U2
Rattle and Hum


2.5
average

Review

by scotish USER (19 Reviews)
February 25th, 2010 | 9 replies


Release Date: 1988 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A messy, sprawling conurbation of the average, unimpressive in spite of a few successes.

EP’s and live albums - both can claim to be the curious asides of bands more committed to their album work. Whilst they are frequently a home for the intriguing oddities of said bands discography, it is equally in their nature that they suffer from the hangover of the B-side; a place for weaker tracks that have gone unpolished and unloved in production. Depending on how cynical you are, they are either counted precious for their supply of extra material that connoisseurs crave; or they’re a quick cash-grab to fleece the fans. Interesting, then, that U2 should try to amalgamate these two less eminent formats into a single, album-sized project, with documentary film to boot. Sadly, it’s less of an amalgamation, more of a mismatch.

I say mismatch partly due to the sparseness of consistency. Take the live numbers. These can be as superb as the powerful pounding that is ‘Bullet the Blue Sky’, charged with such impassioned political outrage that it can be counted among the best of U2’s prolific live set catalogue; or as precious as the capturing of a particular performance on ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ – recorded on the same day as the Eniskillen bombing, the band took the stage racked with emotion, and put in a rendition of the ultimate anti-war song unforgettable for the harsh new light they shed on it. And yet, these absolute gems sit next to the likes of their simply abysmal cover of ‘All Along the Watch Tower’. The tracks from the studio fare similarly. ‘Hawkmoon 269’ sounds as if it is trying to capture the immensity of sunset on the African Sahara and reassert its connotations as spiritual; it virtually succeeds, if you can ignore some of the more questionable metaphors. ‘All I Want is You’ is better still - undoubtedly a classic, the trademarks of Bono’s faith-inspired lyricism, and The Edge’s scintillating escalation, while familiar, outdo even themselves. This track could have been included in ‘The Joshua Tree’ and still be able to hold its head high, but it finds itself amid a glut of vaguely-catchy-but-forgettable asides.

I quote mismatch also because of the lack of any real order. You could look at the length of ‘Rattle and Hum’ and call it an album; or at that complementary documentary and say it’s a project. But in reality, it’s neither – for those, coherence is needed, and of that there is precious little. They endeavour to create a more focussed overall effort by these means, but the end result amounts to no more than an overly-long, overly-tiresome and just plain overgrown live-album-cum-EP. While in the midst the riff-raff are truly special moments, they are sadly lost among a majority consisting of filler (if they even qualify for that). It’s a shame. They would have been much more at home on a record of better overall quality; the 7” in a 12”s shoes that is ‘Rattle and Hum’ does them a disservice.



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user ratings (525)
3.2
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
scotish
February 25th 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

that's the last of U2's live discog reviewed then. tried to make this review less overweight, hope you like it.

Nagrarok
February 25th 2010


8656 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Nice. Short and to the point. This isn't technically a live album though.

scotish
February 25th 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

you're right, it's a bit of both, but I reckoned it would be nice to do all the stuff that had live bits in it (ignoring the DVD's that is) anyway.



edit: now that I look at John's review, we say some pretty similar stuff. great minds think alike? D;

LeotardMessiah
February 25th 2010


374 Comments


"Sunday Bloody Sunday’ – recorded on the same day as the Omagh Bombings, the band took the stage racked with emotion"

Incorrect, the Omagh bombing was in 1998. I think you're referring to the eniskillen bombing, which was in 1987

"unforgettable for the harsh new light they shed on it"

The song is originally about british soldiers massacring peaceful protesters so i don't think it really shed any harsh new light on it that wasn't there in the songs lyrics already.


scotish
February 25th 2010


836 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

my bad, will fix. thanks for pointing it out. idk about there not being a new twist on the lyrics though, the context is a little different and it brings it out more.

RobotFrank
February 25th 2010


344 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Nice review - this album is basically how you describe it. It does a good job to milk their peak era just a little bit further after The Joshua Tree. The live renditions in the movie are stronger than the ones offered here - especially Sunday Bloody Sunday and With or Without You (complete with incredible extra ending verse "Yeah, we'll shine like stars in the summer night..") which is unavailable on any official release (wtf?)



Something should be said for the singles on here, though. All four of them are incredible. Desire, Angel of Harlem, All I Want is You, When Love Comes to Town. This album was very inspired by American blues, and it shows heavily on Desire and When Love... Because of that, this album's singles have a slightly different overall feel, while still maintaining the strength of those on their prior album. I much prefer Desire and Angel of Harlem to Where the Streets.. and I still Haven't Found.. And All I Want is You is classic, as you say.

BigHans
February 25th 2010


30959 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

messy album with some great moments.

Nagrarok
February 25th 2010


8656 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

messy album with some great moments.




Pretty much sums it up.

ihopeuchoke
February 26th 2010


668 Comments


I like this album. Very blue-ish. I think this gets overlooked because it's sandwiched in between Joshua Tree and Achtung because it's really good. The live performances are great and the new songs are fantastic. And U2 are the only band who have made a good cover of Helter Skelter.



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