Show Notes
Summary
In this episode, host Stephen and his guests Ross Braidwood & Bryan Borthwick, delve into U2's album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,' exploring its themes, song analyses, and the impact it had on the music scene.
They discuss their favourite tracks, the critical reception of the album, and the significance of its singles. The conversation highlights the evolution of U2's sound and the personal connections listeners have with the music, culminating in a thoughtful reflection on the album's legacy.
Chapters
00:00 The Edge Interview 02:44 Album Overview and Critical Reception 06:35 Personal Reflections on the Album's Impact 16:24 Discussing the 2024 Remaster & ‘New’ Songs 21:55 Creating Side A of the Album 22:26 Exploring 'Vertigo' and Its Impact 26:23 The Magic of 'City of Blinding Lights' 30:05 The Simplicity of 'All Because of You' 35:04 Emotional Depth in 'Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own' 40:37 The Story Behind 'Miracle Drug' 44:39 U2 Interview on Conan 45:40 Exploring Side B Track Selections 45:54 Discussing ‘Original of the Species’ 51:13 Discussing ‘Picture of You (X + Y) 55:26 Analysing ‘One Step Closer’ 58:24 ‘The Luckiest Man in the World’ 61:49 ‘Theme from the Batman’ Discussion 63:33 Discussing the Cut Songs 68:09 Finalising the Supercut Tracklist
Like the podcast? Why not show your appreciation by buying Stephen a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com Podcast website - trimmingthemusicalfat.com / Email us - [email protected] / Join our Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/274805337346926 / Check out our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_P5WlRZ0i3tR3jEavD_5A / TikTok - @trimmingthemusica #U2 #HowToDismantleAnAtomicBomb #HowToReassembleAnAtomicBomb #TheShadowAlbum
More from Trimming The Musical Fat
It’s time to party like it’s 1999! 🎹💜 In this episode of Trimming The Musical Fat, we continue our Prince side-series, working our way through his incredible run of singles released between 1978 and 1989. This time, we’re diving into 1999, the landmark 1982 album that helped propel Prince from cult favourite to international superstar. We’re putting four of the album’s standout tracks under the microscope: the apocalyptic dance-floor anthem 1999, the irresistible synth-pop classic Little Red Corvette, the frantic funk of Delirious, and the provocative, gloriously eccentric Let’s Pretend We’re Married. But how do these tracks hold up today? Which deserve their place among Prince’s finest singles, and are any guilty of being a little too funky for their own good? We’ll critique the music, explore the singles’ strengths and weaknesses, and decide which tracks truly deserve to make the cut. As we continue our mission to celebrate Prince’s greatest singles from his early career, there’s only one question left to ask… Are these tracks musical gold, or is it time to trim some of the fat? Put on your purple finery, turn up the volume, and join us as we take another slice out of the musical genius that was Prince! 💜🎶
George Harrison’s 1987 comeback album Cloud Nine gets the Trimming The Musical Fat treatment! After years away from the spotlight, George returned with an album that combined his distinctive songwriting with a fresh, polished late-80s sound — helped along by producer Jeff Lynne and a stellar cast of musicians. But is Cloud Nine a genuine classic from start to finish… or is there some musical fat that needs trimming? ✂️ In this episode, Stephen and Paul Nicholson go track by track through the album, debating the big questions: 🎵 Which songs deserve to make the cut?✂️ Which tracks need trimming — or should be cut completely?💿 Is Got My Mind Set on You a classic or an unlikely guilty pleasure?🎸 Is When We Was Fab one of George’s great solo songs?📻 How important was Jeff Lynne to the album’s sound?🏆 Which track is the hidden gem?🔥 And ultimately… what would our Cloud Nine Supercut look like? We’ll critique, debate, disagree and trim the album down to the very best of George Harrison’s 1987 comeback. Cloud Nine or Cloud Nein? You decide!
In this episode, Stephen is joined by best friend and fellow Soundgarden fan Bryan Borthwick for a deep dive into the band’s 1996 album Down on the Upside — a record both of them bought on release week, and both found… well… a bit disappointing after the towering brilliance of Superunknown.
The Beatles’ White Album is a sprawling masterpiece — 30 tracks of brilliance, indulgence, experimentation, and occasional chaos. But what if it had been a single LP?