How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
by U2
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 409 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 294 out of 409
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 409
  3. Negative: 81 out of 409

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  1. NolanLundgaard
    Apr 6, 2020
    9
    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2: 8.80

    Vertigo: 1 :) Miracle Drug: 1 :) Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own: 1 Love And Peace Or Else: 1 City Of Blinding Lights: 1 :) All Because Of You: 1 :) A Man And A Woman: 1 :) Crumbs From Your Table: 1 One Step Closer: 0.5 Original Of The Species: 1 Yahweh: 0.75 Fast Cars: 1 :) 11.25/12 ~ .938 -> 8.80 How To Dismantle    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb by U2: 8.80

    Vertigo: 1 :)
    Miracle Drug: 1 :)
    Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own: 1
    Love And Peace Or Else: 1
    City Of Blinding Lights: 1 :)
    All Because Of You: 1 :)
    A Man And A Woman: 1 :)
    Crumbs From Your Table: 1
    One Step Closer: 0.5
    Original Of The Species: 1
    Yahweh: 0.75
    Fast Cars: 1 :)

    11.25/12 ~ .938 -> 8.80

    How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was so good! This is one of my favorite albums from U2, it’s just that good! It contains a lot of really good songs, and I wish today’s music was more like what was in this collection of songs because they rock! Vertigo and City Of Blinding Lights are two of my all time favorite songs. I’ve always been a U2 fan, but this especially is a highlight album. I don’t really have any complaints except One Step Closer and Yahweh being a little repetitive, but they were still really good. All rock fans should listen to this album because it is hard to find better music than this! Highlights: Vertigo, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own, Love And Peace Or Else, City Of Blinding Lights, All Because Of You, A Man And A Woman, Crumbs From Your Table, Original Of The Species, and Fast Cars.    … Expand
  2. gigizayn
    Dec 22, 2016
    10
    The 4Fourth Masterpiece of U2, Follow By The Joshua Tree (1987), Achtung Baby (1991) & All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000).

    Even with 9 winning grammy for this album i think that the fans and the own U2 underrated this Brilliant album
  3. clinteastwoo
    May 11, 2016
    10
    ............................................................................................................................................................U2 At his Best
  4. Zaynhewsonjavad
    Apr 2, 2016
    10
    This Album don't deserve 79% for Critics...

    Deserves at Least 87% percents Is a Masterpiece.... And also have Retarded and Idiots in the public, that give less than 4 points, A NEGATIVE REVIEW, Please Metacritic Erase at least 45 negative reviews.
  5. Thenewone
    Dec 30, 2015
    10
    ............................................................................................................ Metacritic please delete any review with 0,1 and 2 points
  6. raciocinio
    Oct 21, 2015
    10
    More than half of negative reviews should be erased 81 negative reviews from this album???? Really???

    Even Songs Of Innocence 2014 that isn't great album don't deserve a negative review i gave 6 for Songs Of Innocence 2014 that i considered a so-so weak record of U2 without doubt HTDAAB is a hard punch compared to SOI in this album U2 won all 9 nominations of grammy and not won for nothing...
  7. sicrano
    Jul 19, 2015
    10
    Para os 81 imbecis foda-se............................................................................................................ o Metacritic devia anular esses votos
  8. Zanessa250QI
    Jul 6, 2015
    10
    81 imbecis que não sabem o significado de U2,poderiam morrer e anula seus votos inúteis e imaturos. HTDAAB é U2 em melhor forma sem mentira tinham que anular no mínimo esses 81 votos para não precisa mata-los;
  9. LoRevisor
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    Excelente Album!
    A 4 Obra Prima Do U2,Os Outros São The Joshua Tree,Achtung Baby E All That You Can't Leave Behind.
    Todas São Excelentes Mas Essas São As Top.
    Top How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
    1-City Of Blinding Lights
    2-Miracle Drug
    3-Yahweh
    4-Sometimes You Can't Make It Our Own
    5-Original Of The Species
    6-Crumbs From Your Table
    7-All Because Of You
  10. Avaliante
    May 30, 2013
    10
    Excelente Album!
    A 4 Obra Prima Do U2,Os Outros São The Joshua Tree,Achtung Baby E All That You Can't Leave Behind.
    Todas São Excelentes Mas Essas São As Top.
    Top How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.
    1-City Of Blinding Lights
    2-Miracle Drug
    3-Yahweh
    4-Crumbs From Your Table
    5-All Because Of You
  11. Ricko
    Jun 15, 2012
    8
    Top record from U2 - it's got it all. Hit singles, rock anthems, lighters in the air moments and some great production as well. Bono and co should the world how you make a stadium sized rock album. Although there isn't much experimentation on it and its pretty standard guitar rock, its got some of the bands finest moments on it. There are only a couple of non outstanding tracks on here.
  12. Alliecat8697
    Apr 30, 2011
    9
    A good album...but they're losing a bit of their older distinct sound that made them U2. A couple of the songs are a bit similar to previous songs. But they still sounded great, I think. 'Vertigo' sounded wonderful. It was kind of a newer-sounding U2, but it was them. I liked it.
  13. JalexD
    Feb 15, 2009
    10
    A stellar collection of songs, even if it doesn't gel as nicely as nearly all their other albums. Still it stands as a peak for one of the world's greatest artists ever, as well as being the best album of 2004.
  14. AlecF
    Jan 9, 2009
    10
    Just another U2 album. Of course, that mean's it's amazing. The ethereal, catchy melodies are really great in basically every song. Reviewers are judging the album not by how it sounds but as fans of U2's old stuff. Forget the band's identity and prior music and just focus on each track, and you'll see what I mean. Also, I disagree that the album ends badly. Just another U2 album. Of course, that mean's it's amazing. The ethereal, catchy melodies are really great in basically every song. Reviewers are judging the album not by how it sounds but as fans of U2's old stuff. Forget the band's identity and prior music and just focus on each track, and you'll see what I mean. Also, I disagree that the album ends badly. Original of the Species, the second to last track, is one of my favorite U2 songs. So, in all I think this is a completely brilliant album when you listen to it as music, not as U2 songs.… Expand
  15. TheDude
    Nov 21, 2008
    10
    Amazing album. Great songs and melodies right throughout.
  16. FabianoS.
    Sep 14, 2008
    9
    Good album.
  17. JonnyF
    Sep 3, 2008
    9
    Brilliant album but not as gd as ATYCLB, Achtung Baby or the Joshua tree. however still a great piece of work.
  18. ElevanI
    Jul 18, 2008
    10
    U2 always record good albums. Atomic Bomb is a great rock´n roll album. BEST OF 2004.
  19. DermottF
    Jul 4, 2008
    7
    What U2 have against them these days is if the album isn't better than Achtung Baby, then its crap. That's the standard they have set for themselves. This really isn't a bad album. But it isn't a great one either, U2 can do better. It opens with the fantastic Vertigo and even better Miracle Drug where Edge's guitar work is a touch of genius. There are other great What U2 have against them these days is if the album isn't better than Achtung Baby, then its crap. That's the standard they have set for themselves. This really isn't a bad album. But it isn't a great one either, U2 can do better. It opens with the fantastic Vertigo and even better Miracle Drug where Edge's guitar work is a touch of genius. There are other great songs such as 'Sometimes You Cant Make It On Your Own' and 'Original of the Species'. But it hasn't got that magic and deep feel that the Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby had. Its definitely one to have in your collection though.… Expand
  20. CalebM.
    Dec 19, 2007
    9
    First time i heard this CD i thought it was a greatest hits CD. Thats how good it is.
  21. scottw.
    Aug 19, 2007
    8
    U2 seems to just keep on going and going. In 2004 even though they already have two greatest hits albums spanning the 80s and 90s, they slam out an atomic musical explosion with an other album. Not the best work they have done, but not the worst. This one is like listening to the old but new U2, and is not a bad thing. A modern 80s or 90s U2 album is what it is, and it works off very well U2 seems to just keep on going and going. In 2004 even though they already have two greatest hits albums spanning the 80s and 90s, they slam out an atomic musical explosion with an other album. Not the best work they have done, but not the worst. This one is like listening to the old but new U2, and is not a bad thing. A modern 80s or 90s U2 album is what it is, and it works off very well to save it from turning into something like the POP album.… Expand
  22. CarlosM.
    Jun 29, 2007
    10
    One of the latest hight prices of U2....
  23. MaxG
    Mar 5, 2007
    10
    Awesome album. A must buy for any U2 fan.
  24. GuyE
    Feb 13, 2007
    8
    Of course this doesnt live up to The Joshua Tree or The Unforgettable Fire, but then again, what does? This is actually a lot better than a lot of new music out there and while it pales in comparison to some of their older work it is still well worth a listen.
  25. zainr
    Feb 1, 2007
    10
    great
  26. MozzaR
    Jan 23, 2007
    10
    What can I say, they r the greatest band in the world, and the album lives up 2 it, at first the songs don't sound catchy, but once u listen to them one or more times, they sound better and better everytime. That's magic!
  27. MartinS
    Jul 17, 2006
    10
    This album changed everything.
  28. JP
    Jul 17, 2006
    7
    Overall, this album is very good. Crumbs" "OOTS" and "COBL" are songs that stand out. Although I like this album, It is obvious that U2 has re-hashed material from their earlier albums. The melodies and hooks are beautiful and appealing, but U2 has taken a very safe approach to writing the music for this album. The lyrics are heartfelt, open, and honest. Aside from the song vertigo, I Overall, this album is very good. Crumbs" "OOTS" and "COBL" are songs that stand out. Although I like this album, It is obvious that U2 has re-hashed material from their earlier albums. The melodies and hooks are beautiful and appealing, but U2 has taken a very safe approach to writing the music for this album. The lyrics are heartfelt, open, and honest. Aside from the song vertigo, I feel that this is a very personal album from Bono. Musically, the edge, larry, and adam have not pushed themselves. Part of the journey in making music is to constantly explore, grow, and re-invent not only lyrically, but musically too. I hope for their next album, U2 take inspiration from "achtung baby" to re-invent their sound and push the envelope. Can they do it again? I hope so. They are damn well capable. I also hope they will work with Rick Rubin on their next album to help guide them to that next level.… Expand
  29. Carloscarlos
    Apr 1, 2006
    10
    Perfect. The best album since Achtung Baby (1991). The sound of the guitar in Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make... or in Original Of The Species is wonderful and lyrical. Not bad songs, only pure music.
  30. anthonya
    Mar 29, 2006
    8
    Great album and though stonger than All that you cant leave behind it seems to lack something i cant put my finger on. great tunes no doubt but i really miss that spirit of adventure and experimentation from thier 90's work. the production is just a little too slick. hopefully next record they will be more open to pushing themselves to more experimental sonics while keeping the Great album and though stonger than All that you cant leave behind it seems to lack something i cant put my finger on. great tunes no doubt but i really miss that spirit of adventure and experimentation from thier 90's work. the production is just a little too slick. hopefully next record they will be more open to pushing themselves to more experimental sonics while keeping the strong melodies and song structure. Never the less this is definitly one of u2's stronger collections.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

92
#92 Best Album of 2004
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2004
25
#25 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Village Voice
    50
    This time, Steve Lillywhite and the other producers assembled simply construct a U2 album in miniature, mixing in the Edge's processed-guitar trademark whenever you fear they're straying into unforgivable un-U2ness. That's just not enough.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    80
    This is grandiose music from grandiose men, sweatlessly confident in the execution of their duties.
    Read full review
  3. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    While the rest of the album fails to live up to the breadth of “City” and “Crumbs,” and while it takes serious missteps on the shockingly bad “Man and a Woman” and “Yahweh,” this is, by and large, an album to be thankful for, regardless of your demographic.
    Read full review
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