By Mike Fordham

For any group, following up a critically loved and million selling album is a monumental task. For the global megastars in U2, working off the heels of the spectacular All That You Can’t Leave Behind becomes virtually impossible. The pressure was gigantic for this highly anticipated release.

Fortunately, U2 ended up making yet another fantastic album, that in the form of How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. The follow-up sticks close to All That You Can’t Leave Behind, but is nuanced enough to stand out on its own. The Edge’s signature guitar is all over the album, adding to the group’s grandiose and sweeping sound. Still, the Irish act didn’t forget to rock on the album as well. It’s refreshing to hear U2 doing rock ‘n’ roll again after more experimental tinkering on previous efforts.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb kicks off with one of U2’s loudest and ballsiest singles in their career, “Vertigo.” The song’s ubiquity has really diminished an otherwise memorable and solid rock song (although Bono’s counting flub in the intro is annoying, even if it is in Spanish). U2’c classic expansive sound is evident in “Miracle Drug,” which is buoyed by a Coldplay-esque piano. The keys also trill in and out of “City Of Blinding Lights.”

Even for being a great rock band, U2 can also create touching and thoughtful songs as well. “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” is absolutely beautiful, and was even sung at Bono’s father’s funeral. “A Man And A Woman” and “Crumbs From Your Table” are also slower yet superb songs.

The lone clunker on How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is “Love And Peace Or Else.” While a clever title, the song itself sticks out from the remainder of the album since it’s radically different. A haunting, thick groove rolls the tune along, and is quite the diversion for the group. The track fits more in the Radiohead catalogue instead of with Bono and company.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb marks a pair of great releases from U2, which mimics their one-two punch of The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. U2 continues to excel, 20 something years into their career. In these times of trouble and turmoil, U2 is needed more than ever. Thankfully, they did not disappoint, and fly even higher with How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. And in case you were wondering, the title’s “answer” is “with love.”