Reviews (page 3 of 8)
i wasn’t looking forward to this listen because U2 just seems like a band that exists. just kinda there. and this listen didn’t disprove that but i did make me realize i’d probably never turn OFF U2. i just probably wouldn’t ever turn them on. honestly a tough rate but i never was really bored so we’ll go with a low 4
A return to form for U2 after the unfortunate Zooropa-era detours. Several perhaps overplayed hits, but awesome second-side songs like "When I Look at the World." Very solid if not spectacular.
The first half is great but the second half wanders down where the streets have no name.
Beautiful Day was a life changing song for me when it came out, so I have a special relationship with this album. It’s lovely, has a good thread through. I’ll come back to it.
Welp, I guess I have to admit that I actually really like U2. Yeah, it's undeniable at this point. When you've listened to three albums from a band or artist and really liked all of them, you've officially reached the point of no return. You're a fan now. I guess I'm a U2 fan now. Admittedly, All That You Can't Leave Behind isn't the most inspired album ever. It's pretty similar tonally to The Joshua Tree, an album from 13 years prior to this one's release. The album's still good though, I swear. I don't get the hatred. I mean, the album starts with "Beautiful Day"! That's a great song. Sure, the album kind of peaks at the beginning. But the ending isn't bad. It's still alright, just not the best. I still really like the sound, both instrumentally and vocally. The writing is still pretty good, but not quite as good as it was on some of their earlier albums. This may not be the best U2 album or the best album of 2000, but I still like this album for what it is. 4/5.
I have to admit, I enjoyed this album more than I expected. I remember it being heavily promoted when it came out, but after the mess they made in the ’90s, I had no interest in hearing it. Even in the mid-2000s, the songs I heard from them were just as bad, if not worse, than their ’90s output. But since this was my daily album from the 1001 album generator, and I’ve committed to listening to every album from start to finish, this one took me by surprise. I wouldn’t say it was super impressive, but it’s a well-balanced album where U2 seemed genuinely focused on making a solid rock record without trying to be something they’re not.
Relaxing Sound - great
Album 511 of 1001 U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind Rating : 4 / 5 I kind of prefer this over some of the earlier U2 albums, though that doesn't seem to be the popular opinion (after reading reviews). They get back to their more traditional sound and they do it well. I guess I'll do the "uncool" thing and say I like this album a lot.
Peak 90s mom music (think Delilah) to others reminiscent more of the Stones sound. Maybe trip hop and punk vibes in others at times. Something I couldn’t quite place that felt very early 2000s that those bands may have picked up here. 3.5 Beautiful Day Stuck in a moment (you’ve got to get yourself together) In a little while
Fantastic U2 album!
I didn’t want to like this as much as I did. But it’s pretty good
3 for the album when it was released but 4 for what the songs became over time.
This was the start of a pretty solid three album run, after a period of lackluster albums after Joshua Tree. Album starts out super strong and fades a bit at the end. But still solid.
Not their best album, but still good
This powered Vh1 for at least 5 years. Felt like I got up every morning in high school and this album was playing. Itunes and the early 2000s. Can't deny it tho. Like all U2 work I don't really connect with it... but I can't deny that it works.
Enjoyable. A nice U2 album - an evolution. This one I am going to listen to again. It's a pity it's not Friday's album cause then it's queued up and ready for the weekend.
I've listened to this album many, many times. In fact, no kidding, I was listening to "In a Little While" on a randomized Spotify playlist when this album came up on the album a day rotation. Despite being a lifelong U2 fan, this album is a mixed bag. It has some very good songs like Beautiful Day, Elevation, In a little While, Wild Honey, but some sleepy duds too. Band loyalty rating knocking this to a 4.
Some very nice enjoyable tracks, but the album itself wasn't strong enough to make it into my favorites of the tour
Edited down I.e. minus a few tracks this would be better
This CD starts with a tremendous bang, the first four songs are amazing. But it progressively loses steam over time. The middle is weaker than the beginning (but still fine), and the ending (starting from "Peace on Earth", the first real dud) is downright weak. Those last four songs are a good chunk of the album, they're longer songs, so that's nearly 1/2 the runtime. If they had just cut everything after "Wild Honey" this might be a 5/5 (albeit short) album. I haven't really listened to any U2 cover-to-cover before, and was quite impressed overall. Bono doesn't have the world's most amazing voice, but he just GOES for it, which damn near makes up for his shortcomings. And they just have a really solid, balanced sound.
fire album, lots of great songs i enjoyed a lot of them, beautiful day is an amazing track and opener
Liked this, maybe more than Joshua Tree? I thought the back half really stood out and was more textured than the U2 I’m familiar with.
Good songs.
Beautiful Day Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of Elevation
Erittäin laadukas, taattua UuKagosta
I'll go and say it, this could be a great U2 album.
Excellent, great sound. Would say 4.5
Not my favorite U2 album, but still good.
Ok for what it is. Bono is a little too earnest for my taste.
Like 8 legendary tracks and 4 legit stinkers. Incredible album with a weird dropoff in quality in the middle but still a regular listen, at least on half of it
Bono can make every song memorable.
I first started liking U2 around this album, lots of songs I enjoy in this one. The sound solidly brings me to the early 2000s. Some goofy lyrics but very catchy songs. The back half may not slap as hard but is still enjoyable. 4*. Highlights: beautiful day, walk on, stuck in a moment, elevation
If you really like slower alt rock, yeah this will scratch that itch.
Kinda feels like standard U2, but that ain't a bad thing in the slightest.
Never been a big U2 fan. Seen them live and all that stuff, never clicked for me. I can jam to their stuff, but will rarely if ever put it on by my own volition. Not sure why exactly. Maybe a bit too dramatically bleeding heart? Great writing, lyrics, instrumentation, vocals, arrangement, and production. At a little less than an hour, you’ve got a healthy amount of tracks here without too much filler. Not much not to like. 4/5
1° Álbum Rock
The first 2 songs were really really good, the rest not as much, but overall still quite enjoyed it
Strong opening with 'Beatiful Day' which is definitely one of the best U2 songs, followed by 'Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of'. I think in general the first half of the album packed a bit more punch than the latter half. Despite this I must say I am a bit disappointed. I have always considered U2 a very good band, and especially listened to them very much when I was younger. I guess I always knew they were a bit on the cheesy side, but it wasn't until I started listening to this list that I realized how much. Their good songs are very good, but their bad songs are really quite boring. It was the same with 'Joshua Tree' which I expected to be one of the easiest 5 star albums, but turned out not to be. Just like that album, this is dragged down by bad the songs between the good ones. 'Grace', for example, felt so extremely pretentious and boring. Bono sure sings good, but it can just become too much cheese, like in this example. Was contemplating putting 3 stars on this, but I think a weak 4 is more appropriate considering what albums I have given 3s before.
Pop-rock de U2. Demasiadas canciones lentas, para mi gusto. Un megahit. Un 4.
It was good, I enjoyed it a lot. Very U2.
The songs I like, I like a lot.
My favorite U2 album
Stuck in a Moment is s perfect song.
Not sure why this album is so hated by so many, must be the repercussions of them putting that one album on everything but honestly this was a really solid album. Quite a few bangers and the rest of the album are able to carry through the same energy. Its a solid listen.
Great
Oli hyvä +3/5
Great album. The first 3 tracks were all big hits. Will definitely listen to again.
Удивительно, но мне второй раз подряд нравится U2
This album is a late classic in U2 repertoire. If Unforgettable Fire made this list it will get a five star from me.
I probably could go long on this album, but I'll try to keep it brief It's hard to divorce this album, which came out in the fall of 2000, from the events a year later that radically recontexturalized it. I think, in the public consciousness, this album is a response to 9/11 – after all, who can forget Bono revealing his American flag jacket lining during the Super Bowl Halftime in 2002? - when the album was actually subject to the most improbable series of events a new piece of culture has probably ever endured. Listening to it now, maybe 15-20 years from the last time I last heard it, and in the same age bracket Bono and the Edge (late 30s) were in when they made it, what I hear is a secular gospel album, and a pretty damn good one. There are meditations on the losses of parents, friends, and relationships. There are songs of great gratitude for both natural born and chosen homes and families. There's hope and despair in equal measure. There's an earnestness and poptimsim that the cynical young man can write off that the thirtysomething can't deny is where U2 is, and always has been, at their best. That's especially evident in the first half of the album, which lines up four mammoth singles in a row, but it's also true on what should have been the album closer, "New York" (the less said about "Grace", the better). Is it all a little schmaltzy? Yes, undeniably. But when the songs are so expertly crafted to hit the pleasure centers of one's brain, who cares?
My girlfriend was 26 when she bought her first new car. It was a big deal and she was so happy when she drove the teal, manual transmissioned Honda Civic off the lot. It had a 6-disc CD changer that she paid extra for and this album was the only thing that played in it. After a bit of this, and figuring out that she had no intention of changing the music, I decided that I'd drive from now on. I felt like this album, was drivel, poppy bubblegum once removed from college or "adult contemporary' music. And I had no intention of being an adult. Here I am. Here WE are, 25 years later that car long gone, a mortgage, two kids, soccer, therapy, sciatica and everything that goes along with middle age... Here we are, and I'd give most anything to sit in that little civic and listen to this CD again just for an hour.
Nice
Enjoyable album. Sounds very similar to older U2
better than I thought
Favourite track - Walk on
Favourite tracks: walk on; elevation; beautiful day; stuck in a moment you can't get out of; in a little while
Fantastic first half of the album, drops off near the end.
Too much nostalgia!! When you start an album w Its A Beautiful Day, extra point. Lots of good memories and sad ones too w this song/album. I don’t know if I can rate albums based purely on music. My feelings, body, soul, memories make a lot of the ratings! Hope that’s ok.
One of my favorite U2 albums. It was the last album (to me) that they were great and Bono had not succumbed to his own myth and ego.
one of my favorites but in their 2nd tier
This felt like a series of movie soundtrack songs (probably because they have been used as such). The one thing I know about Bono is that he was called Bone-o in the flash game celebrity pedigree.
You should know, upfront, that this is one of the first albums I ever bought. I certainly try not to let my nostalgia colour my perception but I'm not perfect. This was a good record, period. U2 drop much of the studio layering that they'd become buried in by Pop, revealing precisely what remained of their songwriting by the 2000 release of All That You Can't Leave Behind. The singles get a lot of attention (Beautiful Day, Walk On, Elevation) and while they're good efforts (Beautiful Day, in particular, is a rare sunny anthem from a band known for their songs about deathbed reconciliations and The Troubles), the second half of the album contains some hidden gems. Wild Honey recalls the acoustic bops of the Rolling Stones while In A Little While offers a soulful effort that shows each member playing with little effect support - Clayton and Mullen keeping a slow shuffle groove, Bono showing his genuine capacity for vocal dynamics and the Edge providing a deeply organic electric guitar part that relies on nothing more than artful phrasing, varied pick attack and some spot-on overdrive to achieve the song's atmosphere. U2 are a band known for their bombast and their polished, sweeping rock soundscapes but they're genuinely good writers and players. They can't resist their bombastic nature here, but the stripped down record proves perfectly that it comes from them genuinely and not just from their racks and racks of studio electronics. ATYCLB closes on some slicker numbers but the varied, infectious, affecting nature of the work remains. Unlike some of their more constructed efforts, any band could pick up this whole album and play it through with whatever gear they already have (excepting a deceptive octave effect on Elevation) and it would sound great - that's a mark of well-crafted songs. This is accessible to both the listener and to a musician following along -- you don't need three hours puzzling over an arcane chain of delay pedals to replicate the guitar sound or an ocean of reverb to get Bono's vocals. But you've gotta have some range and a delicate touch to get it right. Is it melodramatic? Yeah, that's them through and through. But is it good? Unequivocally, yes.
I spent a very enjoyable hour cooking with a nice bottle of wine and this album for company last night. It may just be that I’m in a fairly difficult place in my life currently, but the uplifting songs did make me feel a bit better about life. Musically this is all very similar to the second half of The Judas Tree, which isn’t a bad thing. It doesn’t soar as high as the opening three tracks of that album, but then again what does? The only dud was Peace on Earth, and that isn’t really the album’s fault. Bono has managed to keep his faith throughout his life, which is admirable. I haven’t, so there’s a clear conflict of thought there. But, I’ve never minded U2’s other religious songs throughout their career. I liked Grace on this album. Peace on Earth is the song that comes closest to sounding like full blown Christian Rock though, which is why I think I had a problem with it, even if the lyrics are actually quite depressing. What can I say? I enjoyed it
Ever notice how U2 basically sings the title of their track over and over again and makes billions doing it? Distinct sound, great vibes, and it's Bono.
Not my favorite U2 album, but they’re solid, and I’ve got a soft spot for Bono’s voice.
What's not to love about a good U2 album? A great day of music! It doesn't quite compare to the greatest U2 albums, but it's still quite wonderful.
I found this album a little disappointing.
U2 has a lot to live up to in my book and they don’t always quite rise to my expectations. I think Beautiful Day and Elevation are among their best songs and a few other tracks stand out for not sounding like their typical fare. But I don’t love every track the way I hope to when I see the name U2 attached.
I was prepared to give this one 5 stars off the bat. I remember this album coming out and how huge it was. With a catalogue as great as theirs was before this one was, they still would not make it out of a stadium alive without playing Beautiful Day. I can concede most of these tracks are reworking of their classics and I was still prepared to give it a 5. But the back half of this falls off so incredibly hard. Needs 1 or 2 great songs to end it off.
Really for nostalgia lotta duds
Better than I expected it to be
This was the last good U2 album. I've been a fan of the band for over 30 years, and this bookends their career for me. It's solid pop rock, and some of these songs still sound fresh today. Nice listen.
One of my all-time favorite albums by U2, second only to The Joshua Tree.
Ups and downs s ovim albumom
Može se vrtiti u pozadini, dobre stvari.
I was a big fan of this album. I've always known about U2, but I've never really given them a true listen. This album as fantastic, with multiple songs/tunes that I recognized. I also love learning about bands that are still so modern that have been making music for close to 50 years. History like that is incredible. I remember when they released one of their albums for free for everyone on iTunes. That was a great marketing scheme. Big fan, and I'm glad this popped up on my generation. 4 stars!
Pre-listening thoughts: I know some U2 songs, I think they started as a Christian rock band? But that sound is certainly prevalent in their music. Kind of a turn off for me. They're certainly not bad tho - album of the day could have been MUCH worse. Post/during listening thoughts: I have definitely heard Beautiful Day but I don't think I've heard any other songs on this album. Beautiful Day is a good opener - a large track that sets a positive tone for the album, and Bono sounds good on this song. Stuck In a Moment You Can't Get Out Of is a really great track - love the message but also the melody is really catchy. Elevation has a really nice guitar line in the back of the chorus, and the shift to electric guitar really makes the song pop. Really love Walk On also. The upside of starting as a Christian rock band is that their songs are really positive and uplifting - puts energy back into the listener instead of sucking it out. Some of the more mellow tracks blend together on this album (Kite, Peace on Earth) - but it's also my first listen so idk maybe it's just that. In A Little While has a really cool beat behind it. Also Bono has a falsetto that's actually really nice to listen to - unlike mf axl rose SORRY I HATE his voice. New York is kinda boring imo. I was typing "for this close to the end of the album it needs a little more umph" and literally as I was typing umph the guitars and drums KICKED in. Sorry New York my apologies. Grace was a little boring but sweet. Overall, better than I was expecting! Nice job U2 - will probably revisit a lot of this. 7/10. Favorite Tracks: Stuck In a Moment, Walk On, Wild Honey
This was certainly a return to form, after the serious wilderness of Zooropa and Pop and it's certainly well made (to risk understatement) and an adult sort of record (an early Dad rock record to be sure), in seeming considered. There are a few touches of pure class – starting with "Beautiful Day," a very strong opener, and "Kite," heartfelt and powerful, and "Wild Honey," which is swings easily and engagingly. But one can't help but hear some calculation and some sense of compromise in the clear bid for acclaim (both critical [see "Peace on Earth," typically Bononical overbearing earnestness and a pretty dumb song] and commercial [especially "Elevation," one assumes). "When I Look" and "New York" and "Grace" make for a strong ending, too, largely by being controlled, and not trying to do too much. For overall impact and engagement, this can't touch one's affection for (or personal connection to) the early records (thru War) and deep regard for (or personal connection to) the middle records (namely Unforgettable Fire, which is more deserving of this spot, and The Joshua Tree and certainly excluding Rattle and Hum) but this was likely the best one could expect from this band in early aughts, and it certainly made sense in the context of one's mid-30s (and pre-Dad) life in NYC, perhaps for seeming considered and calculated and compromised, as one inevitably gets in those years. It's perhaps just slightly too Coldplay-y. For all its heart being in the right place and it staying just this side of cynical and that side of cloying sentimentality, it's just not as unforgettable as their best work, including The Unforgettable Fire.
Starts off really strong and then sputters out a bit. The themes are about life, existentialism and self-consciousness. Its a bit too clean for my tastes, but its still memorable and tuneful.
This album was seeming like a solid 4 but dipped toward the end. Still worth a soft 4
First half absolute bangers. Second half slows down some but not bad. Easy 4, 5 would be pushing a little too much I think? 9/10 if that counts
Could've done without the remixes, same songs over and over but the core was good.
Not even my favorite more modern/poppy U2 album, but still a worthwhile listen. 3.5/5
Good album, with some great hits. I'm more enthousiastic of the beginning and the album loses my interest a bit in the end.
Probably one of my favourite U2 albums
surprised by u2 once again, good album
Deze heb ik nog ergens op cd liggen. Wel een tijdje geleden dat ik hem beluisterd had, dus was het een aangenaam wederhoren. Kwaliteitsdeunen van de Ierse beroepsdeugers met een belastingonderduikadres aan de Herengracht. Ik begon ze al te missen in deze lijst.
I’m a certified U2 hater but their is no denying they know how to write a song
My favourite album to listen to so far. Catchy, ryhtmic drums and good vocals from Bono. Surprised at how many I knew but starting with Beautiful Day is a great start to an album. Upbeat, easy listen. Will definitely listen again
Some sleepers and some bangers. I was on a 6AM flight listening to it so I can't say too much about it. 7/10
a lot of their best songs are here "mole digging in a hole" deserves special recognition 4.5
Yep, Stuck in a Moment is as cheesy as I remember. Tons of other good songs on here though. I want to hate it, but it's actually good.
You can’t deny the hooks.
It's easy to be basic. No wonder they're so popular.
Nothing at all to say. 4 stars, I guess.
Great record, good times listening to this back in the day.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Beautiful day, Elevation, In a little while
Good Album, some songs are really part of my music history
Amazing album, brought back a ton of memories from childhood. Remember buying this album when I was 12-ish.
Главное впечатление от альбома: блин, как же чувствуется, что это очень современная музыка. Я бы даже не сказал, что она в 2000ом была выпущена. Звучит как будто новинка прошлого месяца... Не знаю, отчего конкретно исходит такой вайб: энергичные минималистичные гитарки, всякие разные глючные эффекты или эмбиент синты. Единственный минус: надо учиться петь. Иногда моно прям конкретно недотягивает, это слегка раздражает. Peace of Earth в сердечко кольнула конечно. Более метафоричная Imagine. Но до уровня Леннона не дотягивает. P.S. Давние пользователи айфонов, помните, что у вас на телефонах какое-то время лежал альбом Songs of Innocence группы U2, хотя вы его не скачивали? А это у них такое промо было, эксклюзивно для ITunes/Apple Music выпускали.
Ни разу не посмотрел, когда там конец уже, этого факта хватит в целом
Respect this album a lot but U2 is not my everyday jam
This is a pwnage soundtrack to my childhood weirdly enough. The amount of n00bs I pwned on Halo whilst listening to this album is probably in the thousands. Nothing like sticking someone and watching them explode at the climax of Beautiful Day. First half is definitely superior but can also love the back half in a different kind of way. Not usually a normal 5 I would give but something about this album gets me.
Man, you can say what you want about U2’s repertoire over the years, but this remains one of their best albums.
Sounds like U2
I feel this album starts strongly but fades a bit towards the middle. It does pick up again at the end. Not their best album, for me.
I like this album very much. I bought it as soon as it was released in CD, discovering that U2 was leaving behind its techno-90s, coming back to an style they have paused in The Joshua Tree.
4.0
HL: "Beautiful Day", "Stuck in A Moment..." "Walk On", "In a Little While", "Wild Honey", "When I Look at the World" Want to disregard this album for its basic 2000s adult contemporary rock-sheen, but I just can’t. Too many good songs March 1, 2023
My mom is a huge fan of U2 so it was kind of a nice surprise seeing this and really delving into her music taste. I had only heard Beautiful Day before, but there are much better songs on here. Generally good album. Fave track(s): Elevation
Very good
Much more soulful than the other U2 albums from the 1990s. Mature, less experimental. Strong, sensible songwriting. A very good U2 album.
Classic anthemic and iconic rock music. Beautiful Day and Walk On are the best songs. 4.5.
Great album. Beautiful Day is so nostalgic.
A hugely definitive album - nearly 25 years old! Some classics some less awesome. Enjoyed to memories
When I was in college, I would've been the first person to crap on this album. Having seen them in concert a few times, though, I've grown to appreciate U2. Some great songs here... first half of the album stronger than the second half. Amazing that this bad had a huge album in the 80s, a huge album in the 90s, a huge album in the 00s and probably the biggest tour of the 10s.
A really good album by a band that I am not a fan of.
Good album with a couple amazing songs. Beautiful Day and Walk On
Idk man I just like U2. Favorite track: Elevation
first four songs are some of my favourite U2 songs!
7/10 first U2 album I was introduced to and full of good songs
This was the first U2 album I heard, consciously anyway, and my first concert was seeing them on this tour, so I’ll always a special fondness for it. However, it’s a fairly uneven album. It’s got some really good or even great songs (Kite is the best on the album) but it feels like they played it too safe, which is a mode they really haven’t gotten out of since this album. Solid album, but not as good as their best.
I don't have too much to say about this one, except that this was a really solid album by U2, their last really good one. I know some people aren't fond of the back to basics approach here, but I think it's a wonderfully thoughtful and down to earth collection of songs. There's a beauty in its simplicity. Fave Songs: Beautiful Day, Elevation, Wild Honey, Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Grace
Stung by the reception of their last record in various countries (the U.S. most pointedly) and by how unfinished it was, U2 decided to hunker down and figure out how to get back to basics and in good graces. The result, All That You Can't Leave Behind, is the band operating at a measured rate that combines both the past and the present appreciately. In a reflective mood for the majority of it, the band looks down the barrel of 40 as they begin the mature phase and start to act like men. Perhaps this may be seen by some as U2's descent downward in creative risk taking but it only marks the start of something more illuminating in what would be the band's last full decade of relevance. Favorites: Beautiful Day, Stuck in a Moment That You Can't Get Out Of, Walk On, Kite, In a Little While, Peace on Earth, When I Look at the World, The Ground Beneath Her Feet.
Ovaj se dosta vrtio kad sam bila mala jer je moj otac big fan. Ne znam jel vise nostalgija ili je stvarno dobar album
Classic 4.5/5
My tried and trusted 'no singles listen' for albums I'm very familiar with is dead easy as they put the singles on tracks 1-4. The 1001 randomizer threw up Achtung Baby yesterday, and just as this album's singles are not as strong as Achtung Baby.. so the album tracks aren't either. Probably their last really strong all-the-way through effort, with 4 great singles, so four stars.
U2 was already well-established by the time I really started discovering music. I knew them from various radio hits, but this was the first full album of theirs that really grabbed my attention. This is mid-late high school for me and I'm sure I'll always enjoy this one, at least the first half.
All That You Can’t Leave Behind by U2 (2000) Here’s an album with excellent musical compositions overlaid with well harnessed synth colorings and nicely crafted grooves that are sustained throughout each track. Thank God for producer Brian Eno for holding the pieces together. This is redemptive rock, with forward looking, optimistic themes, celebrating the good, the true, and the beautiful with a dogged determination, even if there is an occasional lack of synchronization between poetic and musical meter. With playful obscurity, lyrics are suited to lift the listener from the cares of a chaotic world, without being naïve or preachy. There’s hope and good feeling to be found in each track, if one is patient and open-hearted. Parenthetically, if “Peace on Earth” sounds hopeless and cynical on a first listen, remember that lyricist Bono has retained the herald of the Incarnation as an ideal that, while not attained, is nevertheless not unattainable. And please note that the song is immediately followed by the Christ-adoring “When I Look at the World”, where the suffering, frail, and sinful (yet humble) poet asks what the Incarnate One sees when He looks at the world, and we all remember that what He sees is the object of Divine Love. Quiz: Can you spot God’s phone number on the album cover? (Answer at the bottom of this review). Lead vocalist Bono’s voice is closely recorded, clean and lightly processed, with sonic honesty. On this recording, he doesn’t have the mighty vocal chops of his youth, and his falsetto ain’t what it used to be (compare Joshua Tree [1987]), but its authenticity remains strong. As usual, guitarist the Edge masters his electronic effects to elevate a second tier talent to a first tier sound. This is his consistent greatness. The penultimate track “Grace” personifies a theological datum in a slow, soulful setting. Methodist preachers might make some serious kerygmatic hay out of this song. “Grace makes beauty out of ugly things”, Bono sings. One could even say that grace builds upon nature, without getting all Scholastic over it. On the other hand, why not? And again, please note that the song “Grace” is immediately followed by the anthemic “The Ground Beneath Her Feet”. Connect these two themes and you might be excused for waxing transcendent. I needed this one today. 4/5 (Answer: J33-3=Jeremiah 33:3. Look it up. Bob Dylan had it on speed dial.)
While it didn't have the the raw and edgy (no pun intended) energy of U2 from the 80s, it was/is still a very powerful album.
I really like the slightly more subtle songs like Walk On and Kite. Wild Honey is great and clearly there are the other key hits that carry this album. Really impressive and they do a great job of carrying tempo and energy both up and down, and making songs that keep you engaged.
Not as great as I remembered it being, but still so many good memories.
I know Bono is super pretentious and they aren't a cool band, but I think this is a great album. If that loses me points with the indie community, so be it.
Great album. One of their best. 4
Una inesperada sorpresa que després de dos discos com 'Zooropa' i 'Pop', fins i tot 'Achtung Baby' que tot i la seva magnificiència quedava molt lluny del que havien fet fins aleshores, U2 tornés a la seva manera personal d'entendre el rock com a manera d'encetar el nou mil.leni. I ho van fer donant-nos un dels seus millors discos. Singles incontestables com 'Beautiful Day' o 'Walk On', temes tan poderosos com 'Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out of' o 'Elevation'. I tota una resta del disc per anar assaborint i disfrutant en noves escoltes al llarg dels anys
While behind expectations and less rock than expected, it's still an album full of enjoyable and catchy songs
got a bit of edge to it
Sounds pretty much like it could have been made at any time in the last 40 or so years, other than the production being a bit tighter than in their very early days. Stuck in a moment and walk on were two very good songs that I had (just about) forgotten existed, beautiful day and elevation are basically classic rock staples at this point, and in a little while might be my favourite of the whole record.
not cool to say so but I quite like U2
I was a big U2 fan in their early days. The Unforgettable Fire is still one of my favorite albums. But when they became mega-stars I sort of lost interest in them. That happens a lot with me - I feel like artists have "sold out" when they become really popular. Sometimes I think that's fair - the artists compromise their vision just to sell more records - but in the case of U2 I might have written them off too early. I think this album is really good. The Eno/Lanois production gives the songs a really nice vibe. 4 stars.
Pop-rock de U2. Demasiadas canciones lentas, para mi gusto. Un megahit.
Compared to the last album of U2, this one is fairly decent. Hunt a hotly available spot on the list, some very catchy melodies mixed with its fairly lame lyrics. Begrudging 4 stars
8/10
Ι mean, U2 is U2
geen U2 fan, maar best 'Beautiful Day' en 'Elevation' zijn best oké nummers
U2’s return to form was an explosive one. It’s got some amazing singles that can and will stand up to any single released from their earlier albums.
Classic album, not their best but still got a lot of great songs.
I remember when this album came out. I grew up on early U2 and was not happy with the direction they went in after Achtung Baby. When ATYCLB came out, it felt like a surprise return to a familiar U2 that I liked. I still prefer the earlier U2 and understand the need to experiment, but this album is one of their better ones.
U2 always reminds me of father. Really appealing songs
Of course it was good! 9/10 I just have no complaints such a good vibe
the vibes of this are emaculate 8.5/10
Decent
Chill
Das erste Mal in meinem Leben, dass ich bewusst U2 gehört hab. Fand ich gut.
Ticks a lot of boxes.
Good album that.
.
Delightful turn-of-the-millennium pop-rock.
nice!
Probably #4 favorite U2 album
I'm really starting to like U2 and it's a real surprise to me.
Not a 5, but not a 4 either. Idk, U2 is good but never stands out to me.
A record I've listened to before. Really quite spectacular. Almost at the Joshua Tree level.
It's competent but does rather insist upon itself.
Not U2s best but pretty good for the time.
This is good rock and roll, uh, music
näissä hyvin vähän mitään vikaa.
S'alright
Very mediocre album. I remember this being everywhere when it came out. Makes sense given how inoffensive it is. U2 can really only do one thing, and this isn’t them doing that thing at their best.
Meh, it was a U2 album. It was ok I guess.
There’s a couple of pretty good songs on here but most of the album is meh. I went through a U2 phase around 2009-ish. Did I outgrow U2? Or did I outgrow Bono?
U2 are a great rock band making pretty good music. This is is better than some otherU2, and some has been a bit overplayed.
Fine. Unremarkable. Why is it on this list?
Good U2 album tbh. Three good songs to begin with, then a bit weaker afterwards. Some of their best songs in here too really.
A parte beatiful day avevo giá provato ad ascoltare peró non mi é piaciuto un granche
Couple good songs, not much else
Dette er en relativt sterk pop-skive med høy allsang på grensen-faktor. Minus for at de er U2 og at de har stjelt fra A-HA.
Yes, Bono’s voice is slipping at this point. Yes, it shouldn’t be over 50 minutes long. Yes, they’re far past their prime. But it’s got its moments! “Beautiful Day,” despite Bono’s 40-year-old vocals (you can still have good vocals at 40! Look at Laraaji, his vocals are still good to this day! Bono’s vocals are just not) is still an awesome song. “Stuck in a moment…” is an improvement, and Bono’s vocals are even bit better! From there it takes a bit of a drop though. This album’s biggest problem frankly is that it doesn’t really leave an impression, other than “Wild Honey,” which is easily the best song here. The most memorable parts, frankly, are when Bono’s voice breaks and you can tell he’s out of it. Nothing else is of worth! It’s almost funny, except it isn’t. 6.0/10
Trop ressemblant
I don’t really get the hate. This was a perfectly fine pop-rock album. Nothing spectacular, but like said, perfectly fine.
Always found u2 a bit dull. They start strong on this with the first two songs then it becomes quite meh.
Fine for background music at work
It's a U2 album with a bit of millennium optimism sprinkled in. Terrific production and some real earworms on this one. It reminds me of other albums from groups that have been making music for decades: they'll never hit you in the guy with album 14 but by this point they've found the formula and still find themselves inspired enough to put a solid record together with real feeling.
I came in ready to dismiss this record, because U2 were very experimental in the 90s and this "return to rock" felt very bleah. While it's no How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb levels of dad rock, there are a few undeniably good songs front loaded in here like the inescapable "Beautiful Day", "Elevation", "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of", and the now-questionable "Walk On" (written about then-longtime Burmese political prisoner turned Rohingya genocide denier Aung San Suu Kyi). It's not as seismic as The Joshua Tree, it's not a massive pivot like Achtung Baby, and it's not even half-finished like Pop, it's just U2 becoming decidedly MOR and playing it safe for the new millennium. It’s the sound of a legacy band prioritizing commercial survival over artistic risk, crafting stadium pleasing background music that offends absolutely no one. It’s certainly not a terrible listen, and those initial hits still hold a lot of nostalgic weight, but the overall experience ultimately lacks the raw fire and passion that made U2 great in the first place.
3.5 Starts off with some hits but after that it's a bit safe and uninteresting for the most part, that one peace on earth song made me understand all the anti bono sentiment
I enjoyed most of this. If you like U2, you’ll probably like this but it isn’t anything groundbreaking. 3.5/5
Mouais. C'est encore un de ces albums qui ne sont pas mauvais du tout, mais qui sont quand même assez inintéressants et pas franchement mémorables. U2, je connais assez mal (finalement, ce que je connais le mieux, c'est la reprise d'I Will Follow, de Fear Factory, qui est une reprise assez improbable, d'ailleurs), mais il m'a toujours donné l'image d'un groupe dont la popularité repose... heu ben je sais pas, en fait. Je ne comprends pas vraiment, parce que ça m'a l'air sympathique sans être non plus foufou. Et le truc, c'est qu'à l'échelle de leur discographie, cet album m'a l'air franchement anecdotique. Pourquoi cet album en particulier ? Si leurs meilleurs albums sont déjà dans la liste, pourquoi ajouter celui-là ? Encore une fois, c'est tout sauf un mauvais album, mais c'est pas très très intéressant, en fait. Quelqu'un qui aime le pop rock y trouvera sûrement son compte, mais pour quelqu'un qui ne s'y intéresse pas trop (comme moi), ça entre par une oreille et ça sort par l'autre.
I dont know how I feel about this. Nothing offensive here, but nothing memorable either. 3/5
I just don't think this is any less overwrought than other U2 albums - they just have less meaningful things to say because they're flying on private jets and hanging with billionaires. Sure, the album isn't as good as some of their earlier stuff but it isn't committing war crimes the way the reviews would make you think. Honestly, I'm more offended by the blues-raping of Clapton and so many of his cohort than this early aughts wankery.
While I own and enjoy the album, I am not entirely sold that it is an essential album, although it is better than most of the albums during the decade in which it came out. To me, an argument can be made for THE JOSHUA TREE, ZOOROPA, and ACHTUNG BABY; and while this album was a real comfort after 9/11, it feels like it should be removed to open up a spot for another essential album by another artist that was overlooked. Front half of the album, particularly the first 4 are the bangers, while everything else feels fairly uninspired with the exception of maybe "The Ground Beneath Her Feet".
Je connais bien cet album, et je pense que sa première moitié est vraiment forte, et malgré ça ce n'est vraiment pas une œuvre magistrale... Playlist pick : Elevation (ooh-ooh)
Honestly, the first half was really good and had some really catchy and exciting tracks, but then it just lost steam and there was still 6 songs left to go on the album.
I'm really only familiar with a couple of the older U2 albums. I remember Beautiful Day, of course, but funny I always thought this track came out like a decade earlier than it did. Props to U2 for staying relevant for so long. Elevation I remember as well. Second track is a little whiney, as are several more scattered throughout. If you're a U2 fan, then it seems on brand. For me, it's like some of their other albums. Some clear hits, then a lot of filler. New York is a decent deep cut. 3/5
On the back of singles… otherwise forgettable
Det er egentlig et ganske chill album. Liker soulinnflytelsene, men sliter litt med de tidlig 2000-talls produksjonsteknikkene. Foretrekker de tidligere platene til U2
3/5
Discover a new song (‘New York’) that I like, and didn’t realize ‘Walk On’ was from this album. A solid 3.5
Decent for a later period U2 album. Pretty average compared to their early, more energetic output. 3.5
It's fine. The U2 hate goes overboard i find, but it's hardly revolutionary either. Beautiful day is pretty good.
Not my favorite U2 album but still good music
Maybe the last tolerable U2 album. They get really boring and start sounding the same.
Se nota el oficio, pero después de la cuarta canción sobra seguir escuchando a U2. Mejor volver a sus primeros discos.
Did this album really have to be on the list? Oh well… The album is actually decent with five pretty big hits, but I don’t think I would put this on again anytime soon. The hits are good and fit on a U2 greatest hits playlist to play for the kids
Bono isn’t a great singer
The Bono-ness is a lot, as always. Underneath, there are some very fine little songs (Stuck in a Moment is just hook after hook).
A lovely, meaningful album, with many stories of everyday, ordinary people and their struggles; it was rather chill and relaxed to listen to 👏
Very good start, same as the singles, but then....kind of feels repetitive. Don't get me wrong, i like it, but not as much, it's ok
had higher hopes
What a throwback. Great tunes.
I’ve never been able to go all in with U2. The Joshua Tree is a masterpiece and they’ve never hit those heights since
Despite Beautiful Day being U2's gift to ITV Sport, this all seems a bit meh. Not Coldplay-level meh mind. 3*
Tää on löytynyt julkaisustaan asti omasta hyllystä. Ei oo jäänyt miksikään omaksi suosikiksi, vaikka U2 fani oonkin. Oikeastaan tämän levyn jälkeen, on bändin musa ei oo hirveästi kiinnostanut. Tulee kuunneltua levyjä ennen tätä.
I thought the first few tracks were really nice and then it started to kinda get boring to me.
p861. 2000. 3 stars. Stadium Dad rock for the new millennium. Some decent tunes here, but it's let down by filler and Bono's vocal hysterics.
Has there ever been a more insufferable boob in rock music than Paul David Hewson? No. This whole album is a testament to that, especially "New York," which should be shot into deep space. Definitely not something you can't leave behind. Calling bullshit, Bono — there's no way that U2 flies commercial!
bland but decent
No matter how much you think you should you can’t hate U2. It’s comfort music.
Lots of classics. 3/5
I'm not an outspoken fan of U2, but I don't despise them like quite a few on this site. This album is much more the U2 I like, but not their strongest one. There are the obvious hit singles, some quite good tracks, and then there are some fillers.
Decent album from early 2000s. Good album for background while working
First 4 tracks pretty strong, with decent variety of tempo and style, plus their trademark uplift. Was thinking I might have to give it a 4-star rating, if the quality continued. But, in fact, the other 7 songs (5 through 11) were pretty forgettable. So, in the end, a 3-star rating feels a little generous (as with the previous U2 album - and I won't be surprised if you guys go with 2 stars, again), but I guess I'll go with 3 stars again. I'm not entirely comfortable with this approach (and it's similar to what I did with Simple Minds, yesterday, too), where I give 3 stars, but it's mostly based on a few good songs -- but I guess I'll stick with that approach, at least for this album (and for Simple Minds).
Yeah, it’s got some decent tracks on it, but this was a safe album. I remember buying this at a midnight release party. Other than a couple tracks I barely listened to it. I’ll listen to Songs of Innocence over this any day of the week.
After a decade of messing around, U2 finally came up with a successor half worthy to follow Joshua Tree.
It seems very trendy these days to hate U2. I don't know why. I do agree this is not their best album (maybe the worst) - not sure why this one made it to the list and not The Unforgettable Fire, for example. I much prefer U2's earlier records, up to The Joshua Tree, but there's good stuff after that too. They haven't stood still; it would have been easy to stick to a recipe but they rather explore new avenues, which I appreciate even though some of it isn't my cup of tea. This album is just too plain pop for me. Some fine songs, quite a bit of filler. Inoffensive, and that's not a good thing for a band stat started with sharp, edgy rock in Boy, War, etc. Another 3* album.
This is #day611 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… as much as I like U2, face it, this isn't a record you must hear before you die. It just doesn't carry the same sense of value or novelty as War, The Joshua Tree, or Achtung Baby. There are a couple of solid tracks here, and the whole thing does sound like U2, but again, it doesn't feel essential. Speaking of the '00s U2, I'm actually more of a fan of the follow-up, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. I do have a friend who likes "New York," though. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day612.
Liked this a little more than I wanted to. Weak 3.
Some really great songs but damn this is just way too long of an album. 51 tracks for 4:30? No thanks
2,8 Highlights: Beautiful Day, Elevation
I like it. Sounds a bit more pop like but without losing that rock air.
Not since Joshua Tree had I really listened to a U2 album, only the singles that were unavoidable because they were all over the place. It was better than I thought, well-produced and intricate. The first few songs are really good and I need to spend more time with the rest
Solid songs by a solid band. U2 just never made more of an impression than solid for me.
A few really good singles, the rest is okay, but a little bland. 3.5 stars
I think this is kind of the last good U2 album. It's solid enough, but it's also where they seem to give up on the prospect of being a somewhat adventurous band. "Beautiful Day" is great, and there's some other solid tunes like "Stuck in a Moment", "Walk On", and "In a Little While". Too much of it is sort of U2's version of minivan rock though. 3.5 stars.
I enjoy a lot of older U2, and know the few hits from this album but don’t know it well. So practically a brand new listen. Album opens strong with two solid U2 now classics. Stuck in a Moment is particularly great. In general, it’s a bit more pop sounding than 80s early U2, but the opening two songs definitely provide a nice start. Although I guess U2 always has a bit of a pop friendly sound. It’s just easy to listen to. Bono has a such a comforting quality in his voice. Hard to dislike this. It’s really 4 solid songs to start. It slows down a bit but still has solid songs to the end. This is a good album. Not sure it’s great past those first few songs, and it’s not U2’s best. But makes you want to listen to more U2. Solid 3.
This is someone’s favorite band btw.
Måske med en snert nostalgi, selv om jeg ikke rigtigt har lyttet til det, fordi sangene var alle steder. Men et ganske fint album fra dem.
This album is just fine. At the risk of sounding mean or snooty, it really does feel like Bono's vocals and lyrics are taking this one down more than anything. A lot of the lyrics come across as bluntly hopeful, like poetry written in some sort of English class. I do like the top end of Bono's range though, whenever he's belting it out I definitely see the appeal. But in the end, the album just feels a bit uninspiring, and I imagine it's not the best intro into U2's catalogue. Highlight: Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of Lowlight: New York
great later stage U2 album. Some bangers, some meh. Many other U2 albums are better and more worthy.
Ik vind dit niet zo'n heel verschrikkelijk album, maar tegelijkertijd heb ik eigenlijk helemaal geen zin in om het op te zetten. Dat komt ook omdat je eigenlijk al weet wat je krijgt, gezien de eerste 4 nummers in die tijd dikke radiohits waren. Maargoed, toch aangezet natuurlijk. En dan valt het ook wel weer mee. Knorr wereldgerecht - altijd een steady 6je; de trouwe volgers kennen het verhaal inmiddels. De vier hitjes zijn goed te doen. De tweede helft van het album heeft weinig tot geen meerwaarde. 3 sterren.
This was a nice surprise which I enjoyed listening to. Favorite songs: Elevation, Beautiful Day
Not the best U2
I was all in for Joshua Tree. I spun that disc on my dad's stereo at home scores of times. I thrilled to its not-so-secret Christian messages, anathema at my Unitarian Universalist church where God and Jesus were taboo. If I could've gone to the concert, I would've. Joshua Tree was an evolution from U2's earlier work--I felt connected to the U2 that David Ammer shared with me in his bedroom lightyears before. U2 had been an arena rock band for a good while by then, and this seemed like a redemption for all the pyrotechnics. By 2000, though, I'd moved on. I was out even for Rattle & Hum. Why would I pursue a bloated band perpetually "searching for a new sound," when there was such a profusion of excellent indie rock in the 90s and Oughties? Listening to it now, I hear songs whose themes and production choices feel alive--and a bunch whose "searching" just doesn't land. Which is fine, right? Even an institutional band like U2 is going to have more than a few clunkers. What keeps U2 rolling on? What is it like being a massive rock star for more than 40 years? Do Bono and Keith Richards hang out? Does the Edge go to the same gym as Robert Smith?
I know rationally this is not a particularly great U2 album. There are some real earworms on here of course, but some songs are garbage (New York??), while many seem like filler. Nonetheless, listening to Bono on a day that turned out to be very emotional and sad--it's hard for me to critique this record rationally. I don't really care for the production style of this album, and by the time it was released I was not very interested in U2 anymore so aside from the hits I am not familiar with most of these songs. Yet it's hard to resist their pull on a tough day. And I guess Bono's earnestness which used to be so irritating now strikes me as more valuable when compared to the way stars behave currently. I don't really know what I'm saying, I guess it's an apology of sorts for giving it three stars when my younger self would have treated this record as a joke.
if the whole album were more like the second half (and the outtakes), it might be a 4 or 5, but the stadium pleasers knock it down a notch or two for me.
Totally inoffensive pop by masters of same.
Britpop wordt mijn dood.
not a high-water mark for the band. Listenable but nothing to make my heart go pitta-pat
I used to LOVE U2. Some songs I still think are amazing. Now I find them a bit saccharine though.
Oh yes, U2…the once self-proclaimed greatest band on earth. I have always thought they were overrated and never understood all the hype. It’s not that I disliked the band, but it just seemed that the media really thought that we should like them. Anyway, having said all this, I did enjoy this record more than I expected to. I will give it a solid three stars.
Nothing groundbreaking but solid enough.
The 6th best u2 album
I like U2 but this isn’t even top 5 for them. The hits are decent but the rest is weak
Decent.
2.5 really Like coldplay people like to hate on U2, but put that aside they are 4 or 5 decent songs on here. The lyrics are rubbish though and the music is just bland at times. All in all its just and okay album. If your checking out U2 for the first time this probably isn't the best place to start.
3 For Stuck In A Moment Alone. Rest if the album nah
This made me semi change my mind on u2. I won’t be playing them regularly but I will not write them off either.
U2 has a few uber bangers but there music beyond that all sounds the same to me.
Not a big U2 fan but this album is ok
This was like a lil 00s time capsule, what a dose of nostalgia. It did make me reflect on whether I actually like U2 and don’t think I do! I just don’t get on with Bono’s voice and the music isn’t enough to carry it for me. Nonetheless this had some cracking singles. If only to bring me back to the trailer for tomb raider or a matrix movie, something with someone abseiling down into a building…
Peak Radio Musig
Ersti beide songs sind guet, aber denn fette fall off
6/10
Not a great U2 album, but a good U2 album. “Beautiful Day” is a slide show anthem.
3.5
A return to form, but not quite. There are some great tunes here, but nothing that captures the power of their earlier work. Still, it was the transition away from the poppy, dace-like grooves of the previous couple of albums that allowed U2 to maintain their musical prestige in the decades that followed.
Parfaitement oubliable
It's actually boring and full of dull plodders. Yet the first 3 tracks carry it over a lot of the utter shite I've had.
It's a decent album but I found it lacking edginess, a tad too slick in places.
I was a monkey stealing honey from a swarm of bees
This is a good album. Two tracks are keepers and the rest are laconic and introspective. Not their best, but a good listen. I should listen again, but it’s a 3 for now.
Not as strong as some of the stuff that I heard from them
It's an iconic sound that brings me right back to the 2000's. However, hits aside, it didnt do much for me
Enjoyable album. Really love: "Beautiful Day" "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" "Kite" "In a Little While"
Some really wonderful highs but kinda too much time away from the good stuff. After Wild Honey you can more or less turn it off.
Great side a, terrible side b; thats a classic three stars
Enjoyed this a fair bit more than I thought I would. It’s not great but it’s god a few bangers for sure
The first 2 tracks are great and the rest is just U2-sounding fluff/filler. Surprised this made the list actually. Seems like this was just a vehicle for the first 2 tracks being released in the era when you had to sell albums to get people to buy your singles....
Boy, they call this "stripped down" and a return to their younger sound, but to me, it feels like stadium rock. A few good tracks and nothing terrible, but doesn't pull me in.
Too long for me. Didn´t finish it. But the songs that I heard were nice!
Better than I remember. On its own, not a bad album, but I know what U2 is capable of, and this album is subpar for them. It’s a little tame and doesn’t cover any new ground. But the songs are pretty good.
U2 might be the most bang average band to ever exist. The last time I had a newly discovered 5 was September :(
U2 ran so Foo Fighters could jog.
A really strong U2 album, but one that I've never rated as highly as their efforts from 10-15 years earlier, despite (or maybe in part due to) the ubiquity of "Beautiful Day" across mainstream culture circa 2000-01.
Maybe 3.5
Oh gosh they are too pop, even that kind of boring pop
Good
U ja, spomnim se tega U2 obdobja. Nimam nekih močnih čustev, kar se njih tiče, sam zj k sm že par komadov notr, vidim, da znam velik besedil na pamet. Sam to je bolj fora, da sm veliko večino svojega otroštva in najstništva preživela prilimana na TV, natančneje MTV. Tko da, prvi trije so bli I guess vsi tud videospoti (wiki pravi, duh! + prvi štirje, sam zj, k sm pri "Walk On" mi ta ni tako znan). "Beautiful Day" je čudovito ironičen na današnji sivo in deževno stanje. "Elevation" se ful videa spomnim (ha, ne, spomin me izdaja, "Vertigo" z naslednjega albuma mam v glavi, totalno sm pozabila, da je Lara Croft v "Elevation"). "In A Little While" mi ni všeč na začetku, k zveni, k da so nek sample shitty bobnov uporabil. Early 2000s so bla kr bed za produkcijo muske. (Stannard stripped the song down from its layers, found a section of the rhythm track that he liked, and added it as a loop over drummer Larry Mullen Jr.'s drums. - fak, kok se validated počutim!) Mah, pri "New York" so vsaj prou bobnarja loopal. U2 me še zmer puščajo brez nekih močnih čustev.
Ok, not much more
One of the more critically-overrated albums of my lifetime. Less an artistic statement than one of surrender. It's not that there aren't *good* songs on this record, it wouldn't get 3 stars if there weren't, but even the good songs have a sort of funeral emptiness to them, perhaps a measure of self-awareness as the band retreats from their artistic peak to the safety of glossy productions and lyrics full of empty platitudes.
I don’t have an opinion when it comes to U2 and you can’t make me form one no matter how many U2 albums you force upon me!
Good, not best album from U2 but had a lot of commercial hits
A better overall album than I gave it credit for. Still, I wouldn't call it an essential listen.
I was surprised how many of these songs I knew. Not essential, but I guess it did make some sort of impact.
Was a huge fan back in the day - but I prolly wouldn't choose to sit down and listen to this in full again
I guess I can understand why this is beloved, but then again I'm afraid this doesn't do much for me at all, very average. I already had Achtung Baby so probably this one will also be 3 stars and that's being a bit generous from my perspective I feel.
The last good U2 album, All That You Leave Behind abandons the pop and electronica of 90s Pop and Zooropa in favor of the 80s U2 sound. Not that Pop and Zooropa weren't great albums. They were just a departure from the original U2 sound of jangly guitar fueled New Wave that made the band famous. All That You Leave Behind is a return to what made U2 great. The good news is, the songs are pretty good. The bad news is, they sound like retreads and unreleased songs from War, The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby. Beautiful Day and Elevation are enduring hits. Most of the other songs are equally just good. None of it is special. What happens after this album is the sad part. The follow up, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, was underwhelming while Songs of Innocence, Songs of Experience, and Songs of Surrender are banal, preachy, and dull. It's clear that they were either nostalgia driven money grabs or phoned in to meet obligations to their record label. Both can be true. All That You Leave Behind is the last gasp before U2 jumped the shark. There are much better U2 albums. There are much better U2 albums that have the signature U2 sound, War especially. Still, this is worthy of being called a U2 album which says a lot. They are, after all, one of the greatest rock bands of all time.
When the Beautiful Day single was released, it felt like an attempt at a Joshua Tree reboot. It's a return to rock/pop songs after their electronic/dance self-parody/satire period. Epic songs like Beautiful Day, Walk On, and Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of all but guaranteed a Grammy. This sounds cynical, but fans of before Bono went all "Fly" were probably pretty puzzled and disappointed by Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop. I actually like some of the stuff on those records despite the sarcastic star posturing that came with it, and I also enjoy their older stuff. Epic songs aside, this is no Joshua Tree - that one is no filler, but this one has more than a few songs that are forgettable. Elevation reverts back to that Achtung Baby flavor but is repetitive and kind of cringey and some of the non-singles end up sounding like more inferior, derivative copies of songs on earlier records.
Ok
Album was fine, nothing stood out to me. Again, this feels like it's super popular (or at least has been listened to a lot) and it was just meh for me. Didn't dislike it, but certainly won't be trying to listen to it again.
Vild frontloaded album. Forstår godt at det blive hyldet for at være godt, men det paller af på mig. Stærk åbner er ikke nødvendigvis det samme som et godt album. Starten er en hitparade, og resten er højest 2 værd.