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Great review, from a great angle, follower! And your translation was perfect. :)

As two of the elder U2 fans here, doesn't it bug you when people say that U2 is too old to come out with a classic?
 
kakvox said:
...I was casually perusing the reviews for JT and AB as well, and noticed universal acclaim for AB. I mean of the 300 or so odd reviews, I would say 98% are 5 stars, while JT is at 4.5 stars, with people either loving it or not exactly getting the "hype".
Click to expand...

I believe that the real reason most reviews for JT and AB are so high, especially compared to HTDAAB, is because those albums were out for years before Amazon existed, so either a) they've already sunk in with the fans, and b) those aren't the low hanging fruit for U2 haters to bash, since HTDAAB is there for the raking.

If either of those albums came out today, we'd probably see the same type of bashing we're currently seeing for The Bomb.
 
Mark Freedman said:
Great review, from a great angle, follower! And your translation was perfect. :)

As two of the elder U2 fans here, doesn't it bug you when people say that U2 is too old to come out with a classic?
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Thanks Mark, you´re very kind. You know, there are some feelings, some deep emotions one can only express in his/her language, I guess, but anyways, the transcription was a good exercise for me.

And it does bug me that people still think that way about U2, but guess what? It´s their loss, not mine. All I know is, one day they will be 40 as well, and maybe they might feel like we do. It´s not my fault if they can´t see the light...or our fault, right? ;)

MT
 
Mark Freedman said:
U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
(An Essay)
(snip great review)
But it is GREAT! :heart:
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Great review Mark - always worth reading your posts, and slightly spooky to find someone whos U2 'subflavour' preferences mirror mine exactly! :wink:
 
The new Album

I hate to say but there is only two good songs on this album.

the first track and that other track that sounds like nightclub music lol the rest is too mellow for me,
 
I have to admit. I have not gotten the album yet. I hope to get for Christmas. But reading the reviews from you guys and the critics, I have to say that this is a typical U2 album, and I mean that as a compliment. What I mean is, when you first listen to a U2 album, you're thinking, "What the hell is this crap?" Believe me, I got that feeling when I first heard JT at age 14 and ATYCLB at age 27. But after a few listens, I always come to the conclusion that these albums were brilliant. And I bet I will have the same feeling for the Bomb. I anticipate that I will hate the album at first and then love it over time. That's U2's music. Their music is so unique that is not pop enough for radio or for teenagers.
Believe me, it is killing me that I can't listen to this album yet. But I can definitely see myself loving it, but at first hating it. So for all those people who hate it.... just listen to it a few times and you will love it.
 
This album is solid.



You people bashing it are nuts.



I love it that U2 didn't give you you're Achtung 2004. You got U2 2004. That's all. No more no less. Suckas.
 
joerags said:
Why is everybody trashing ABOY???? Isn't that going to be the second single????
Click to expand...

First of all, I love ABOY too. Secondly, I think there's a pretty good chance that SYCMIOYO is going to be the second single, but ABOY is definitely going to be one eventually. They already started shooting a video for it in the streets of New York.
 
Most Listenable of all their albums

I've lived a rather two-faced life as a U2 fan. Every U2 album I've purchased--and at 46 years old I go back to the 'Boy' days like many of you--I've always had an underwhelming feeling upon the first listen of each album. Not sure why, just have. But then after a few listens these 'underwhelming' albums grow on me more and more. I've never come across a U2 album where I liked every song. Indeed, how many of us can say they have?

On 'Bomb,' I liked most of the songs immediately. Each has its own style, and the fact that many people here are choosing a different song as their favorite means (to me at least) that this CD is very, very solid.

The song I absolutely love is 'Original of the Species.' It sounds almost like three or four songs in one, and the last part just sends chills down my spine and indeed sounds very much like the guitars I love from 'Where the Streets Have No Name.'

There are only a couple songs I skip over from listen to listen, and those songs themselves might grow on me over time.

One 'flaw' I sense is that Bono's voice is 'thin' on some songs, but full of his everlasting passion throughout.

This, as has been mentioned so many times before, is Edge's album. The concerts are going to have to have so many backing tracks because there's no way he's going to pull off all his grand work from this album in a live setting.

See you at The FleetCenter in Spring 2005!

Chris in New Hampshire
 
I call this my first U2 album because this is the first album that I followed all the hype, all the news and all the crazy waiting, and God, was it worth it! How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the closest thing to perfection that has ever existed in any form. Every song speaks to me, and I think that the way it ends " take this heart/ and make it break" somehow just sums it up perfectly. It's not too sad, too obnoxiously happy, too loud or too soft. I especially love OOTS, Yahweh, COBL and SYCMIOYO, but every song is amazing, I find it impossible to skip any. U2 has done it, and I can't wait to see them live this spring. If Bono says that HTDAAB is their first record, I can't wait for the second.
 
I have been a U2 fan half of my life, I own all their albums, know all the lyrics by heart, etc. They are my top favorite band in the world.

Having said that, I have to give HTDAAB 4 out of 5 stars. I don't know if it's because my expectations were too different or. . . . .hmmm. I'm not even sure.

All the quotes from Bono about Edge's smoking guitar, how this would be a rock album, and the Vertigo single, led me to believe the album would seriously rock. So when I heard it, I was like, hmm. Not all the songs rock as much as I was expecting.

However there are many spectacular songs on it, such as COBL and MIRACLE DRUG with I adore! Classic soaring U2. Songs that circled around inside my head for days! OOTS didn't do much for me at first, but after listening to the album many many times I am starting to really love it. And I also extremely love FAST CARS.

As I think about it more I think I was hoping for a bit more of an experimental sound such as Fast Cars. Something different. The songs are very good, great lyrics, classic U2. Sure Bono's voice is a bit scratchy in places but I don't mind. I suppose I was just hoping for something a little more different across the entire album.

Don't take this as a criticism of U2 itself, because I do and always will love them. Achtung Baby is my favorite album I think because it was so edgy. I remember really disliking it when it came out BECAUSE it was so different. I guess this time was the opposite effect for me. . . . I don't like HTDAAB as much because it's NOT different. Perhaps I wouldn't have felt this way if I hadn't heard any of the pre-release hype :) However I still recommend this album for any good U2 fan.

This is my true, complete and honest opinion :)
 
I cannot believe true U2 fans, knowing how Bono is, was taking him so literally about a rocking album -- especially considering their history! This is U2, dammit!

It's really, really, REALLY tiring hearing that people rate this album lower that they would have, simply because of this COMPLETELY UNREALISTIC expectation, and is very closed-minded, IMO.

But who's to say that I know what I'm talking about?

Off my soapbox again...
 
Some of the songs are very ambitious, but the arrangements fuck them up. I think some are kinda.. overproduced.

Take Original of the Species. The verse has easy, beautiful rhythm and a nice piano. But all of a sudden, the first chorus blows down the mood that was built up. The string arrangement of that song is a shame, excuse me. From 0:33 to 1:30 there´s four parts... I really like the mood of the second verse too. But the rest of the arr. just dont fit.
 
All Becasue Of You rocks.

Only 2 small details:

1) The voice shouldn´t have been doubled in the verses. The effect should have been the same compressed strong solo voice effect like the one of chorus. Rest of the vocal arrangement ok.

2) Guitar is the typical freeflowin Edge. Love the sharp sound when it starts. Could have been without the last scratch in the hand.. ok, the song has ended and then this krrrrchhhh.. come on. The guitars remind me of the flics on the big screen of POPMART. Pure voltage. nice solo.
 
2 out of 5 stars , for the album

it sounds pretty good for a while
but then .....
vertigo - the only good song , great single , catchy
short
miracle drug - melody is very u2standard ( ala B- Day , always )
some lyrics are good
Sometimes you can't make it on your own - good stuff , tough , soulful , ballad - just listen to SIAM
love , peace or else - lots of sound , lyrics are awful , there is no idea in the song ,

City Of Blinding lights - combine chorus from New Years Day , melody from Streets and insert crappy piano sounds

all because of you - the main chorus is very " impressive " , except there is no song in it , song for fans ,

Man And Woman - viagra meets grace , adult top 40

Crumbs from your table - ok , good enough for b-side , and they call it rock .......

One step closer - quiet , good ballad , it's a shame u2 wrote stuff like this before , and it was MUCH better ( The First Time , Bad , )

Orignal of the species - it sounds like a fan convention song
although , very sincere

Yahweh - the same ideas from new era 00's , simple drums , simple melody , simple lyrics , and the song is alright and completely forgettable

the album is good on being soulful , being very fresh and bright , however melodies which are taken from all previous U2 albums , lyrics from band-aid ( in its worst quality )
 
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I'm going to give this a shot, after six weeks of listening.

1-Vertigo- A classic U2 rocker. Great single...although no other song sounds like this one. All Because Of You comes closest. It doesn't quite stand up to Beautiful Day (yet) as a leadoff single. 8/10

2-Miracle Drug- Classic U2. Sorry, Miracle Drug haters, these are the kind of songs that got me into U2. slow, building song with a message and a story...and Edge sings. My favorite song here....Classic U2! 10/10

3-Sometimes You Can't Make It...-This one had me the first time I listened to it. No, it's not "One", but nothing ever will be. I can live with that. 10/10

4-Love And Peace Or Else-Destined for the live set. I'm a sucker for the distorted techno/blues/Zeppelin thing. A powerful song for the times we live in....10/10

5-City Of Blinding Lights-Even if the verses aren't completely understandable, the chorus more than makes up for it. Yes, they are retreading some old ideas here, but they're GOOD old ideas. 10/10

6-All Because Of You-The string of perfect songs ends here. Catchy and single-worthy, but something seems off, maybe the production? This will need to be heard live...7/10.

7-A Man and A Woman-I'm in the minority. I like this song. Yes, it's lighter fare, maybe even throwaway, but damn catchy. Those aren't always bad things...7/10.

8-Crumbs From Your Table-So far, my least favorite song, but the lyrics keep it from being a complete clunker. 6/10.

9-One Step Closer-This one didn't hit me at first, but it's now my second favorite after Miracle Drug. Dark, moody songs you can listen to at night in the car on the drive home get my vote anyday(Walk To The Water, Love Is Blindness, etc.)...Something tells me I won't get to hear it live, though. 10/10.

10-Original Of The Species-An unusually strong song this far back on the album. It does feel a bit overproduced, but the chorus can't be denied. 8/10.

11-Yahweh-One of the best album closers this side of "Love Is Blindness".9/10
unless you count.....

12-Fast Cars-No, it wouldn't fit on the album, but it's damn good to see the band try something out of the ordinary these days. 9/10.



Achtung Baby still rules above all others. Always will. I'm OK with that.
8/10...
 
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