Best U2 album (closes May 8th)

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Ticking off the biggies, we now move onto the juggernaut known as U2.

Poll Results

Option	Votes
Achtung Baby	15
The Unforgettable Fire	14
Zooropa	9
War	9
The Joshua Tree	9
Boy	7
Eye of the Hurricane by The Alarm	4
Passengers - Original Soundtracks 1	3
All that you can't leave behind	3
Rattle and Hum	1
October	1
Pop	1
How to dismantle an atom bomb	1
Wideawake in America	0

― Billy Dods, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

"All That You Can't Leave Behind" rules this thread although I would have picked "Strength" by The Alarm if included in the poll. :)

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 21:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm guessing The Joshua Tree will win, but I gave my vote to War - my favorite U2 album (Wa-a-a-ar, she's the refugee! I see your face, I see you staring back at me!)

― Mordechai Shinefield, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Haven't really liked much since the debut, but I sure liked that one.

― Dan Peterson, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:09 (seventeen years ago) link

ACHTUNG UBER ALLES

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Shit. In retrospect, the answer is "Zooropa."

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:18 (seventeen years ago) link

The production and mix on ATYCLB are execrable. The songs aren't much better. Exceptions: "Walk On" and "In a Little While."

Anyway, a touch choice between Achtung Baby and Zooropa.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:21 (seventeen years ago) link

OTM OTM OTM

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:22 (seventeen years ago) link

The only praise I can give ATYCLB is that it shits all over that "Atomic Bomb" monstrosity.

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:22 (seventeen years ago) link

ATYCLB is genius because it puts the empasis on the songs rather than The Edge's guitar. And the songs are so much better than anything else they had done - less repetitive and more chorus-oriented.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:23 (seventeen years ago) link

"Atomic Bomb" wasn't too bad either, but it was dragged down by some exaggerated "rock" tracks.

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:23 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I saw somebody staunchly defending "Pop" on another thread. Dude that also loves "Pop," I salute you, buddy.

― Davey D, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:24 (seventeen years ago) link

"Pop" is rubbish. "Staring At The Sun", however, was a masterpiece, pointing forward towards ATYCLB

― Geir Hongro, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:28 (seventeen years ago) link

pop is pretty dope

― félix pié, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:30 (seventeen years ago) link

i like their last two as well, the last one a few paces more because it wasn't as obvious a mainstream ploy.

― félix pié, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:31 (seventeen years ago) link

you forgot the 'fuck U2' option. so i will say: FUCK U2.

― the table is the table, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 22:45 (seventeen years ago) link

The only praise I can give ATYCLB is that it shits all over that "Atomic Bomb" monstrosity.

I marginally prefer Atomic Bomb actually.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 23:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I voted for Unforgettable Fire, after that maybe Zooropa.

― Mark Rich@rdson, Tuesday, 1 May 2007 23:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Under. A. Blood. Red. Sky.

by about forty million miles. No fucking contest. Forever and ever Amen.

And it's not up there, but Wide Awake in America is.

I don't get it.

― xhuxk, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 00:14 (seventeen years ago) link

They should be ashamed of the last two albums. Those records, combined with Bono's terrible vocal problems when singing live, are very sad to me.

― Matt Armstrong, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 01:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Chuck, Wide Awake had new studio tracks, so that's probably why it's included while Blood Red Sky isn't.

Anyway, I don't care how uncool it makes me, The Joshua Tree gets my vote here for turning me, at the tender age of 13, from casual music listener into raving music fanatic.

― Johnny Fever, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 01:23 (seventeen years ago) link

The Tree = winnah

― SeekAltRoute, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 05:38 (seventeen years ago) link

zooropa is my pick though it's tough to choose, i find their sound to be almost inexplicably appealing

― félix pié, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 05:41 (seventeen years ago) link

"Boy" for all the reasons I wrote about in Uncut way back when.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 07:46 (seventeen years ago) link

No Under a Blood Red Sky no crediblity. Sez the guy who never includes live albums in his polls. Still...Achtung Baby gets it I guess.

― JN$OT, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 08:01 (seventeen years ago) link

No Under a Blood Red Sky no crediblity. Sez the guy who never includes live albums in his polls

Bah, it's not liveism that it isn't there, I just forgot all about it.

― Billy Dods, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 09:35 (seventeen years ago) link

U2 albums ranked (roughly) by number of songs I love, and how much I love them:

The Unforgettable Fire: "A Sort of Homecoming" "Pride (In the Name of Love)" "Wire" "The Unforgettable Fire" "Bad"

Under a Blood Red Sky: "Gloria" "11 O'Clock Tick Tock" "I Will Follow" "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "The Electric Co." "New Year's Day"

War: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" "Seconds" "New Year's Day" "Like a Song..." "The Refugee" "Two Hearts Beat as One" "Surrender"

Boy: "I Will Follow" "Out of Control" "Stories for Boys" "The Electric Co."

How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb: "Vertigo" "Miracle Drug" "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" "City of Blinding Lights" "Crumbs from Your Table"

All That You Can't Leave Behind: "Beautiful Day" "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" "Walk On"

Achtung Baby: "One"

The Joshua Tree: "With or Without You"

October: "Gloria"

Rattle and Hum: "Van Diemen's Land" "Heartland" "All I Want Is You"

Wide Awake in America: "A Sort of Homecoming"

Zooropa: "The Wanderer"

Pop: "Wake Up Dead Man"

(various artists) Folkways, A Vision Shared: "Jesus Christ"

― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:35 (seventeen years ago) link

the only u2 album i like is zooropa

― Billy Pilgrim, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 17:51 (seventeen years ago) link

I love the sound of Zooropa. That album got me back into U2 after Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum/Achtung Baby progressively made me stop caring. I just wish the songs were better.

― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 18:18 (seventeen years ago) link

i love everything up to and including Pop

desert island choice...The Unforgettable Fire gets my vote

― stephen, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I don't understand the hatred against those two most recent album. It isn't until now that they have been able to give first priority to the tunes, which make their music better. Before that, they have paid a bit too much attention to the "grooves", The Edge's guitar or whatever.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 07:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Achtung Baby here. It's their OK Computer, innit?

― StanM, Thursday, 3 May 2007 07:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Unforgettable Fire

― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Come on, Geir, U2's melodies are shit

― Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, I always thought they were kinda anemic in that department. With U2 sound always comes first. Sometimes to the detriment of other things, sometimes not.

― JN$OT, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:45 (seventeen years ago) link

The last two albums are shit because there is too much emphasis on tunes at the expense of music that is nice to listen to. And they are both absolutely butchered on the mixing / mastering front. Completely flat and unreal and nasty. Because they forgot about music that is nice to listen to.

― Scik Mouthy, Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link

They just don't write memorable tunes

― Tom D., Thursday, 3 May 2007 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link

the last 2 U2 albums(just like with REM) are utter shit.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Last two records are actually very, very good. But they get a bad rap because they're definitely more conservative than previous records. But so what? Both are stocked with some amazing songs.

That said, I voted for Achtung Baby, which is an absolute fucking masterpiece.

― Jiminy Krokus, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago) link

i want to vote for war because of 'new year's day', 'like a song...' and 'red light'

but i guess the best is the joshua tree.

― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 3 May 2007 17:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Come on, Geir, U2's melodies are shit

No they aren't. The recent ones that is. The are great and catchy with great singalong choruses and a great buildup from verse via bridge to a great climax in the chorus. Exactly what good melodies should be like.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:11 (seventeen years ago) link

The last two albums are shit because there is too much emphasis on tunes at the expense of music that is nice to listen to

The more emphasis on tunes, the nicer to listen to.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I think that there are approximately 100x more melodies and tunes on "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa" than on the last two albums. I'm not trying to be difficult here - there is nothing on "Atomic Bomb" with a melody as graceful and effortless as "One", "If God Will Send His Angels," or "Stay." Also, Bono's lyrics (in the choruses, no less!) on "Atomic Bomb" are utter tripe.

"Freedom has a scent/like the top of a newborn baby's head"

"I'll give you everything you want/except the thing you want"

JESUS.

― Davey D, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:21 (seventeen years ago) link

this would be a good lyrics:

"I'll give you everything you want/except the thing you want/JESUS."

― félix pié, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:23 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm not trying to be difficult here - there is nothing on "Atomic Bomb" with a melody as graceful and effortless as "One", "If God Will Send His Angels," or "Stay."

Maybe. But there is nothing even remotely as completely amelodic as "Mofo", "Numb", "Bullet The Blue Sky", "Some Days Are Better Than Others" or "Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World".

"Achtung Baby" is my favourite pre-ATYCLB U2 album btw. Not at least because it is more constantly tunefull than most of their other work from the 80s or 90s.

― Geir Hongro, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:25 (seventeen years ago) link

lol x-post

― Davey D, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

`Tis a toss up between War and Achtung Baby, as far as I'm concerned.

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 3 May 2007 21:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Achtung Baby, baby.

― Lostandfound, Friday, 4 May 2007 05:23 (seventeen years ago) link

I hate to be a contrarian cliche here, but t happens to be true: the only U2 album I listen to with any kind of regularity is the MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL SOUNDTRACK, which isn't here. And yet it contains their best two songs, in my estimation - "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" and "Stateless." Add tossed-off, whacked-out covers of "Satellite of Love" (with Milla Jovovich!) and "Anarchy In the UK" (in Italian!), plus a good redo of a Zooropa song, and you get something very much like the pretend-Eurotrash classic Zooropa aspired to be.

Shite movie, though.

― Erroneous Botch, Friday, 4 May 2007 15:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, I want to track that soundtrack down now.

And they are both absolutely butchered on the mixing / mastering front.

I might buy this, 'cause I was won over to both albums by the 2006 live show, which made me love even "Yahweh," and the Joshua Tree songs I hate.

This is a major climb-down from guy who panned 'Atomic Bomb'.

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 4 May 2007 18:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Make that their 2005 show. Bono said exactly what needed to be said about Katrina, which was that it had brought out the best in America. It also brought out the worst, but nobody was talking about the best at the time, and it meant a lot.

― Pete Scholtes, Friday, 4 May 2007 18:59 (seventeen years ago) link

I'd love to say War, I really would, but Unforgettable Fire had (and has) an even bigger impact on me than that one. Which is hard to believe, because War hit me pretty hard at the time.

No Under a Blood Red Sky no crediblity. Sez the guy who never includes live albums in his polls

[Billy Dod's response]:
Bah, it's not liveism that it isn't there, I just forgot all about it.

I felt this was a classic part of this thread. "Liveism" - Ha! I love it! You can feel these polls changing the culture of ILM already.

― Bimble, Saturday, 5 May 2007 03:53 (seventeen years ago) link

I like the one where The Edge's guitar goes "jiggah-jiggah-jiggah" first down, then up. Plus, any time they have inexplicable reverb over everything, like they're in the world's most anthemic men's room.

― I eat cannibals, Saturday, 5 May 2007 04:18 (seventeen years ago) link

I'll say War. I loved everything up to Unforgettalbe Fire. Now if only Bono's God Complex was Unforgettable.

― brg30, Saturday, 5 May 2007 14:38 (seventeen years ago) link

boy. it still held the option that they would remain small.

― alex in mainhattan, Saturday, 5 May 2007 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

i don't like any U2 albums. i'll get me coat. taxi!

― AmyCamus, Sunday, 6 May 2007 10:36 (seventeen years ago) link

ZOOROPA, and y'all can go cry in your haterade.

― rogermexico., Sunday, 6 May 2007 18:08 (seventeen years ago) link

"All That You Can't Leave Behind" rules this thread although I would have picked "Strength" by The Alarm if included in the poll. :)

If Billy Dods hadn't given the prompt, this might be my favorite Geir post ever. It may be anyway.

― rogermexico., Sunday, 6 May 2007 18:10 (seventeen years ago) link

― negotiable, Sunday, 6 May 2007 19:33 (seventeen years ago) link

I still love all you folks who voted for Boy & October. Don't get me wrong.

― Bimble, Sunday, 6 May 2007 19:35 (seventeen years ago) link

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