Reviews (page 8 of 13)
Definitely feels more modern than the preceding albums. I like Bono's voice and the more complex instrumentation.
Loved it
I've never really been a fan of U2. Still, this album is pretty good.
It's an okay album, it's missing a really strong energetic song. But there is one incredible highlight: the song One is probably one of the most beautiful guitar based pop songs of the nineties. I would give it a 7/10.
Not the best of U2. Only one single (Mysterious Ways). Somewhat experimental, good wall-of-sound effect, but not interesting.
Not a u2 fan, best songs are the singles. Would nott listen again!
See my review of "Joshua Tree" from May 2022. Copy/paste it here. I think one actually edges it out by a little, but both great albums.
Ugh. On paper I find U2 quite irritating. Bono is a sanctimonious fool, The Edge relies on his pedals too much, and their last 20 years are just vacuous nursery rhyme nonsense. And yet. And yet. This is why they got so big. Few bands can turn that kind of earnest post-punk rock into stadium material while keeping some depth. There are several absolute classic songs on here - in particular, The Fly is one of the weirdest songs to ever reach #1 in the UK. Years of parody haven't spoiled One or Mysterious ways. Every song sounds totally different, the rhythm section are tight. The guitars are HUGE. Yes, a few lyrics are a little clunky - "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" etc - but they're few and far between. In American Psycho, Patrick Bateman sees U2 perform and is unsettled by a performance of genuine emotion. Even though they may now be an example of insufferable rock star arrogance, this album is undeniably brilliant. Annoyingly so.
Not a big U2 guy and this album did nothing to change that.
holy dad rock. every song sounds the same. why is this so long. why are they so popular when every song sucks ass. they're trying and desperately failing to be sexy on every track Would I listen again: I am a certified U2 Hater Deserves to be on this list: U2 shouldn't be on this list 0.5
I appreciate u2 changing up so much form the Joshua tree , I liked the atmosphere and a lot of differ parts here with edge and bono It does drag a bit both in album length and song … it’s a solid 3 for me
Least wanky u2. Perfectly fine music on the whole.
The songs I recognised didn’t sound the same as the big music video or radio productions, I wondered if there was a rights issue ir re-recording so I ended up on the u2 Reddit page, when it was proclaimed as the greatest thing ever and to doubt that was insanity. Colour me insane, because this was a bit bland.
Pleasant to listen to. Didn't really like The Fly, but I did dig most of the other songs. Would put on again to listen to while I work. "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle."
This is the sorta thing I would have loved if I heard it at the right time but didn't touch me as much. Still good though
Decent album, some bangers but others feel a bit underwhelming.
Excellent album - one of their best
-I’m never going to be a giant U2 fan tbh but this was good, I def preferred it over The Joshua Tree although I think War is my favorite -the Eno production felt very subtle here tbh… -Mysterious Ways is a nostalgia trip for me. my mom loved this song and would always play it. I didn’t even know it was by them. nice -Favorites are Even Better Than The Real Thing and Mysterious Ways
It's aight but U2 in general is just mediocre to me.
U2 is just too much for me. Album too long, songs too long, too over the top bombastic. I like a song at first, but then it goes too long. I like an album for the first few songs, and then it's 55 minutes of the same.
The hits are undeniable but Bono is insufferable. The Edge is the beating heart of this band.
I hate U2
I'm totally putting aside any notions I have about certain band members and am rating this solely on the music itself. I knew of this album and heard a couple of songs but I've never heard the whole album. I was quite surprised, I really enjoyed this album and didn't think I would. There really weren't any bad songs and there were some great songs. I love Larry Mullen Jr's drumming!
Good
Nothing interesting about this album at all. Super sleeper music. Best - ??? Worst - ??? 2.50/5
I Sony News to listen to this, this is Life soundttack
This album is U2 doing what U2 does best. Reinventing itself again, lyrics that make you think--or at least wonder what's going on, and music that you just want to play again. Favorite songs: Even Better Than The Real Thing One Until The End Of The World Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses Mysterious Ways Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World
List of the worst Irish terrorist organizations (on account of the number of committed atrocities and affected victims, and overall global impact) ranked in order: 2. IRA 1. U2
Que rollo esta no es la personalidad de padre que quiero
3.75
Refused to listen to U2
This album is quite well-produced, has some solid melodies, and deserves some credit for being a successful shift in sound for the band. That said, I don’t think this holds up super well. It’s often a little too slick and professional, and overall just kind of lacking in passion. Best song: One
Satanizar a U2 son extremos demasiado exagerados, con Bono es otra cosa, tienen su razón y no es exageración.
Actually really liked this album. I feel like U2 is over-hated considering how solid their sound and structure is.
Pretty fun
It feels like I listened to multiple genres throughout this album, very inconsistent.
It's okay and pretty at times, at times it sounds like Bowie ripoff, but it also feels soulless. But it's not too bad.
Not a huge U2 fan. So acknowledging my Bias.
"One" always hits hard. Brilliant song! Some bright moments throughout the rest of the album too.
mid
Pre-listening thoughts: every U2 fan I’ve ever met was bald so what does that really say about this band Post/during listening thoughts: I don’t actually have any meaningful opinions on this music but I have to say a few things about this band. 1. I must have been in a fantastic mood when I got All That You Can’t Leave Behind bc this sounds like someone made Christian rock (source: I’m an ex pastors daughter) and then their label told them they couldn’t say the word “God” so they just replaced it with “You” or “She” or something. It’s the most like inoffensive, safe genre of rock I’ve ever heard. 2. Who the fuck told Bono and The Edge that those were cool names. Like were they all sitting in a circle coming up with rockstar names and Bono goes “I’ll be Bono cause it means good voice” and everyone just had to sit there and pretend like that was true??? And the other chode says “I think I’m gonna be… The Edge” and then rips the craziest smirk like the Dreamworks face. And everyone was like “oh sick dude” and lied to his face? The Edge of WHAT???? Maybe he needs some better friends Oh no just looked up why he’s really called The Edge and it’s cause his head is so pointy??!!???? This is insane and way worse than my conceited headcanon for him. 😭😭😭😭 3. They peaked with Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Mysterious Ways Least fav tracks: n/a
8/10 Not far off from the caliber Joshua Tree, but just enough not to get top marks. 4-4-2025
A good album, but suffers in comparison to Joshua Tree.
Aight
Sounds like a Diet Coldplay album. I didn't see that one coming at all. Favorite Track: "One".
Welp, it’s time for the last U2 album of the list. I’m sure many people would be really happy in my position, while others might crave more U2. I myself am certainly not tired of hearing U2, but I’m also not hankering for another outing with their albums, you know? Fortunately, I ended up finishing with what many consider to be the band’s magnum opus, Achtung Baby from 1991. This and its predecessor, the equally acclaimed The Joshua Tree, are generally seen as the two top dogs of U2 albums. Do I agree? Yes. Yes I do. I’m not even sure which of these albums is better! I think Achtung Baby does a great job of distinguishing itself from The Joshua Tree. When you make an album as hugely successful as that one was, most bands would probably try to recapture that success in a safe way. U2 actually managed to go against that a bit with Achtung Baby by making something a bit different. I love it! The sound kind of harkens a bit back to the earlier days of albums like War, with a bit of foreshadowing for later releases, mixed in with things that make the album itself special. The songs have good balance between more abrasive and polished songs. Of course, I have to specifically call out “One” as being a real gem of a song. The instrumentation is pretty varied, which actually gives this album a bit of an advantage over The Joshua Tree for me since I felt that album was a bit repetitive of on the sound front. I still enjoy the core of U2. Overall, I can definitely see why people call this their best album. I myself am a bit torn, but it’s close enough for me to give this the same score as The Joshua Tree, which happens to be a low 5/5.
Their best
Sigh, more U2.
4/5
"Achtung Baby" is one of the landmark albums when it comes to U2. The songs featured here are great to listen to. Bono is a vocal powerhouse and this adds a lot to the album. At some points, it seems a bit one-note, but this doesn't hinder the experience with the album.
Heard it a lot maybe too much . Great edge sounds.
Ugh whatever
Nice
Awesome thanks
Idc
Pretty boring loose collections of songs. Would not recommend. I feel nothing towards these songs
„Achtung Baby“ ist das siebte Studioalbum der irischen Band U2. Es wurde in mehreren Aufnahmestudios produziert, darunter die Hansa Studios in Berlin sowie Studios in Dublin. Das Album markiert eine deutliche stilistische Veränderung, die sich von den vorherigen Rock- und Arena-Sounds der Band entfernt und stärkere Einflüsse aus Alternative Rock, Industrial und elektronischer Musik aufweist. Besonders hervorzuheben sind Stücke wie „One“, das mit seinem ruhigen, melancholischen Charakter zu den bekanntesten Liedern der Band zählt, sowie „Mysterious Ways“ und „The Fly“, die den experimentelleren Klang des Albums widerspiegeln. Der Gesamtsound ist geprägt von verzerrten Gitarren, elektronischen Elementen und einem oft dunkleren Ton. Mit diesem Album hat U2 ihre musikalische Richtung erweitert und sich klanglich neu erfunden. Es gilt als ein bedeutender Wendepunkt in ihrer Karriere und hatte einen großen Einfluss auf die Rockmusik der 1990er-Jahre.
It's just endless U2 isn't it? Life? Seriously, this is the most unremarkable of the U2 albums I've had so far. Not horrible like the one with Vertigo on (I'm not dignifying it by scrolling up to see the title) and not the 80s iteration that is at least a bit singalong. There are a few songs on here that you actually notice, which is something at least, but their popularity remains bewildering to me.
The sort of the washed-out, soft, melodramatic '90s arena rock I'd expect from a band like U2. I think the degree to which I enjoy an album like this comes down to just how many songs I'm able to enjoy, which in the case of this album, isn't as much as, say, 'The Joshua Tree'. It is, again, very dramatic (which works wonders on a song like 'So Cruel', a genuinely great track) and honestly much darker than I was expecting, which was cool. Some tracks, like the closer 'Love is Blindness' and the incredible precursor 'Acrobat' border an almost goth-rock sound with haunting guitar tones looming in their respective backdrops. 'The Fly' also goes in this direction, though it doesn't sound half as haunting as those other two tracks. I think this one song aged particularly poorly, with one of the worst falsetto choruses here. I also really love the subtle build on the huge hit off this album, 'One', a genuinely gorgeous progression with one of the more winner choruses on here. So there were some decent songs here, but as a whole album, I don't see myself revisiting this one too often.
I was surprised about the modern sound considering when this album got released. It still didn’t really entertain me and I really had a boring time listening to this.
up the lads
What a great, nostalgic listen! U2 gets a lot of hate today but I still love them, maybe because I found them during their early days. Either way, this was touted as a critically acclaimed shift to a new sound for the band at a time that their sound was getting stale. And it hits for me, start to finish. While the whole album is great, I gotta call out “One” as one of the best songs of the 90s; the songwriting is so sublime that it can make me cry depending on my mood. Like all great art it resonates on multiple levels, from romantic and personal to socially conscious and universal. “Mysterious Ways” is nearly as good.
8/10. This is a really interesting album. It's really interesting that U2 used to be this good of a band. :)
Peak mid
Pretty inane stuff. Sonically pleasing but overstayed it's welcome.
Sonically very different from the other U2 album I have received. They were definitively headed in a more pop-centric direction here. It’s still good. Favorites were Zoo Station, One, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Mysterious Ways, and Ultra Violet.
It's amazing how a girl can affect a score.
Alright Dad rock
I've been waiting for Achtung Baby! As my brother's favorite U2 album, it marks a change in sound for the band. Though this album was commercially successful, its sound is less commercialized. The change seems like, to me, that U2 was able to explore more musically. It's not so much rock as the only genre but the burgeoning alternative sound is present, too. The lyrics, like with all of U2's music, are so powerful and evocative. And again like all U2 albums, Achtung Baby is crafted with such purpose. 3.5
When looking at the track list for this album, this was probably the U2 that I had the least knowledge of when compared other U2 albums on this project. The only song I knew going into this album was "Mysterious Ways", a favorite U2 song of mine, so I went into this very intrigued. That said, this album didn't energize me quite like some of the others on this project, and certainly not as much as "The Joshua Tree", which still stands as the most astonishing U2 discovery for me, personally. While I did find this album to be good, it never felt quite like it "took off" for me.
My favorite album by any artist. The songs can be listened to individually but really work better as a whole piece. They work so well playing off of each other. Highlights: "Zoo Station" (perfect opening track, sets the mood and shows the band's stylistic change), "Even Better Than the Real Thing" (interesting double tracking of Bono's vocals--one higher pitched than the other. Also, nice guitar textures from The Edge.), "Until the End of the World" (nice percussion and a deeper vocal performance from Bono), "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" (so much emotion in the wall of guitars and Bono's lyrics and vocals), "So Cruel" (the repeating piano riff is subtle, but memorable), "The Fly" (similar vibe to "Zoo Station" with more intriguing lyrics by Bono), "Mysterious Ways" (a classic), "Ultra Violet (Light My Way)" (slow burner, but the music and vocals gain passion as it goes on)
Ahh I was wondering when U2 was gonna hit the list, this is definitely ba good album! And I have no qualms in saying that I really like U2! This is a good album, hut it doesn't my favorite big theirs, but I did enjoy it!
They are really good and I appreciate all of their good deeds. Just not sure I see the hype about the music
Phenomenal remastering.
Listened Before? Oh Yes. "Her skin is pale like god's only dove screams like an angel for your love but then she makes you watch her, from above... And you need her like a drug" Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World
Awful, just a horrible noise
It’s okay. Nothing is objectively bad, but just not very interesting either. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again
This is hard because of aforementioned irrational dislike of Bono. But let's push through. "One" is amazing. I first heard Johnny Cash's version many years ago. And the original here is almost as good. "Until the End of the World" is good but kind of background/forgettable to me. As is "...Wild Horses"! "So Cruel" is good. As is "...arms around the world". So overall I have to conclude that this is a good album. Yes I can feel the ego coming through in so many places. But there are some great songs behind all that.
No.
Great album. It might be their last "great" album. This was one of the soundtracks of my college years.
Never been a fan. They've got some really great songs but the style is really hit and miss with me.
Yet another album I have heard of but never gave a full listen. Pretty solid album considering all the challenges I understand the group went through to pull it together. 'Mysterious Ways" and "One" are the most recognizable songs.
Just not sure about this one. Never been a huge U2 fan but a few of their songs are ok. I’m aware this album was quite a big deal at the time so was intrigued how it would pan out alongside the big singles that I knew. As much as I hate to admit it I think I quite like the industrial sound on this album. Not saying I love it (and there were a number of songs I would skip on a repeat listen) but musically it’s certainly more listenable than I was expecting.
There are so many recognisable songs on here, so clearly a lot of people bought this album, but despite their attempts to sound alternative they clearly weren’t and never have been. I like some of the tracks but some are very weak - acrobatic was awful. Top track: The Fly
I just don’t get on with U2 (I think it’s primarily Nobo’s lyrical style), albeit I think this period is about as tolerable as it gets for me. But the comparison is really that this album is like getting punched in the arm, whereas the remainder of the back catalogue is much more of a punch in the face.
I didn't hate it - this album doesn't justify that large of an emotional response. I certainly don't want to hear it again.
Surprisingly listenable despite having to hear Bono the whole way through.
3.5 stars
Had a tought time deciding how to rate this one. On one hand I don't like U2 very much, they always seemed bland and boring, with unimaginative melodies and this "wall of sound" that they create with effects. This kind of ruins the musical experience because of several reasons. One being it removes sound stage and imaging out of the equation, which makes the songs really boring to listen to, because there is no feeling of space and coexistance of frequencies and different instruments which are supposed to create the song together. On the other hand there are some famous songs on this album, the band have achieved significant mainstream success, and the songs aren't bad per se, there is just not that much positive I can say about them. During listening to the album, I figured out that all of their hits are actually just songs which have a melodic chorus, where the vocals create the actual melody, and not the instruments. So people just remember those few words of the chorus, which are honestly, sometimes pretty good. Was between a 2 and a 3, giving it a 2 in the end.
After an off-putting opener, U2 settles into their sound nicely on “Even Better Than The Real Thing”. “One” is a very simple, timeless hit that can still be appreciated to this day. “Mysterious Ways”, on the other hand, to me is largely overrated and shes not as well. Everything in between is kinda just ho-hum. This whole album is a blueprint for bands like Radiohead to take and experiment with / iterate on.
This was my real introduction to U2, 80s U2 had been my dad's U2 and the initial sound of "Zoo Station" had forever changed that, the building industrial growl, the distorted guitar sending shockwaves through you, the distorted vocals making Bono sound like he's smoking 2 packs of superkings a day. The rest of the album veers around the landscape wildly with a great run of "Zoo Station", "Even Better Than The Real Thing", "One", "Until The End Of The World", and "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" on side 1, side 2 is a little weaker but I'll hold "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)" over anything by most other bands.
Not bad, an interesting album. Seems to have a lot of big hits on it. The Fly was cool as were a few other songs. A fine album just not overly for me I think. 2.5/5 stars.
Remove "One" and "Even better than the real thing" this starts to become a fairly weak album. I never noticed how overwrought U2's lyrics were until hearing this. Just about 3*
Seminal album - must if you have never listened.
favorite track: Tryin to throw your arms around the world. Overall score: 5.5/10
Breath of fresh air for U2 until One was overplayed and killed the vibe.
need to relisten, but overall i liked it
There is some typical U2 cheese in here that holds it back (“Tryin To Throw Your Arms Around the World” is pretty awful, “Love is Blindness” not a great closing track) but on the whole a great album.
I go back and forth between whether "Achtung Baby" or "The Joshua Tree" is U2's best album. The album is a total surprise that resurrected U2 from a stylistic rut. The grating electronic rock of the opening tune, "Zoo Station," signals such a break from the arguably pretentious "Rattle and Hum period, followed immediately by another anti-Joshua Tree song, "Even Better Than the Real Thing." And "One" is a transcendent song. U2 at the top of its game.
what's going on
This is a good full album,. Less industrial than some U2
It's good, but not as good as I think U2 can be… more dance beats than guitar riffs. 'Mysterious Ways', which we already know and love, is the standout. 'Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses' may be the low point.
Favorite tracks: Zoo Station, So Cruel, Mysterious Ways, Ultra Violet Knew the hits but never listened to the album before. I liked it on the first listen, loved it on the second. This is so up my alley. Unique, passionate, genre-merging. I think I take for granted how distinctive U2's sound is. Also, Mysterious Ways is such, SUCH a good song. God, the energy!!!
Bit mid Not very interesting
? No existe (?)
I've always been under the impression that U2 has a free great songs but only one good album. Achtung Baby didn't lessen that opinion, but it was definitely more enjoyable than I thought. U2 is just very digestible pop rock. This album had a few good tunes (I especially like "Mysterious Ways"), but beyond a few tracks it's mostly generic. The thing is, I found myself digging what I was hearing. So, I'm inclined to score it higher but I think it's moreso that I didn't dislike it as much as I thought I would. Ultimately I'm settling on a solid mid 3 for this one.
no thoughts, head empty
I've always liked their early work, but it seemed to fall off around Joshua Tree. This opens up sounding a little bit like The Cars. Was not expecting that. But by the halfway point, that is honestly the most positive thing I have to say about it, and the back half sure doesn't redeem it. Most of this a complete bore. Basically sounding like audio drivel, tailor-made to be commodified. Not shocking at all it would only be a short time before they were shilling for major corporations.
nice
This album feels very bland and generic. It's middle of the road, low average
One of the greatest albums of the early 90s; U2 at their best. If you haven't ever heard this album, why not?!
So much U2 in one week. Did Bono create this website?
The Edge is a great guitarist to bad he is in U2. Worse than I remember.
U2 back to their better emotional but edgy form.
I hate U2
3/5
I probably like this more than most people. Since if it is nostalgia, but there are also since great songs here. Here's a question: How do I love U2 but hate Coldplay?
Another band who would be a lot more my style if they had a different front man.
It's U2. It's deeply U2. If you like U2, you'll like this. If you don't, this ain't gonna change your mind.
Strong 3, but even though there are a lot of hits, the rest is so-so
***An ok album
A profoundly important album for me growing up. It holds up and is awesome!
Phony
3.5. Some good songs here.
I could Ctrl-H my review for The Joshua Tree album!
Bono should be in jail;, for moron.
Pretty solid. The last U2 album that I could car about.
Man Bono is the biggest piece of shit in the universe, just ask Randy Marsh. Musically, this isn’t bad, but it does portend U2 moving into the dad rock genre.
Videos made it even more enjoyable 5/5
meh. Not U2s finest, by far. It was a new sound and expanded them. Has a few hits (loosely defined), but did little for me.
Great album as far as I'm concerned. Definitely one for my collection, so I'm giving it five stars.
This is #day197 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I can't believe this is the third consecutive 5 out of 5 album this week. My first conscious exposure to U2 came in 2004 when I was 14. The Vertigo video aired on the M1 channel here in Ukraine, and suddenly, there was this "new" band to pay attention to. I asked my mother to buy me a CD of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (though I didn’t quite remember the album’s name and wrote "How to Explain an Atomic Bomb" on the paper—“Dismantle” was a word I didn’t know back then). Over time, though, I was a bit disappointed, as I expected more songs of Vertigo caliber. That said, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, and especially City of Blinding Lights are still some of my favorites. Eventually, I gave the CD to my cousin, which I now regret. As time passed and I grew older, I rediscovered U2. I remember anticipating No Line on the Horizon, which I also own on CD. As for How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, I recently bought the 20th-anniversary vinyl reissue, which is gorgeous and a way to make up for my earlier mistake (Yes, having a physical copy of an album is essential to me). But let’s focus on Achtung Baby... This is U2's experimental album. It's an album where they reinvented themselves. While still stadium rock at its core, it mixes alternative rock, industrial, and electronic dance music, giving it that quintessentially 90s feel. The Zoo TV tour was spectacular, and Anton Corbijn’s photography from this era is iconic. With Love Is Blindness on this record, how could anyone rate it a 1? There are so many great songs here, Acrobat being a hidden gem. Don't let the bastards grind you down. Looking forward to #day198.
Was a bit boring, can't remember any of the songs on it besides One cuz my dad spams it. Guitar playing was amazing which has earned an extra star.
Only really cared for One, not amazing
I legit knew 2 U2 songs before this. And now I knowore than 2 songs but probably like 4 songs now. It was alright. Started off strong IMHO but then it gradually descended into something I kinda didn't care for. I did like the instrumentals for a few of the songs, loved the industrial drums type sound a few times but overall I liked the instrumentals. Bono's voice is just... okay. It felt more annoying, cloying and trying too hard. Maybe I just don't like Bono lol Fave Songs: - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - The Fly (I think it was sunny that day) - Acrobat (the drums on this are so Tool vibes idk why) For Love Is Blindness, I prefer the Jack version. Not sorry.
Not bad. Weren't really any major stand out songs for me but I kinda liked the vibe throughout. You can hear the Madchester influence in songs like Mysterious Ways which sound like they could have been produced by Factory Records. 3/5
Still brilliant after all these
Pretty good U2 album here, good variety of sounds.
Enjoyed it but can’t say any songs stood out in particular
The best U2 album I have heard. Unfortunately that is a very low bar
Decent from a band I truly dislike
It’s packed with great songs, including some that I’d totally forgotten about. But it’s also U2. The U2 tax must apply. You can’t just be U2 and make great songs and think you can get away with it. There’s always going to be that begrudging feeling that you’re U2. It annoys me a bit that I did pause and wonder if I was going to give this five stars but thankfully a couple more listens reminded me that it is U2 and I just don’t want that hanging over me for the rest of this challenge. Sorry boys.
boring
👍🏼
Classic U2. Some great guitar effects from the edge. Took their sound in a new direction they’re still on today
Loved it
Achtually Blander, but I’m ashamed to say I really enjoyed it.
stadium rockers afflicted by early stages of zoonosis
Once considered one of the greatest bands of the 80’s and 90’s, it seems as of late that U2 is now considered a band that has overstayed its welcome. Admittedly, I haven’t really listened to nor sought out any ‘new’ U2 (especially from the 2010’s or 2020’s) but I can honestly say that Achtung Baby is my favourite U2 album (and definitely one of my favourites of all time). For context, I was a latecomer to the U2 phenomenon. At their peak, I had only heard and enjoyed a few of their songs and the first album I had listened to was (the underrated?) Zooropa. Zooropa was beloved by my then girlfriend and I liked it well enough to seek out more in their back catalogue. I found that Achtung Baby had been their previous release, didn’t recall any songs from the album, so I started there. My mind was blown! I was not prepared by their fierce, dense sound and their unrelenting, pulsating energy. It felt so fresh and modern. I remember thinking to myself that I had never heard anything like it before. And I loved it! Listening to it again (and it’s been awhile) I’m reminded of the first time I heard it - every new song seems to be even better than the last song, and every other song seems destined to be one of the best songs of all time. I can admit it’s definitely an album of the 90’s, but that sound is still thrilling and charming. Interestingly enough, my recent listen reminds me of The Beatles’ Revolver album - where a band enjoyed experimenting with all kinds of new-to-them sounds, exhilarated by the freedom to - deliberately - defy expectations. Achtung Baby pushed and pulled their ‘U2 sound’ and the results are delightfully dizzying. It’s a fun listen because the band seems to be having the best time while effortlessly reaching new career heights! Bono, The Edge, Adam and Larry are at the peaks of their creative powers, constantly taking unexpected and exciting turns (no doubt in large part to the encouragement of an electric trio of producers - Steve Lillywhite, Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno!). It’s a long album (a product of the age of the CD?) but every song is irresistibly memorable. As much as I still love this album, and I do, there is a slight sadness that hangs over it. As U2 leapt into the 1990’s with such ferocity and eagerness, in hindsight, it’s a shame that every album since has never come close to capturing this lightning in a bottle effort again. They’ve made good and enjoyable albums but Achtung Baby remains their best work. I would love to see U2 prove me wrong and pull off another masterpiece. My Favourite Songs? (I do love them all but here are 5 I really really love): Even Better Than the Real Thing Until the End of the World So Cruel Mysterious Ways Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
It’s u2
I've always thought I disliked U2, turns out it's Bono who I don't care for. There's a lot of cool intros and interesting guitar tones and solos, but then Bono's preachy whispering vocals come in and it kind of loses me. I imagine this is a good album if you enjoy U2, but for me it was a bit of a slug to get through
Ehh, it’s ok. Not a big U2 guy, and their 80’s stuff is better in my opinion. Perfectly ok middle of the road album that I was ready to be done with before the nearly hour long run time. 2.5 ⭐️ that is rounding down. I have not forgotten about how hard it was to get rid of that dumb Songs of Innocence album these cunts forced onto everyone’s IPhone back in the day. Not without my consent, Bono!
U2 is a solid "meh" from me every time I hear them. I think "meh" translates to 2.5. Rounding down because the only song I really like is 'One.' That shit still holds up.
What an awesome band U2 are!
Love the title. Like the album. Respect U2 for trying to be a bit weird at the same time as being the biggest band in the world.
A lot of songs in there I grew up with! Hard not to like!
Strong album this from U2 & a shift from their normal familiar sound, moving to a more electronic rock vibe. Changing things almost broke the band but love or hate em they went on to do much more.
Wonderful production unnecessary reduction U2 gets a bad rep I don't think they're crap
Not my favorite U2 album, but not bad. Mysterious Ways of course being the smash hit it is, Love is Blindness was a nice goodbye to the album.
Не интересно
Nice, smooth, unchallenging, lyrics abound with cliches. Not my cup of tea, but it's popular music that fills stadia worldwide.
A pleasant surprise!
Fuck u2
Production on this album is super hit or miss, bass and guitar are pretty great across the album, drums and vocals are a bit meh. Some cool sound design choices on this, plays with the idea of being atmospheric a couple of times. But overall no commitment to any one style of experimentation leads to a messy and overall boring album. Stand out tracks are: One is anthemic and uplifting, with incredible guitar and probably the best vocal performance on the record. Drums are a tad washed out in the mix though. Worst tracks are: So Cruel, with one of the most annoying piano leads of all time and the production is grating by the end. The Fly is genuinely horrible, the lyrics suck the vocal effects are painfully bad, the production is overblown and there’s some really annoying backing percussion that sticks out like a sore thumb once you notice it. 2/5
A complete reinvention unlike any other band in history. A master class of sonic waves, lyrical prowess and a complete understanding of the post Berlin message. This is unlike any other album out there and is a true work of art.
I’m just not a U2 fan. But I can appreciate some of the eongs
While I am not a U2 guy, I was expecting more from this album. Besides One and Mysterious Ways, which were songs I already knew, the album didn't do much for me.
Didn't know any of the songs besides Mysterious Ways. No complaints, but not much enjoyment either.
This was an album from when U2 was transitioning from the great indie Dublin club rock band into a mega-stadium pop band. At the time, this is when I lost interest in them, they just weren't as cool and indie as my teen self demanded. Listening afresh to the album, it's a solid 3. Some truly wonderful songs, like Mysterious Ways, then some horrible dogs like Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World. Their Wild Horses cover I find completely meh. Stadium pop-rock, absolutely. But decent in many parts.
I had preconceived notions about U2, but I tried to give it a fair listen. It was a decent album- the hits were good but also somw songs that felt more like filler. This is definitely a more airy, soft-rocky album than a lot of other U2 songs I know. Overall- probably somewhere in the 2.5-3 star range
Boringgggg
Usually I find U2 to be pretty overrated, but this album's really good. Very interesting sound to start the 90s with and so different than Joshua Tree. It was vital listening when it was first released, which is hard to think since U2 (and especially Bono) have become irrelevant though the years. 4⭐️
7/10
I know U2 gets a lot of hate and backlash, but I think this is one of their more liked albums and I understand why. I think this album has nice variety and a nice rhythm from one song to the next. Mysterious ways, ultra violet, and acrobat are the highlights on this album. U2 is super nostalgic for me so that also helps my vote. 4/5
Honestly I liked this a lot. It covered a wide range of feelings that i could feel simply from the music, and the lyrics matched. I wouldn’t have expected U2 to make an album that didn’t sound the same after a while, but this one exceeded my expectations. Would listen to again if it came up, 3.9/5. Favorite song: mysterious ways
Solid album, U2 isn't really my jam tbh. I enjoyed listening but wouldn't go out of my way to again. 3.5 stars
I think it's really cute that they were originally struggling with this album and not sure if they were going to break up but then they started working together on 'One' and stayed together :)
Yeah just not my thing but it was fine
Might very well be their best album. Many songs are very repetitive and drag on without reason, but that might be personal taste. 7/10 Fave: Love is blindness
Bleh. I remember buying this at a church rummage sale. I was so excited to have my own U2 tape. There was a man in his 40s who offered me (I don't remember what) an immense amount of value for the album. It meant something to him. I listened to the tape a few times. I should have taken the trade. 30 years later, listening to Achtung Baby only reinforces that. The worst thing that can happen to U2 is people listening to other music. Unlike the Beatles who borrowed from other genres and created something unique, U2 has only stolen from other genres to create a regrettable regurgitation of noise. 'One' is the saving grace of this album.
Some really classic U2 songs on this album but its the same as the band has always been to me their hits are great and I love hearing them. Then they have a lot of songs that sound kind of same-y that I usually skip and this album has a lot of those kind of songs so not a very high score from me even if One and Mysterious Ways are good enough to listen to on repeat a few times.
This started strong, but by the time that "Hey sha-la-la-la" showed up in the lyrics to the fifth song I knew that the creativity was spent. The rest of the album was pure filler and forced emotionalism.
better than expected. many of the songs started off with some pretty cool instrumentals that went absolutely no where.
U2 is so weird, somehow they just keep making you think that they're just midiocore...it's strange because they're actually enjoyable. GREAT POP SONGS I suppose. I like this album but I won't say it's worth listening over and over again. A 3/5 exactly.
Not that bad, but why depart from what you are good at? And to many tracks are sooooo overproduced you can't be sure there is anything listenable under all the mush.
There was a time long ago when I held U2 extremely high. I think back then I had only really listened to their hit songs, which admittedly there are quite a handful. But the songs between those can really be bland and forgettable. One' is a stellar song, and 'She Moves In Mysterious Ways' is decent, but the rest is not much to count home. And this is not a unique issue with this album, it was the same when I went through the Joshua Tree album. There were more hits songs there, so the album was overall better, but non-hits were quite forgettable. Weak 3.
Not a particularly fan of U2. Tried listening to it multiple times but frequently lost interest. Quite a few songs feel like the sound Coldplay would have later on. While Coldplay has some teen nostalgia for me, U2 does not. “Mysterious ways” and “One” stand out as the most interesting tracks but I also enjoyed the wall of sound tracks like “Ultra Violet”. Mid 3.
Next. Not a fan of U2 as we know.
Two days in a row of this U2 shit? Am I in hell? I must be in hell!
I was a big fan of this album when first released and I really remember being desperate to see the live tour with the flying trabents. Listening to it again now it feels like the dictionary definition of bland. It just washes over me with the exception of "One" which I still have a soft spot for.
Achtung Baby U2. I don’t know if I like or dislike them. I definitely like a lot of their songs as well crafted bits of pop rock. But as soon as I start thinking I like them as a band I start thinking I don’t like them and as soon as I start thinking I don’t like them I start thinking I like them. That seems to happen within the first minute of many of the songs on this album. Maybe it’s the earnestness that gives them a bit of naffness, whether they are knee deep in Americana rootsiness, or if they are doing their Bowie/Eno euro rock like this. I don’t doubt they mean it, and take it very seriously, but there often seems to be an underlying sense of meaninglessness to it all, that they really seem to be oblivious to. One for example, I think I liked it back in the day, but listening to it now, it does have a feeling of vacuousness, a Coldplayian emptiness underneath the pseudo-sagacity of the words. But I suppose you could level at many of their songs, they aim for universal but end up a bit nothingy They clearly know how to craft good melodies and hooks, and an appealing sound, and there are good songs on here, Even Better Than The Real Thing, So Cruel are good, but that sense of a lack of meaning below the surface does become clear on repeat listens. Some lyrics and delivery start to grate - the ‘sheer face of love’ line in The Fly has always bothered me I do think their desire to change their sound and style from the Joshua Tree to this is to be admired, although underneath the production and electronic rhythms and sounds many of the songs are pretty conventionally U2 - Even Better Than the Real Thing and Mysterious Ways would sit very comfortably on The Joshua Tree if they were produced in that style. Overall though this isn’t a bad listen, it’s enjoyable enough and I really like some of the songs, particularly So Cruel but it doesn’t linger long on the musical tongue and it does feel quite long at nearly an hour. A 3 feels fair 👶👶👶 Playlist submission: So Cruel
Plenty of the album feels anodyne at best, and soulless at worst, due to The Emperors New Clothes of the Edge's droning guitar sound and Bono's breathily sanctimonious vocals. On the flip side, and it is quite a flip side - there aren't any bad songs here, aside from 'Tryin' to Throw Your Arms' which is appallingly lacklustre and throwaway album fodder. Basically there's some cracking songs but often the production is devoid of life. And the album is too long. It could do with shaving a fair bit off (like your Mum's bush). On account of 'One' and 'Mysterious Ways' alone, it rates high three.
It’s fine.
Just okay
Liked this more than I thought I would
The good songs were so good! But the bad songs were pretty bad…
I just don't like U2
Woah. It’s like U2 but really good. Elaborate and deliberate. 4.7
There is video proof of a 3 year old me singing Mysterious Ways, so I guess I have a connection to some of this album!
Comparison is the thief of joy. This is worse than War, even if One and Wild Horses are alright. In generally I just think this album is bland
2 U2 albums in a week is too much. I liked the first one better
The last time I had to listen to a U2 album for this project, it was The Joshua Tree and I gave it 1 out of 5. I'd never felt the need to listen to a U2 album before and it turns out I don't care for them. I don't like Bono's voice. I don't like the MOR-ness of it all. It's not my cup of tea. With Achtung Baby, however, I have a little experience of it already. It came out in 1991, when I was a teenager with an interest in music and who was watching lots of music videos on TV shows. I remember that I rather liked the singles from this album at the time; "One" is schmaltzy but I liked the video with all the buffalos in it; I remember "Mysterious Ways" had a belly dancer behind a sort of waterfall effect, and "The Fly", which is probably my favourite, made sense of Bono wearing those big fly-like glasses. "The Fly" probably is / was my favourite tune because I love the gnarly crazy guitar sound. (It goes: "BA-WAH GER-NAH GER-NAH WER-GAH!") And it is the Edge's interesting guitar noises which I find most interesting about U2 generally. A lot of the rest of the album just has his usual jangly delayed sound, and I don't particularly care for it either way. Maybe that's why the rest of the album is boring as shit. Or maybe it's the song writing. Or maybe I just don't like U2. I find myself desperate to skip every song and get it over with. Anyway, I like a couple of songs, sort of, it's a shame Bono's singing is on them... actually, I like the guitar part on a couple of songs... so I'll give this two stars - which is double what they got last time - and they can think themselves lucky that's it's not possible for me to give 1 1/2. Congratulations lads!
The last good U2 album? Loved this growing up, for nostalgic reasons going to give a 5 rather than 4.
Lots of great songs on this one.
Ладно, первоначально я отнесся к альбому холодно. Но, как и с другими альбомами, постепенно разогрелся. Наверно, лучшая песня -- Mysterious ways. Неплохо звучит Love is Blindness. Остальные поддерживают альбом на достойном уровне. Это панк-рок по ощущениям.
Strong and high-quality throughout but seems so commercially-oriented and image-refreshing as to strike one as pretty cynical and certainly not as soulful as Boy, War and Unforgettable Fire. Perhaps because one gave up one's own youthful idealism too early and too easily, one wishes U2 had held on to theirs. Still the value is clear and undeniable on a bunch of cuts.
Fucking shite
Ugh, put my Achtung Baby rating with War. So this rating is for War...
I’ve been to more U2 shows than I care to admit (don’t ask), and still have to say that this band is boring AF. Meh amount of stars.
Solid 4 here. I don't love U2 necessarily, but I respect and like a lot of what they do. This album isn't on the level of Joshua Tree though still very solid. Mysterious Ways and One are classics. Love is Blindness was a nice closing song. I enjoyed listening to this one even though most of the deeper cut songs weren't really my favorite.
A couple of really good songs. But the rest is just so annoying.
Boring
Not as bad as I thought it would be. I’ve heard a few of the songs before and there were a couple of others that I liked. Not something I would go back to but not the worst.
the songs before ‘one’ were dreadful. and all the ones after have been good and what i expected - not great but not shit.i however hâte ‘the fly’. i’ve finished it, it got better but i thought U2 would be better than this… middle of the road boring in my opinion.
Reminded me why I bought this tape back in college. Love is Blindness is a great one.
4 estrelas
Whatever, more nah than yeah
EVERYTIME I CLAP MY HANDS A CHILD DIES IN AFRICA 👏👏👏👏 WELL STOP FUCKING DOING IT!!! I went into this with an open optimistic mindset, cos War sorta surprised me and I enjoyed it. This however, was sorta just a drag the whole way. But some of it sounded like Sims 3 music
More like poo2 ENOUGH WITH THE CLAPPING BONO
Their last album that doesn't suck
A few good songs but as an album it was a bit meh for me.
Ахтунг! Переоценённая группа! Ахтунг бэйби!
I've never been big on U2, but this album is actually quite good. Bono doesn't feel like he's trying too hard or being pretentious. Mysterious Ways is probably my favorite of the popular U2 songs -- maybe because it sounds like it ought to be a Lenny Kravitz song with the guitar tone. Other standouts for me were Even Better Than the Real Thing -- a surprisingly laid-back alt rock jam with some psych infusion in the form of shimmering echo laden guitar. Love is Blindness is a fine note to end on. I find the instrumental to be really nice. For me this is a soft 4.
3.5 stars. Not a big U2 fan. Mysterious ways is a good song though
U2 does a great job of evoking feeling of triumph and sorrow in the same album. I have always enjoyed U2 and this album strengthens that stance. Definitely a high 4 here.
Something about the 90s U2 albums just aren't my favorite, not sure if it is too poppy or what. But overall this album was pretty good, had a few of the hits. Never heard Love is Blindness at the end I really liked that song. Hoping for some 80's U2 to come up at some point. That is more my style
Have always enjoyed this album. Mix of classics and just some solid jams. One is a classic. Some really good background instrumentation happening on these songs. So Cruel has that sounds from The Smith's song How Soon Is Now?. Dope sound. Mysterious Ways another classic. Love Is Blindness is a real solid one too. I get why U2 is dragged on but I have a random soft spot for them and think a lot of their tunes are incredibly catchy and emotive. Call them my guilty pleasure band idgaf.
I pretty much hate U2 but I was surprised to find I liked most of this album.
1st album I did not listen to. Life is too short for more U2
This one is pretty disappointing. Not bad by any means, but it’s got a real generic sound that loses the edge of U2’s previous albums. “Love is Blindness” is a major exception to this, and is easily the strongest song here.
Ok
Actually liked a lot of these
A really good album from U2. I knew many of the songs from the past and haven't heard them for a long time. It's nice to hear them again. Overall, U2 and this album are not among my top favorites. 4/5
Leaves a bad taste in your mouth, as it turns out.
-"lebendig" klingede Drums - Oft geile Harmonien in den Vocals - aber irgendwie nicht viele mindblowing ideen -> wirkt dann doch manchmal generic - Die guten Stellen sind die an denen die Emotionen glaubhaft rüber kommen - generell aber geil gemixt
okay
10/10
U2 is not my favorite band so while this is a good album, it is not one that I enjoy.
Thought that this would be just average but I enjoyed it. I especially liked the song ultra violet (light my way). This album just had a nice vibe
I did not enjoy this
I'm going to be honest. I enjoyed that more than I was expecting. It was pretty cool. Wasn't really a fan back in the day.
I forgot how many bangers were on this album.
I had heard most of this album down the years, without liking it much - but I was pleasantly surprised on this listen by how strong and tender "One" and "Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses" are. "Mysterious Ways" is decent, too. Much of the rest is standard-issue U2, which I don't connect with.
Not my favorite
For years I have wondered why I'm not a U2 guy... I think it's because it's all pretty self serious in a way that i find alienating. And I'm as dramatic of a twat as the next fella. I know this album is well made. I connect with that... but the music itself sort of leaves me cold. I am sure hearing One for the first time felt really special. But now it just feels like wallpaper.
(1st listen was a plane and I was really emotional and enjoyed it. Have since revisited wild horses, mysterious ways (obvi) and ultraviolet light, need to listen to album again in non-plane setting)
I don't hateeeee it but a lot of it was just very meh and sounded similar to the rest of it. There were no songs stuck in my head or that I needed to repeat except for one love (but that's not theirs). It's not an album I needed to listen to but because U2 is so universally big and despite their album songs of innocence being forced upon every iPhone user... I'm still not a fan
★★★★¾
The bit of me that wants to have cool opinions wants to mark this right down for Bono's later ego/tax offences. But this album is just too big a part of my upbringing, and there are just too many hooks (of both types) buried in my brain for me not to admit a resentment-filled love for about six tracks on this album. Which seems apt given all the divorce-themed lyrics. My resistance is useless. "On your knees, boy"
Light 5 mi ha beccato nel Mood perfetto Mi ha messo nostalgia anche se non l ho mai ascoltato prima
Achtung achtung, dieses Album ist eine echte Überraschung
Sorry to the great nation of Ireland but I think U2 is corny and mid
I made it halfway through One. I don't want to listen to this.
1/17/25. It's about time I give U2 a fair chance, this album is very good. The guitar playing is really good and layered, and the songs keep you interested throughout. Will revisit.
Für mich das Beste Album von U2. Elektro meets Songwriting. Klirrende Gitarre meet tiefe Gefühle. Hammer gut.
Previously rated: War (4/5) All That You Can't Leave Behind (3/5) **************************************** A few decent songs here, One, Mysterious Ways, Wild Horses being the best. The music lacks bite though. It has The Edge, but no real edge to it.
At the first couple of seconds all that came to my mind was "Dollar store Dave Mathews Band" Don't know how they have a following.
Didn't hate it but didn't love it. I guess that pretty much sums up most of U2's music?
The level of not caring is immeasurable
not a fan but it wasnt ass
I love a selection of songs in this album but losing a point for the overall length of the album - I feel like some of these songs could have been taken out but overall a goodie indeed
Some brilliant guitar work on this album and some killer singles
Decent
Meh
laim
Muy aburrido
it was fine. better than the real thing was a solid stand out
i see you
I’m sorry but I hate U2.
Pointless drek!
Another one I hadn't listened to in a long time. Enjoyed it as much as I did back when it came out.
3.2 U2 is niet echt een band dat ik tof vind, maar wel gewoon prima muziek
Pretty bang average. Something you throw on and it's fine- you don't hate it but you don't love it. Mysterious Ways and One are big hits though and more enjoyable than the rest but perhaps that's just my familiarity with them. 5.25/10 (2.625/5)
An ok album, maybe I'm just too late to the party.
I'm actually surprised. I think there are a lot of strong songs on here. Some of them FEEL passe just because they are so well known (e.g. Mysterious Ways) but are still pretty good.
like last time, i want to not like the insufferable cunts but the music is good
Good
gyh
3.5/5
The Good: this is the 4th U2 album to appear on the list, which should mean the last! The Bad: That there have been 4 U2 albums on the list, and oh so many other bands not even mentioned… The Ugly: THOSE FUCKING SUNGLASSES BONO STARTED WEARING!!! While listening to the album, my wife kept commenting that it all sounds the same… not the album, just U2 in general. Which begs the question why this is the 4th album on the list? I’ve mentioned it before, so I won’t say again that I am not a U2 fan… having not said that, and, believe it or not, never having listened to the album, it is amazing that I am familiar with more than 50% of the tunes on the album. Something that is impressive all on its own. Yet, if anything, what this album did for U2 was polarize the public where, up to The Joshua Tree, there were massive fanboys and the general public just appreciated the band, while a small group disliked them. When Bono put on the fly-eye glasses, the fanboys became accolades, and the rest of us just started really disliking anything U2, and that is shown by the comments on this album. However, we should be rating the albums for what they are, and if we enjoy listening to them… so, painfully, here’s 4* for a band I love to hate.
Fairly inoffensive, but not something I’d actively listen to
You know what U2 aren’t half bad. Or at least they were good before I was born. This one not as good as Joshua Tree etc, but I still enjoyed it. Simpsons: Yes
It was alright but I probably wouldn't bother listening again.
I have nothing bad to say about U2. I have nothing good to say either really.
Not my jam
Once heck of an Album. It's either this or Joshua Tree for U2s best album.
Imma preface this by saying that I've never been a big U2 fan for one specific reason. This album was pretty good, The Edge has a way of finding really sick sounds with his master of effects pedals and his play. Legit blew me away a couple times while I was listening to this album. The drummer's also super sick! Like, I love the extra percussion stuff that he adds in to some of these tracks. I really got into tracks like Acrobat... until Bono's vocals came in. I've always disliked his singing/voice and it's turned me off of so many of U2's songs in the past. That's persists to this day, I dont even know why I dont care for it cause I've listened to a lot of bands with significantly worst vocalists. But for some reason it just bothers me and kinda ruins songs. Other than that I really liked this album.
It is good quality but you only need to listen to one song.
U2 doesn't need much introduction as one of the biggest rock bands to come out of Ireland. However, in the case of this album, we need to start with the preceding live album Rattle and Hum, because that was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. It was a full exposure of the pretentiousness and swaggering rock arrogance that the band kept hidden through most of the 80s until they no longer could. They came off as preachy and were unprepared for their commercial success. Thus, they took some time away to reinvent themselves for the 90s, and Achtung Baby was the first taste of that reinvention. The album is generally good in embracing the band's new style of electronically-tinged alternative rock, complete with production courtesy of Brian Eno to clean up their sound from what it was the decade prior. Throughout the entire run, every member does a decent job in their role, with the obvious highlight going to the Edge's guitar work, taking inspiration from dance music, noticeable on cuts like "The Fly" and "Mysterious Ways". I know Bono isn't a spectacular vocalist, but he does his best to sell the faux rock-star attitude painted with irony on tracks like "The Fly", "Even Better Than the Real Thing", and the title track. That's not to say there aren't a few earnestly written songs here such as reflections upon internal band struggles and the German reunification on "One" and the strained relationship on "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)", but those moments of honesty were few and far between. Also not helping matters is that there are a few slower songs like "So Cruel", "Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World" and the closer "Love is Blindness" that I didn't find as engaging as other slow moments on this album and in the band's catalog. They're not bad songs per se, but not my go-to tracks from them. All's to say that Achtung Baby is a solid album from U2 in their desire to reinvent themselves. As time has proven, that reinvention gave diminishing returns as they wallowed in more electronic music by the end of the 90s, but at least this first offering was promising enough.
ein tolles album! verstörend damals, rückblickend „wegweisend“ für U2 .. mit einigen klassikern. gefällt, aber einmal hören reicht auch heute - endlosschlaufe war früher.
Nicht das beste U2 Album aber immer noch eine der besten Platten.
Pretty ok. Nothing standout, but something I could see listening to more. 3/5
I dunno, couple of hits I recognized, but not a huge fan of any of it. Felt very spacey and almost improvised.
great
All my life I was convinced I hated U2 -- the whole "we're forcing an album on you and it's weirdly hard to get rid of" thing didn't help. I'm unfortunately realizing I might have been wrong... I'm sort of liking this lmao If it drops the ball though I'm finding Bono. Nevermind "Even Better Than the Real Thing" makes me want to take a nap Roxy — Yesterday at 8:24 PM Heartbreaking: The Coolest Girl You Know Things U2's "One" is a wonderful song Roxy — Yesterday at 8:38 PM There's actually this interesting thing going on; it's really like an on-and-off switch between the songs I love, and then the stuff that just sounds like the stereotypical image of U2 in my head. Literally, every song my opinion flip flops. Like, to look at my pre-emptive ratings: It's really just slingshotting between two extremes, lol Bumped So Cruel up to a 2.5 (high praise for sure), but my point still stands
Solid album, even if U2 is in the fringe of the spectrum of music I like.
This is very solid but there has always been something about u2 that they never can quite get over the 4 hump for me could i write poetry to this? y
U2 used this album to try buying back their credibility after the painfully pretentious "Rattle and Hum". Now they were a full-on worldwide sensation. The hits just kept coming and the mainstream begged for more. This, of course, made them uncool. They became everyone's little sister's favorite band and even the most conservative parent groups approved of them. Popes, presidents, and the media all showered U2 with praise and medallions recognizing their global citizenship. But, was the music any good? It was fine, I guess. Minus one whole star because they should never be forgiven for that time they (and Apple) forced us all to own a digital copy of "Songs of Innocence." Some scars should never heal.
I don’t care what anyone thinks; I love U2.
There may be no album that I've listened to more than this one, and almost all those listens came when I was 13 to 15 years old. I never listen to this anymore. Probably haven't in 25 to 30 years and I still know every note. How do you judge nostalgia?