U2- Rattle and Hum
November 2nd 2009 08:27
U2-Rattle and Hum
Year: 1988
Record Label: Island Records
Track listing:
01. Helter Skelter
02. Van Diemen’s land
03. Desire
04. Hawkmoon 269
05. All along the watchtower
06. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
07. Freedom for my people
08. Silver and gold
09. Pride (in the name of love)
10. Angel of Harlem
11. Love rescue me
12. When love comes to town
13. Heartland
14. God part II
15. The Star Spangled Banner
16. Bullet the blue sky
17. All I want is you
This is probably one of my favourite U2 albums. Always has been, always will be. It’s the one I tend to pull out whenever I feel the urge to listen to Bono and the boys.
So what is it about this album that keeps me coming back for more, you may ask.
While it was greeted with much disdain when it first came out, due to the feature film that accompanied it, it does pay tribute to the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
The duet with BB King also suggests that the mockumentary that accompanied it was exactly that, a mockumentary.
A mixture of live tracks and studio tracks, the album does have an American feel to it, and as mentioned earlier does pay tribute to many different artists. But while fans dismissed the album, it is an album worthy of it’s predessors with the blistering track of “Desire”, the heartwrenching, “All I want is you” and the very bluesy “When loves come to town”, which BB King does justice to.
One of the things I love about this CD is that it allows other members to be in the spotlight, instead of just Bono. The Edge gives us a sample of his own eccletic vocals in “Van Diemen’s land”, that shows a promise of the folksinger within.
Despite it’s slamming by it’s fans and the critics, this album still out to me, and was influential in my falling in love with U2 all over again. It shows that Bono and the boys know how to rock with the best of them, and aren’t afraid of mixing it up and experimenting with different sounds, as they did with hawkmoon 269.
I also love their version of All Along the watchtower. Granted Jimi will never be beaten, but this example exudes the sweat and passion that omits from Bono, as he throatily sings this song. As mentioned, Jimi can’t be beaten, but Bono is definitely a worthy adversary.
Lyrically, this album really shows U2 as master songwriters. All I want is you is an example of that. Still considered one of their most famous songs, it is brilliantly writing, and Edge is at his best with an intriculate guitar solo, with amps turned up loud. They can be heard over Bono’s final cry of “all I want is your love…your love”.
One thing that many forget about this album is that it did spawn many different hits, including All I want is you, Angel of Harlem, and when love comes to town.
The brilliance of the Harlem Choir accompanies “I still haven’t found what I am looking for”, and gives the song a new makeover, that I think definitely highlights the song’s strength. While the original is worthy, this new version is much better, and the choir really does do the song justice.
I think one of the ideas of the U2 mockumentary and this album, was for U2 to make a connection with America. Bono once said that “American both fascinates and frightens me”, and I think that is evident on this album.
Heartland is a perfect allegory of a woman, and the United States. There is no doubt that U2 are passionate about some of their idols, and do them justice on this album.
The band do experiment with a lot of American style music- blues, choirs, and of course touch on the American Star Spangled Banner, with Edge using his magic touch on it.
One last thing that should be pointed out about this album, is that it is a live album and shows what U2 do very best-performing live. Every member knows how to put on a performance, whether it be Larry with his drum solos, Edge and his blistering guitars or Bono camping it up. This album captures all of this, and captures the passion that is U2.
There is no denying that they love their jobs, and love preaching to the people, as they do with “silver and gold”. That should never be taken from them.
Standout songs on the album? Helter Skelter, desire, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, silver and gold, angel of harlem, when loves comes to town, all I want is you.
I give this 5/5
Year: 1988
Record Label: Island Records
Track listing:
01. Helter Skelter
02. Van Diemen’s land
03. Desire
04. Hawkmoon 269
05. All along the watchtower
06. I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
07. Freedom for my people
08. Silver and gold
09. Pride (in the name of love)
10. Angel of Harlem
11. Love rescue me
12. When love comes to town
13. Heartland
14. God part II
15. The Star Spangled Banner
16. Bullet the blue sky
17. All I want is you
This is probably one of my favourite U2 albums. Always has been, always will be. It’s the one I tend to pull out whenever I feel the urge to listen to Bono and the boys.
So what is it about this album that keeps me coming back for more, you may ask.
While it was greeted with much disdain when it first came out, due to the feature film that accompanied it, it does pay tribute to the likes of Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix.
The duet with BB King also suggests that the mockumentary that accompanied it was exactly that, a mockumentary.
A mixture of live tracks and studio tracks, the album does have an American feel to it, and as mentioned earlier does pay tribute to many different artists. But while fans dismissed the album, it is an album worthy of it’s predessors with the blistering track of “Desire”, the heartwrenching, “All I want is you” and the very bluesy “When loves come to town”, which BB King does justice to.
One of the things I love about this CD is that it allows other members to be in the spotlight, instead of just Bono. The Edge gives us a sample of his own eccletic vocals in “Van Diemen’s land”, that shows a promise of the folksinger within.
Despite it’s slamming by it’s fans and the critics, this album still out to me, and was influential in my falling in love with U2 all over again. It shows that Bono and the boys know how to rock with the best of them, and aren’t afraid of mixing it up and experimenting with different sounds, as they did with hawkmoon 269.
I also love their version of All Along the watchtower. Granted Jimi will never be beaten, but this example exudes the sweat and passion that omits from Bono, as he throatily sings this song. As mentioned, Jimi can’t be beaten, but Bono is definitely a worthy adversary.
Lyrically, this album really shows U2 as master songwriters. All I want is you is an example of that. Still considered one of their most famous songs, it is brilliantly writing, and Edge is at his best with an intriculate guitar solo, with amps turned up loud. They can be heard over Bono’s final cry of “all I want is your love…your love”.
One thing that many forget about this album is that it did spawn many different hits, including All I want is you, Angel of Harlem, and when love comes to town.
The brilliance of the Harlem Choir accompanies “I still haven’t found what I am looking for”, and gives the song a new makeover, that I think definitely highlights the song’s strength. While the original is worthy, this new version is much better, and the choir really does do the song justice.
I think one of the ideas of the U2 mockumentary and this album, was for U2 to make a connection with America. Bono once said that “American both fascinates and frightens me”, and I think that is evident on this album.
Heartland is a perfect allegory of a woman, and the United States. There is no doubt that U2 are passionate about some of their idols, and do them justice on this album.
The band do experiment with a lot of American style music- blues, choirs, and of course touch on the American Star Spangled Banner, with Edge using his magic touch on it.
One last thing that should be pointed out about this album, is that it is a live album and shows what U2 do very best-performing live. Every member knows how to put on a performance, whether it be Larry with his drum solos, Edge and his blistering guitars or Bono camping it up. This album captures all of this, and captures the passion that is U2.
There is no denying that they love their jobs, and love preaching to the people, as they do with “silver and gold”. That should never be taken from them.
Standout songs on the album? Helter Skelter, desire, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, silver and gold, angel of harlem, when loves comes to town, all I want is you.
I give this 5/5
| 26 |
| Vote |
Add Comments
Read More
Comment by Janine
on Feedback on your blog
XWired Online