The opening track, Vertigo, gives us a resounding answer of "Yes they can!" This one is a bit different than the "typical" U2 stylings, but the song is totally solid. The only thing that has marred this track is overplaying of the chorus in an iTunes commercial. The song itself is nearly flawless, and a great start to the disc.
Miracle Drug is much more like the U2 people know, and it's yet another great tune. The lyrics are solid, and the music is exactly what you would expect from U2. Bono's voice truly fits well with the music in this song. Great job.
Now it's on to Sometimes You Can't Make It Your Own. This is another song with typical U2 stylings, though these are the typical stylings of the U2 songs that don't make it to radio. The song is decent, though it's certainly not the caliber of the U2 classics that we all know and love. Good, not great.
And then it's on to Love And Peace Or Else. The music is quite...interesting, for lack of a better term. The song is led into by a bongo or an djembe or some kind of conga type instrument. The guitar part is very...electric, for lack of a better term. The lyrics are typically U2. Very simple, but they work. A well-done song.
And now we travel to the City Of Blinding Lights. And this one begins with a piano intro. It almost seems out of place at first listen, but it truly works quite well. Again, the lyrics are solid. The music is relatively solid, though it could've been better. Bono has some of his typical high notes that are kind of airy. It all meshes together for a good song that has potential to get stuck in your head or be hated by many.
All Because Of You hits your ears next, and you may be a bit disappointed. It's not a bad song, it's just not terribly spectacular. It's something that you honestly could get from many other bands, which is not something that we're accustomed to with U2. A decent effort, but it could've been much better.
Hopefully A Man And A Woman will bring us back to the awesomeness we know as U2. Instead we are bnrought another song that sounds oddly out of place. Something about the music just seems off. Bono's vocals are solid, and the lyrics are good, but the music just seems to not be very U2-esque.
And so we turn to Crumbs From Your Table. The lyrics are definitely something that you would expect from U2. This is another U2 song that is solid but not for radio. The song is good overall, with lyrics, vocals and melodies that work pretty well together. It's not spectacular, but it works.
One Step Closer...no, I'm not talking about the Linkin Park song...this is the title of track 10. And it's a solid track all the way around. The lyrics are great, the music is totally solid, and Bono keeps the vocals simple and makes it work wonderfully.
On to Original Of The Species. This is another track that is just solid all the way around. The music is awesome, the lyrics are solid, and the vocals just bring the whole thing together in a way that turns the song into a great one that could've just been good.
Finishing off the disc is YAHWEH. This is one of those tracks that Christian listeners will latch on to, and many will call it their favorite. And rightfully so. The title itself points to the song being about God (being that YAHWEH is God). The lyrics are superb yet simple. The music simple but solid. the vocals...the vocals are typical U2/Bono vocals. And that's why this song is one of the best on the disc.
FINAL ANALYSIS: U2 is a timeless band. Period. Their music has been solid for many years now, and this disc is no exception. There is no track that is "bad", merely a few that could've had more done with them. But, of course, there are many U2 classic-type tracks. This disc is awesome and certainly is one of this year's must-have's.