Review: U2 Celebrate 20th Anniversary Of ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ With 10 Bonus Tracks – ‘How To Reassemble An Atomic Bomb’

After hearing lead singer Bono say for a few years now that U2 was working on a “rock” album it appears they’ve shelved that in favor of a vault release celebrating the 20th anniversary of How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Bono’s answer at the time the LP came out, “Love.”), with a package entitled How To Reassemble An Atomic Bomb. It comes in a nice two CD package: disc 1 is the original LP and disc 2 contains 10 outtakes which they’re referring to as a “shadow album.” For the more financially secure folks there will be a limited edition box set with the aforementioned discs plus the audio from an An Atomic Bomb era concert in Chicago (which was released on DVD 20 years ago and yes, I own) and a disc of remixes. Remix discs usually get exactly one listen here at B&V and then I use them as a coaster. I can’t leave whiskey rings on the table, the Rock Chick gets mad… use a coaster kids, it’s one of the few things that separate us from the savages.

Even though the box set is probably a pass for me – as mentioned I already own the concert (albeit on a BluRay or DVD, I forget which) and despise remixes – I will probably end up getting the two disc version with the “shadow album.” Despite already owning the album on CD (I actually bought 2 CDs when it came out, one that was labeled as “deluxe” because it had the “Japanese only” 12th song, “Fast Cars” and one copy of the standard disc for the Rock Chick’s car…she had a nasty habit of destroying CDs in her car), and then purchasing the album on vinyl in a used record store recently, I think this bonus disc of outtakes is actually quite good and merits a purchase. It hangs together pretty well as an album and frankly makes the argument that How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb could have been a double studio album, something U2, like some other artists I know, have surprisingly never done.

U2 were coming off the wildly successful album and tour for All That You Can’t Leave Behind when they hunkered down to record the follow up. U2’s career up to that point had usually been, release a masterpiece, then follow it up with an album that was either transitional or experimental. Many of those experimental albums were great, but U2’s career always felt less than linear to me. They released War, which is where I got on the bandwagon and then followed it up with the Daniel Lanois/Brian Eno produced The Unforgettable Fire. I love that album but it was such a stylistic left turn it took some folks aback. If it weren’t for the success of “Pride (In The Name Of Love)” I’m not sure it’d have been as successful.

They followed that up with The Joshua Tree, their magnum opus. The bandwagon got pretty crowded after that record. Then they came out with Rattle And Hum, a “hybrid” album, part live/part studio. I loved that album but the critics pounded them for that record. They recoiled from the criticism and disappeared for a while and finally returned with another masterpiece, Achtung Baby. That was followed up with Zooropa, which again, I loved but it felt like a holding pattern. The streak was broken with Pop, which was considered a disappointment, but I think that was merely a case of the fan base’s expectations getting away from us.

After the huge comeback of All That You Can’t… I don’t think anybody was ready for such a great follow up. “Uno, dos, tres, catorce…” indeed. They were on tour for this album when Springsteen inducted them into the Rock Hall of Fame. Most acts inducted are heavy on nostalgia, it was rare to see a band inducted 25 years into a career and still be at the top of the rock world. I absolutely love this album and frankly consider it the last “great” U2 album. The Edge just lets go on guitar and Larry Mullen, Jr’s drums are inspired and tribal. The Edge hasn’t played guitar like this in 20 years. It’s like he discovered the one thing he does that the world loves and decided to stop doing it.

“Vertigo,” the lead single is simply put, iconic. “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own,” the second single written about Bono’s father who had recently passed, may be my favorite. Any son with a troubled relationship can relate to that song and the line, “I don’t need to hear you say that if we weren’t so alike you’d like me a whole lot more…” There’s a climactic moment in the song where Bono’s voice explodes, “Can you hear me when I SIIIIING…” that still brings tears to my eyes but then I’m someone whose father hasn’t heard a word I’ve said… ever. “City Of Blinding Lights” and “All Because Of You” were both great songs and went on to be singles as well. “One Track Closer To Knowing” was a title that Bono got from Noel Gallagher and is also about Bono’s late father.

There weren’t many ballads on this record. “Miracle Drug” starts off mellow but explodes into an epic track about half way through. “A Man And A Woman” was the only truly mellow track, an acoustic ballad that was a perfect change of pace on a rocking album. “Crumbs From Your Table” was both the Rock Chick and Arkansas Joel’s favorite. The only track that left me a little cold was the final (on the non bonus track edition) track “Yahweh.” Bono usually reserved the last track on every album to continue his conversation with God… Good for him. The bonus track, “Fast Cars” was actually much more to my liking. The whole thing is a truly fabulous U2 album.

As I mentioned earlier, I really like the tracks they chose for the bonus disc or “shadow album.” I will admit that I’ve heard/owned a few of these tracks before. They put out several outtakes on the fan club only release, Medium, Rare & Remastered, and yes, I was in the fan club for a long time and have that disc. There are several “alternative versions” of tracks from HTDAAB on MR&R: “All Because Of You,” and “Fast Cars (Jacknife Lee Remix)” to name a few. There are also a few tracks that didn’t make it to the shadow disc like “Flower Child” or “Neon Lights,” which was the b-side to “Vertigo.” Although admittedly most of the tracks on Medium, Rare & Remastered were early versions of songs that ended up on the finished album. “Native Son” became “Vertigo.” There was a track that was highly bootlegged from the sessions known as “Mercy” that is on the bonus disc here as “The Luckiest Man In The World.” I’ve seen a lot of complaints from longtime fans that they should have just put out “Mercy” in it’s original configuration but as I’ve only heard “Mercy” recently and am not as attached to it, I’m ok with that. But, I get it, why not include everything, even the earlier versions of songs? It’s a box set, there’s plenty of room. And I’d rather hear “Native Son” than any remix you can come up with.

That said, I enjoyed the bonus tracks. “Picture Of You (X+W)” is an early version of “Fast Cars.” “Evidence Of Life” may be my favorite. It starts out with a great bass line from Adam Clayton. It almost sounds like something from War. If you put aside the earlier incarnation “Mercy,” I liked “Luckiest Man In The World,” its a strong midtempo thing and would have sat nicely on the original album. I found myself wondering, where is this sound in U2’s music anymore? “I Don’t Want To See You Smile” which I’d heard before as “Smile,” is another really strong tune, bordering on a ballad. I particularly like Bono’s vocal. “Country Mile” is an arena sing-along in waiting. “Are You Gonna Wait Forever” is a great rocker that I had also previously purchased from The Complete U2. Nice guitar sound on that one. “Happiness” is borderline funky while still rocking. It has a call and response vocal that was interesting.

There’s an early version of “All Because Of You” that’s not entirely essential. “Treason” is an odd track where the band is clearly trying for a different sound. I didn’t necessarily attach to it, but that may be because Bono decides to rap in the middle of it, never a good idea. I’m unclear as to why they include the short instrumental “Theme From ‘The Batman’.” I like when the Edge explores his guitar sound but I wouldn’t call it essential by any stretch. So yes, when I take into account these last mentioned three songs, the band might have chosen a few of the other outtakes to include with or instead of these three tracks. Personally, as mentioned I’d have liked to see them put everything into the box that they had.

That said, overall I like the shadow album and I think this proves How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb could have been that elusive double studio album we all would have loved from U2 back in 2004. If anything these extra tracks are a reminder of how good U2 can be when they stop fucking around and play some rock n roll. Turn up that guitar! I like my Bono vocals in soaring, epic, arena sing-alongs. There are a lot of things to like and to explore in these bonus tracks that will only bring back that love of 2004-era U2.

Turn this one up loud!!

Cheers! (And happy Thanksgiving to all of you who are celebrating this week… and to those of you who are just gritting your teeth through the onslaught of relatives…. I see you too!)