OK, anyone who has known me for more than ten minutes knows that today is a day I've been looking forward to for quite a while now: Today is the day U2 released "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb".

If I was allowed to take my vacation time (I have to wait a year before I can take any of it), I would have taken the day off, got the CD when the music store opened, stocked up on Guiness and had one all-day listening party! Alas, I had to wait to pick it up on my way home from the office.

I've given it three spins on the CD player so far and I have to say this will probably go down as one of their best albums. I think it's their most consistent album since "Achtung Baby", or even "Unforgettable Fire".

Like I said, I've only heard it three times so far: After the third listen, I decided to just let it marinate in my head over night. With the long weekend coming up, I'll give it a more thorough play, and, in keeping with my tradition of all new U2 releases, play it next to "Boy" to see how it stands up and how it fits. Though, of all their records since, "War" I think this one will stand the strongest next to "Boy". On this album, they've really given us old-timers a great gift for sticking by them.

More to come...