Love ‘em or loathe ‘em there’s no denying that there are few challengers to U2’s biggest band in the world crown. The Rolling Stones haven’t made a decent album in over 20 years and REM may have challenged them at one point but have bottled it over recent years. That leaves the Red Hot Chilli Peppers as the sole band still releasing quality albums (although By the Way was terribly patchy) and pulling in the stadium crowds. Can we truly say that they rival U2 in the hearts of the masses? Probably not.
Nope, U2 now occupy a unique place in music and continue to break new ground. Over recent years their output has been hit and miss, in fact since Achtung Baby (probably their greatest moment but 13 years ago now) they have released the excellent but esoteric Zooropa, the plain awful Pop and All That You Can’t Leave Behind. The latter being heralded at the time as a return to form but in hindsight a transitional release that tried hard to capture former glories but veered to close to parodying themselves for comfort.
With high critical acclaim heralding the release of "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" the high sales that followed were inevitable. If you haven’t heard ‘Vertigo’ yet you’re probably reading this from deep inside the Amazon Basin on a clockwork computer. Yet it’s ubiquity fails to diminish it’s power. How long since U2 released a single that rocks so hard, pushing the Edge's raucous guitar up front, Bono telling us about ‘the boys who play rock ‘n’ roll’, his voice in fine form. In fact what is probably first noticeable about this whole album are those two factors. The Edge returns to the height of his sonic powers whilst Bono also returns to what he does best, using that voice as an extra instrument, creating layers of atmosphere that most closely recalls his input to The Unforgettable Fire and Joshua Tree albums.
‘Miracle Drug’ could have easily come off of the former album and the simply wonderful ‘Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own’ is up there to rival ‘One’ as their greatest ballad ever. Written about the death of his father last year, Bono turns in one of his best vocal performances. It always has been one of their great strengths this ability to use lyrics to connect with people. Sometimes dismissed as trite or vague or even mawkish, U2 know their audience, treat them with respect and talk about their lives in simple terms. How many millionaire rock stars are still capable of that? As the song takes off around the three minute mark, the pain and love in Bono’s voice brings a tear to this writers eye, whilst the band behind him pull all the right heartstrings. Beautiful stuff.
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‘Love and Peace or Else’ recalls ‘Bullet the Blue Sky’ in it’s eerie atmospherics and clattering drums before moving into a stomping rocker. The Edge let’s loose with a buzzing riff whilst Bono asks that we ‘lay down your guns / all your daughters of Zion / all you Abraham's sons’. Ah yes, political and spiritual Bono, are your heckles raising just at the thought of him? Yet he might, just might actually make a difference and how many of us can stand up and say that? Sportingly he offers to take the potshots at himself, on ‘All Because of You’ he puts forward ‘I like the sound of my own voice / I didn’t give anyone else a choice / an intellectual tortoise.’ I think he’s being hard on himself but the humility is welcome.
Elsewhere ‘City of Blinding Lights’ revels in a typically ‘understated’ U2 chorus that’s begging to be sung in stadiums around the world. ‘Crumbs From Your Table’ maintains the high standards found elsewhere on the record but it is true to say the latter part of the album fails to maintain the blistering pace of the first half. ‘Original of the Species’ in particular utilises a string section that Oasis would reject as too Beatle-sy. However if you do decide to get yourself a copy ensure that you purchase the edition with ‘Fast Cars’ tagged on the end. Originally mooted to only appear on the Japanese version it doesn’t fit with the rest of the album but is a blinding song utilising Spanish guitars and actually mentions that mysterious album title.
Unlikely as it may be to convert non believers, for U2 fans this is a welcome return to what we always loved about this band and may just pick up a few younger fans on the way. It certainly will maintain their biggest band in the world title, a position it would seem they are unlikely to relinquish easily.
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