U2 Announce 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' 20th Anniversary Reissue, Share Unreleased Songs
Friday, 27 September 2024
Written by Jon Stickler
Photo: Andrew McPherson
U2 have announced a 20th anniversary reissue of 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb'.
The Irish rock legends will celebrate the record with the release of a new "shadow album" featuring previously unheard offcuts from the original recording sessions.
Titled 'How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb' and due out on November 29, it'll comprise 10 tracks from that era, including five previously unreleased songs; Treason, Evidence Of Life, Country Mile, Happiness, and Luckiest Man In The World. Guitarist The Edge said:
"The sessions for ‘How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb’ were such a creative period for the band, we were exploring so many song ideas in the studio. We were inspired to revisit our early music influences, and it was a time of deep personal introspection for Bono who was attempting to process - dismantle - the death of his father.
"For this anniversary edition I went into my personal archive to see if there were any unreleased gems and I hit the jackpot. We chose ten that really spoke to us. Although at the time we left these songs to one side, with the benefit of hindsight we recognize that our initial instincts about them being contenders for the album were right, we were onto something.
"What you’re getting on this shadow album is that raw energy of discovery, the visceral impact of the music, a sonic narrative, a moment in time, the exploration and interaction of four musicians playing together in a room… this is the pure U2 drop.”
Additionally, the band will release a 20th anniversary remaster of 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb', featuring the bonus track Fast Cars, as a standalone release or packaged with 'How To Re-Assemble An Atomic Bomb' on November 22. Check out the tracklist for 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition)', below.
To coincide with the announcement, U2 have shared the previously unheard song Country Mile, and the remastered version of Picture Of You (X+W). Press play below, next to a trailer for the project.
U2 were the first band to play at the state-of-the-art 17,500-seat Sphere venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, which opened in September 2023. The group's U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere residency ran from September 29, 2023 to March 2, 2024 and included 40 concerts. They launched the series with the release of their first original new song in two years, Atomic City.
'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (Re-Assemble Edition)' tracklist:
1. Vertigo (Remastered 2024)
2. Miracle Drug (Remastered 2024)
3. Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own (Remastered 2024)
4. Love and Peace or Else (Remastered 2024)
5. City of Blinding Lights (Remastered 2024)
6. All Because of You (Remastered 2024)
7. A Man and a Woman (Remastered 2024)
8. Crumbs From Your Table (Remastered 2024)
9. One Step Closer (Remastered 2024)
10. Original of the Species (Remastered 2024)
11. Yahweh (Remastered 2024)
12. Fast Cars (Remastered 2024)
13. Picture of You (X+W)
14. Evidence of Life
15. Luckiest Man in the World
16. Treason
17. I Don’t Wanna See You Smile
18. Country Mile
19. Happiness
20. Are You Gonna Wait Forever? (Re-Assemble Edition)
21. Theme From ‘The Batman’
22. All Because of You 2
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