My Favorite U2 Albums
Submitted by judge on Mon, 05/07/2001 - 01:46
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- 1. Achtung Baby - Like Bowie did for Low, the boys hung out in Berlin and brough Eno on board again. Unlike Low, this album saved all the experiments for songs with vocals. Wild, electric, and scorched, yet a human heart still pounds loud in the middle of it.
- 2. The Joshua Tree - You can hear it in their confidence to tackle the world in a few songs - the band knew they were working on their first masterpiece here, and soon, the world did too.
- 3. War - Young, barefaced, and brash. Every time I spin these great songs of sorrow, anger, and hope, I realize U2 could have named this album, "Ireland."
- 4. The Unforgettable Fire - Moody and dense, but the singles set the silent sea of oil on fire.
- 5. Rattle and Hum - Too large and too indulgent, perhaps, but this was an album about America, you know. Desire is still one of the best singles the band has ever blessed us with. Maybe they should have named this one, "USA."
- 6. Zooropa - Really, there are days I might have penciled this one in at number 4. Even in Technoland, Johnny Cash is still a god.
- 7. Boy - We all followed. Too young, but still post-punk bliss.
- 8. The Best Of: 1980-1990 - For the few that got away on October, and for the revealing disc of B-sides. Still waiting on the second Best Of, though, the one that will allow me to sell off Pop by giving me the 4 or 5 great songs that album hides.
You know, if you took out The Unforgettable Fire (which I just don't like as much as everybody else in the world seems to), this could almost be my list. Maybe I'd scoot Zooropa up over Rattle and Hum, but then, maybe not. I have something of a love / hate relationship with Rattle, although I always recognize that it has some fantastic songs. Heartland is a personal favorite; it sorta serves as a spine to the entire album.
Great list, and fun comments. I hope you create some more soon.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
What turns you off about The Unforgettable Fire? That's probably the most popular U2 album in England right now. Not that I'd expect to see you swinging with the masses.
Rattle and Hum has been horribly misunderstood. You're right about Heartland. The album is a highway straight across the USA, at least from an outsider's view. Well, they did miss some of the initial electricity that fries your system for a few days stepping off a plane in NYC for the first time, but other than neglecting that insane giddiness, they pegged it.
I've been gigglish pleased to see Achtung so well received here. Most U2 fans treat as a bastard child. They certainly plaster those songs wonderfully live. Have you ever had a chance to see the boys in concert?
I will give life to more lists. Hang on.
Zeep! Zeep! Zeep!