eMusic Review 0
Or, U2 finds American music; the rest of us didn't realize it had gone missing. A mixed-up hodgepodge of a record if ever there was one, Rattle & Hum is comprised of tracks the group recorded at historic American landmarks (among them, Sun Studios), along with live versions of Joshua Tree songs that essentially exist to rewrite that record's themes in 600-foot neon.
God, where to even start? The gospel choir belaboring the point in on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For?" The hamfisted R&B attempt "Angel of Harlem?" Their bizarre decision to include Hendrix's infamous version of "The Star Spangled Banner"? No less a legend than B.B. King complimenting Bono on his "deep lyrics"? (Hey, thanks for encouraging him, bud). The only real feat this record accomplished was managing to get a whole bunch of college meatheads laid in the late '80s by making "All I Want is You" so easy to learn on the guitar.
It's no wonder this record — and the [shudder] accompanying film — were largely to blame for the U2 fatigue that soon settled across the globe. These days, it's worthwhile mostly as a collage of hilarious Bono soundbites. Before "Helter Skelter": "This… read more »
