How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (U2)

A lot of people don't like this album. They claim it's too focused. That, however, is exactly why it is such a great album, especially after the unfocused (but still great) music U2 made during the 90's. There aren't just a few standout songs and then some filler songs; every track is superb. Vertigo starts the album with a bang. While a little too rock'n'rolley to be considered "classic" U2, it definetly works. (5/5) Miracle Drug comes next, a prayer for a cure for someone sick. It starts out slow, but builds to Bono (or is it Edge?) saying "Beneath the noise, below the din, I hear your voice: it's whispering. In science and in medicine, I was a stranger you took me in..." before Bono comes in with the chorus. (4/5) Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own is about Bono's Dad, who died a few years ago. Bono's singing is raw and emotional. This song could be synonomous to any father-son relationship ("I don't need to hear you say that if we weren't so alike, you'd like me a wh... Read more

'Atomic Bomb' continues the trend of U2's previous album, in stripping away the electronic and dance influences from their 90's work in favour of a more straightforward rock sound. Here, they strip away pretty much everything that defined their sound from 'Achtung Baby' onwards, resulting in an album as direct and straightforward as 'Boy' or 'War'. This results in a very conservative-sounding album, which might disappoint those fans who appreciate the more experimental side of the band. However, U2 still sound strong and energetic on 'Atomic Bomb', and there are enough subtle twists to keep the album interesting. Fans of old-school U2 will find plenty to love here: standard U2 rockers such as 'Miracle Drug', 'City of Blinding Lights', 'Crumbs From Your Table', 'Original of the Species' and 'Yahweh', plus the emotional ballad 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own', will please long-time fans. Not exactly breaking bold new artistic ground, but the songs all have strong melodies and... Read more

This is one of U2's greatest CD filled with numerous songs that elicit all of your emotions to sing, dance and just have great fun! U2 always bring out the best in people to reflect as to our purpose and responsibiltities during our lifetime. You won't regret this buy.

After immediately falling in love with NLOTH, I remember my feelings when listening to this album for the first time. I was greatly disappointed. I was like WTF? However after listening to the album several more times, it grew on me. My biggest problem with the album is that several songs seem to be just filler. Positive Thoughts: The first 6 tracks are great! I really like "Miracle Drug". IMHO, this song is the most underrated song on the album. I love this song! "Love And Peace Or Else" is another song that is great! It is even better live! "One Step Closer" is a slow song that I really like. "Yahweh" is the best closing song since "40". This song is great and ends the album well. Negative thoughts: "A Man And A Woman", "Crumbs From Your Table", and "Original Of The Species" are boring. I found these tracks to be uninspired, lazy, and just bland! These songs should have been B-sides. Other Songs that would have been better choices, IMHO opinion would have b... Read more

Their would-be comeback mixed the scope of their Eighties work with fragments of their Nineties experiments to breathtaking results; its would-be successor arrived courtesy of Steve Lillywhite, their original producer, and took them "back to basics." The songs themselves are linked by themes of love, peace, war, harmony, and death, themes which need the majestic grandiosity of U2 records like "The Joshua Tree" to be fully expressed. By returning to a raw--U2's version of raw, anyway--sound, similar to the basic grit-ishness of "Boy" and "October," they become more musically conservative, in the process ensuring songs that promise to catapult into "Beautiful Day"-esque highs barely even reach for those heights. It's on the exceptions, like the guitar fireworks of "Miracle Drug" or the midnight sensationalist glimmer of "City of Blinding Lights," that the record soars. There's some great material here, but the songs deserve better. And let's not get in to Bono calling this their fir... Read more

Even bad U2 is still pretty good. And this is a perfect example of bad U2. The Album has a few problems: The Edge's guitar playing is at times lacking and not up to his standards, some of the songs are sappy and out of place (there's like 3 songs about his dad dying of cancer!!), and the title is pretentious as hell. But there are some highlights to the album. Vertigo is a pretty good song, if a bit cliche. Also, City of Blinding Lights is a damn good song and reminds me of their early 80's work. This album is U2 just being U2: over the top, atmospheric and pretentious. Its better than most mainstream music out there, but since this is the same band that released such classics as Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, its pretty bland by their standards.

Just kick it in already. Bono, the most arrogant, annoying man on the planet returns with his pals for another journey into the realms of banality and mediocrity. The fist single from this album (elevation) sounds like something a teenage band would play and write. Its just a bad song. I live in Ireland and Bono is never out of the damn papers, i hate him with all my little black heart. (although his arrogance and annoyingness have done wonders for his 'drop the debt' campaign! so good work)

I kind of grown out of U2. SOme songs are pretty good while others are cliched and typical.

This album is one of the best they ever produced. Perhaps the only better albums are Achtung Baby and the Joshua Tree.

U2 has made another masterpiece! Strongest cuts from Bomb are Sometimes...., Miracle Drug, City of Blinding Lights, and Vertigo. These tracks already rank in my top 20 all-time U2 songs.

The first 2/3 of the CD is really good then it starts to dwindle off and become pretty boring.

I would have given this new U2 release 2 1/2 stars if I could. This album is not rock enough for me, there are too many slow and mid tempo songs.