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Album Review
by Scott Sterling-Wilder
19-11-2004
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| U2: how to remain the biggest band... |
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U2: 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'
(Island)
U2: between sainthood and riffs
U2 new album is usually expected with a mixture of impatience and curiosity. The singer is not only the frontman but a crusader, a political pest. Some see it as Bono Vox being a deity, some see it as an indulgence of a rich and bored rock star. For all his goodwill work on behalf of the deprived economies of the world - as well as hanging out with Nelson Mandela, the Pope, at the UN - the singer tends to make some dubious moves.
Such as addressing the Labour Party conference or signing that co-advertising deal with iTunes that reportedly netted the band 2 billion greens. Well, that could certainly clear a debt of a small African country… Aside the extra-curriculum activities, U2 still make music, sometimes great, sometimes familiar in their own way but always massive in the global terms.
But then, U2 are the biggest Rock’n’Roll band in the Universe. On par with The Stones but what distinguishes them from the veteran rockers is that - there is mad-for public for the Irishmen’s new material. [There is another parallel here: Edge was as disappointed with Bono‘s shaking Prez G-Dub‘s hand two years ago as Keef Richards was with Mick Jagger accepting the knighthood but the Irish singer’s move secured $5 billion aid!] ‘How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ is a big album by a band at the cusp of its powers and they know it… and, how to handle it.
Not in a youthful and arrogant way by virtue of not knowing better but by the near-quarter of a century of making music that matters to millions. The new songs add to the can[n]on of explosive tracks as well as some quieter moments, more heartfelt, innermost power ballads. When it gets bombastic, it gets bigger than Oasis can dream: Edge is still the man with the most distinctive guitar-sound, the rhythm section is as solid as is anonymous [compared to the other two, obviously], all topped by Bono’s passion, beliefs, ideology.
You get it all on ‘Atomic Bomb’ but little else. This is an album of consolidating rather than innovating. And, this is not a political album, this ‘A-Bomb’ is internal, cerebral, an inner monologue most men attempt… ‘Vertigo’ opens the proceedings, ‘All Because of You’ is so contemporary garage to shame many a hype-band of the moment, ‘City Of Blinding Lights’ is layers of beauty… ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own’ is a ballad only they know how to can; reason [‘Original of The Species’] and theology [‘Yahweh’] clash…
The album’s peak is ‘Crumbs From Your Table’ and it is the typical song that defines why you adore - or, can’t stand - this band. One has to admire U2 for their stubborn refusal to play the industry’s game: earlier this year a work-in-progress copy of this album was stolen from the Edge’s bag at a photo-shoot and the album ended up on the ‘Net weeks before the street date but the lads didn’t jump at the opportunity, alike Eminem, to milk it for all publicity and move its release date for greater impact.
U2 are icon that took Irish idealism to the mainstream theatre of commerciality and continue to rock relevantly, seriously and with a heart firmly printed on their designer sleeves. Not hip at this time with everyone apparently prone to negativity, more or less. A quote by Krist Novoselic [yeah, the Nirvana’s bass player], from his book ‘Of Grunge and Government - Let’s Fix This Broken Democracy!’ seems appropriate: “Society offers many labels for people who run against the grain. But it’s the people on the so-called fringes who actually bring change. Without rebels, rabble-rousers, malcontents, or whatever label we choose to apply, the culture would remain static.”
U2 were recently inducted into the newly launched UK Music Hall of Fame. Class nouveau; this foursome still step in time to the dual-drumbeat of veneration and veracity. Vitally.
An enormous Niner!
Scott Sterling-Wilder
19-11-2004
U2’s album ‘How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ is released 22 November 2004 by Island/UMG
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