U2 Album: “Rattle and Hum”

U2 were completely panned by the press and some hardcore U2 fans for 'Rattle & Hum' (1988), which is purported to be U2's ill-fated egocentric exploration into American music. Leaving pretentiousness in the eyes of the beholder, a lot of people liked this record, a mix of studio songs and live tracks from 'The Joshua Tree' tour and for good reason. Here's a song-by-song:

1. "Helter Skelter" [Live]. OK, the ego does get a bit out of hand here, but this is one of the standout cover tunes.

2. "Van Diemen's Land". The Edge takes vocals on this nice ode to the working man which is abruptly cut off in mid-verse.

3. "Desire". The first single, an obvious musical tribute to blues legend Bo Diddley, continues to be one of their most popular and infectious songs.

4. "Hawkmoon 269". Although there is some lyrical help from Bob Dylan, this is one of the studio tracks that really does not work.

5. "All Along the Watchtower" [Live]. An uninspired cover which is memorable only if you saw the movie.

6. "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" [Live]. With embellishments by a real gospel choir, the song is performed the way it was meant to be.

7. "Freedom for My People". This is just a snippet of a street performer.

8. "Silver and Gold" [Live]. A great live version of a non-LP track, seethingly delivered by Bono toward an apathetic American audience.

9. "Pride (in the Name of Love)" [Live]. What live record would be complete without the consumate U2 anthem.

10. "Angel of Harlem". As one of the songs recorded at the historic Sun Studios, complete with a horn section, this lyrical ode to Billie Holiday is a U2 classic.

11. "Love Rescue Me". With the accompanyment of Bob Dylan, this one never really picks up.

12. "When Love Comes to Town". Although many U2 fans did not appreciate the prominent vocals and guitar of B.B. King, the lyrics are "fantastic" (as the King puts it in the movie), and if you love the blues . . .

13. "Heartland". You can almost see the Mississippi going by on this song, a mood piece which works much better than "Love Rescue Me".

14. "God Part II". A great rocker about contradiction and a lyrical and musical prequel to U2's "reinvention" in the 1990s.

15. "Bullet the Blue Sky" [Live]. With a recorded intro of Jimi Hendrix doing "Star Spangled Banner", this is the consumate version of this song.

16. "All I Want Is You". Although it seems a bit out of place on this record, this is simply one of the best U2 ballads ever.

When U2 made Rattle and Hum, they confused people. They started out with a live album to go with their concert film, but then they added some new live tracks --- one of their own (Silver and Gold) and one by the Beatles (Helter Skelter). They cut 6 or 7 new songs. Some of them were with guest stars like BB King and Bob Dylan. Then the Edge got a lead vocal. Then they added a bit of Jimi Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner.

Okay guys. Are you really wondering why people were confused and/or disappointed? You have to commend the band for taking a few chances, of course. They took a perfectly good live album and squeezed an EP of "American roots music" songs into it. They thought it would work, but it didn't.

The whole thing would be an afterthought, but this is U2. When they make an album between "proper" albums, they have trouble making it modest. It happened again with Zooropa: After a big tour, they tried to make a little post-tour CD of outtakes and experiments, but it grew into a full-sized album.

In the end, just about everyone likes half of Rattle and Hum. But few people agree on exactly which half. I prefer the studio tracks that either sound like Joshua Tree outtakes (like Heartland) or the noisy stuff like God Part 2. I don't have any use for live versions of the Joshua Tree songs. They're overproduced and dull. Fans will always come back to this CD for their favorite parts. Non-fans can probably live without it.

Review number 101. Superb follow-up to their 1987 masterpiece 'Joshua Tree' album. Liked both the movie as well as the awesome soundtrack here. As huge a fan of live releases that I am, I simply could not get enough of this CD's live tunes, "Helter Skelter", "All Along The Watchtower", the (sometimes) tear-jerker "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" and "Bullet The Blue Sky". The studio tracks are equally as good. Even after umpteen years of it's original release, 'Rattle And Hum' is MORE than able to stand the harsh test of time. An absolute must-have.

In the transitional album "The Unforgettable Fire," released in 1995, Irish rockers U2 showed a growing fascination with America that would ultimately lead to the monumental "Joshua Tree," a record as stark and beautiful as a desert road in the Southwest. Unfortunately, lead singer Bono's arrogance was growing during this period, too, and it peaked with the double-live/studio album "Rattle and Hum," a sprawling record that showcases U2's interest in the U.S., but ultimately falls short of greatness.

"Rattle and Hum" is flawed from the start. In the opening track, "Helter Skelter," Bono yells to the crowd, "Charles Manson stole this song from The Beatles and we're stealing it back." This would set the stage for several painfully juvenile rants from the frontman of the band. In addition, Bono's lyrics are weak at times. The dated "God Part II" is ridiculously arrogant, and "Hawkmoon 269" represents the first time that a U2 album has contained filler.

That said, even a sub-par U2 album is better than most records on the market, and this album has some shining moments. "Angel of Harlem" is a timeless classic; the rollicking "Desire" has a Bo Diddley beat that is unforgettable; "Silver and Gold" is an underrated song that had been written around the time of "The Unforgettable Fire"; and The Edge's chilling protest song, "Van Diemen's Land," sounds more like a traditional Irish folk ballad than a song created by a world-class rock band.

When all is said and done, "Rattle and Hum" is impressive, but ultimately unsatisfying. Fortunately, it would be a temporary blip; the last song on the album, the gorgeous "All I want Is You," shows musical and lyrical genius from Bono and the boys. And the short but memorable guitar solo in "Silver and Gold" shows The Edge's growing maturation that would ultimately lead to his spectacular work in the lush, techno-soul of "Achtung Baby," the band's mammoth follow-up album. In short, "Rattle and Hum" represents the sometimes painful growing process of one of the great rock bands of all time.

-Marc Hurwitz

I've been playing "Rattle and Hum" for years,and still enjoy it.My all time favorite cut is "Angle of Harlem," about the great Billy Holiday.This would have to be my number 1 best record from U2.I've never heard such a fantastic singer like Bono,and he sounds even better on the live numbers."Pride,In the Name of Love," is almost like a duet with the audience.Everyone praising the late Dr.Martin Luther King.The Beatles,"Helter Skelter," is another fantastic live cut.The single released from the album,"Desire," was a huge hit, but wait untill you get to the last song,"All I want is you," with Tom Petty.This number is Brilliant,with a beutifull String arrangment by Van Dyke Parks,who worked on Carly Simon's album,"Film Noir." Every type of music is on this record,from the soft ballads,to the hardest rock songs ever.If your a U2 fan,you have to get "Rattle and Hum" for your collection.