How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread

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Codeguy

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How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« on: September 27, 2024, 06:11:15 PM »
Thought I'd post a single thread for opinions on HTRAAB.

I'll pin the post for a bit.

Here's the official from U2.com

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb comes the 'shadow' album, a collection of 10 songs titled How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb which includes new and unreleased songs discovered in the archive of the original album recording sessions, available from 22nd November.

First two tracks to be made available are 'Country Mile' and 'Picture of You (X+W)' out now.

Further celebrating the anniversary of this seminal album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb has now been remastered for the first time, a process which saw the band go back to the vault to revisit those early '00s recording sessions, a period of intense creativity for U2 in the studio, as well as a time of deep personal and artistic reflection following the passing of Bono's father Bob in 2001. This special 20th anniversary edition – out 22nd November - will include the bonus track 'Fast Cars'. See below for a complete list of formats.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition) – featuring both How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb + How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb - will be available as a dual digital release on 22nd November.

Here's The Edge speaking on How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb.

"The sessions for 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' were such a creative period for the band, we were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early music influences, and it was a time of deep personal introspection for Bono who was attempting to process - dismantle - the death of his father.

For this anniversary edition I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot. We chose ten that really spoke to us. Although at the time we left these songs to one side, with the benefit of hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts about them being contenders for the album were right, we were onto something.

What you're getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room… this is the pure U2 drop.


How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb is a collection of ten songs taken from the original recording sessions for 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb', recently rediscovered in the band's archive and now released for the first time as a standalone album.

This shadow album includes four new, never-before-heard or previously released songs - 'Treason', 'Evidence Of Life', 'Country Mile' and 'Happiness'; plus a song called 'Luckiest Man In The World (AKA Mercy)' - familiar to many of you under its working title 'Mercy', an early demo of which was leaked online almost 20 years ago - which now gets its official release; as well as five newly remastered songs - 'Picture Of You (X+W)', 'Don't Wanna See You Smile', 'Are We Gonna Wait Forever?', 'Theme From The Batman' and 'All Because Of You 2' - all collected together for the first time to mark the 20th anniversary of 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'.

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb is U2's eleventh studio album. Released by Island Records / Interscope on 22nd November 2004, it went to No. 1 in 34 countries around the world, including Ireland, the UK and the US.  Described by Bono at the time as "our first rock album", How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was recorded at the band's studio in Hanover Quay, Dublin and the South of France, and produced by Steve Lilywhite, with additional production from Chris Thomas, Flood, Jacknife Lee, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Nellee Hooper and Carl Glanville.  The 11 tracks included the songs 'Vertigo' and 'Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own', both of which debuted at No. 1 in the UK charts, the first time a U2 album produced two chart topping singles. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb and its singles won a total of eight Grammy Awards, sweeping all of the categories in which the band were nominated, with 'Vertigo' alone winning three in 2005, including Best Rock Song. The band were the night's big winners in 2006, taking home the Grammy for Album of the Year, as well as Song of the Year for 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' and Best Rock Song for 'City of Blinding Lights', with Steve Lilywhite also winning Producer of the Year. 

The tracklisting for How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb is:
 
1.         Picture Of You (X+W) (FKA Xanax and Wine)
2.         Evidence Of Life (NEW)
3.         Luckiest Man In The World (FKA Mercy)
4.         Treason (NEW)
5.         I Don't Wanna See You Smile (FKA Smile)
6.         Country Mile (NEW)
7.         Happiness (NEW)
8.         Are We Gonna Wait Forever?
9.         Theme From The Batman
10.        All Because Of You 2
 
The tracklisting for the remastered How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb 20th Anniversary Reissue is:

1.         Vertigo         
2.         Miracle Drug
3.         Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own                       
4.         Love and Peace or Else   
5.         City of Blinding Lights                       
6.         All Because of You           
7.         A Man and a Woman                       
8.         Crumbs from Your Table                 
9.         One Step Closer   
10.       Original of the Species     
11.       Yahweh
12.       Fast Cars

The remastered How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (20th Anniversary Edition) will be released in the following formats on 22nd November: Vinyl 8LP Super Deluxe Collectors Boxset (Limited Edition); Vinyl 2LP; Exclusive D2C 2LP Black & Red Ink Spot Vinyl (Limited Edition); 5CD Super Deluxe Collectors Boxset (Limited Edition); CD; and Exclusive Red & Black Cassette (Limited Edition). The digital releases include HTDAAB remastered (12 tracks); and HTDAAB & HTRAAB (22 tracks).

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition) – featuring both How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb + How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb - will be available as a dual digital release on 22nd November.

How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb will be exclusively available in physical format for Record Store Day Black Friday as a Limited Edition Black & Red Marble 1LP Vinyl on 29th November; as well as a standalone 10 track digital release on 29th November.
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Pride

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #1 on: September 27, 2024, 06:31:39 PM »
Wait - Are We Gonna Wait Forever? Did Bono also redo the lyrics for this one?
Time shoots on by

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Codeguy

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #2 on: September 27, 2024, 06:41:32 PM »
Wait - Are We Gonna Wait Forever? Did Bono also redo the lyrics for this one?
Yeah I noticed that; it's a decent song, though.
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The Exile

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #3 on: September 27, 2024, 06:46:30 PM »
Wait - Are We Gonna Wait Forever? Did Bono also redo the lyrics for this one?
Yeah I noticed that; it's a decent song, though.

AYGWF is a way better song than All Because of You, and Native Son is a way better song than Vertigo. So naturally the band chose the worse versions for the official album.
 ;D ;D ;D
Listen as Hope and Peace try to rhyme,
Listen over marching bands playing out their time.

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an tha

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #4 on: September 27, 2024, 08:31:19 PM »
One thing you have to say u2 are bloody good at is milking the gullible.

'This special 20th anniversary edition – out 22nd November - will include the bonus track 'Fast Cars'....

Erm oh yeah - a song that was included on the album when it was released 20 years ago... "Fast Cars" is a bonus track on the Japan, UK and Ireland CD edition, Special Limited Edition in all regions, and the digital version, included in The Complete U2. A new mix was featured on the "All Because of You" single"

Ah and "Picture of You" being trumpeted all over social media etc as a "new" song is basically the aforementioned "Fast Cars" - which is also basically the previously released "Xanax and Wine"

3 fucking bites of the same song cherry.

And people lap this stuff up!



« Last Edit: September 27, 2024, 08:33:40 PM by an tha »
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Pride

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #5 on: September 27, 2024, 09:06:32 PM »
I'd say Fast Cars and XAW are different enough to where having both versions on a deluxe edition/box set makes sense. Picture Of You is IMO a crummier Xanax And Wine. The rearranging of the song structure is a little clunky, especially for anyone who's been listening to XAW since it was released. The chorus is arguably the best part of the song and the new version removes the first chorus along with some other changes. I have no idea why this change was necessary, it's like they tinker just to tinker.

Don't think I'll be spending money on a physical copy any time soon, but I'm looking forward to hearing the other unreleased tracks.
Time shoots on by

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Capital D

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2024, 09:19:07 PM »
I'd say Fast Cars and XAW are different enough to where having both versions on a deluxe edition/box set makes sense. Picture Of You is IMO a crummier Xanax And Wine. The rearranging of the song structure is a little clunky, especially for anyone who's been listening to XAW since it was released. The chorus is arguably the best part of the song and the new version removes the first chorus along with some other changes. I have no idea why this change was necessary, it's like they tinker just to tinker.

Don't think I'll be spending money on a physical copy any time soon, but I'm looking forward to hearing the other unreleased tracks.

Yeah, the Xanax and Wine changes are a head scratcher to me, too. But I'm a big fan of the original, probably in my favorite 20-25. Hopefully some of the new tracks have that same vibe.
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Zeropartii

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2024, 03:14:52 AM »
Wait - Are We Gonna Wait Forever? Did Bono also redo the lyrics for this one?

Watch it be political.   Waiting for a woman President of country they think is an idea.

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Soloyan

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2024, 08:54:38 AM »
I saw a post on U2’s Facebook page where they described this release as having 5 new songs, while displaying the 8 LP’s pack which is sold 275€.

I mean… it’s a nice object for sure but 275€ for 5 songs is a bit steep ! 😅

Even the CD pack is too expensive for just 5 songs. I might just stream them.

…and I don’t even hate the album, originally.
A dangerous idea that almost makes sense...

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wons

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2024, 09:46:43 AM »
I saw a post on U2’s Facebook page where they described this release as having 5 new songs, while displaying the 8 LP’s pack which is sold 275€.

I mean… it’s a nice object for sure but 275€ for 5 songs is a bit steep ! 😅

Even the CD pack is too expensive for just 5 songs. I might just stream them.

…and I don’t even hate the album, originally.

It's for people that like physical product. It's also the first time the Chicago Vertigo show will be officially released on CD. The Book, the case it comes in, is all a part of the package. Makes for a great Christmas present to wrap and put under the tree for family and friends as well.

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Amor fati

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2024, 09:50:37 AM »
I saw a post on U2’s Facebook page where they described this release as having 5 new songs, while displaying the 8 LP’s pack which is sold 275€.

I mean… it’s a nice object for sure but 275€ for 5 songs is a bit steep ! 😅

Even the CD pack is too expensive for just 5 songs. I might just stream them.

…and I don’t even hate the album, originally.

Holy shit i wouldn't even pay that for POP much less something thats going to blow up 



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laoghaire

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2024, 04:41:49 PM »
Would you pay it for the Hong Kong sessions?
WINNER: Thread of the YEAR (Serious Awards)

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Amor fati

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #12 on: September 28, 2024, 05:59:27 PM »
Would you pay it for the Hong Kong sessions?

🤔



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swimming sorrows

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #13 on: September 28, 2024, 07:29:51 PM »
So I guess Mercy or Luckiest WTF long title will be on it.

So no need to release a new album until mid 2025 now

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Soloyan

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Re: How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb - Shadow Album megathread
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2024, 03:50:23 AM »
Would you pay it for the Hong Kong sessions?

Good question.
A dangerous idea that almost makes sense...