Topic: Review
Mittwoch, 1. August 2007
blogcritics.org: Some bands have been larger than life since day one... I think U2 is the epitome of the statement. When they came onto the scene in the late 70s and early 80s their unique blend, a kind of post punk rock and roll with plenty of political statements in epic arena rock format, there was no doubt they had the vision for something huge, and indeed they became something huge.
After much artistic experimentation, having delved into electronica/dance and coming somewhat full circle back to the more driving rock and roll that made them famous originally, they're still huge, now 30+ years later. [
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After much artistic experimentation, having delved into electronica/dance and coming somewhat full circle back to the more driving rock and roll that made them famous originally, they're still huge, now 30+ years later. [
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Mittwoch, 8. Dezember 2004
portale.web.de: Während der frühen Aufnahmen zu "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" (HDAB) sprach U2-Sänger Bono gerne über den "The Who"-Sound der neuen Songs. Das kommende Album, so Bono damals, sei die erste wirkliche Rockproduktion der Band und bestimmt die beste Songsammlung des irischen Quartetts. Gut zwei Jahre später hören sich die Aussagen des kleinen Dubliners ganz anders an. HDAB sei nach "Achtung Baby" das zweitbeste U2-Album. Mögliche Einflüsse von "The Who" erwähnt Bono mit keiner Silbe mehr. [ more]
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Samstag, 4. Dezember 2004
louisvillescene.com: For more than a year, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" has been described in the music press by U2 as a return to classic form, an album stripped clean of contrivances. Bono has gone so far as to call it the band's "first album."
Given that 2000's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was already a spectacular return to form, the bar was set unnaturally high. That may be why "Bomb" feels as if it starts not with a bang, but a whimper. Where's the high drama of "Bad," "Pride" or "Where the Streets Have No Name," those moments where Bono turns red-faced evangelical and the band is one big heartbeat? [ more]
Given that 2000's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" was already a spectacular return to form, the bar was set unnaturally high. That may be why "Bomb" feels as if it starts not with a bang, but a whimper. Where's the high drama of "Bad," "Pride" or "Where the Streets Have No Name," those moments where Bono turns red-faced evangelical and the band is one big heartbeat? [
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Donnerstag, 2. Dezember 2004
cornellsun.com: The music from the good ol' days lives on. I'm talking U2 from the '80s and early '90s. I'm talking Boy, War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. Bono, Larry Mullen, Adam Clayton and The Edge have been working hard to bring back that loving feeling that everyone came to know. In 1997, U2 tried, or rather somewhat half-assed it, and put out Pop, an album that didn't exactly "pop" in anyone's head. In 2000, we were treated to the four-time platinum, single-yielding All That You Can't Leave Behind, but once again were disappointed to find a pathetic excuse for what we knew as U2. Four years later we have the latest from the Irish band. Their latest attempt at that special something is How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. [ more]
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tagesspiegel.de: Ein zynischer erster Satz über das neue Album von U2? Der Niedergang begann damit, dass Bono Vox die Sonnenbrille für sich entdeckte. Der betroffene erste Satz wäre ein Seufzer: Ach, Bono. Die standardisierte Version: Nach fünf Jahren haben U2 endlich ihr lang erwartetes neues Album vorgelegt. Und die analytische: U2 sind Minimalisten. Mit wenigen Vokabeln aus dem Wörterbuch des Poppoeten – island, bullett, baby, stranger, hill, mysterious, shout, shining – lassen sich jederzeit U2-Lyrics komponieren.
Es mag einfach sein, sich über die vier alten Zausel mit ihren Kopftüchern und Lederhosen lustig zu machen, über die Prediger-Masche eines arrivierten Sängers und die dreitagebartlastigen Fotos im Booklet. Nicht nur einfach, sondern sogar spaßig. Aber was zählt, ist die Musik. Und die des neuen Albums „How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb“ ist eine Enttäuschung. Haben diese Männer, die schon so lange gemeinsam auftreten, noch ein Gefühl dafür, ob sie gut oder schlecht sind? Wagt jemand, ihnen im Studio die Wahrheit zu sagen? [ more]
Es mag einfach sein, sich über die vier alten Zausel mit ihren Kopftüchern und Lederhosen lustig zu machen, über die Prediger-Masche eines arrivierten Sängers und die dreitagebartlastigen Fotos im Booklet. Nicht nur einfach, sondern sogar spaßig. Aber was zählt, ist die Musik. Und die des neuen Albums „How to dismantle an Atomic Bomb“ ist eine Enttäuschung. Haben diese Männer, die schon so lange gemeinsam auftreten, noch ein Gefühl dafür, ob sie gut oder schlecht sind? Wagt jemand, ihnen im Studio die Wahrheit zu sagen? [
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idsnews.com: I am trying and failing to like the new U2. It's not that it's lost its touch; in fact, I would venture that 2000's inconsistent and aggravating All That You Can't Leave Behind contained one of its best songs ever -- "Beautiful Day." However, it's not even trying to be the band that wrote songs like "The Electric Co.," "Bad," "In God's Country" or even "Until the End of the World." Where there was once a child's-eye view of a world gone awry, you have a crapload of smirking irony and a lot of unremarkable music. [ more]
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wsbtv.com: It's harder to resist if I'm being given the hard sell by a salesman as convincing and talented as U2's Bono. He and the Edge have a 20-plus-year history of making the kind of arena-rock music that I and millions all over the world are willing to fork over dollars to own a piece of.
But, it's exactly because of their track record and the group's rock-gods status that so often roadblocks an honest appraisal of the band's current wares, in this case, the newly released "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb." U2 is on a pedestal, and gets the critical benefit of the doubt that others don't. For the discerning music buyer, they have to deal with both superfan fawning as well as the disingenuous, uncritical reviews that appear in whatever magazines happen to cater to the U2 demographic. Many of the reviewers (and their bosses) are fearful of printing the unspun truth and taking on living legends and the multi-million music industry machine behind them. [ more]
But, it's exactly because of their track record and the group's rock-gods status that so often roadblocks an honest appraisal of the band's current wares, in this case, the newly released "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb." U2 is on a pedestal, and gets the critical benefit of the doubt that others don't. For the discerning music buyer, they have to deal with both superfan fawning as well as the disingenuous, uncritical reviews that appear in whatever magazines happen to cater to the U2 demographic. Many of the reviewers (and their bosses) are fearful of printing the unspun truth and taking on living legends and the multi-million music industry machine behind them. [
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dailycollegian.com: With over two decades of music, the legendary Irish lads of U2 are at their best once again. From young punks that amazed us with style to mainstream rockers today, U2 continues to put out cool and inspiring music, savoring their old techniques and adding a softer, newer sound. The newly released "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" captures the distinct sound usually heard from the band, only this time it's the most mature and personal side of U2 we've been allowed to hear. [ more]
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Mittwoch, 1. Dezember 2004
tuftsdaily.com: U2 has never been short on ambition. With their last album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind" (2000), they sought recognition as one of the greatest rock 'n roll bands and succeeded. Then Bono went on a rock-star-turned-politician mission around the world, promoting world peace. Their new album, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" catapults them along this same trajectory with more motivational, feel-good rock.
Most of the songs on "How to Dismantle" come across as mini-sermons on love, death war and peace. Yep, they're back with more counting in foreign languages and more dialogues with the creator of the universe. With titles like "Love and Peace or Else" and Bono repeatedly singing "Where is the love?" it's quite clear what U2's own solution to the problem posed by the title of their album is. [ more]
Most of the songs on "How to Dismantle" come across as mini-sermons on love, death war and peace. Yep, they're back with more counting in foreign languages and more dialogues with the creator of the universe. With titles like "Love and Peace or Else" and Bono repeatedly singing "Where is the love?" it's quite clear what U2's own solution to the problem posed by the title of their album is. [
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cnn.com: U2 tends to remind me of middle-period Who: two bands whose pretensions are usually undercut -- beneficially -- by punkish roots and crack musicianship.
The Who managed to avoid the ponderous pitfalls of Pete Townshend's big concepts by simply playing the hell out of "Tommy," "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia."
Similarly, U2 has never shied from trying to sound like the world's most important band, but thanks to the group's chops, humor and self-knowledge, even a song such as "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" -- or a lyric as determinedly poetic as "Have you come to play Jesus/To the lepers in your head" -- avoid artistic affectation.
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The Who managed to avoid the ponderous pitfalls of Pete Townshend's big concepts by simply playing the hell out of "Tommy," "Who's Next" and "Quadrophenia."
Similarly, U2 has never shied from trying to sound like the world's most important band, but thanks to the group's chops, humor and self-knowledge, even a song such as "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" -- or a lyric as determinedly poetic as "Have you come to play Jesus/To the lepers in your head" -- avoid artistic affectation.
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