Music Review - U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Ok, It's time for everyone around the world to admit U2 to the greatest bands of all-time club. They are now worthy to be mentioned alongside the other greats, as equals. Who else has sustained a 24 year career, and are still putting out #1 records and are criticlly beloved. The Stones still record new albums, but they are generally regarded as garbage. As are the latest from Aerosmith, KISS, Van Halen, Bon Jovi and Metallica (and I'm probably the only guy who loves Def Leppards newer albums!). U2 can undisputedly claim the title as "Greatest Band in All the Land!"

Bono, The Edge, and "the other two guys in U2" (also known as Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.) decided to leave the electronic pop of their 90's albums with 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind, which ended up being way too Adult Contemporary. So the Edge lobbied to bring back his great rock, delay-soaked riffs (a la` 1991's Achtung Baby). The results are immediate and stunning. The first single which has already taken over radio stations and commercils, "Vertigo," is the best U2 rocker since "Until the End of the World." I was so pumped that the rest of the album would rock like this! Unfortunantly, it doesn't. Nearly all of the other songs start with a slow delayed guitar riff. Some build into psuedo-rock songs, some delve more into 70's style R&B, but not many are instantly memorble. Bono's voice is much stronger then it's been in years, and the Edge plays thinks that other guitarist would never dream of, but it's all standard U2. But hey, Standard U2 is not something we've heard since the early 90's. The memorable songs here are track 3 "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" and what I think should be the next single, track 5 "City of Blinding Lights."

There are really good songs here, but not great songs. This album is not destined to join The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby as a U2 masterpiece. But it's right under it with War , Rattle & Hum, and All That You Can't Leave Behind. It took me a few listen's to really "get" this album, but now that I have, it's a standard in my car for those long rides to work.

The Sneaky Cheetah's Grade: B+