U2 as always, the same but different: Different Sound, Exceptional Quality

This is a CD that I have been waiting for with quite a bit of anticipation. I grew up with U2, being only 19 the band has been around longer than I have. My brothers passed down their old tapes to me and I was introduced to possibly one of the biggest bands ever. On to this album....How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb lives up to my anticipation, and surpasses them in many ways. Where All That You Can't Leave Behind showed that U2 could go back to their old ways and create an amazing collection of thought provoking songs, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb shows that U2 can create something completely new and make it instantly classic. Veritgo kicks off the Cd to a rocking start, Vertigo, however, is not a template for the rest of the CD. Whereas Vertigo is an outright loud rock song, the rest of the CD explores grandeur of music while somehow staying subtle. The subtleness of the rest of the CD makes Vertigo sound that much better. The other standout tracks of the CD include Miracle Drug, City of Blinding Lights, All Because of You and Original of the Species. All of these tracks are great in their own way, it seems as if throughout the album The Edge was given free reign to do as he wishes with his guitar and it pays off. Bono also excels in this effort and in every song his vocals will determine your mood in the song. Whether it is in the thought provoking and somewhat moody A Man and A Woman, or his protest in Love and Peace or Else, you will truly be affected by Bono's thoughts and lyrics. Bono is at his best when singing from his heart with a purpose, and that is exactly what he sounds like on every track of this album. Adam Clayton's bass lines add a great deal to each song and push the album into that elite category. My only complaint is that Larry Mullen Jr. doesn't get into the action quite as much as the other players, there are no butt kickers like Bullet the Blue Sky for Larry to unleash on, of course after over two decades of playing the drums, one could imagine the toll it has taken on his wrists and hands, Larry is probably just saving himself for the tour, and what a great one it will be. U2's newest effort will no doubt garner high praise and many awards, and deservedly so, it seems as if U2 in the eighties was the drink of choice, but now they are like a fine wine, better with age as How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb displays.