The Ravings of Demented Rabbits

Atomic Bombing

So apparently U2 came out with a new album. Thusly, small forest animals came unto Circuit City, and were provided with said U2 CD, and also KOTOR.

The KOTOR part of this entry can be summed up by a comment Cole left on the original KOTOR entry:

"Also known as CracKOTOR, this is a serious disease and we need to help all those affected by it. Please send donations to me so that i might oversee their treatment to my... I mean OUR benefit."

I was up until like, 5am this morning. So, yeah.

But about this U2 CD. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is the name of it, and it's...yeah. I dunno, Bono. I dunno. I remember the band saying something to the effect of how maybe it was all going to sound like a cross between Electrical Storm and The Hands That Built America, and that was just fine by me, because, well, both those songs rule.

This is not what we get in reality. Those of you with any interest in this will remember the discussions of "Which 5 other songs does Vertigo sound like?" Well, that's kind of what I was doing listening to the whole album. The first time A Man And A Woman (track 7) came on, I thought I was listening to the old 80s B-side The Three Sunrises. A significant portion of the rest sounds exactly like that portion of the last album that I thought was completely asstastic and the rest of the world loved. As to the rest of the album, well, maybe it was influenced by Electrical Storm, I dunno. In any case, that part rocks pretty well, and is easily the best part of the whole.

Lyrically...I'm thinking no. This is most definitely NOT Achtung Baby, kids. In fact, most of it also reminds me of that same portion of All That You Can't Leave Behind that I thought was complete crap and the rest of the world loved. Enough of this happy optimistic gooey crap, Bono. Where's the songwriter who came up Sunday, Bloody Sunday or One or Last Night On Earth? Where has that guy gone? Because I'm sure as hell not seeing much of it here.

All of that having been said, a quick track ranking, based on my about 3 times through the album.

The Great:

Nah. Almost Vertigo, but not quite.

The Very Good:

Vertigo, Love and Peace Or Else, All Because of You - Vertigo is clearly the best thing on this album. Maybe even by far and away. The other two songs are the only two other rocking songs on the album, which pretty much saves them, IMHO.

The Good:

Original of the Species, (maybe) Miracle Drug - Both of these sound rather painfully ATYCLB, but there's something about each of them that sort of works. They're not on the level of, say, Kite, but they work.

Maybe:

A Man And A Woman, One Step Closer - You can take "maybe" to mean "not painfully grating." I ALMOST like these two, but not quite.

No. Just No:

Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, City of Blinding Lights, Crumbs From Your Table, Yahweh - Remember how I was talking about the part of ATYCLB that I hated and everyone else loved? This here's it. Yahweh in particular actually makes me grate my teeth together. Eeeeeeee.

I guess the verdict is to download the tracks I marked very good, and leave the rest sitting in the store. It really pains me to have to say that, but so far I'm putting this on the level of Boy or ATYCLB - Overall suckfullness, with a couple of really good songs.

Yes, it really worries me that I feel the same way about both the newest albums. Seriously worries.

Posted by Dwip at November 24, 2004 4:35 PM