Customer Reviews

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(29)

 

 

The album is excellent, I give the album itself 5 stars as it really is a wonderful work for the band reflecting their ability to stay ahead of trends.

The reason why I give this collectors edition only 3 stars is that I feel the packaging is dissapointing. The CD is housed in a little cardboard pocket, that will make it very easy to get scratched or damaged over time. The book, while a nice little collectors piece, really seems to be a one time read, devoid of interesting reading or stories. The Addition of Fast Cars, again seems to be an ode to collectors in the US, as I don't believe the song adds value to the CD as it feels out of place.

Finally, my biggest pet peeve comes with the fact that the two cheaper versions include full lyrics in the insert, while this edition, despite a hardcover book includes no lyrics.

The CD is excellent, the DVD is interesting and worthwile, the Collector's Edition packaging and content leaves much to be desired. I would have preferred saving money and getting the Deluxe Edition CD/DVD combo. I recommend that others do the same.

I dig U2 and I like collector's editions (I have lots of cars). These "special" editions always cost more and most folks want to know is it worth it. Well, in this case (as in most) it depends.

This limited collector's edition contains three items--the cd "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (Hoppy looooves bombs), a studiomentary DVD, and a book. Obviously the price is higher than just the single cd or that other limited edition thing that includes the cd and dvd only (these potato farmers are marketing geniuses).

And that's for several reasons: The cd contains a bonus track not included on either the regular edition or the cd/dvd combo. It's not listed in the amazon listing above this review (who knows why?) and is a pretty upbeat, punkish number titled "Fast Cars". It's pretty good, but a little out of place in spite of the clever lyrics. The cd itself is probably worth 4.7 stars and the Edge really rocks. It's a very spirtual cd with some cool words and a lot of nifty base (especially on "Love and Peace or Else"). So overall the cd is very good--on par with the last release (the one with the song I quote to my fat lazy spouse Bessie just about every other day--"Walk On") and very reminiscent of the band's earlier style ('October' early). Again, the guitar is prominent and there's some modern techno keyboardy strange sound stuff on here too. Very good overall, but the point is there is a bonus track on this set (I believe it's on the Japanese version as well). As for the DVD...

The accompanying DVD is about 20 minutes long and in spite of what you'll read elsewere, doesn't really contain any complete videos or performances although the primary focus is on "Vertigo" and the moving "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own". The commentary (which continually interupts the performances) is interesting and there is conversation about drinking, but nothing about girls in the tour bus or anything scandalous. Overall, it's a too-short snippet of the band. And then there's the book...

I like to read, but this isn't really a book I'd look to read. It's a lot of scribble, some pretty cool sketches and paintings, some Article of Human Rights, lyrics, thoughts on paper and totals about 20 pages. Depends what you like I suppose. Personally, I pulled some of the pictures out and taped them to my cubicle at work (just for fun). You can guess which ones.

Where this set loses value (aside from the brevity of the dvd) is the package itself. The book is nicely presented, but the cd and dvd (both) are in slip cases (i.e., prone to getting scratched and annoying to get in and out) and the cd in a pretty flimsy slip case at that. A besotted listener could easily create some damage. So be careful. In summary: Great cd (with a good bonus track), short but interesting dvd, decent book, and lousy package. I sure hope this was helpful.

After four years, U2 have released their 11th studio album called "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb." It has the elements of any great U2 production, the addictive singles which get you jumped up, the signature ballads, and of course the songs which you can appreciate but take time to grow on you. These seasoned veterans have been in the game for about 25 years now, but they still have that youthful energy which makes so many people passionate about their music. After many listens, I think the new album stands above any of their 90's work, except maybe "Achtung Baby"

VERTIGO: first single and flat out rocking, Bono soars and Edge's slashing guitar are as hard as ever (4.5/5)
MIRACLE DRUG: wonderful piece of work, up there with u2's greatest. classic guitar and great lyrics (5/5)
SOMETIMES: good ballad which is still growing on me. good, but not great, but it is very emotional (3/5)
LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE: another rocker, a very different side or U2. sounds like something off the pop album, very good though, and the guitar work is insane (4/5)
CITY OF BLINDING LIGHTS: a future single for the band, very long with great lyrics and driving bass (4.5/5)
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU: has that old school rock feeling to it, another highlight for edge, who has a wicked guitar solo fired up by bono's classic yelling (4/5)
A MAN AND A WOMAN: a grower which really hasn't grown on me, U2 trying to do a R&B song and it doesn't work for me (3/5)
CRUMBS FROM YOUR TABLE: probably one of the most complete songs, has great lyrics and vocals by bonovox, and great guitar work by edge (4.5/5)
ONE STEP CLOSER: another grower which did grow on me. very understated but at the same time has a big effect (4/5)
ORIGINAL OF THE SPECIES: the beatles, sorry, u2, do epic and it works out perfectly (5/5)
YAHWEH: very positive closer which sums up the album as a whole (3.5/5)

When it's all said and done, U2 will go down as one of the greatest bands to ever exist. "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" captures the maturity of "All That You Can't Leave Behind," takes snippets from the experiments of "Pop," and finally continues the tradition of youthful energy of "Boy." A release us U2 fans will be very satisfied with, and we will follow...

U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
(An Essay)

It's taken me a couple of weeks to be able to get down on "paper" exactly how I feel about the Bomb. This has been an experience unlike almost anything I've ever had before. But I've now heard the album enough times (around 60) to feel like I can be somewhat objective in my review.

I've been a U2 fan since 1988, and a huge music fan since the mid 70's. I remember songs from the 60's when they were new songs. Yes, I'm old ;) U2-old. You call it.

This was supposed to be a review. But how do you just write a review about a life-changing album? I don't know how long this feeling will last, but this album has calmed me, even more than Coldplay's Rush Of Blood To The Head.

I always considered The Joshua Tree a miracle of an album, with the best opening three I have ever heard. It's still a miracle. And so is this. Which makes sense, because I consider it to have the best closing four I have ever heard.

The magic is back.


1 - Vertigo (8.5) - Very fun, and not very substantial rock tune. This is just as fun as it was from the beginning, which surprises me. Yes, Bono proved that the Edge can do the Hives and White Stripes better than they can, if that was the true goal. It is very smart that they made this the lead single, because it sets everyone up to listen to the whole thing before they realize that the rest of the album is not really like it at all. It sucks you in, and once it has you in its grip, the beauty of Miracle Drug envelopes you before you have a chance to complain that this isn't a hard rock album. At that point you are now accepting that U2 is best at what they do best-- being U2. And now you are very happy and open to finding out if the rest of the album is just as magical. And then you find out that it is. Since I've already started my Miracle Drug review...


2 - Miracle Drug (9.5) - It was quite obvious, even from the lousy beach recording, that this was destined to be a classic, on the level of WOWY and One. Mark my words -- it will be. I would love to see an embellishment of this song live, as was done with the other two. I think there is so much there to work with live. Bono can actually take off and fly with this if he feels like it. I think this song, more than any other, will make fans of non U2 fans. It's quickly become my wife's favorite song from the album, and she's not a U2 fan. She does like the album, though, as does everyone, U2 fan or otherwise, that I've played it for. If it weren't for the fact that it ends too soon, it would be a 10. It still may get there, depending what they do with it live.

This is a great example of how the Edge makes perfect use of sparse guitar parts to reach emotional highs. That simple ringing riff at the start of each verse is signature of U2 classics. I am so happy that his ripping bridge solo before his four vocal lines was allowed to breath. It's not buried, which is unfortunately sometimes the case with the production of some other U2 songs. And, yes, people, that IS the Edge singing those four lines! And when Bono joins in it is just perfect.


3 - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (10) - This has grown big time for me. In five years, we will be calling this the next "One". As we have already seen hints of, this will become HUGE live. The emotion is there. It may appear to be MOR to first-time listeners, but U2 did add magic to it to take it to the next level. Just listen in the headphones, and get swallowed up by the emotion. Trust me -- you WILL love this song, if you don't already.


4 - Love And Peace Or Else (7) - I'm not a big fan of this sound. I feel that this song is definitely overrated. As many people suggested, it is NIN-like, but I am not a fan of NIN. You can also hear some Depeche Mode here, but, although I am a DM fan, there are some songs from them that I don't care for much -- and this is the DM that I hear. Having said that, this song has definitely grown on me, especially the second half, which has some amazing sounds. This is definitely the next "Bullet The Blue Sky". Unfortunately, I often skip BTBS when listening to The Joshua Tree. But, as I often said, U2 are an amazing band, touching such a wide range of people, because although people can usually agree that they love their albums, they often disagree why, on a song-by-song basis. THAT'S why U2 is so universally loved.


5 - City Of Blinding Lights (9) - I loved this when I first heard it live, but the fist-pumping chorus didn't really grab me. Now, it's my favorite part of the song. A lot of people seem to feel that this has the best intro since "Where The Streets Have No Name", but I really don't feel that at all. It has a nice buildup, but nothing touches that "Streets" intro, only matched by its outtro -- that's magical. I love the guitar in this one, with the Edge basically using it as a horn section, if you hear what I mean. Adam shines in this one, too, as does Larry. Too many people have commented how Larry seems muted in this album. Huh? First of all, what do you want -- crazy drum solos serving no purpose other than to call attention to himself??? Secondly, he does exactly what he should do -- carries the rhythm along with Adam. And he does it perfectly! This would be great if it follows "Streets" live, and it closes the set before the encore, since it was mainly written about the live performance of "Streets" in the first NY show after 9/11.


6 - All Because Of You (8.5) - I did NOT like this song at first. I thought (and still do think) that the chorus was way too simplistic. But this song freaking rocks! It reminds me of very old U2 -- I'm talking pre-Boy U2. Listen to some of the demos and early performances to hear what I mean. But it is early U2 greatly improved and matured. I'm pretty sure the chorus is intentionally simplistic. But the Edge shines more here than on any song other than perhaps Mercy, which isn't *really* on the album, anyway. And when was the last time you heard Bono scream like that in a song? Never? I now look forward to this song when listening to the album. Wow. I think it could be a huge single.


7 - A Man And A Woman (8) - This song is definitely underrated. Yes, it is the most MOR song on the album, and I can handle one per album, but it is done VERY well. Adam absolutely shines on this song. As a matter of fact, despite what Bono says about this being The Edge's album (and he is classic Edge, here), this is *really* Adam's album. He is awesome.


8 - Crumbs From Your Table (9.5) - Several magazine reviews were beyond crazy -- this should be a B-side? Bull. This is an incredible mid-tempo rocker. Again, Bono dubs himself an octave separated (I'm sure there's a technical musical term for this), and as in every other song this is done to on this album, it works beautifully. And I've never been a fan of this technique, a la "Even Better Than The Real Thing". But what makes this song is the incredible guitar riff leading into the chorus. This is jangling Edge guitar at its most enchanting. The riff between versus is the second best thing about the song, and Bono's emotional peak in the last chorus of "I would believe" puts the stamp on it. I used to rate this a 10, and it may reach that again if they do this live.

And the line, "Where you live should not decide whether you live or whether you die," is my favorite from the album.


9 - One Step Closer (9.5) - This is the "Running To Stand Still" or "Promenade" of the album. It is WAY underrated. With a bit of modification at the end to make it blend into "Streets", this is a natural to lead into that. Must be listened to in the headphones in order to get a real appreciation.


10 - Original Of The Species (10) - The first I heard from this, like many others, was the ten second clip from a radio show a few years back. If you listen closly, the lyrics have changed -- Bono was singing over the recording with the current lyrics, and you can tell it was slightly different underneath.

Also, like the rest of the rabid U2 fans, the next I heard this was the acoustic performance at the iPod presentation. I thought it had the potential to be one of the best songs on the album. Through Bono's relatively weak, but heartfelt performance, and Edge's botched piano playing, you could hear a hit in the making. That clip hinted of where the acoustic performance would lead.

There's a lot of talk about the Beatlesqueness (is that a word?) of this song, and yes, it is quite apparent. But the Beatles never reached the emotional heights this song attains.

The Edge's classic jangling guitar pulls this along, beautifully tying in one of Bono's most earnest performances ever. His inflections are perfect, and just the way he rolls around the phrases are so natural and heart wrenching. This song is DRAMATIC. This whole album is dramatic. This has one of the best chorus they have ever created. And the part during the final, incredible chorus where he actually expresses joy in an almost laugh, is one of his best moments ever recorded.


11 - Yahweh (10) - This is the best closer they have ever done (and I consider this the closer; not Fast Cars in certain releases). This is a natural closer, for both the album and live. They'd better play this live. As a matter of fact, this is one of my all-time favorite U2 songs. I loved it from the first time I heard it. I'm not religious, but I do love the lyrics. And the ohhhhs that Bono sings near the end ranks up there with his all-time best. It just fits so perfectly. This is such a gorgeous song.


12 - Fast Cars (8) - When I first heard the looped leak, I didn't care for it much. I'm not a fan of forced harmonies accented at the end of each phrase, as made popular in the hip-hop world. I feel those are very cheap and lazy, and rather annoying. But now that I've heard the full version several times, I think it's very interesting -- especially the second half. There's no way they should end any version of this album with this song, though. Yahweh should end all versions.


I will also rate a couple of B-sides, because I think they definitely deserve to be on the album...


13 - Mercy (10) - This is the most powerful and classic thing that they have done since The Joshua Tree. It's a crime that this was cut because they didn't know exactly where to place it on the album. A damn crime. It's on my version of the CD, though ;) It's raw, emotional, classic U2. And at 6:30, it still just ain't long enough for me :)


14 - Are You Gonna Wait Forever (9.5) - Another B-side that deserves to be on the album (and is, on my burned version). Great song. Would be the best song on most other bands' albums. Classic Edge guitar.


Overall - 10 (the sum is better than its parts). This is currently my favorite all-time album, and The Joshua Tree held that spot for me for nearly 17 years. This is just more consistent end-to-end (even minus those great B-sides). To say that I am thrilled that they could have come out with such an album at this point is an understatement. It has completely consumed my life for a over two weeks, now.

Is it a classic? I think the chances are excellent, but we won't really know for years. Time is a key ingredient for making something a classic.

But it is GREAT!

Another u2 Masterpiece? Could very well be. It might not be at the level of "Joshua Tree" or "Achtung Baby," but its an extremely strong album with no weak tracks, unlike its predecessor ATYCLB. The 2000 album was very strong, but a couple mistakes made it one step away from a "masterpiece" which a lot of people said it was. However, I found that this album takes a few listens to grow on you and really appreciate. This will explain why a lot of people will give it 1-2 stars after a couple listens, or of course those u2 haters that haven't even heard the album. This album has so many different sounds coming from everywhere (layers of guitars, great double & backing vocals, heavy bass, etc.) This album is another reason why they will be inducted into the Rock n Roll hall of fame in 2005, first ballot.

1. Vertigo: excellent first single and great opener for the album. U2 just doing an exciting track, loaded with great guitars by Edge and heavy bass by Adam Clayton. Hit written all over it. I could have done without the "turn it up loud, captain" line, but in the end it's just a fun song (9/10).

2. Miracle Drug: Almost perfection in every aspect. The first verse is slow, with stunning vocal delievery by Bono, but then jumps at you when the chorus hits. The highlights of the track are done by Edge, who does a phenomenal slide guitar solo, and then sings the following verse by himself. Chills...Incredible song (9.5/10).

3. Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own: I think this is one of the most emotional songs u2 have ever recorded, very confessional lyrics. The "and it's you when I look in the mirror.." line sung in falsetto is breaktaking, the chorus is undeniable, and the understated, brilliant guitar work underneath it is perfect. I think the bridge might be a little overdone, but this is a big future single. (9/10)

4. Love and Peace or Else: Is this u2? Who said this album didn't have the usual experimentation? This track has masterful production as u2 do their best Nine-inch Nail impersonation. Simply stated, this song rocks! And to tell you the truth, it had to with Bono serving the only political lyrics on the album. Supersonic, dark, evil, distorted riffs from Edge throughout, and great solo to close off the song. A couple corny lines bring the grade down a little (8/10).

5. City of Blinding Lights: Epic u2. Beautiful build-up with the piano and guitar start this very 80s-sounding tune. I think Bono owns this track, great lyrics and delivery, and an addicitve chorus which will be a big hit on the next tour. "Time won't leave me as I am, but time won't take the boy out of this man". How can I hate on a song with a line like this in it? (8.5/10)

6. All Because of You: The best song on the album. The intro makes me want to cry it's so good, the Edge let loose and running wild! It's just a stomping, sing-along rocker with Bono yelling and bouncing you off the walls. It's like the Who made a cameo on the record, very 60's rock here. The way Bono yells the bridge ("I'm alive, I'm being born..") is one of his greatest moments, and Edge's guitar solo is one of his finest(11/10)!!!

7. A Man and a Woman: Now is when the album will require multiple listens. This tune is the epitome of SOUL, people will think it's too R&B but that was the goal of this track. Bono wanted to make "a summer Marvin Gaye" tune, and listening to this makes me wonder if they were signed to Motown all these years. The dominator: Adam Clayton. Incredible bass completes this sing-a-long tune that grows on you more and more (8/10).

8. Crumbs from Your Table: Biggest surprise of the record, it is pretty brilliant. Edge swallows the track and dominates it with his guitar work. Bono's delivery makes this chorus amazing, very catchy..the lyrics are very strong, especially the second verse. Very nice surprise, a lot rawer and harder than I expected (8.5/10).

9. One Step Closer: People say it's the weakest track on the record but I can't understand that. It has such incredible vocal delivery by Bono and fits the music and theme of the song to perfection. It really would have been a good fit on "Zooropa". The Lyrics are just genius to me, and maybe they could have done something more with the chorus, but it has this wierd feeling which grows on you. Took many listens to feel all this, keep in mind (8/10).

10. Original of the Species = Although I absolutely love this song, I have the most trouble with it because of what it could have been. First off, this the closest anyone has ever come to sounding like the Beatles. It is incredible, great piano and its place on the album is perfect. My problem is the over-production, what a mistake! There is too many things going on here, especially the strings. It should have been more stripped down, it would be far more intimate. And get rid of the "doo doo doo" line by Bono, ugghhh (7.5/10).

11. Yahweh: Despite the wierd-sounding title of the song, this has geniunely great lyrics and ends the album very well. The chorus is a little annoying, but the last half of this track is perfect. One of their stronger album closers, but definetly a grower (7/10).

Here's a statement of how strong this record is: the only real mistake was not adding "Fast Cars" to the regular edition! It is pure brilliance, u2 at their most experimental. It is a middle-eastern influenced tune with Arabic guitars by Edge and hip hop style vocals by Bono. What a gem, they left it off the album and I could see it being a single. "I know these fast cars...will do me no good." One of the best on the album.

u2 arent changing music history here. I don't know why some u2 fans want them to do this with every release. It is just a very strong rock record filled with songs I can't wait to hear live. Because as good as their album work is, their songs come alive on tour. A new masterpiece? Only time will tell, but it takes time and multiple listens to really fall in love and appreciate this great record.

Overall, the Collector's Edition is a MUST for any serious U2 fan.

THE CD:
I was expecting nothing more than an additional chapter of U2-Mach 3, which began with their most literal (and least poetic) record, `All That You Can't Leave Behind' (2000). Of course, the profile of that record, and in particular, the uplifting singles "Stuck in a Moment" and "Walk On", straddling the fence between the realm of classic U2 and the stereotype knee-jerk anthems, were undoubtedly boosted by 9/11.
In a sense, my expectations were met - this record is also pretty literal. But it is also much more personal. Like the 2002 single, "Electrical Storm", the predominant them is love in a world of chaos. Here is a song-by-song review:

1. "Vertigo". With the state of radio being what it is (and not what it was in the age of `The Joshua Tree'), why not release a new song as a commercial for one of the biggest (and most importantly, still hip) innovations in the music industry - the IPod? The brilliant marketing worked - the more I hear it, the more this tune grows on me, despite being nothing more than "Elevation II."

2. "Miracle Drug". The idea here is big anthems and big themes. Although this song builds like "Beautiful Day" and has some of the Edge's best slide guitar work, the song's potential as a single is undermined by the obtuseness of the lyrical simile ("I've had enough of romantic love/I'd give it all up for a miracle drug").

3. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own". If "Miracle Drug" is the musical counterpart of "Beautiful Day", then this is the counterpart of "Stuck in a Moment" (complete with a nice falsetto performance by the Edge). That said, this tune, years in the making while Bono's father was suffering from cancer that eventually took his life in August 2001, is arguably the best moment on the record ("I don't need to hear you say/That if we weren't so alive/You'd like me a whole lot more.")

4. "Love and Peace or Else". In the pre-release press, much was made of the producer shuffle on this record, as U2 ultimately tagged Steve Lillywhite, the original producer of their first three records (1980-1983). However, the award-winning team of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois take the helm for the most original track on the record - a bluesly barroom boogie buried in an ominous soundscape and perhaps the only overtly political tune on the record - showing that the band has not completely abandoned their desire to stretch musically, which was more a characteristic of U2 in the 1990s.

5. "City of Blinding Lights". I was glad to hear Flood take the production helm (does anyone remember the grossly underrated `Pop' (1997)), but unfortunately, this mid-tempo ode to Bono's wife and musical hat-tipper to The Cure is really not one of the stronger tracks.

6. "All Because of You". Bono initially characterized this as a rock record, with the Edge re-discovering the guitar and the band resisting their post-punk anti-rock inclinations. In actuality, the acoustic guitar is very prominent on this record. However, only "Vertigo" and "All Because of You" are true rock songs in the traditional sense. Although this tune will likely be a pick for a second or third single, the band should have left such thinly-veiled, knee-jerk religious sentiments ("All because of you/I am") to the disastrous second record, `October' (1981).

7. "A Man and a Woman". This is another love song, the sound of which screams "adult contemporary". That said, I immediately liked it. Bono provides some of his best vocals/lyrics ("I could never take a chance/At losing love for romance"), the Edge delivers a subtle acoustic guitar, and Adam Clayton drives a nice bass line for a really strong tune that did not receive much hype prior to the release of the record.

8. "Crumbs from Your Table". Obstensibly, this is another love song ("From the brightest star/Comes the blackest hole/You had so much to offer/Why did you offer your soul/I was there for you, baby/When you offered your hand/Why did you offer your soul/Would you deny to others/What you demand for yourself/Cool down, mama!/Cool it off!"). But as with many other great U2 songs, the song takes on another life and eventually comes to sound like a love letter from Bono and the rest of the world to the post-9/11 United States ("Where you live should not decide/Whether you live or whether you die").

9. "One Step Closer". As a return to the ethereal sounds of `The Unforgettable Fire' (1984), Bono's choice of lower octave for the vocals gives the song promise. But ultimately, it feels more like an incomplete poem.

10. "Original of the Species". Although the first ten seconds (a haunting and simple piano line) are promising, the song ultimately devolves into a rather forgettable, over-orchestrated tune much in the vein of "City of Blinding Lights".

11. "Yahweh". No subtlety here. See "All Because of You" and `October' record.

12. "Fast Cars." If you purchase the collector's edition box set or the import version of the record, you will find the bonus track, "Fast Cars", which was left off the album proper not because of quality, but because of its not-like-the-others sound. That said, this middle-eastern influenced acoustic romp, pontificating upon the emptiness of modern existence ("Don't you worry about your mind/You should worry the day your pain goes away"), is quite a refreshing change for U2.

THE DVD:
The DVD is a very nice addition, featuring:

1. "U2 + 3". This is a well-made 20-minute in-studio documentary on the making of the record, and in particular, the tunes "Sometime You Can't Make It On Your Own", "Crumbs from Your Table", and "Vertigo".

2. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (performance video)

3. "Crumbs from Your Table" (live studio performance)

4. "Vertigo" (Temple Bar Mix). (I loved this - Bono accompanied only by the Edge on banjo!)

5. "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (Bono/Edge acoustic couch mix)

6. "Vertigo" (performance video - NOT the official video)

THE BOOK:
For the collector's edition, U2 have taken a page (so to speak) from Pearl Jam and Radiohead, bands that have long since included band artwork and various musings (i.e., not lyrics) intimating the meaning of the songs, with the inclusion of a hard-cover book.

WOW, I hate writing reviews but after watching the band perform on SNL, they are the greatest. I'm a die hard SNL fan, and this is the best performance ever. "Sometimes.." came to life on stage even more than the great album version, Bono was stunning with his voice. The show was running its credit and they played "I will Follow", the whole audience was in awe, even the cast members were loving it, one of them teared up. THANK YOU U2, YOU ARE THE BEST FELLAS!!!

As one who is about the same age as Bono and has been listening to the band since they first hit America with Boy, IMHO this is their best album, yet. While I am a long-time fan, I am not a fanatic. Unlike some vocal critics, I like how they have continually evolved their act and writing. I'm glad they didn't just keep doing retreads of War or Achtung.

Now, with All That ... & How To ... their songwriting craft has risen to an even higher level. They are writing classic songs that are timeless and can be interpreted in any genre. Additionally, they play with such confidence and skill it seems effortless and deceptively simple. In particular, the bass playing is Adam Clayton's best work.

This is a record that will have special appeal to more mature listeners without an agenda. Listening to it, I was compelled to go through their entire catalog and listen to it all again. Without question, the trend of their music has been upward, leading to this. Elements of all they've done in the past is here, tempered by a new maturity of their earnestness. Nevertheless, this is not a regression to, or a recapitulation of the past. These last two albums are the start of U2 hitting a new plateau; moving beyond being a rock band (albeit one the best in the world), to being (simply) a band.

The songs improve with repeated listenings. How many artists can claim that? These guys are doing thier best work, ever.

Buy it, load it on your iPod or Zen, and enjoy it for a very long time.

This band never ceases to amaze me. They have taken their years of expeirence and talent and wrapped it up nicely inside this bomb about to explode into everyones minds.
Love and Peace or Else is one of the single heaviest songs I've ever heard from U2 and City of Blinding Lights is a materpiece.
Original of the Species and All Because of you incorporate clear sounds and influences from their past. This is one of those rare albums where every track is well worth the money. Adam Clayton on bass has never sounded better, Bono sings with passion and renewed spirit The Edge has cloned himself along with some additional guitars and Larry Mullen Jr.on drums is simply awesome. Don't miss this one... The entire album is U2 putting this story of their life to music.

I love this new album. They have succeded again to reinvent themselves and grow in all the fans hearts.
I reccomend this limited collector edition, it has a great 48 page book with drawings and hand written texts.
Also you shoud give it time and not rate it at the first audition. It's too subtle for the average listner so you should open your ears more than usual ;)