100 Best Albums of the 2000s: U2, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'

100 Best Albums of the 2000s

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U2, 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb'

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U2 stripped down and got tuneful on 2001's All That You Can't Leave Behind – then they turned up on Atomic Bomb. Released just weeks after Dubya was elected for a second term, the band offer hope with what they do best: soaring guitar escapades, arena-ready choruses and arrangements so epic you can practically see the blinding cityscape stage they toured with that year. Still, the personal moments shine through: "One Step Closer," which Bono wrote about his father's death, is a gorgeous tribute that proves that the band rarely loses its soul, no matter how big they sound.

Related:
• Rolling Stone's Original 2004 Review

• Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time: U2

• Video: U2 Pay Tribute to Clarence Clemons