Classic U2 Returns!

At long last, the greatest band returns with an album they can be proud to call their own. U2 had for over a decade now experienced what many considered a slump. In 1991, when U2 released "Achtung Baby," they were the biggest band in the world, and everybody knew it, you couldn't hate them even if you wanted to. But in 1993, the band released "Zooropa," which you either loved or you hated (I was one of those who happened to love it, but it wasn't a very accessible and radio-friendly album). Then came "Pop" in 1997, which most everybody considered a failed experiment with electronic music (although this was a very misunderstood album, in its defense). The band needed a hit, and they got one in 2001 with "All That You Can't Leave Behind," but something was still missing, that spark and soul the band had in albums like "The Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby." Sure, songs like "Beautiful Day" were catchy to listen to, but it was largely generic pop music, which brings me to the end of this history lesson and up to the present.

Then came "Vertigo," the first single off the new album "How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" and U2 fans everywhere across the world suddenly exploded with excitement. Suddenly, U2 was a rock band, and the song had a sound unlike anything they had done before. This is what makes U2 such a unique group, when so many artists constantly put out the same album again and again. Say what you will about U2, but they have for the most part challenged themselves on each album to take on a new sound, from the punk style of their first few albums to an ambient sound on "The Unforgettable Fire" to American roots music with blues and country on "The Joshua Tree" and "Rattle and Hum." Finally, with "Vertigo," we have a new U2 again. Right? Well, not exactly.

For those who have only listened to "Vertigo" and are expecting that same kind of sound throughout "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," you will be surprised. It is not as the band calls it, a rock album, although it does feature some great rock songs, most notably "Love and Peace or Else," which has the feel of the band performing live in a concert full of thousands of screaming fans as you listen to it on your home CD system. It's got a driving drum beat and the only prior U2 work I can think of that it's at all reminscint of is a great b-side from the 80s called "Silver and Gold." But for the most part, this album sees a revival of the definitive U2 sound from the 80s that they first discovered on "The Unforgettable Fire" with such classics as "Pride" and "Bad."

And this album is full of that unique sound that can only be classified as The Edge. With the second track, the album takes off into emotionally intense territory on "Miracle Drug." Sounding almost like U2 covering the Smashing Pumpkins "Tonight Tonight," this song delivers a dynamic build-up that cannot fully be appreciated on the first listen. And that brings me to an important point about this album, and the reason why it may receive some so-so reviews. This is an album that is incredibly complex, and it has to grow on you with repeated listenings.

The third track somehow gets even better, "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own." It's a ballad that can rival even "With or Without You," and if it doesn't move you nearly to tears, there's probably something wrong with you. Although it was written about Bono's father, the song's lyrics do what all good U2 songs do and allow you to imagine the song to be about almost anything, it has a very personal feel.

Other highlights on the album include "Original of the Species," which just keeps building and building until the end. When you first listen, you will be tricked into thinking you're hearing the chorus, but wait, the song changes again and then it changes again once more. This is one of those songs that will really have to grow on you, but I suspect that it's the track that will most reward repeated listens.

Are there any weak songs? I wouldn't say so, but there are just plain good songs, as opposed to the other amazing tracks. One of the just plain good songs is "Yahweh," which ends out the album. The truth is it's not quite strong enough to end out such a wonderful album, but it's still got a classic U2 feel to it, and you can almost hear the guitar hook from "Where the Streets Have No Name" at the very end of the song. The other shame is that only the UK version of the album include the bonus track "Fast Cars," which I can't say I've heard yet, but it's supposed to be a wildy energetic song, and it's a shame that you have to spend import prices to get a hold of it. I can honestly say that if you've ever been a U2 fan (of any of their albums), you'd be a fool to pass this one up, an album like this comes out once a decade, this is the album that will represent the decade as "The Joshua Tree" and "Achtung Baby" did before. Get this album!