How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
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| How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb | |||||
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| Studio album by U2 | |||||
| Released | 22 November 2004 | ||||
| Recorded | November 2003 – August 2004 | ||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||
| Length | 49:08 | ||||
| Label | Island Interscope (U.S.) |
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| Producer | Steve Lillywhite, Chris Thomas, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Flood, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, Carl Glanville | ||||
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| Singles from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb | |||||
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How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is the eleventh studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in November 2004. Much like their previous album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was commercially successful and critically acclaimed and maintains a more traditional rock sound after the band experimented with alternative rock and dance music in the 1990s. The album was produced by Steve Lillywhite, with others involved in the production including Flood, Jacknife Lee, Nellee Hooper, Chris Thomas, Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Carl Glanville.
U2 lead singer Bono described the album as "our first rock album. It's taken us twenty years or whatever it is, but this is our first rock album." [1] Although not a concept album in the traditional sense, most of the music on the record deals with the world at the crossroads of its existence. Love and war, peace and harmony, and approaching death are themes of the album.
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb was a critical and commercial success, winning eight Grammy Awards, selling 8 million copies, and yielding several successful singles.
Contents |
[edit] History
In 2003, Bono said how one of their new songs called "Full Metal Jacket" was "the mother of all rock songs" and "the reason to make a new album". This song would later become "Vertigo".
A demo version of the album (The Edge's copy) was stolen while the band were having their photo taken for a magazine in France in July 2004. It contained unfinished versions of several songs that made it onto the album.[2] The band publicly announced that if those tracks were leaked online, they would release the album immediately. Several months later, tracks from the album were released online, but they were the finished products, and not the rough demos from The Edge's stolen CD.
Adam Clayton said of Atomic Bomb, "It's very much a guitar record. "Vertigo", "Love and Peace", "City of Blinding Lights", "All Because of You", all pretty up, rocky tunes. A lot of them are a kick-back to our very early days, so it's like with each year we have gathered a little bit more and this is what we are now."
In late 2004, "Mercy", an unreleased track taken from the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb sessions, surfaced on the Internet through a fan who had been given a copy of the album containing the extra track. The track is of less than standard audio quality, but managed to become a favorite on fan websites. Singer Michael W. Smith joined the band in the studio during the Atomic Bomb sessions and worked on at least one track with them entitled "North Star". That track, which was a tribute to Johnny Cash, has not yet surfaced officially or unofficially in any form.[3]
The album's release was followed by the commercially successful Vertigo Tour.
[edit] Reception
Much like its predecessor, this album met wide critical acclaim with critics like Rolling Stone (who described it as "grandiose music from grandiose men"), Q, All Music Guide, The Los Angeles Times and E! Online among others quite vocal in its praise. Following the 22 November 2004 release, the album debuted at #1 in 34 countries,[citation needed] including the US Billboard 200 (with sales of 840,000), the UK album chart, and the Aria charts. Worldwide sales as of 2006 number close to 8 million copies sold.[citation needed] This album is often described as the album which has firmly entrenched U2 at the top after the commercial and critical let down of 1997's Pop. The album received an average critic score of 79%, according to Metacritic.[4]
[edit] Awards and accolades
Like Michael Jackson's Thriller, this album was awarded eight Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2006, winning in all of the categories in which it was nominated. It was awarded the Album of the Year award in 2006. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" from the album was awarded Song of the Year and Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. "City of Blinding Lights" was awarded the award for Best Rock Song, and the album was also awarded Best Rock Album. In 2005, the single "Vertigo" from the album won in all three categories in which it was nominated: Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Short Form Music Video.
- Ranked best album of 2004 by USA Today
- Ranked best album of 2004 by Paste Magazine
- Ranked #1 in best albums of 2004 by The New York Times
- Ranked #2 in best albums of 2004 by The Los Angeles Times (Robert Hilburn)
- Ranked #4 in best albums of 2004 by Q magazine
- Ranked #3 in liveDaily's top albums of 2004
- Ranked #8 in Village Voice 2004 Pazz & Jop Poll (a survey of 793 critics)
- Ranked #23 in Top40-charts.com's best albums of 2004
- Ranked #25 in PopMatters.com's best albums of 2004
- Ranked #8 in best albums of 2004 by Village Voice
[edit] Single releases
The album was preceded by the lead single "Vertigo", which topped the charts in several countries, including the UK. It reached #31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Modern Rock Tracks chart, and it topped the digital downloads chart in both the US and the UK, becoming U2's best-selling single ever in the US with 2x Platinum status.
The second single in the UK was "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" which became U2's first-ever follow-up single to top the charts. On US adult contemporary radio it reached #15 on the Adult Top 40 and also appeared on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, the Pop 100, and the Hot 100.
"City of Blinding Lights" was the third UK release. It peaked at #2 and spent nine weeks on the chart. It also placed on the US Adult Top 40.
The second single in the US was "All Because of You". Although it received some airplay on rock radio, reaching #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart and #20 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the song had little mainstream exposure. When released in the UK, it peaked at #4 but only spent four weeks on the chart.
"Original of the Species" has been released to airplay in the US. So far, it has been added to the playlists of 12 US alternative rock radio stations. It has peaked at #6 on the Triple A Chart according to mediaguide.com and the video has reached #12 on VH1's top 20 video countdown. The track has also made brief appearances on the Hot AC charts according to Radio and Records and MediaGuide.
[edit] Apple promotions
"Vertigo" was featured on a widely-aired television commercial for the Apple iPod. Apple, in a partnership with the band, released a special edition iPod bearing the black and red color scheme of the album, as well as laser-engraved autographs of each member on the back. The Complete U2, an iTunes-exclusive box set featuring previously unreleased content was also released. Proceeds from the iPod and iTunes partnerships were donated to charity.[5] "Original of the Species" was also featured in commercials for the iPod, although this was used to promote the video iPod.
[edit] Track listing
Music by U2, lyrics by Bono except "Vertigo", "Love and Peace or Else" and "Yahweh" (words by Bono and the Edge).
- "Vertigo" – 3:11
- "Miracle Drug" – 3:54
- "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" – 5:08
- "Love and Peace or Else" – 4:48
- "City of Blinding Lights" – 5:47
- "All Because of You" – 3:34
- "A Man and a Woman" – 4:30
- "Crumbs from Your Table" – 5:03
- "One Step Closer" – 3:48
- "Original of the Species" – 4:41
- "Yahweh" – 4:22
- "Fast Cars" – 3:44
- An additional track on the Japan and UK CD editions of the album, as well as the deluxe editions of the album in all regions and the digital version included in The Complete U2.
[edit] Bonus DVD
- Documentary - U2 and 3 Songs
- Bonus Videos:
- "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own" (Studio Performance)
- "Crumbs From Your Table"
- "Vertigo" (Temple Bar Mix)
- "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own" (Acoustic Couch Mix)
- "Vertigo"
[edit] Charts positions and sales
| Country | Peak position | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Platinum [6] | 40,000+ | |
| Australia | 1 | 4x Platinum [7] | 280,000+ |
| Austria | 1 | Platinum [8] | 30,000+ |
| Brazil | 2x Platinum [9] | 250,000+ | |
| Canada | 5x Platinum [10] | 500,000+ | |
| Denmark | 1 | 2x Platinum [11] | 60,000+ |
| Finland | 1 | Gold [12] | 21,350+ |
| France | 1 | Platinum [13] | 300,000+ |
| Germany | Platinum/3x Gold [14] | 300,000+ | |
| Hungary | Gold [15] | 5,000+ | |
| Ireland | 1 | 10x Platinum [16] | 150,000+ |
| Japan | Platinum [17] | 250,000+ | |
| Mexico | Platinum [18] | 100,000+ | |
| Netherlands | Gold [19] | 40,000+ | |
| New Zealand | 1 | 3x Platinum | 45,000+ |
| Norway | 1 | ||
| Poland | Gold [20] | 20,000+ | |
| Portugal | 3x Platinum | 60,000+ | |
| Spain | 1 | 2x Platinum [21] | 200,000+ |
| Sweden | 1 | Platinum | 60,000+ |
| Switzerland | 1 | ||
| United Kingdom | 1 | 4x Platinum [22] | 1,200,000+ |
| United States | 1 | 3x Platinum | 3,000,000+ |
[edit] Personnel
- Bono – lead vocals
- The Edge – guitar, piano, keyboards, backing vocals
- Adam Clayton – bass guitar
- Larry Mullen, Jr. – drums, percussion
[edit] Additional personnel
- Jacknife Lee – keyboards, synthesizers
- Daniel Lanois – guitar, pedal steel, mandolin, shaker
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "U2 and 3 Songs" documentary within the DVD packaged with the How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb album.
- ^ Police hunt for 'stolen' U2 album BBC News. Retrieved 15 October 2006.
- ^ Ready for His Close-up - CCMmagazine.com
- ^ U2: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
- ^ Transcript: Bruce Springsteen Inducts U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame u2station.com. Retrieved 31 January 2007
- ^ CAPIF
- ^ ARIA
- ^ IFPI Austria
- ^ ABPD - Certificates
- ^ CRIA
- ^ IFPI Denmark
- ^ IFPI Finland
- ^ Disque en France
- ^ IFPI Germany
- ^ Mahasz
- ^ IRMA
- ^ RIAJ Certification Awards August 2005
- ^ AMPROFON
- ^ NVPI
- ^ ZPAV
- ^ PROMUSICAE
- ^ BPI
[edit] External links
- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb at official website
- How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb at U2 Wanderer, with comprehensive details on various editions, cover scans, lyrics, and more
- "Vertigo" the mini site
- Lyrics
- Reviews at Metacritic
- Fan interpretations and interview excerpts for each song
| Preceded by Encore by Eminem |
Billboard 200 number-one album December 11 – December 17, 2004 |
Succeeded by MTV Ultimate Mash-Ups Presents: Collision Course by Jay-Z & Linkin Park |
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