Check out Four Essential Tracks from U2’s ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’

On November 22, U2 marks the 20th anniversary of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb with a new collection titled How to Re-Assemble an Atomic Bomb.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 25: (Exclusive Coverage) Lady Gaga (2nd L), The Edge, Bono, Bram van den Berg, and Adam Clayton of U2 perform onstage at U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on October 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Live Nation)

The anniversary edition features the remastered album along with previously unreleased tracks. Two non-album songs, “Country Mile” and “Picture of You (X+W),” are currently available on streaming platforms.

In a statement, The Edge shared the inspiration behind the album: “The sessions for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb were a highly creative time for the band, as we explored numerous song ideas in the studio. We were driven to revisit our early musical influences, and it was a period of deep personal reflection for Bono, who was trying to process—and dismantle—the loss of his father.”

Reflecting on the recording sessions, The Edge noted, “We were onto something.” Here are four standout tracks from U2’s 11th studio album.

“Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”

The third track on the album serves as a tribute to Bono’s father, Bob Hewson. Bono has often shared the complex relationship he had with his father, who once told him, “You’re a baritone who thinks he’s a tenor.” A sharp comment from his opera-loving father to his son, one of rock music’s biggest icons. While “Vertigo” is the album’s most famous track, “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” carries the emotional core of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

“City of Blinding Lights”

The opening verse of “City of Blinding Lights” is set in London, inspired by Bono’s memories of traveling there as a teenager with his future wife, Ali. The song also drew inspiration from New York City. During U2’s Elevation Tour at Madison Square Garden, Bono noticed the stage lights shining on the crowd and said, “Oh, you look so beautiful tonight.” He later called the line naïve, but it became the song’s memorable hook.

“Miracle Drug”

Irish writer Christopher Nolan was the inspiration behind “Miracle Drug.” Born with cerebral palsy, Nolan had control only over his head and eyes. However, after being prescribed medication that enabled him to move a muscle in his neck, he eventually learned to type. In 1981, Nolan published a collection of early writings titled Dam-Burst of Dreams, which Bono described as “all these poems that he’d been storing up in his head.”

“Vertigo”

“Vertigo” kicks off How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb with a powerful, classic rock guitar riff, an unexpected sound from The Edge that signaled a new phase for U2. This era also saw the band collaborate with Apple in an iPod ad campaign. On the album cover, U2 looks as though they’ve journeyed from somewhere much farther than Ireland. Since The Joshua Tree, U2 has operated on a unique level, a band with the economic impact of a small country. Like many stadium acts, U2 became a polarizing group, but “Vertigo” is a towering rock anthem, driven by The Edge’s expansive guitar work.