Amazon.com: The album that carries U2 into its 25th year--and likely the mixed blessings of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame--is one of its most frank and focused since the days of October and War. But its gestation was anything but simple, in part salvaged from '03 sessions the band deemed subpar. Enter Steve Lillywhite, the band's original producer and sometime collaborator in the decades since, who helped retool the track "Native Son" (originally an antigun screed) into the aggressive iPod anthem "Vertigo" and leaves his distinctive stamp on the muscular "All Because of You." Perhaps weary of ceaseless, fashion-driven reinvention in the wake of monumental success, U2 seem only too happy here to re-embrace their original sonic trademarks in service of more daring, pop-melodic hooks than they've collected in one place in decades. The Eno/Lanois produced "Love and Peace or Else" may shimmer with the duo's electro-production conceits, but it's Edge's lugubrious, postmodern John Lee Hooker guitar swagger that drives it. Elsewhere, Bono's trademark dramaturgy is spotlighted on "City of Blinding Lights," the unabashed romance of "A Man and a Woman," and the confessional "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own." It may come wrapped in a conundrum--is it nostalgic retrenchment or a sum of the band's endless musical catharsis?--It's also the album where, Fly and MacPhisto be damned, U2 boldly claims its arena titan mantle with apologies to no one. --Jerry McCulley
A 'must have' album for casual to hard-core U2 fans If you love early U2 AND later U2 you'll LOVE this album for the mix of both found in the music on this disc. I liked this album even better than ALL THAT YOU CAN'T LEAVE BEHIND.
I also recommend the Collector's Edition of this album. Yes, I have both!
With a Hammer!!! That's how Thor does it... I guess they've got another plan. Probably. Anyway, it involves Yahweh, some Jewish deity you may have heard of.. ;) Of course, the details of which bomb, where, and who precisely is mostly left off, which makes it not really live up to the hype. But still, we've got Vertigo, which except for a criminally irritating beginning is a quite good song. None of the other songs hit that mark, but they're still excellent rock songs.
I'm not one of those W fans who's gonna scream about how they sold out after the 80s... I actually hate that phase of their career. Unfortunately, the 90s are over, and now we're left with the band sort of looking around quizzically. So, nobody cares much about disco/tech anymore, let's make a rock record! It mostly succeeds in those areas, but there aren't a large number of dizzying heights, at least, not in the same way on earlier records. Of my favorite W (say it out loud) records, it goes Zooropa, Achtung, Pop and then this. But, maybe that'll change.
U2 - Good But Not Great U2's most recent disc is another high quality release. The album starts out with one of their all time great singles in my opinion, "Vertigo" and is for the most part strong albeit a bit pedestrian the rest of the way. My reaction to this album is fairly typical of most U2 releases. I always like them, but they never blow me away like they do for a lot of people. This album hits me about the same. I like it, but don't love it. The material here is fairly straightforward with the band not taking any major risks like they did on many of their late 80's and 90's albums. This can be seen as a great return to form by some or a blatant attempt to pander to the masses by others. I guess I fall somewhere in the middle. "Bomb" is one of the rare albums in my collection where I think the singles are actually the best songs on the album. Along with the aforementioned "Vertigo" Bono's lament about his fathers death "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" is a heart wrenching killer of a song and another of the albums top cuts. Overall I give "Bomb" about a 3.5 star rating. Above average, but not great. The band has certainly done better, but this one has enough to like about it to make it worth a listen.
Best album of 2004 U2 is one of the best bands I think. They have a unique sound to them that is very likeable. This is the first U2 album I listened to and I have to say that it's a great album from beginning to finish. The highlight is clearly the hit "Vertigo." My favorite songs are "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" and "Love And Peace Or Else." Why does this album have such a bad rating? It's one of 2004's best albums in my opinion. If you're new to U2 or an old fan check this album out. It's worth it!
Great Music I've always been a fan of U2 but recently my renewed commitment to my faith has awakened me to the meaning of the words of many of these songs. I suppose a lot of people don't see Bono as a man of religous faith. To these folks I say read your Bible and listen to U2 again.
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
