U2 ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (20th Anniversary)’ 5CD Super Deluxe Collectors Boxset (Limited Edition)

This box set celebrates the twentieth anniversary of U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb which was their last album to truly achieve high global sales (9-10 million copies sold) and receive a number of prestigious accolades like Grammy awards. It is interesting really because when I first played the original release 20 years ago, I was left unimpressed by HTDAAB apart from 2 songs. However, two decades later maybe my opinion has just changed or perhaps this twentieth anniversary remastering has revealed more sonic detail and clarity of each instrument because when I first played this re-released version it had so much more effect on me consistently throughout. Really, I was buying this box set for the shadow “Re-assemble” album and live tracks, so it was a pleasant surprise to finally truly enjoy the “Dismantle” record as after all it was U2’s last genuinely successful work.“Dismantle” may not have the groundbreaking creativity of Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop but it is a highly decent and effective U2 record because it carries on the same path as its predecessor - 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind - and keeps U2 in the back-to-basics primary colours of rock re-packaged with a pop coating. However, “Dismantle” has a greater emphasis on a louder and more direct rock sound than ATYCLB with their first producer Steve Lillywhite mainly producing. But, like ATYCLB - though to a lesser extent - there are hints of their 1990s sonic experimentation that remain through the inclusion of exciting synth sounds that enhance the sonic palette of the “Dismantle” songs and illuminate the soundscape further.Thematically, HTDAAB has a range of moods and feelings that deal with the personal and the political, but it feels for the most part slightly darker because some lyrics reflect the sad passing of Bono’s father a few years before. In Miracle Drug, Bono futilely wishes for a medication that would have saved his father. Musically, it is replete with those quintessential ringing U2 guitar riffs and sounds like a sadder and more emotional Beautiful Day with a beautiful synth breakdown again in the middle. Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own is similarly poignant regarding Bono’s grief and is another key track especially as it surely marks the last occasion that a U2 single reached number 1 in the UK. The gently rumbling beat entices the listener and there is yet more great acoustic and electric guitar work from The Edge including a scintillating performance during the “you’re the reason why the opera is in me” climax. One Step Closer is also moving about Bono’s father with Bono wondering about whether there is an afterlife. Originally, musically I thought it was lightweight and filler back in 2004, but the remastering has really brought out all the intricacies of the sound and it now sounds gorgeous and ethereal.However, other more thoughtful tracks on HTDAAB reflect more outwardly in typical U2 style about worldwide issues during the early to mid-2000s. Love and Peace or Else is overtly about the 2003 Iraq War and with Led Zeppelin-like heavy guitar riffing and some more spellbinding synths and lead guitar it is a powerful call for calm. Crumbs From Your Table highlights the plight of poverty in less developed countries and asks for more help from richer states - it is the joint finest song on HTDAAB, rocks in true Lillywhite-produced style and the guitars are so melodic and like vintage 1980s U2. Yahweh is a very spiritual and religious track and hopes for a more positive future for the world - the opening synths and beats are somewhat like those in their joint best song (along with One) With or Without You and yet again there are more tuneful guitars that propel it along.However, although some of songs are more brooding HTDAAB is versatile too as the other tracks tend to be more upbeat. The lead single, Vertigo is clearly one of U2’s most iconic numbers and euphoric with crunching guitars, pounding bass and soaring solos. It does not just hark back to the band’s debut album Boy but also references the garage rock of the early 2000s that was popular at the time. All Because of You is similarly thumping - presumably referring to Bono’s wife Ali - and is similar in sound to Oasis and the virtuoso guitar playing by The Edge is captivating. City of Blinding Lights - initially demoed during the Pop sessions - refers to New York and Bono’s wife again and is another key track with chiming and cascading piano playing and yet more thrilling Where the Streets Have No Name-like guitars. A Man and a Woman is another number that celebrates Bono’s marriage - after tracks 7 and 8 were the weakest on ATYCLB it is interesting how the corresponding 7/8 ones on HTDAAB are the finest of the collection. It is a far superior acoustic song to Wild Honey, so much more effort has been put into it and the melody and the climactic “Brown eyed girl” verse are simply breathtaking. Original of the Species refers to the band’s children’s childhoods and is delightfully Beatles-esque with a piano driven hook. The extra track Fast Cars is ambiguous and eccentric in meaning though there are references to the Iraq war again but musically it is a thrilling and energetic way to close out HTDAAB and its style hints at the slightly more exotic direction of its successor, 2009’s No Line on the Horizon.The "Re-assemble" shadow album is equally as truly good as the main one. It seems U2 placed only the most commercialised songs on "Dismantle" to ensure they did not lose sales like they did with 1997's hugely underrated Pop. "Re-assemble" is less poppy and is the sound of them largely stripped back with just the "4 musicians in the room." In quite a lot of ways it is like the loud, noisy guitar rock album that Bono promised will be U2's next record (which The Edge recently backtracked on). Opener Picture of You (X+W) is like an earlier version of Fast Cars, but it is of equivalent high quality because it is an alternative take in that it is more hard rocking and boisterous. Evidence of Life is equally frenetic, and the jangly lead guitar and psychedelic synth hook take it to another level. Happiness ranks amongst some of my favourite U2 songs ever and has a propulsive stomp and yet more trademark U2 guitar including a mind-blowing solo.Other songs are very electrifying still but delightfully recall U2's 1980s golden age (though Achtung Baby is also part of their imperial phase). The joyful Luckiest Man in the World derives from a demo that could be heard years ago called Mercy and is the absolute most magnificent on this shadow album. The Edge's lead guitar swirls around the main melody and it is epic and grand restoring U2 back in time to their cinematic Joshua Tree sound. Country Mile is excellent also in this early-to-mid period U2 respect and includes yet more graceful guitar work from The Edge. Are You Gonna Wait Forever? included here on "Re-assemble" was originally a B-side released on the Vertigo single, and I remember when I first heard it 20 years ago I thought it should have been on the HTDAAB album because The Edge's howling guitar demonstrates once again that he is one of the greatest guitarists in the history of rock music.However, even on this shadow album that comprises of mostly growling rock there are a few surprises that enhance its depth and variety further. Collaborating with Eurythmic Dave Stewart, Treason sees U2 experimenting with rap and it is an unprecedented success including yet another storming guitar solo. I Don't Wanna See You Smile is the most relatively tranquil song on "Re-assemble" but its guitar line builds and spirals to a crescendo near the end of it. Theme From the Batman is another different sounding cut and while it is brief it is certainly interesting fun. But this shadow album suitably closes out by returning to the exuberant rock of most of its other numbers - All Because of You 2 is an earlier Chris Thomas-produced prototype of the finished "Dismantle" version and it is pretty much as barnstorming and finishes "Re-assemble" with a flourish.The other three discs in the box set include a remix CD but the most interesting are the two Vertigo Live from Chicago ones. U2's gigs are always known for being legendary and this was no exception - the two discs include all the tracks that were at the concert and there is a tremendous mixture of seven from the very strong HTDAAB and numerous old favourites from various parts of their phenomenal career up until that point.Overall, this is a fabulous and worthwhile box set. While "Dismantle" is poppier, as quite a lot of the technology had been dropped after the band's misunderstood but magical mid-to-late 1990s records, the songs from these sessions feel like they are more for the fans who preferred Rattle and Hum to Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop. The amazingly newly remastered HTDAAB really accentuates The Edge's guitar playing and sounds almost like a new record while "Re-assemble" is a lost great U2 album finally unearthed in this collection. Although 2014's Songs of Innocence was downloaded 26 million times, because it was available for free and people who were not U2 fans deleted it from their iTunes accounts, this "Dismantle" era marks the band's one last true period of mass communication.

I am not going to write a pompous text...When you're gonna read my story, you're going to understand why everylittle note and photo from this release is precious and priceless to me !I remember coming back from high-school in 2004 (awful times bc I have been bullied as a pupil, it's hard to forget) at 30 past 4 PM on a asunny November day; turning on the TV on VH-1 and the short dramatic pause...bulls-eye-desert, 4 guys dressed in black, sound of four sticks and Bono raising his hand to say: UNOS, DOS, TRES....... CATORCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Thank you, U2 for helping me through high-school and beyond.....and beyond !Surely after releae 22.11.2004, I got my first U2 album on CD `HTDAAB` then the Deluxe version at a DVD shack while having a stroll...then surprisingly finding the SINGLES in the cart of a hidden store.....Hidden gems abound and when they are revealed they give us this creative rush !!!Amazing....deffinitely recomment it to all fans ! get this box-set asap !

Absolutely brilliant boxset cheapest to buy online thanks AmazonCheers Declan

An expensive set aimed at hard core fans. 5 CDs a photo book and some prints. I spent about two minutes looking at the book and prints and, like most people, am unlikely to ever look at them again.CD wise, the remaster doesn’t feel very different, the “new” CD is brilliant, and I love the two live CDs, fantastic expression of a stunningly good live band. The remix CD feels a waste, but I’m not sure remix versions ever work for U2.So three good CDs here, but so very expensive.

For those of us who had followed them from the late 70s, this was easily their worst album. The original album is still dire, full of twee sentimentality. However, the outtakes and the "live" albums (U2 are infamous for using backing tapes and hidden musicians) are an improvement. Though a part of me thinks I'm buying this just to be a completist