C-Mart

U2 has always been about trying new things and experimentation. Just look at Pop. Many people hated that album because it was so different from what most people see as U2. But with each album Bono finds a way to grow musically, and I applaud him and the rest of U2 for it. As a contrast look at Green Day. Dookie was amazing, but the follow-up was a straight clone of Dookie. I didn't even buy it... nor did I buy anything of theirs until American Idiot last week. American Idiot was so much of a departure from their usual stuff that it got me interested in Green Day again. The same goes for Blink 182. I love their music, and I have all but 1 of their CDs, and I was getting bored... until their last album, which is much more mature and sophisticated, and in my opinion has proven Mark and Tom as real artists, and not just pop culture phenomena a-la Brittney.

As for this pretentious stuff... just because someone wants to make music in a different way makes them pretentious? Now, I don't know enough about Radiohead or PJ, but the only band I can think of off the top of my head that fits the pretentious definition is Oasis... or more accurately, just the one lead singer. (I can't remember his name) He was a real dick, claiming that they were better than the beatles.

Oh, and since when has Bono claimed to be the "voice of America"? Last I checked he as all about the Irish... Just looj at the Slain Castle Concert. The other day they were talking on the radio about which celebrities you would vote for to be President, and someone called in and said Bono. All I could think of was that he's Irish and has no possibility of becoming president.

Mr. Salty

Here are the complete lyrics:

"Vertigo"

Unos, dos, tres, catorce
Turn it up loud, captain

Lights go down
It's dark, the jungle is
Your head can't rule your heart
A feeling so much stronger
Than a thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something I can feel
Feel

The night is full of holes
These bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold
They twinkle
As the boys play rock and roll
They know that they can't dance
At least they know

I can't stand the beats
I'm asking for the check
Girl with crimson nails
Has Jesus 'round her neck
Swinging to the music
Swinging to the music

Hello, hello
Hola
I'm at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something I can feel
Feel

Shot dead
Shots fall
Show me, yeah

All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want
And no one gets hurt

Hello, hello
Hola
We’re at a place called Vertigo
Dond' esta
Lights go down and all I know
Is that you give me something
I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how
How to kneel
Kneel

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Rivero

I really don't understand all this talk of Radiohead being pretentious. I've never read or heard Yorke or any of the others actually put down Rock and Roll in any way or act all high and mighty. It's more just them still endlessly trying to justify their musical direction to people who still can't accept the fact that a band must do what is interesting TO THEM first or the band will just crumble and die.

bardevious

As much as I hate smilies, sometimes a little makes all of the difference.

bardevious

I'm thinking more about pretension in the sense of "an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment " (to borrow from Websters). The stuff Radiohead put out a few years ago hardly required an ensemble band, so why have a drummer, a bass player, a rhythm guitarist (essential elements in a rock band), when you've basically reduced your essence to the lead singer moaning unintelligibly and non-sensically, while the lead guitarist doodles on casio keyboards (a gross oversimplification, admittedly)?

So from my perspective, Radiohead was pretentious, in that they were still a band in form, but not in function. They tried to redefine what a rock band was, and it didn't fly.

Yes, I am a Luddite in the sense that I wanted Radiohead to return to the band that made "The Bends" and "OK Computer" and leave the electronic experimental jive to artists like Bjork.

Enough off topic jabber!

U2 has returned, and let us rejoice and be glad!

Josh H

Are any sites streaming this yet? I'd love to hear it, but can't stomach the radio.

countedcrow

www.u2.com

30 second clip available under the media heading.

Mr. Salty

You can buy it from iTunes for 99 cents.

MJKTool

http://www.u2station.com/

has an mp3 of it.

Josh H

Waste of $$ for me since I"m definitely buying the album when it comes out.

Thanks for the link MJKTool.

Achtung

From the NME, a track-by-track album review:

'It's one of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year, is set to be
one of the biggest-selling and NME has heard it first: it's U2's new album 'How
to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'. There are only two copies in the country but we
got our hands on one of them.

The album, the band's 11th studio collection, is the follow-up to 2000's 'All
That You Can't Leave Behind' and is an all-guns-blazing-guitar album produced by Steve Lillywhite (sp?). Because of a security lapse in the summer when a
CD containing the record was lost or stolen from a photo session in France,
security around the album is tight. However, NME managed to pull some strings to
get a sneak preiew of an unmastered copy.

Out on November 22, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb' is direct, loud and
often heavier than their previous album, with a couple of songs big enough to
shake stadiums. The first taste will come in the form of a single, 'Vertigo',
released on November 8, but until then here's NME's exclusive track-by-track
guide to the record.

'Vertigo' (3:07)
The first single, and as you'd expect, it's a corker. 'Vertigo' features a
riff from The Edge as big as 'Beautiful Day', perfectly complementing Bono's
cries of "Feeeel!" throughout the chorus. "Hello, hello, we're in a place called
vertigo", he sings. It's an anthem, probable Number One single and an
electrifying opening to the album.

'Miracle Drug' (3:54)
After the punky 'Vertigo', 'Miracle Drug' is much slower but still heavy.
"Want to trip inside your head/Spend the day there", Bono croons. It's a love
song with tribal drums and a massive guitar-led chorus. Could be a single.

'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' (5:02)
After two all-out rock numbers, 'Sometimes....' is the first ballad. Backed
by simple chiming guitar and drums reminiscent of 'Where The Streets Have No
Name', Bono sings "You don't have to put up a fight/You don't always have to be
right....let me take some of the punches for you tonight". The feel is a lot
like REM's 'Everybody Hurts'.

'Love and Peace or Else' (4:47)
An industrial growl and host of Nine Inch Nails-style noises hide Bono's
whispering intro, before the song evolves into a clapalong, glammy chorus "Give me
love and peace", Bono sings. It's the first hint of his political side, with
references in to "troops on the ground". A thumping bassline makes it all
sound a bit like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

'City of Blinding Lights' (5:44)
The second Big Stadium moment. Pretty piano opens the song, which sounds like
an updated 'With or Without You', Bono's in reflective mood, singing, "The
more you see, the less you know".

'All Because of You' (3:37)
'Achtung Baby'-era guitars back one of Bono's most confessional songs ever.
"I'm not broke but you can see the cracks", he sings. The lyrics suggest that
he may walk the corridors of the UN, meet with Presidents and be able to call
the Pope on his mobile, but sometimes he'd just like to be simple old Paul
Hewson.

'A Man and a Woman' (4:25)
If the first half of the record is direct, simple rock, from here on in it
gets more chilled. 'A Man and a Woman' is the last of the straight-ahead rock
numbers dealing with similar themes of lost love.

'Crumbs From Your Table' (4:57)
Compared to 'Vertigo' and 'All Because of You', 'Crumbs...' is one of the
more understated songs on the album. Could probably have been a B-side.

'One Step Closer' (3:50)
An ambient-sounding track their old producer Brian Eno would have been proud
of is the stand-out song on the second half of 'How to Dismantle...'. Bono's
dejected, or in his words has "crossed the road from hope", but is resigned to
his fate. "A heart that hurts is a heart that beats", he sings. It'll be the
lighters-in-the-air moment on next year's stadium tour.

'Original of the Species' (4:33)
In keeping with the calmer mood of the second half of the album,
'Original...' has subtle, cinematic strings backing a pretty piano. It builds into an epic
ballad which is classic U2.

'Yahweh' (4:20)
The title is the transliteration of the Hebrew word for the name of God, so
it's appropriate what the closing song is a plea for peace. "Take these hands,
don't make a fist", Bono sings, "take this mouth, give it a kiss".

'Fast Cars' (bonus track)
Unlikely to appear on the UK version of the album, this track is currently
slated for inclusion on the Japanese pressing only. That's a tragedy for UK U2
fans as it's by far the most exciting song here. With a distinct Middle Eastern
influence in the music, it's also where the line 'How to Dismantle an Atomic
Bomb' comes from. NME says: put this track on the UK album!

NME verdict:
For fans looks for that classic U2 sound, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'
is well worth the wait. Some strong tracks - particularly on the early part of
the album - guarantee this will be a massive-selling record and will set them
up for some monster live shows next year.'

So very excited!

cdollaz

I hate this crap.

bardevious

Wonder if they'll release this on a bonus disk here in the states, similar to what they did with the song "Always" for ATYCLB?

Rivero

I like U2. I think I'll be buying this on the day it's released. Thus ends my worthless post of the day.
-Rivero

Mr. Salty

"Always"? My ATYCLB came with "Summer Rain."

Anyway, I was thinking the same thing you were. It appears Japan is also getting a DVD about the making of the album. If neither are included in the American release, I'll be buying this from Amazon.com's Japanese Web site.

shaggy

I love this tune, and I agree every u2 song doesn't have to be poetry, even though 98% are. Bono writes the best lyrics in the game. This song isn't about the lyrics, its a rock song. It sounds way better on CD, radio sucks. Can't wait to hear the album and see it live.

Tommy_Harn

Not a huge fan of "Vertigo", but I wasn't overly impressed with "Beautiful Day" four years ago. I still loved "ATYCLB", as I'm sure I'll love ". . . Atomic Bomb".

Kerborus

It is true that there were two versions with a bonus disk. Some had Always, some had Summer Rain.

FM

Anybody else thinking about going to Dublin to see them live? If I can get tickets, I'm definitely going. I've been looking for an excuse to go to Ireland; I'd say this qualifies!

Rivero

Must be. The disc I got had "Summer Rain". This is the first time I've ever heard of there being a bonus disc with a song called "Always."