U2:
All
That You Can't Leave Behind
(Interscope)
U2's
latest is the perfect example of an album that doesn't live up to the hype. The
band claimed it was a return to its roots. What we got instead was basically
Achtung Baby Part Two, only none of the songs are as good. The first single,
"Beautiful Day" is fairly decent, but the disc quickly descends into mediocrity
after that and stays there until the end of the disc. "Wild Honey" is OK, but
like too much of the disc, it sounds too much like the band's earlier material.
Has the band lost its edge (pun intended)? It certainly sounds that way. Maybe
they're just getting old. Don't get me wrong, the CD isn't bad. It's better
than their last two albums. However, there's nothing that grabs your attention
either. My personal recommendation? Skip this one, and listen to Achtung Baby
instead. It's the same thing, only a whole lot better.
Collector's note: this CD is also available as a limited edition