U2: How To Dismantle a Massive Ego

I have downloaded the new U2 Album, and let me tell you right now. It's probably not worth your while. That being said, I will now elaborate on how U2 has shattered my love for, well, U2.

The Title
U2's New Album is Titled, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."
Why or how they came up with this name, I'm not exactly sure. There are certainly no references to nuclear proliferation that I can put my finger on. In fact, the album deals more with Bono's monologue to some woman he's having problems with and generalities about the working class that are veiled somewhat, and could use a more in-depth treatment. Personally, I would've rather heard "The Hands that Built America" off of the Gangs of New York Soundtrack, Rather than any single track off of HTDAB. To simplify, U2 put it all on the line with a such a title, so they needed to have the firepower to carry the album off. All they managed was a thoroughly second-rate album.

My second issue with this album is all the songs about some woman. Now, I'm pretty sure this isn't new territory, considering "Sweetest Thing" came out in like 1990, and personally, if I want to hear songs about fantastic or bitter romance, I turn my sights to the likes of a Dashboard Confessional, Copeland, Armor For Sleep. I just don't understand why a mature band like U2 would dote on love and the caprices thereof in such a simple manner. The real question I am beginning to ask my self now, is whether U2 can ever regain their stature they held when they put out "Joshua Tree", or even "All That You Can't Leave Behind."

Maybe I should've seen it coming when they started doing soundtracks. Granted "Hands that Built America" is stellar, but what about "Elevation" for the Tomb Raider Soundtrack? What is that all about. That movie was more about Angelina Jolie's Breasts and the spandex containing them than actual tomb raiding. Hell, Tomb Raider and U2 can both be labeled "boobs" for that error in judgement. U2 continued their slide with the release of the hideous black and red ipod that cost $50 more than the standard ipod that came preloaded with their album and the commercials that featured them. You can't tell me you didn't see mediocrity around the corner with lyrics like "uno, dos, tres, catorce." For those of you not versed in Spanish, that's one, two, three, 14!! Fourteen follows three? Bono, you might want to brush up on your Spanish Bud.

Now, I know Bono does very worthwhile things for the planet, and he should be applauded for this. However, U2 also charges outrageously high prices for tickets, which adds to my growing ire over their pretension. They're talented and they know it. Their musicianship is first rate, but since when do you get to come up with aliases for yourself "Bono, The Edge" if you're not in a hard rock band? It all seems a little bit ridiculous. U2 really needs to stand and deliver if they're going to engage in this sort of pretension.