That Bono, he's one crafty bastard. Possessing the temperament of a seasoned football coach, he has always approached the release of his band's albums with some comment that will either get people thinking or just confuse the shit out of them. Whether it's stating that they are going away to dream it all up again or applying for "the job" once more, there has never been a dull moment for the press corps or the fans as they try to decipher what the heck he is on about.

Skipping any need to bring you up to speed with the particular band in question (I think we're all aware of who they are by now), U2 bring us their 11th studio album 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' or as Mr Hewson likes to inform us, their first album. As far as debuts go, it's pretty good darn good. But I don't know of many musical acts that release their own stylized iPod before they even drop an album.

Nice try guys but we're not buying into it.

Also don't buy into the title, at least not literally. There are no mash-ups with Zack De La Rocha or plans to play Fallujah next summer. Apart from the down and dirty future blues of 'Love And Peace Or Else', U2 leave the new regime agenda to A Perfect Circle and focus on matters of a more personal nature. If their last album was all about what to hold onto in a world where death awaits, then Atomic Bomb is the coping and finally catharsis after someone close passes through to the other side. That particular someone being Bono's Father.

The subject of Bob Hewson is mainly tackled on two distinct songs. 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' is the sort of beauty that U2 were put on this earth to create. Where a classic ballad like 'One' can be interpreted in a number of ways, 'Sometimes' on the other hand is fairly clear cut. In a tender moment, Bono tells his Father that he is the reason why he sings. Such sentimentality can often stink of rancid fromage, but the song is nicely balanced with details of the frustration and hardship the relationship endured over the years.

The other song in question is 'One Step Closer', a song that stemmed from a conversation with Noel Gallagher in regards to Hewson Sr's hold on faith. Everything else on the album is handled on a more general level.

Lead single and obvious first track, 'Vertigo' is about holding on to the one true thing when everything else is spiralling out of control. Musically it raises an interesting hypothetical: if The Edge was the bandleader would this sort of rock-riffery would be more common? In fact this record has more of the 80s Edge sincewell The Joshua Tree. No better example is evident than on likely tour favourite, 'City Of Blinding Lights'. The song's intro builds up like a cousin to 'Where The Streets Have No Name' (with included Springsteen 'Born To Run' era piano) before Bono's voice hits the endless skies whilst singing: "You look so beautiful tonight, in the city of blinding lights."

The problem with critiquing a band like U2 is that the field that they are judged against include such groundbreaking albums like 'The Joshua Tree', 'Achtung Baby' and 2000s 'All That You Can't Leave Behind'. Tough crowd indeed.

So where exactly does Atomic Bomb fall short? There are unfortunately a few songs that plod along like its amateur hour down at the Clarence Hotel. Potential (and therefore quite troubling) single 'All Because Of You' is very pedestrian in its execution, while album closer 'Yahweh' continues Bono's confessionals with God. While I have nothing against getting down with the big man, I wonder about the necessity of asking questions such as "Why the dark before the dawn?" Look up an astronomy book for Pete's sake and stop bothering him with meaningless inquiries. Another track 'Original Of The Species' isn't too bad except for the forth-form poetry of: "I'll give you everything you want, except the thing that you want." Frankly Bono you're better than that.

Having said all that, Atomic Bomb is still a very strong album and will be received in years to come as the record that spawned such great songs as 'Crumbs From Your Table', 'Vertigo' and the un-U2 'A Man And A Woman.' Not even The Beatles or The Stones lasted this long and still produced hit after hit. We're in uncharted territory right now.