Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Favorites: One, The Fly, Mysterious Ways I've never really been big on U2, so checking out their big pop sellout album didn't really give me much to latch onto. It's fine, but not something I want to revisit again.
As much as I hate U2, I have to admit... this is a pretty fucking great album. A little irony can do you a world of good.
This album hits differently when you're a European of a certain age. The fall of the Berlin Wall, the dissolution of the Eastern European block, Glasnost, the siege of the Kremlin with Yeltsin climbing tanks. Achtung Baby captured that zeitgeist - and I don't think anyone expected U2 to be the band to do that. An absolute classic.
eugh
Si "tiède" était un genre musical. Aucune raison d'être 1h - Je suis allé chier et je l'ai laisser rouler.
Ouin, l’album se ressemble beaucoup et ça confirme le peu de hype que j’ai pour U2
Bien que je félicite l'essai d'ajouter des sons plus électroniques et expérimentaux à leur musique (avec l'aide de nul autre que Brian Eno à la production!), le fond reste ennuyant et manque d'inspiration. Comparez avec OK Computer à vos risques et périls.
Ei oikein sytyttänyt, kappaleet jotenkin tosi mauttomia ja hajuttomia. Lisäksi kaikki kappaleet tosi samanlaisia. One oli yks U2 isoimpia hittejä, sekin vaan ok. Koko levy ok. Parhaat: Ultra Violet (Light My Way), Acrobat, One
I try so hard to have an open mind about U2. I really do. Better than the last one I listened to.
I feel less alive.
Alguna buena y ya
fu2
The beginning of the decline of U2. I remember my aunt giving me a tape cassette of U2's War once in a long and distant past, and I played the shit out of it. I enjoyed the energy, the post-punky angst, and the musicianship. Sadly, this album doesn't really embody any of that, and marks a turn towards mediocrity for U2.
Bono has an ego that can blot out the sun. But he can sing. This is the first time I've listed to this entire album in probably 20 years. It's better than I remember. Not a single bad track here, and most are incredible. Easy 5.
Heard some songs before. Was ok
I really, really just don’t like his voice.
Ok
What a long winded blah fest. U2 does not make good music. They make crap grocery store music. I just don't get how they are so popular. 2.2/10 109/1001
normal nada del otro mundo
U 2 silly
It’s the beginning of the end for U2 on this album. While the gang has some really good songs it’s apparent that their singles are far higher quality than the rest of the record. This marked the period where Bono thought he was deconstructing the idea of pop stardom only to find he really loved it and was devoted to it more than the music. From here on, they’re greatest hits only.
U2 is in my top 10 of all time!
U2s distinct pop/rock. Good or bad it was fine to listen to. A few really good song on this album- One,mysterious ways etc
Very familiar with this album. U2 is at the height of their popularity here, arguably. Lush production values, memorable songs, iconic and classic.
How do you follow The Joshua Tree? This is how. You expand your sound. You get out of your comfort zone a bit. The songs on Achtung Baby feel more personal and sound more energetic.
I was 21 when this album came out. I was a massive U2 fan right from the first notes of Boy in 1980. And I adored every album up to this point. When this came out I was really disappointed and considered it the end of U2 as I had known them. I didn't like the change in sound. And then Zooropa confirmed that this wasn't an anomaly, it was a whole new direction. I gave up on them Looking back on that and re-listening to this album now makes me realize that I was just an obnoxious 21-year-old elitist fanboy. This is a fucking awesome album full of incredible songs! Your favorite band evolving with the times is a GOOD thing. With that said, I still can only give it four stars (9/10) because even at this point I don't think it was as groundbreaking as most of their previous albums. But I'll probably listen to it 6 times through today!
This album is the transition point for me, from 5-star classic 80's rock-U2 to 3-star 90's pop-U2. Enough winners in here to hold the line above 4 though.
Holy crap. Holy CRAP. I'd heard the big singles ("Mysterious Ways") and I didn't realize just how STRONG that album was beyond the singles. Like, there are half a dozen songs on there that aren't breakout singles just because the singles are SO STRONG. Partially it's my age (I just turned 40), but to me, this era of U2 is what ROCK is. Funky, hard but not metal or alt. Fun, intense. Loved this one to death.
This almost gets a 5. Some very catchy songs and nice melodies but too many songs have a similar vibe. Needs a change of pace
'I was drowning my sorrows but they learnt to swim'... This was like watching paint dry but the paint started taking a shower
I wanted to listen to U2 for a while now so I’m glad this album came up. As soon as i heard the first song i knew that I’m going to like it. Every single song i thought wow im adding it to my playlist. Not just because its sounds good but the lyrics are also so good. The last song was actually such a good closing song im in tears. But the hate on this album is absurd lol.
Highlights "One" und "The Fly". Sonst ein typisches U"-Album. 3/5
U2. Not a fan. I can see the attraction just not for mec
Better than I expected but it's only thanks to a couple of standouts that it's not two stars
Probably U2's most creative record (that I've heard so far at least). I tend to associate U2 with more anthemic-sounding rock music. Here, They went a bit more introspective and personal, with some creative guitar playing from the Edge, as well as noticeable influences of industrial/electronic music. This isn't displayed in quite every track, however, which I guess is my only issue here. A bit inconsistent I guess.
A solid early 90 alt rock album. One, Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses, and Ultra Violet were the stand out tracks for me.
I still think Joshua Tree is a better album but this was still a good album. Was tempted to give it an extra star for all the Bono haters out there 😃 but I’ll save a 5 star for Joshua Tree.
Achtung Baby is supposed to be U2’s game-changing reinvention record, so I was pretty surprised by how bland this album sounds. Aside from the obvious hits, I wouldn’t be able to distinguish the songs from their late-career material. I realized for the first time how much Mysterious Ways sounds like Elevation. Both those songs are fine, but they’re also nothing mind-blowing. Even Better Than The Real Thing is decent, I remember liking it when it would come on the radio. The Fly just sounds like a mess. I also listened to the Achtung Baby episode of U Talkin’ U2 To Me. Adam Scott kept saying when this record came out, it was like nothing he had ever heard before. They talked about U2 joining the dance-rock trend but if this is Bono & Co.‘s answer to Madchester, it’s pretty underwhelming. I like U2’s 80s post-punk sound, but I find their music got progressively more boring. I guess without this evolution, they would’ve just faded away. I watched the music video for The Fly, and I think I get it. It was an image makeover that positioned them as a cool slick band for the 90s, even in the face of grunge about to take over. It was a marketing move and it worked. But the record itself doesn’t hold up for me. Maybe you just had to be there in 1991. The obvious standout here is One. It’s a timeless classic, and sounds even better because it’s so much better than everything else on the album.
This was quite boring. I thought for a second this was the polarizing flop U2 record from the 90s (Zooropa) and for that single second, I was intrigued. Sadly, I was mistaken. This is one of their big "significant" hit records and it's pretty fucking dull. Most of it has already left my brain. The 2 hits on this thing are a mixed bag. I am a little ashamed to admit that I do love One. It's GenX Imagine and it just works for me... but i understand why people hate it. Mysterious ways on the other hand...sigh... it kinda sucks. I've never liked it, but it did stick out as better and more interesting than the rest of the album, which isn't saying much. The only other track that had an interesting vibe was the closer... very moody and emotional rather than sterile radio rock sludge present on every other track. This album really fits under the too boring to hate category so it's a solid 2 for me. I do have an aside though about the lyrics.... The man loves using the word and talking about love. But in my head, Bono was a peace in love hippy guy (see One). After this record, he seems more like a sad lover boy toxic nice guy character. I didn't dig into the lyrics on this album for the most part... but the general vibe is he loves these women but they don't love him back or he's going to help these women but they don't need him and that makes him sad... and it gives me the ick. I don't like his energy around women and love at all. It also makes his big peace and love generalizations feel hollow when juxtaposed with these other tracks. On the track Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World, I thought he figured out that women don't need his shit when he dropped the line "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." I was impressed. It's a great line. Then i googled it and it turns out it's a famous feminist slogan, and Bono deserves zero credit. Then i dug into the lyrics and i don't know if i'm reading it right but i came up with 2 different interpretations. One makes Bono seem like a real asshole and one is normal famous guy shit. I'll do the neutral one first. IN that interpretation, he's trying to throw his arms around the world as an artist, but that leaves him with nothing left for love and makes it very hard for someone to date him and for him to be there as a partner but he tries (i'm gonna run to you [...] woman be still). I suppose the Dali verse contributes to this as perhaps he was another artists who neglected his personal life for his art. The Bono's an asshole take would be that feminism/women are trying to throw their arms around the world and it's a frustrating, all-consuming and fruitless endeavour trying to change things. But don't worry, Bono is gonna run to them, comfort them, be there for women... they just need to be still. I dunno. Maybe it's the fame one but i still don't like Bono's vibe on this album. His lyrics are just not good and made me like him even less than I did before.
I'm not a U2 fan but this album, where they stepped away, albeit temporarily, from taking themselves so seriously, is one that I gravitate to. There is some excellent stuff here - "The Fly", "Mysterious Ways", "Even Better than the Real Thing", "One", Ultra Violet". Achtung Baby is grittier, rockier, dancier, and generally more satisfying than anything they did before, or since. Even Bono sheds the pomposity that seems ingrained in his personality and the result is gem of an album. There are still grandiose moments but here they serve the music rather than bolster the band's self-importance.
classic you too
Quite a change musically compared to their previous records, but it worked well for U2. Several great classics on it, and the rest is not far below.
Probably the last great U2 album. Saw the original Zoo TV tour (1992?), as well as the opening night at The Sphere in 2023. They’re still phenomenal performers, even if their changes in circumstance have dulled the fire of their later work.
I don't know that I've ever listened to this straight through, but it's so good.
I once had a dream about this album. I was running over a field of frozen lava. It was rocky terrain and ran across it effortless without falling or getting hurt. The song Ultra Violet was playing. I don't love every song on this thing but I have trouble remembering 1991 or 1992 without it. I remember skateboarding to it.
The Wall fell and U2 responded to the historical moment with a better more poignant album than middling Rattle and Ho Hum. A fun album with some great songs and writing.
I kind of loathe U2 most of the time, though this is one of the two U2 albums I ever spent my precious Columbia House/BMG pennies on (the other being its follow-up, Zooropa, which I adore; an opinion that I've discovered is out of step with the U2 core fanbase.) I'm fairly certain I owned this on cassette and then re-purchased a used copy of the CD later on. So, like all albums from about 91-94, there's a ton of nostalgia here since these songs made up at least some of my coming-of-age soundtrack, and "Mysterious Ways" was in the alternative MTV rotation by the time "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came to obliterate my small-town-Iowa worldview and forever change me. Anyway, the first half of this album (plus "Mysterious Ways") is big, anthemic rock at its absolute finest. Banger after banger after banger. The second half (minus "Mysterious Ways") is meandering and overproduced. It's the same production that takes the songs in the first half into the stratosphere, but since the melodies aren't strong, the heavy handedness becomes both meat and potatoes. I've often wondered what a Rick-Rubin-Wildflowers-era version of U2 would have sounded like. "Tryin' to throw your arms…" and "Ultra Violet" especially feel like they would have benefitted from taking the foot off of the arena-rock/KROQ-hit gas. But also, "Mysterious Ways" is on here. So, four stars I guess?
One of the first compact discs I ever purchased at the Simi Valley Target. Back when they packaged them in those long sleeves, and then also put them in the plastic containers to prevent theft. It was always an ordeal buying CDs in the early days of establishments that didn’t want their inventory of new releases stolen. But that’s enough about the monotony of purchasing CDs in the olden days. I knew of U2, I knew many of their songs, but this was MY first album of theirs, and while I also believe Joshua Tree is a brilliant front-to-back album, this one is more personal to me. It’s also one of the first CDs I clearly remember purchasing with my own money because in late 1991 I didn’t yet have as much disposable cash as I would even just 6 months later. So, when you’re relegated to a small handful of CDs that you own, you will often relisten to the same ones, which is what happened here. While their earlier material had an Americana vibe, when you play this album, it’s like they’re the same yet completely different. They had successfully reinvented themselves with this album. The album presented a rich tapestry of music that I had never heard before, and I was entranced. I felt like a grown-up listening to this record.
I was not into this kind of music back then, but for some reason my girlfriend at the time had this CD and I latched onto it pretty hard. This is still a damn good album
It's alright, but pretty bland. Mysterious Ways is catchy, but mostly because it's popular. The song itself is a little overproduced. I think the song I liked the most was Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, but it was still very tame.
At first it aged really well, but now it's really old and some of the low points are really low. I massively respect them for trying something totally different even if it was a bit out of their lane.
U2 went big with the sound and created a great record. It is such a departure from the Joshua Tree sound and it works. Unfortunately this is the sound they will just put on rinse and repeat for the next 30 years.
Pretty good stuff from U2. Feels a bit more subdued and subterranean and dark compared to some of the arena rock sounding albums. Lyrics are really quite pretty here too. 7/10
Lot of bangers that flow seamlessly between genres moods and sounds.
Oh man, I remember hearing that guitar riff that opens “Mysterious Ways” from an adjacent room and running over to see where that awesome, previously-unthinkable sound was coming from. Nothing I’d put on the turntable, but revolutionary nonetheless.
I’m still on the fence about u2. They were everywhere when I was growing up and when they’re on, I enjoy them but I always have an aversion to putting them on. The activation energy is too great or something. This is a solid album but there’s something too slick about them although admittedly there are some excellent songs on here.
After weeks of unlistenable garbage, it was nice having something that wasn't a challenge to get through. Somehow, I had never listened to this, despite it being huge in my youth. I would have said it seems like a safe, adult alternative album, but given its release date, I guess it was sorta a pioneer in that space. So, I suppose it would be more appropriate to credit U2 for helping to create that genre instead of just lazily parking there. Whether that's good or bad is up to the listener, I guess. It's probably a 3, but I'll bump it up for being what it was when it was (plus, I've always had a soft spot for 'One', which came out during an impressionable age).
For the life of me, I do not understand why he is singing about Shamu. That whale doesn’t seem very mysterious to me.
I thought I'd be giving it a 1, but their instrumentation has just enough hints at post-punk interestingness for me to give it an extra star. Begrudgingly.
One and Mysterious Ways are my top takes from this album. Other than that, nothing really special
Bland
I secretly like this record, don’t tell anyone. Damn this is good, some bands wait their whole career to write a song as good as One. Who’s gonna ride your wild horses might be even better. Remember when the video for One was just a Buffalo? A fucking Buffalo, look it up. Then they made one that looked like a Heineken ad with Bono. Who ever was in charge of the visuals around this record should be strung up. While I’m ranting this record was so damn good the next one the released Numb as a single with video. What balls. The absolute arrogance to realse a song of Edge rapping and swing if it would stick. Also you hated that? Here’s Lemon. Lemmmmmon! I have a complicated relationship with U2. I think I’m finally old enough for this record. Also they really deserve a pass for the whole ITunes album based on how much great music they gave us. BTW I don’t really like U2 but goddamn it I respect them.
not a big U2 fan but this one ain’t so bad
It's ok, not great but not bad.
I’m torn here. I like it. But there is also some garbage on here. I like U2, But I also think they are lame as hell. I liked a lot of it, but it also gave bono the idea to wear the glasses and be the fly, and the zoo tv stuff high is dumb. Mysterious ways is a killer song though.
Easy to mock, harder to admit they're actually extremely good at writing overwrought anthems that work on you despite yourself. After an incredible run in the 80s this is a re-invention for a new era, but since they reinvented themselves to be the omnipresent bland wallpaper of a slowly fading genre (radio friendly pop rock), it's their last good album. Three huge hits are great, most of the rest is decent unobjectionable stuff, but there's a lot of it to get through - they really are a greatest hits band. The less said about the Fly the better though - a vehicle to launch Bono's new persona as 'guy with a big pair of sunglasses', what a twat. Like the much better War album, this bears the marks of its time and place, 1990 Berlin; it's the soundtrack of an earnest optimisitc post-coldwar liberalism anticipating the end of history, celebrating universalism, unification one-ness. One especially - the rest has a bit more ambient darkness and introspection to it. Daniel Lanois has them sounding great - huge, sweeping, polished - pure bombast. The rhythms nod toward acid house as they're starting to adopt some electronica elements here they'd soon dive way deeper into. The guitars are bright and chiming with a bit of break up scuzziness, some wah wah wildness, all echoing through the mix with that distinctive Edge AC30 tone and melodic phrasing.
Pretty boring. Not much of a departure from The Joshua Tree. However, as that sounded new and exciting, still fresh after all these years, with Achtung Baby, U2 have immediately just tried to capitalise on that, becoming the boring stadium rock sound that they have become. Lyrics were too saccharine for me, and just found it boring boring boring. Why did so many interesting bands decide that this was the way forward for rock music? Money I guess.
every 90s-00s coming of age movie, and about as unique as those plots
Really do not care for U2
One full hour of listening to Bono wail... I didn't like this and I'm subtracting an additional spite point point for putting their album on every iPod in like 2008
The best
Gosh I really dislike U2. Especially Bono, whose voice and lyrics and whole energy just repel me. The band is tight but forgettable. The suffer from what I call the Nashville Effect (after the awful Altman film) where something is either widely beloved (U2) or universally praised (Nashville) but is actually mid at best and it makes you like it even less because the praise makes it extra insufferable. I was optimistic about this one, after mostly suffering through the obscenely overpraised Joshua Tree - hey, Berlin, fresh start, nasty. Everything good here is done wayyyy better elsewhere, including in Bowie's Berlin Trilogy, which I've never even heard, I'm just that confident in Bowie's weird greatness against this recycled trash. Without Joshua Tree's couple iconic hits, it doesn't even merit two stars.
Timeless. I can't hear if this is late 80s or early 00s. Very typically U2, and easy to listen to.
Much heavier (read better) than I expected from this reverb laden band and their stuffy nosed singer.
Ich war damals nur halb bereit, diesen Modernisierungsschritt mitzugehen, aber gute Singles und vor allem die schönen ruhigen Songs (one, tryin' to through your arms...) ergeben unterm Strich ein ordentlich Album. Im Sound bleibt's etwas bemüht und stellenweise anstrengend.
Isn't this the first bad U2 album? I certainly don't enjoy it.
Decent.
It’s not Joshua Tree, but it’s okay.
I do not like u2
I love U2, do you too?
It’s fine, mysterious ways is a good enough for a 3 star
This is probably my favorite U2 album and there are several good ones. This album has a gritty undertone that I like and don't get from their other material. My favorite track is Mysterious Ways but pretty much all the tracks are very good.
Never been a huge fan of U2. This confirmed why.
Potentially the most beige album I've ever heard.
This album took a while to grow on me, but it's a regular favorite now
Classic, one of my first albums :)
I mean, it's still Bono...but it wasn't not a vibe
I mean its U2. Sounded like I thought it would.
Starts off strong, second half boring
I tried extremely hard to listen to this album without nostalgia creeping in, but difficult. Truly is a great original album though, one that I seem able to listen to in its entirety any time it’s on barely skipping any tracks. If you have hatred for Bono/U2 (…?), forget about that, and just listen. Not quite a 5 though. I think it will be 4.5 in my main app.
This one was pretty generic. Nothing particularly special about it. It wasn't really anything special to begin with about U2, but at least the first records were more interesting. From this album on, they became uninspired.
Some songs blurred together and felt dull. The standouts for me are Love is Blindness, Ultra Violet, One, and Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses.
This was an enjoyable listen but too long
Quite generic U2 album. One nice song and the rest okay. 3/5
At one point while listening, I asked myself “wait, have I accidentally pressed the repeat one button?”. Turned out than no.
I know that U2 is beloved, but I have never been a huge fan of them, at least not nearly to the level of a lot of my friends were. I liked a decent amount of their songs (New Years Day, Angel of Harlem, etc.) and have seen them live (Innocence + Experience tour, great show), but I've never owned a lot of their music, nor do I ever find myself saying that I feel like listening to some U2. That said, I've listened to most of this album before. Everyone's heard One and Mysterious Ways, both of which are excellent songs. The Fly was a cool single as well. Some of the other singles - Even Better Than the Real Thing and Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - I was less enamored with. The rating on this album from me was, as a result, always going to come down to the non-singles and how they hold up. Zoo Station is kind of a sleepy opener in my opinion. It just kind of sits there and never really diverges too much from the same centrally located notes. I did listen to it a few times and it did get better with different listens, but it's yet to register with me as a great song. Until the End of the World is a lot better. Lots more range, lots more heft to this tune. Really good. So Cruel and Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World I liked as well. Neither is truly amazing, but both change things up enough to be interesting. Ultra Violet (Light My Way) had some cool lyrics and I loved the guitar sound in this one. I liked Acrobat for similar reasons. Finally, though this album's closer, Love Is Blindness, starts out pretty slow, the guitar work on this really carries this home. This song is almost haunting in some ways and it builds well. It doesn't quite pay off in the way that I would hope, but it's still an excellent tune. All in all, this is a really, really good album that has a lot of interesting aspects to it. Probably better than The Joshua Tree in total, but it's been many years since I listened to that album. Regardless, this is a worthy listen for anyone.
Looking at the track listing I didn’t recognise any of the track titles but turns out I knew about half the songs here. That made it easier to get through because the songs I didn’t know were a slog to get through. Even the songs I knew weren’t that catchy and were a bit boring
Makes for okay background music, but it isn't all that interesting a listen.
So I'm sure I listened to this entire album before, but probably thirty years ago. Anyway, I was surprised at how.... ambient it was. Not sure if ambient is the word, maybe atmostpheric? I mean, a lot of this is textures and vibing. Kinda reminds me of Madchester, which honestly shouldn't be a surprise. Not my favorite thing in the world, but honestly fresh and interesting and not that bad. So yeah, we have bono and co bathing in sea of delayed guitars, feedback and rolling drums. Pretty cool, strong singles. Call it three stars.
Classic
U2 had a pretty good run, but this is the one where they started going downhill.
Leuk, met klassiekers. Wel meer muziek die je vanaf de zijlijn luistert op een festival. Tegen het einde was ik er wel echt klaar mee.
Two songs are okay.
Decidedly average
This is the best album of the 90s.
3/5 Too same-ey and mellow for my taste. Some good songs, bur ultimately not too big a fan of the sound to like a full album of it.
Eh, wasn’t massively impressed by this. Just sounds incredibly generic and Bono has the vocal tone of a wet lettuce. Acrobat was the stand out track for me and that was just ok as was the last one
I can see why U2 are such a huge band now. This LP had some seriously listenable songs that I really enjoyed, namely 'One' and 'Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses'. It brings back a sort of childhood nostalgia for me, as my mum listened to a compilation album of them. I could see myself revisiting this album every once in a while.
Sjá dóm 727/690. Þetta er U2 platan mín og betri en Joshua tree. Hér er allt að gerast, alls konar skemmtilegheit, tíundatugartöffheit og drama. Mér finnst hún frábær og skammast mín ekkert.
One is the only good song.
Boring with somewhat interesting moments sometimes
Boring and cheesy, reminds me of Muse, but worse. Not quite bad enough to be a two star though, it might just not be my style.
Fantastic
I used to think of U2 as generic, non-offensive music for the masses. Their success speaks for itself so that might be true, but I was pleasantly surprised by the range of sounds across the album. Definitely super produced and some of the vocal effects seem dated now but overall I thought this album sounded super relevant despite being almost 35 years old.
My dad had a couple U2 CDs that we listened to growing up and I liked them enough, but not enough to listen to on my own. The fact that this is "their most transformative album" makes me curious about how different their earlier works were. It's not that its bad, it's just not very exciting.
Meh
This doesn't stand out to me in any way.
U2 is a band I always think I should like, and don't.
Pretty basic run of the mill U2 music here Best Song: One Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3/5
Not interesting
After half a decade of indulging in American aesthetics, U2 decide to embrace their European selves. This was the result of a band being attuned to and aware of the changes in their musical environment, makes all the right decisions and producing their best work. A very vibrant and diverse mix of alternative sounds and dance music influences that make U2 sound fresh and like a new band, but still unmistakably themselves. Many other brands struggled with the change of decade, but U2 navigated those changes expertly, and did it again at the turn of the following decade, albeit to less spectacular results. Key tracks: Even Better Than the Real Thing One Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses So Cruel The Fly Mysterious Ways Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
Maybe not really my cup of tea, but there were some good tracks on this album.
I was shocked at how bland this was
We're One ! Pivotal album Sweet spot for Acrobat.
NOt my favourite. Bono's etheral voice doesn't really make it for me here.
This album is a mix of lot influences, sometimes in a good way, sometimes even better and sometimes I don’t like it. Thanks to « One » track, it deserves 4 stars otherwise I would just rate 3 stars. Nice sound, nice music , nice melody on some tracks but they did even better album than this one
Most funky album from the Guys from Dublin. Back on track again thanks to Fred.
I’m one of those people who had a hard time accepting the big shift in artistic direction that started with this album. And yet, I have to admit the production on Achtung Baby was really innovative for 1991. This album is still incredibly relevant today, and overall, I think it’s a very solid record and one of the best U2’s effort. Paradoxically, at the time it came out, it’s also the album where Bono’s voice finally wore me out and pushed me to stop following the band.
U2 are a band I have more respect for recently, but we definitely had this album growing up. The highs are really some of their best work, even if they got weird for a bit after this. I like a few of their albums better overall, so this is probably a 4.5 for me but I'm bumping due to importance.
Hard to truly love, given Bono's later antics. One is still pretty dope, and the whole album is daringly unique and energetic.
Ugh. I like old U2 alright, but this is the album I checked out on this band with. It might not be their fault, other than that they wrote this album full of hits that I’ve heard soooo many times that I just can’t handle them anymore. I’m probably leaving this record an unfair 2, but a 2 nonetheless; it’s just that everything on this record is just. So. Boring. And off-putting.
4 stars. Great album, great music, great lyrics.
In a nutshell: gear change. Ahh yes. U2. A divisive band in rock music culture. To me, their early work is trying to be sincere but it comes off as self-righteous. Great guitar chops. Bono’s songwriting ranges from great to downright embarrassing. Achtung Baby is indeed a departure. Especially compared to Rattle and Hum. I think Brian Eno coming on board as co producer helped. Still heavily thematic (this time the reunification of Germany, cheers Wikipedia). The album got me thinking about the art of deciding the singles. For U2, went with the everyday sandwich approach: the bread is plain, the filling is satisfying. Personally I would have led with Mysterious Ways and dropped The Fly altogether. Overall: 4/10
I do not like this album :-( I got tired of Bono halfway thru There seems to be lots of earnestness, big sound. But yea came across as tiring pre coldplay dad rock that isn't for me.
Ganska wank. Har några bra stunder, främst gitarren. Bästa låten: One
Revisiting this was surprisingly enjoyable and almost made me forget about the dull and insufferable times to follow.
Used to listen to this cd with my dad, special place in my heart for Achtung Baby
Great album!
This is where U2 got really interesting again. I bought it one of the first weeks I lived in Spain and it scared me. I thought they had sold out when really, I had no idea what that meant. I sold the record to a friend the next day. But I kept hearing "The Fly" though shop windows and it always entranced me. When I got to college, it was everywhere. I told people I was a fan of their "old stuff". Then, a couple of albums later, I bought Pop and went back and made up for lost time with this and Zooropa. I felt like a fool and, it was good to learn that I was. From then on, I never discarded another album after the first listen or bought into the sellout trope. Achtung Baby changed my mind, my life and my record collection - forever.
A suitable reboot. Best tracks: "Zoo Station" and "The Fly"
Some of these songs are still amazing all these years later, others insufferable in their fake sincerity
Of all the U2, not my favorite. Lots of hits but just too uninspired for my taste. Trying to be rock stars that they thought they were but out of their sweet spot.
U2 is not for me.
Ok 3.5
known album, almost the best U2 album
I thought I was rather indifferent towards U2, but Bonos lyrics are so bad here it’s almost unbearable.
I always forget how much I like U2. This isn’t one of my favorites of their albums but Mysterious Ways is such a good song that bumps it up a bit
Ok. So each time I listen to a U2 album I dislike them a little less. I used to *hate* U2, but now it's more of a '...eh'. Are they growing on me or am I just becoming less opinionated in my old age...eh. Still don't get why people like them though.
Pleins de souvenirs d’adolescence. Encore un bon album, j’avais oublié plusieurs chansons.
Meh
Sonic journey of gloomy regrets
Really enjoying it so far, moreso than Joshua tree! It feels more flushed out, the drums are a bit better, it feels the band came more into themselves at this point. I like. A lot of what I’ve heard, if it came on I wouldn’t be mad.
i listened to All That You Can't Leave Behind on my own before this (though i haven't rated it here). i did not like it very much. i'm hoping this one will be better Zoo Station - 3/5 Even Better Than The Real Thing - 4/5 One - 4/5 Until The End Of The World - 4/5 Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - 3/5 So Cruel - 2/5 The Fly - 4/5 Mysterious Ways - 4/5 Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World - 3/5 Ultra Violet (Light My Way) - 3/5 Acrobat - 4/5 Love Is Blindness - 2/5 Average score - 3.3/5 (rounding down) is this the best thing i've ever heard? no. did this make me a U2 fan? also no. is this was waaaay better than All That You Can't Leave Behind? absolutely. most of the tracks were "okay" to me, albeit kinda repetative and uninspiring Standouts: Even Better Than The Real Thing, The Fly, Acrobat, Mysterious Ways (the only song i remember ever hearing on the radio) Duds: So Cruel, Love Is Blindness still holding out hope that i come across an album of theirs i like better. we'll see
My favorite album of all time, and probably the greatest U2 album. A great guitar album, every track sounds different but never boring. This album launched a new era for U2, which I personally enjoy more than the 80's. It's also worth noting that I believe this was the best album of it's year, even when facing the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Guns n Roses, Michael Jackson and others.
A really well made & interesting record
Following The Joshua Tree was no easy feat—an almost impossible task, in fact. But U2 rose to the challenge not by repeating themselves, but by reinventing their sound. Achtung Baby marks a bold and brilliant departure from their earlier work. With this album, U2 leaned into experimentation, embracing new sonic textures and a more modern, edgy feel. The lyrics carry deeper emotional weight—often more reflective and positive—and the melodies are vibrant and fresh. The result is a confident, innovative record that stands tall in their discography. Highlights include the hauntingly beautiful “So Cruel”, the emotionally charged “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses”, and, of course, the iconic “One”—a song that has become one of U2’s most enduring anthems. Honestly, every track holds its own, making this a cohesive and thoroughly enjoyable listen from start to finish. Favourite song: One Least favourite: None – every track shines in its own way. Album artwork: Easily U2’s best cover. It's vibrant, chaotic, and full of energy—just like the music. There's so much to look at; it perfectly captures the spirit of the album.
Probably my very favorite album by this band. Soon after this they’d be swapped by their size, creative stagnation and Bono’s grandstanding neoliberal bullshit that betrayed the social conscience they evidenced in the 80s. But here they are in the throes of a creative ecstasy, where all possibilities seemed open- this and Zooropa are the last 2 albums anyone needs to hear by these guys.
To quote this very album, “It’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alllllright”.
Jeg er sådan set ikke en u2 hater. Den her var ok! Man kan godt høre hvilken lyd de går efter, men den er ikke udført så godt som den kunne
Der er mange catchy numre men det må også være omkring her Bono begynder at blive ægte træls at høre på. Kan godt lide One og skammer mig en liiiille smule over det.
Solid stadion rock album.. Still not really that fond of his way of singing.
Big montage in early 2000s television music here. 5/10
Great album, but I think Joshua Tree is better
Banger after banger.
not a note out of place. capolavoro !! masterpiece of an album
Being such a big fan from Boy through Joshua Tree, I hated this when it first came out thinking they’d sold out. It has since become the album I come back to and listen to the most. The songwriting and production is brilliant. From The Fly where the Edge shreds to the gorgeous ballad So Cruel, the band shows their range not shown by today’s bands. This album does not age. It sounds as edgy and fresh as when it first came out. U2 announced their recreation with the ballsy proclamation Achtung Baby!
Okay, I didn't think I'd give this a high score...But I was very wrong. Bono creates a connection and pulls at your heart, hard sometimes. He made me feel a few things, even at 8 a.m.
This one's tricky. I have never loved all this albums. And maybe I have never loved any of it. I have liked/thoroughly enjoyed/admired much of it - especially some individual sonic moments too long list. There's a number of good songs (even very good to great). But I don't know that I would trade any of them for the u2 songs i grew up with. This arrived mid college (as opposed to the pre Joshua Tree high school years). I never engaged emotionally with this album that way I did an album like Unforgettable Fire. Empirically Achtung Baby is a better album. Emotionally - nothing can change first hearing UF at the age of 14. I was not the same person 7 years later. And U2 were not the same band. Thats a good thing as it allowed them to be culturally relevant for the next 20+ years and escape being an 80s band. Empirically a 5. Emotionally a charitable 3. Let's call it a 4. PS. I remember reading an interview with Bono , upon hear Pride in a bar setting and watching people attempt to dance realizing - that is not something you could do to a U2 song. It took a couple albums but they did at the very least address that issue.
I listened to this song sporadically, but I enjoyed most of the songs.
These guys are my exact contemporaries... Bono is a year older than me... you would think that i would relate to their music more... but, in fact, i LOVED their first three records... "Boy", "October" and "War" were great albums... they had an energy that was undeniable... i saw them live at a point where they were not yet ready to do stadiums... and they were great live... Bono hoisting a bloody white flag and all that... since those first three records, i don't have much use for any of this group's music... it's not bad... it's just not great... i would NOT put any of those records on this list... this record is a bit of a comeback effort... with some Beatle-esque tunes, but not great in my book... "Even Better Than the Real Thing" is strong... but derivative... "One" was a hit... i never liked it... lol... most people would think it's an anthemic standard... not me... lol... "The Fly" was an immediate "turn the channel" when it came on MTV... anyway... is it a good album? yes. is it one you must hear before you die... no. Three stars... for some decent radio hits...
overall a stronger start (thank you “zoo station”) than that of the other u2 album i reviewed (joshua tree). “one” brings me back to when my parents would glaze u2 and try to put me on. i was wrong for not listening! “until the end of the world” has a GREAT bass line and some INSANE lyrics. probably my favorite track. however, the next track, “who’s gonna ride your wild horses” was giving KISS THE GIRL from the little mermaid with all those “sha la la’s”. “the fly” mixes genres (a bit of rap, a bit of rock, a bit of pop) really well. i also enjoyed this track more so than the others. “mysterious ways” is also a classic (which i was already familiar with). “acrobat” has some SICK instrumentals. “love is blindness” is a really sultry closer and is akin to a tango (which i love). probably my second favorite track! overall, this album is SUPER respectable and had some bangers, even if i wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the other tracks. would still rate 5/5.
Classic U2
Decent U2, mysterious ways a banger. They always do sincerity best, but this is a nice experiment.
There are a couple of great, now classic songs on here. But the reality is, U2’s best days came before this album and Bono is simply insufferable
I don't know if this one is a "had to be there" but I found it kind of dull. Still has some great sound (I'm sure this is much better live) but it wasn't quite the loud stadium rock I guess I expected from U2 after them being omnipresent for my entire life... Perhaps that's what people like about this one? Mysterious Ways definitely was a highlight but overall the album just didn't catch my attention. Maybe I'll give it another try eventually in the context of their other albums.
I’ve always said I don’t like U2 but I got The Joshua Tree about a month ago and I really enjoyed it, even gave it 5 stars. This is my second album from them and while I didn’t enjoy it quite as much, it’s still bloody good. The line between a 4 and a 5 is razor thin. Top Track - I do hate going for cliche choices but it’s gotta be One. I need to work out at what point do I change my tune and say I like U2 lol.
Great journey, never listened to U2 through like this and it really suprised me. A nice mix of more rock, experimental, electronic... really enjoyed the listen!!!
Absolute masterpice. A collection of amazing tracks that frame the brokeness of modernity in an unique way. Yes, it's pretty melancholic, but the melancholy just lifts the message. Love it or hate it, it's a classic. A five-star classic! 10/10
Amazing - so many good songs on such an early album
I remember when this came out and it was such a big thing because they had changed their sound. And I loved this at the time. But somehow it has not aged well. I think the production has a lot to do with it. There is something lacklustre about the whole thing. A disappointing revisit
So many people want to rate this album low just because they think Bono has a bit of an ego, and it's so silly to do. I’m sure plenty of the people they listen to are far far far far worse than a man who is a bit full of himself, and I imagine some of them are the same who say 'separate art from the artist'. Also, the free album (that they could have just ignored) was 11 years ago. Get over it. Find a better criticism that just that if they don't like the music. And don't go into it thinking you'll hate it is something I've learnt. Some of the albums I expected to dislike were actually amazing. Anyway, rant over. U2 are a great band. I acknowledge their newer material isn't as good as their old, but this album is genuinely enjoyable. It has so many well known songs on it, and they're all awesome. My favourite is definitely One, it's such a pretty song
Decent, but nothing that really stood out to me except for One. Though I'm missing the vocals of Mary J. Blige.
Still don't like Bono's voice but the sound on this one is good. Instruments sound lusher and get placed center-stage more often than on War. The phaser on the guitar in mysterious ways is instantly recognizable.
okayyyy - the ONE song is soo much better with mary j blige tho
Som en mobbad David Bowie
Wow did not expect this much rocking and distortion on a U2 record. And it still has pop hits too on top of it. What a great record
I was familiar with several of their albums and a few of the songs off this one but had never listened to the whole album. It’s fantastic! Great mix of styles and moods with edgier music than what I’m used to from them.
Interesting to hear this one in context with the hits I know.
Achtung Yeah Baby
I don’t know what irks me about Bono’s voice so much. Maybe it’s the way that every note he sings is drawn out longer than it should be and it sounds like he’s moaning. One extra star for some interesting instrumentation on some of the songs
Things to do instead of listening to Bono's whiny-ass treacly screeching: 1. Watch paint dry 2. Taxes 3. Rip your fingernails off 4. Sell life insurance door to door 5. Stare directly at the sun This album fucking sucked. I've never understood why people lose their shit over this band.
God Bono is fucking annoying and he's not that talented (not every note needs to held to orgasm moan threshold). I don't know what's more unbelievable: that these assholes thought it was so important to listen to their crap music that they forced it onto every iPod, or that they were at one point the most popular "rock'n'roll" band on earth (humanity is fucked). At least two members didn't give themselves dipshit nicknames, I hope no more of their albums are on this list, but I know I won't get so lucky. Rant aside, this album has a couple of decent tracks, and the otherwise is ... completely unremarkable
Alright
mamma mia raga. un altro caposaldo della mia infanzia che non avevo mai ascoltato per intero. errore madornale.
I love it
Reinvention of an iconic and controversial band doesn’t mean they got any better. In fact they got worse on this album.
Initial reaction was “ugh” because I never need to hear One or Mysterious Ways again. But the deeper cuts hold up (and honestly I didn’t remember the latter 1/4 of the album at all.)
Overall: 4/10 Very glad to say that I don't hate this. I still don't think it's a great album but I've been talking smack about U2 since I got The Joshua Tree and it's nice to know that not everything they made is unbearably bad...just slightly not great. This album still has some elements that I hated about JT. Most of the songs are whiney (thanks Bono) and I don't really enjoy the guitar tone. U2 tend to write very droney songs most of the time that irritate me. But there's also some more upbeat songs that add some variety to this album. Mysterious Ways is my favourite U2 song that I think is genuinely really great. One is also a great jam, Ultra Violet has my favourite guitar work in any U2 song and theres a couple other songs on here that didn't piss me off. This still isn't a good album in my opinion, but it's at least listenable at times. Brian Eno's production is obviously really good and adds a lot to the songs. I'm praising it more than it deserves honestly but I'm just glad it's not horrible. Fav Song: Mysterious Ways Least Fav Song: So Cruel
The last really good U2 album.
One great track after another. They reinvented themselves and still ruled the rock world.
Like it or not U2 was a generational band defining 80s and 90s pop rock. They are surely NOT the most talented group of musicians ever assembled but they didn't have to be They wrote great songs and preformed well, entertaining millions. Argue thier peak all you want but the fact that they released at least 3 great abums over an 8yr period tells ya something
Not my proudest 5
It's weird, when this came out, it felt like a huge departure for U2, maybe because the music press said it was. But in retrospect it doesn't seem that different from their previous stuff. One is decent enough, but I still don't really like Bonos voice.
Safe music, too cheesy, too sweet, melodramatic
U2 is a talented band, but they are not for me.
3.5/5
When I was a kid and this record came out I made an interpretative dance to Mysterious Ways. Some things are better forgotten - you’ve been warned. . . Baby.
I've listened to U2 a few times before thanks to being an Apple user. They have a good sound, and I found a few songs I enjoyed lyrically. It wasn't a bad album, but it didn't excite me either. It's not one I would revisit at any point. Unfortunately, I think due to overexposure I'm just a bit bored by them now. Apple ruined U2 for me.
Nice songs. Very danceyq
One is great. I don't love the other hits. I was surprised by Acrobat. I liked that one.
4.2
"One" is great, of course! As is "Mysterious Ways". 4/5
idgaf!
in the words of U2, "it's alright, it's alright, it's alright."
I was going to go on a rant about how hating on particular artists for their vibe because it's trendy to do so is unoriginal but then I listened to the album
The hits don't do anything for me, but I dig the later more moody tracks like Ultraviolet and Acrobat. Wild Horses is ok. Have a good one! Don't let the bastards grind you down! U2!
Decent
Terrible; Bono's caterwauling is particularly grating. The production in this album is slightly improved from Joshua Tree, inching out of a 1 rating.
Classic & light / not my flavour of rock
Maybe more nostalgic than good...
U2 enters the 90’s with a bang. Right off the bat with “Zoo Station”, you can tell this is going to be a very different album for them. Everything is a lot drier and close mic’ed; there is a lot less reverb on this record, fuzzier guitar tones, and a bit more experimentation in general, and the results are great. I think that Bono is such a great, unique vocalist that even when there’s such a huge stylistic shift within the band, they still sound like themselves. Achtung Baby may not sound like War, The Unforgettable Fire, or Joshua Tree, but it does sound like U2. And that’s not just his voice: it’s his melodic and lyrical writing and the band as a whole. Clayton is such an awesome bassist that when you hear something like “Mysterious Ways”, it definitely checks out that this is U2. And man, that track is so damn cool, simultaneously so dirty and rocking, but also groovy and melodic. The aforementioned “Zoo Station” is a killer opener, and makes for a great 1-2 punch with “Even Better Than the Real Thing”. “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses” is probably the closest they get to emulating their 80’s sound, and I think they do a great job with it. And then you’ve got two all-time ballads in “One” and “So Cruel”. I like every song on this record; there are a few songs I don’t *love*, so it stalls out at 4 stars for me, but it’s definitely a higher 4 stars, and it would almost certainly make my top 10 albums of my birth year, 1991. 4/5
alveg fínt, það var samt ekkert lag sem mér fannst eitthvað spes
So good.
As great as I remembered. A feast of sounds and imagery, coming together with real soul to it. Love.
Achtung Baby, it's promotion, and the ensuing Zoo TV tour were flagrant and seemingly proud declarations that U2 are the biggest sellouts in the history of rock-'n'-roll. "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief. All kill their inspiration and sing about the grief." That should be Bono's epitaph. How do you go from opposing Apartheid South Africa to "I'd join the movement if there was one I could believe in"? Apartheid is still happening, and worse. Crickets from Bono and U2. And how do you write songs like Bullet the Blue Sky, Where the Streets Have No Name, and I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and then take meetings with war criminals? But if you can somehow forget about all of that... and just objectively listen to Achtung Baby as an album of music, it is pretty great. I hated it the first time I heard it. Not only because of the above mentioned moral and ethical concerns, but because it was such a jarring departure for U2 musically. It took me years to warm to it, and listening to it again I realize I don't care about it enough to really revisit it much. But it is a great album. So 5.
Bono’s lyrics, the Edge’s guitar riffs, Larry Mullen Jr’s drums and Adam Clayton’s smooth bass! What a stellar album. I believe they’re second best next to Joshua Tree. I remember the first time I played it, Zoo Station was such a move from their previous work, but hooked me immediately. One was just magical. Played it at my wedding! So many great tracks on this album. I can still remember the Zoo TV tour concert at Jack Murphy stadium in San Diego. The stage was so amazing. Like nothing I’d ever seen for a concert before. So cutting edge, just like the album at the time, yet still true to who they were. I’ve probably seen U2 more times than any other band, besides the Cure, and never tire of their amazing talent.
There are so many good songs on this album! I really enjoyed listening to it again. Love “one” and “ mysterious ways”.
One or two familiar and fun songs, but the rest felt like it blended together
This was probably revolutionary at the time but it didn't do enough for me now. My favorite by a long was was Mysterious Ways
I was bored throughout. Not the album for me. A song finally came on that had me jamming and I realized it was one of their later songs and just started playing after the album had finished.
Fucking loving this album, truly forgotten just how good it is saw them twice on this tour awesome.Confession I was working at Butlins UK and a friend had a U2 ticket and I was desperate to go but didn't have one. She said she was feeling unwell (nothing serious) I then proceeded to paint a nightmare scenario where by she would all but die in a concert crowd! She then gave me the ticket but would not take any money for it ☺️ Favourite lyric: In my dream I was drowning my sorrows But my sorrows, they learned to swim* *Borrowed I know from Frida Kahlo
# Album Name: Achtung Baby # Artist: U2 # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Generally a poor album. Lots of mediocre vocal and guitar on this thing. Not sure what they were thinking. "One" was the odd one out. Genuinely a great song. The rest of the album was below par. Im still not convinced on U2's legendary status. # Top Tunes: One # Would I listen to it again? Dont think so.
A lot of boring background music rock with a few bangers mixed in
A little slow, but I dig it.
Not all the sonic risks they take pay off fully, but when it hits it HITS.
I am a big fan of U2 back when you could still hear their punk influences. This album is like lukewarm coffee. Tepid, boring, and lacking anything to hold my interest.
And a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle
This album has aged terribly. It was huge when it came out, but it sounds so small now. Weak melodies, safe chord progressions, busy bass guitar, passionless guitar, and Bono singing like a drunken hack at karaoke night. I'm surprised at how amateur the band sounds, even though they had long been professionals by this time. Boring and nearly talentless.
Wow - what a great album! So many all time winning tracks.
Their best album- funky Eno mega pop with great guitar and anthemic tunes.
Honestly, I don't know if it's the nostalgia, or it just hits me better than it did when I was 22. I mean I always kind of had it high cuz I always had it at a 4½ star rating, but this is really getting close to 5 this listen. This album really is a bridge between '80s U2 and 90s U2. Now granted, I was not the biggest on *Zooropa* or *Pop*, but I always admired them for taking major chances as one of the if not the biggest band of the time. Yeah, this was kind of my end of the line with U2 not really because of this album. Yes this album had minor flip-offs to their '80s sound (especially the opening track and the first single). The next two albums basically was the big middle finger to who they once were. This album honestly is a masterpiece at teetering the the line between accessibility and trying something daring and new. *Joshua Tree* is still my only five star album by them, but this is actually pretty close. (9.85) ★★★★½
A few great track, but mostly just good. Overhyped band and album. 3.5 stars
Love this album. I think it's a great example of a band doing a huge left turn, getting a little bit more experimental, but also making a super accessible album. Sounds great with Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno collaborating on the production work. Not really a dud track here, though I tend to be a little sick of the big singles compared to some of the deeper cuts. Highlights for me are "The Fly", "Until the End of the World", "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)" and "Acrobat". 5 Stars.
4.5
Really really really really really really really really great widescreen, anthemic, blockbuster dancey indie rock pop from Bono and crew. A grand overhaul and rejuvenation of their sound after the crusty dull fumblings of Rattle & Hum, a true solid classic for the 90s and also the opportunity to see bassist Adam Clayton’s ding dang on the back cover. Songs like One, Mysterious Ways and Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses are just grand slammer choons and the worst songs here aren’t really bad at all. Main only drawback of this record is that it isn’t really quite as good as The Joshua Tree. Given that Joshua Tree is ‘The Real Thing’, Bono is being quite misguided singing that Achtung Baby is Even Better Than The Real Thing. Even Faith No More’s The Real Thing I would probably put above this one. Still 5 stars for the site.
Sometime I think, ugh, U2. Great. Then I listen to one of their albums and I think, yeah, this is very good. And that’s what I think of U2. A very good band that was shoved down our throats in the 80s and 90s as the best band out there, when they were merely a very good band. And this is a very good album. Definitely not a masterpiece, there’s some filler. The hits are great. 4 stars.
Pretty good. A little boring but some incredible sonfs
Every song is a bit too long I fear. I just don’t jive with a 5 minute song unless you’ve got an incredible hook or riff that I just can’t get enough of. I can get enough of it here.
This is one of my favorite U2 albums. Mysterious ways is probably my favorite track.
Handful of certified bangers and overall a good album - NOT my favorite U2 album, John. 4 stars, it's solid
Top 5 album for me. Not sure how I’ll pick a single track to be the top one, but here we go. So Cruel might have to be my darkhorse favorite track. It catches me every time. Mysterious Ways, though… More to consider Ultra Violet gets strong consideration Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World should be considered, but JUST barely out of top 3 So Cruel for the win
Vinyl: Want Fav Song: So Cruel
This one's too damn easy. Top 10 all timer for me, when the wind is blowing right it's at the top. Doesn't matter how many times I spin it, once it starts I'm riding to the end. U2's best sounding album in my opinion, radio hits all over this one, and the non-radio stuff is just as good if not better. So Cruel, Ultra Violet, I could go on.
U2 has an impressive discography - so many hits! This album solidifies their position in mainstream, very popular (like selling out arena) rock, and I don't see how that moves the needle. Sure, there are catchy songs, but also kind of commercial and mediocre.
I never knew this was a cultural phenomenon until much later, but I still harbor unfettered hatred for U2 from their stunt with iTunes. Coercively listening to music is never pleasant and I can't overcome my disdain for their sound. Even if I try to be partial, this would never be greater than 3/5 because there's just something interesting missing from U2 - an edginess maybe? Stick to featuring on Kendrick albums, buddy.
This was fine. Several songs on this have been covered by artists I like and those covers are all good. The vocal styling here is not my favorite. And in general this is a little too mild. But it’s hard for me to understand the deep dislike so many people seem to have for U2
Was this album offensive in any way? No. But that doesn't mean it's anything better than pretty generic 90s rock.
I enjoyed this album. I wonder a lot if they've been memeified in the UK just due to how playable their songs are; however, nothing stuck out to me especially in comparison to their other work.
3.75
Not very good. Wanted to give it a 2 but it's not even bad enough. Just bland. Radiohead a few years later took everything good about U2 and just used that to create a muuch better sound. I think they're waay overrated.
This album holds a lot of fond memories for me, and in my opinion is probably one of their best efforts.
U2, but darker and more 90s. Really good U2 album.
Non gradisco granché gli u2
Ugh, U2. Can I give it 2.5 stars? "One" is the standout, and "The Acrobat" is decent, but this is such Gen X eye roll rock. The lyrics are generic and elementary, and Bono is always reaching for the rafters. There's a reason they're who they are, but nobody ever went broke underestimating the public's taste.
Fuck U2 and Bono’s stupid face…no thanks!
Listens: 1 Stand out tracks: Love is Blindness, Mysterious Way Besides their iPod collaboration, a super cut of George W Bush "singing" Sunday Bloody Sunday and South Park making fun of Bono, I honestly forgot U2 existed. The album is cromulent. It isn't offensive. It's not mind-blowingly good. It's boring and normal rock music. Unlike the description of the album, I'm not hearing any of the genre qualities being described: industrial, electronic dance. Alternative, sure, I guess. A few of the songs are catchy.
terug een U2????? toon mij een paard en ik zie een dier waar die band meer dan 1x is over getild... hopelijk de laatste in de rij
Who likes this stuff? Its boring, its not good. Yuck.
Maybe 1 decent song but the rest seemed like filler. Not sure how people are so up on this one
I hate U2
I was 20 years old when this album came out. I think most of my 5 stars are a result of nostalgia....regardless, loved it then, love it now.
Eh, I'm not a huge U2 fan, but I didn't mind it as much as a lot of you guys did apparently.
Did not finish. Not a fan.
I don't like U2
As previously mentioned, I have a complicated relationship with U2. I liked their early songs, full of righteous anger from four young men growing up in the middle of the troubles. However, their songs quickly became preachy and pompous, and they lost their edge (but not their Edge). The mega successful Joshua Tree had its moments, but as with this album the good bits are entirely down to the production work of Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. The high points are the singles ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ and ‘The Fly’, but there’s still a lot of tedious filler on here (I’m looking at you, ‘One’). Pay your taxes Bono.
Please excuse me, but The Beatles in the mid-60s were reinventing themselves, U2 are just turning themselves into a grey blob with this album. Their early work has an interesting edge, something to convey. The phoenix rising from their ashes is a worldwide phenomena, but bland (no texture, no taste, nothing).
very good i like it
3.5/5
Fine, but I'm not into u2
there's a vast emptiness at the center of this music that I can't seem to shake. given that Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Steve Lillywhite (among others) are handling production duties, this should be an easy shoe-in for me. and yet, it's U2 themselves that hold me back from a fuller enjoyment and, in fact, actively grind my gears. granted, there weren't many rock albums that sounded like this in 1991. it's a grandiose experimental sound involving a lot of electronics, strings, and other "recording studio as an instrument" layers. at times, I almost found myself captured by Achtung Baby just off of the pure textural thrill that sometimes comes through on songs like "Until the End of the World" or "Zoo Station," but then I started paying attention to the actual songwriting again. that's where it all came crumbling down. these songs are dreadfully boring. the rock instrumentation at play (y'know, the actual band) is utterly sterile. the producers and extra bells/whistles get all the best moments. Bono's voice (specifically his grating falsetto, a defining feature for him on this LP) is among the most punchable I've ever heard. The Edge's guitar tones are among some of the least edgy (and most pillowy) in all of rock music. the only interesting layer of stuff coming from the members of U2 themselves is Larry Mullen Jr.'s drums. this was very nearly my second DNF for this series. U2's music, especially this album and The Joshua Tree, reek of a kind of pomposity that simply doesn't feel earned. there's this feeling I get like the band thought they were making the hottest shit any rock band had yet thought of, and yet the final results are so tepid, predictable and uninteresting. not to mention how cloying the absolute worst moments are. fun fact: "One," which has become an anthem for social justice causes in the last few decades, is actually just a song where Bono negs a woman he made up. stop it! get some help! decent 3/10.
how. how do you put together a group of four pretty talented musicians, get production from Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno, and Flood, and make something so... meh. like, i think this is it, right? this is what proves that good art is more than the sum of its parts, that and supergroups. prestige-era U2 sound like a supergroup of people who you don't know and are just expected to know already. and you know what else they sound like? CHRISTIAN ROCK. i'm familiar with the South Park gag of writing love songs and just replacing any mention of a woman with Jesus and God -- U2 are doing it backwards. look: "[He's] slippy You're sliding down [He'll] be there when you hit the ground It's alright, it's alright, it's alright [He] moves in mysterious ways It's alright, it's alright, it's alright [He] moves in mysterious ways, oh" - "Mysterious Ways" "Gonna run to you, run to you, run to you [Jesus] be still I'm gonna run to you, run to you, run to you [Jesus] I will" - "Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World" "No, nothing makes sense Nothing seems to fit I know you'd hit out If you only knew who to hit And I'd join the movement If there was one I could believe in Yeah I'd break bread and wine If there was a church I could receive in 'Cause I need it now" - "Acrobat" i didn't even need to change that last one. to cap things off, another reference: you know that episode of Regular Show with the Every Meat Burrito? it's got like 90 different exotic meats on it, and Mordecai, Rigby, and co. gotta go rent a police beater that still has a criminal hiding in the shag carpeting. it's a great episode. anyway, they finally get the burrito that they've been hyped for the entire episode, and the first thing Rigby says when he bites in is: "huh. tastes like chicken." this album tastes like chicken. make of that what you will.
despite being a fan of people involved with this album (Brian Eno, Flood), i find most of U2’s music to be supremely uninteresting. and i’ve just grown tired of Bono’s voice.
U2 gets way too much hate.
Worse than possible
U2? Not 4Me.
It’s okay
A couple timeless songs. But the rest is U2. Mill toast backing while Bono does his thing.
Dit is het album van U2 dat tijdens mijn jeugd uitgebracht is (15 jaar oud). Geweldig album, geweldige band. Niks meer aan veranderen!! *****
terrible
You can trust in the trademark U2
Meh, it was fine, it's U2 what do you expect?
nah
Good album. A few songs I haven't heard that were all pretty good.
The more prog tracks where percussion and guitar lead are solid, prefer less bono/ballads though
U2 just isn't a spectacular band, and when I hear them come on it's usually met with a feeling of "Ugh, not these guys." Not a terrible album, I just find those guys to be overrated.
Not interested
Maybe I like U2
Completely uninteresting. Two and one half stars
Hard pass on u2
U2 is terrible most of the time, but "One" is a banger.