Rattle and Hum

Functioning as both the soundtrack to 's feature film documentary and as a tentative follow-up to their career-making blockbuster, is a bit messy. A mix of live cuts and new studio tracks, the album finds running wild in the aftermath of , continuing their embrace of America to the point that they adopt several classic rock moves. Specifically, they dabble in American roots rock, something they ignored before. These experiments sometimes work: has an intoxicating beat, is a punchy, sunny soul tribute, is an endearingly awkward blues duet with , and the collaboration is an overlooked minor bluesy gem. These are paired with some affecting laments -- the cascading and which sounds like a outtake -- but is by far the least-focused record ever made, leaving it to the listener to mine for the Silver & Gold within its sprawl. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine