War is a recurring theme at U2. The Irish rock group once named itself after an American spy plane, the big breakthrough came with the album War (1983). From the outset, U2 showed themselves as a politically involved band, never afraid to hit the barricades. In the nineties the group was apparently a bit tired of that serious image itself. The guitars were increasingly pushed into the background by
… hip dance beats and self-irony crept into the lyrics. All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000) was the return to the simple rock sound and heartfelt lyrics of their early years. This development is continued on their eleventh album. Contrary to what the title suggests, Bono's lyrics are not only about politics. One of the nicest songs (Sometimes You Can ' Make It On Your Own) is about the death of his father. U2 still sounds as inspired and passionate as ever, an unprecedented achievement for a band that has been active in the same line-up for almost three decades. (MS)more
