething.” Chiming guitars, emphatic lyrics, great instrumentation all around. Almost epic, I would say. I think it’s an accusatory song about those who wear their faith on their sleeve yet fail to help those most in need. I’ve read that it’s Bono’s response to inadequate attention to the worldwide AIDS crisis, and that makes sense. In any case, this is definitely the best song on the CD in my opinion.

“One Step Closer”
Well, the heart that hurts/is a heart that beats…
Another anguished song about Bono coming to terms with the death of his father. It’s a very down-tempo song, probably appropriate after the energy of “Crumbs from Your Table.” Probably toward the lower half of favorites from this album, it’s still very touching about how grieving is necessary following the death of a loved one.

“Original of the Species”
Please stay a child somewhere in your heart…
Very sweet song. If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it was written about Bono’s oldest daughter. It makes sense to me that way, anyway. She’s probably about 16 by now and growing up and I could see where he could be having some issues with that. He speaks of giving her “everything that you want, except the thing that you want,” which I guess is speaking of her freedom right now - he’s not quite ready to let her go. Musically, it’s very reminiscent of the Beatles, I think.

“Yahweh”
Take this heart/and make it break…
Take a wild guess what this song is about. U2 hearkens back to “40,” from War by ending this CD with a very spiritual song about God. I like it, but again, this one is probably toward the middle for me as far as favorites from this CD go. However, I’ve joked that it’s only a matter of time before trendy praise-and-worship churches pilfer this song, emasculate it, and start using it on Sunday mornings (again, much like they’ve done with “40.”). But that aside, the lyrics are incredible. Another winner.

Overall, I’d give this CD the “third masterpiece” title that Rolling Stone prematurely bestowed upon ATYCLB. I’m very impressed with it overall, and I think this CD is everything ATYCLB should have been but fell slightly short of. Bravo, guys, and can’t wait to see you in concert this spring!!

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