U2: All That You Can't Leave Behind
Despite U2s penchant for experimentation and variety, the Irish boys have managed to stay true to their original style throughout their 24-year odyssey. No other post-punk band can compare when it comes to soaring electric vocals and crunching guitar riffs, and its the unique mix of tradition and originality that have allowed the band to produce two great rock albums (1987s Joshua Tree and 1991s Achtung Baby) and an abundance of good ones. All That You Cant Leave Behind just might be one of the former this is U2 in unadulterated form, a far cry from the overproduction of 1997s Pop. Its a rediscovery of the bands generous abilities that begs to be sung along to in a speeding convertible, top down and speakers cranked to 11.
The album evokes earlier U2 at several points, but its far more clever and complex than Joshua Tree, full of subtle musical color and luxurious production. From the anthemic Beautiful Day to the pop blend of Wild Honey to the powerful guitar distortion of Elevation (think of Whats the Frequency, Kenneth-era R.E.M.), the band isnt restless or going through the motions. This is honest U2, and after the searching risks of Pop and Zooropa, its a welcome purity of sound and purpose.
U2 still retains the spiritually inquisitive lyrical style of their earlier work, though they dont seem to have found any more answers. In the Imagine-like Peace on Earth, lead singer Bono croons as an optimistic dystopian:
Jesus could you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth
Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth
The band is still light-hearted at times, though. The strutting In a Little While, which sounds a lot like early Ben Harper with a shot of adrenaline, the sweeping impressionistic portrait of New York, and the lilting lullaby of Grace, show that the band isnt done experimenting by any means. Theyve been around since the 1970s, but U2 isnt done yet. Put this album down in the "great" category.