All That You Can't Leave Behind

BD & Stuck in a moment are good. The rest disappointed me and signaled the end of me liking U2’s albums from there on out.

I’m not the U2 hater that many seem to be. A couple of the songs on this album are quite formative for me as they mark the time I left high school for university. Though released pre 9/11 they would become mega hits post 9/11. So there’s a lot of history here. However, after revisiting this with the exception of the first two songs (which I still say are good) this becomes a bit of a slog to get through. 2/5

I'm still mad about waking up to find these assholes' album automatically downloaded into my iTunes. You can tell that these guys are from the era where people thought that music really could change the world. I would imagine this played better at the time, but this is the cynicism fueled 20s baby! Nowadays these guys just sound like preachy assholes. Did I mention that I think Bono is an asshole? I think he's an asshole. The music itself is fine. I think it rests on the laurels of its message, but its definitely aged out of its strengths.

Album starts off with a banger but gets worse the longer it goes on. It's U2. Meh. 5/10 (2.5/5)

I came into this thinking U2 might be the most overrated band in history, and I’ve found nothing to change my mind with this album.

Apart from the one catchy tune, it's a rather unimaginative album.

Beautiful Day is an awesome song, the second is good too. After that the album gets super bland. New York woke me up from my nap. All that energy spent on a hollow soulless price of crap. This is not an album with listening to.

it’s okay, a couple songs I really like but otherwise all a bit of similar sound that I get bored with

Blandy McBland

Full disclosure, I am not a fan of U2. I think they are overrated. This is not a very good album. 2.5

Incredibly boring, everything sounded the same

The first 3 tracks are fine. More than tolerable, but short of enjoyable. The rest is not fine.

I enjoyed the first three tracks but everything after was awful. Highlights: Beautiful Day Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of Elevation

Écouté hier. Je ne me souviens pas d'un seul morceau le lendemain...

I was planning on writing something that references the past creativity of this band, the struggle that continuing that creativity can sometimes be ..... and how this album is a perfect illustration of that dynamic. Wait, I guess I just did. Anyway, this album? So disappointing. 1.5 but I'll give out 2 because their responsible for so much great stuff that it's hard to fault them for coming up short .......

Okay to listen to, for the familiarity of a few of the songs. Although the album seems a bit more dated than something like "War", which I enjoyed a lot more. 2.5/5

Do not like U2, could not finish.

Weird format to have the three singles at the very front of the album. Back half of the albums seems like a throw away.

U get 2 stars

Anything after Zooropa doesn't do it for me. I had a thought while listening to it. I mean the lyrics. The word salad lyrics almost sound like they were written by ChatGPT. Does anyone here these words and think, oh man, that's deep?

An uninspiring collection of drab. Even Beautifully Day, which I remembered fondly, was a vast disappointment. The opening line of the chorus, iconic as it be, is the only part I will remember fondly now. The biggest problem are Bono’s vocals. They are bad. He doesn’t really sing so much as he talks in a singingish manner. I’d have to go back to the earlier albums to be sure, but I think he had a good voice in the 80s. By the late 90s, as evidenced with this album, he didn’t have it anymore. I’m sure someone else has written this, but I most certainly can leave this album behind.

I don't consider this a very strong album, and wouldn't even include it in U2s top albums.

total wank fest

I love old U2. This has some good songs but all ended up being overplayed and overproduced. Don’t @ me, just my thoughts. 2.5

I am a U2 fan and I believe there are 4 or 5 really good, and some great, U2 albums. This is not one of them. Outside of a couple classics (Elevation, In a Little While) this album kind of bores me - much like most stuff they released after 2000.

I don’t like U2 and this album hasn’t changed my mind. The music isn’t bad it’s just boring music for everyone and nobody.

U2 is too cheesy and over-sentimental This album especially was kinda bland.

I thought I really hated this band. I tried to listen with an open mind. Now I think I just don't like them XD

It’s u2.

Good singles, boring album tracks, never again.

Takes me back to the terrible days of ITV football highlight and no MOTD. Couple of catchy songs, I dont particularly dislike U2 like a lot of people seem to but I can never get excited about them

A bit meh. Not a classic.

Solid 4 song run leading into SUCH BORING

Real dumb

God, I really did not enjoy this at all

Climbs above 1 star die Beautiful Day. Otherwise the corporate rock phase of U2 does not need to be listened to

These guys fell so hard from their peak. This album was just bland and boring. A couple semi-decent tracks bumps it to a 2, but if this were a no-name band, this nobody would have heard of it.

This was a hard one to listen to

1001?

2.36 average per track. Most of the other comments on this album reflect my opinion.

Over the years, I have tried to find more appreciation for U2, but I just can’t get into them. I don’t hate them (with the exception of the song “Elevation”). It’s clear they’ve gotten where they are for a reason. And this album has some terrific songwriting. It’s just not for me.

No way. Not my stuff.

This was exactly the point at which U2 and Coldplay became indistinguishable. Feel-good stadium rock that doesn't challenge and completely falls apart upon close examination. Although, having now listened to a bunch of U2, I concede that there is always one really good track among the dross on every album. In this case, it's "Elevation." Complete turd otherwise.

yeah that was an album

I’ve never been a big fan of U2, and since listening to the Boomtown Rats I can’t help but to compare the two and see the former as a worse yet more successful version of the latter. I still vividly remember that bizarre apology video after Apple but a U2 album on everybody’s phones and the mass response was, “Get this crap off.” Songs I already knew: Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, Elevation Favourites: Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of I can honestly say that there was only one song on this album that I enjoyed. Some were fine but very easily ignorable, whereas others were just dull. It wasn’t a terrible album, but just felt very uninspired and safe. Then again, “uninspired and safe” feels like it would be a fair description of the band itself, so maybe that’s on brand. Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of was genuinely really good. Beyond that, it was a bit naff.

Pretty boring. Mostly feel-good stadium rock that is stale and doesn't go in any direction.

Their foray into dad golf rock

Strong start, Beautiful Day is a good song, the next few are pretty good, but sure fades by the end. The last few songs are just trash. I like U2 pretty well, I never got all the hate, but even so, not sure why this particular album is on this list.

Whiny et répétitif.

Why is this album on this list? Joshua Tree is so much better, but if Joshua Tree is also on this list, that means there are two U2 albums which is far too many. I didn't check this but I have a sneaking suspicion that the Br*tish made this list

It certainly was a U2 album

Like… yeah? It’s good I guess? But it’s U2

Not by but just not a big fan of U2 in general - i find Bono annoying

Nice singles, boring as fuck otherwise

Meh

Couldn't get into this at all. Didn't hate it necessarily, but it did nothing for me and I wouldn't ever choose to listen it again.

I used to despise U2, but I’ve warmed up to them a little bit as the years go by. They’re all talented performers and Bono has pipes, and I do admire their ambition. But that’s mostly true for their material up to the early 90s at most, almost everything since does next to nothing for me. Like this album, which is the kind of bland, tempoless rock that explains why the music went out of style in the new millennium. There isn’t even a banger like “Vertigo” to shake things up. No thank you. D

So I tried to listen to this not assuming U2 sucks. I've always known they felt like some weird easy listening niche that didn't click with me but I wanted to give this a real chance. I listened to it while driving and when Elevation came on I got cut off by some out of shape dude in his 50s in a yellow Corvette with a custom license plate and it felt strangely fitting. It feels like music that is meant to be technical and deep and sung by a strong singer but it all just keeps adding to like a C-. I'm not sure if it's just a case of they were already a late game version of their band when I heard them or them sounding so much like grocery store rock, but I couldn't help but see that yellow Corvette and think of the Apple exec loading a U2 album on everyone's device; I left this album knowing that whoever loves this is so convinced that U2 is cool that it doesn't need explanation.

I don't know much about U2. So I was open to listen to this and try and block out any preconceived notions. First thing, I've heard many generic bands that sound like this in generic bars. I don't think Bono is a good or interesting singer. I'm willing to hear more. Maybe they are better live, but this album makes me sad for the interesting artists that a band like this has taken money from just by being pushed by a record label. But I don't know much about U2 so maybe I'll change my mind.

Slow rock songs, verysamey songd Good band, and I’d listen to this again, but the album bored me

Dull and generic

Not U2's best work, sure the first few tracks were singles but at this point Bono's voice is shot. 2nd half of the album is filler. Mid.

Very boring.

Outside 2 or 3 hits, rest is just a little dreary and dull.

I'm pretty indifferent about U2. "Beautiful Day" is decent; the rest I could take or leave. 2.5 stars.

I was simply born to hate U2.

Ég er meira fyrir pre-Rattle'n'hum U2. Þó hér sé að finna nokkrar ágætis ballöður, þá er þetta ekki fyrir mig.

Well, got my wish for some U2 songs that I haven't heard a bunch of times, but idk if the proclivities of the y2k era did them a whole lot of favors lol. Maybe this is stupid of me, but I think I need bono to be more unrestrained, like the stuff I tend to like from them it sounds like he's hollering at large birds from atop a mountain, and for this one he's using his inside voice

Ok

Coupla good singles but fuck Bono.

Beautiful Day is one of those tracks that is only good to listen to now if I'm a bit drunk and/or really excited, it's been so overplayed over the years that I'm immune to it except in times of weakness. Stuck In A Moment is my favourite song off this album, then you have Elevation that is U2 attempting to make their own Song 2 (and is inferior in every way), and really not a lot else of note. 2/5, a real nothingburger.

Loved Boy, War, and October, but U2 were dead to me after The Unforgettable Fire. There's been the occasional track that I liked, but not on this album.

U2 return to basics with a simple pop rock record. Production is top notch, and there are some gorgeous synths (and actual strings in "Kite") to give it an uplifting mood, which I'm sure really resonated with people a year later with the fear of terrorism. The first half is fairly decent but lacks innovation and is fairly forgettable, chill but dull. "Beautiful Day" is cemented in my head just for being over-played, but it does have its hooks and nice synths. For being ok, the first side gets 3 stars. The second half on the other hand is just awful. They sound like B-sides, throwaway sellout material. All pop fluff that fits in just cause they all evoke they same mood and style. Brings down my score by another star.

Good. First prince album I’ve listened to

Meh. Beautiful Day is a great start to an album, but this is hardly one of their best. It’s fine, but nothing compared to Rattle and Hum or even Boy.

When they get it right, U2 are one of the few bands that can do epic stadium rock correctly. Beautiful Day is a perfect example and a great opener. Stuck in a moment is a pleasant enough ballad type. After that it gets really, really bad. The songs are bland and inoffensive, but Bono's lyrics are truly awful. They've done so many better albums than this that to have this appear on a top 1000 list is genuinely insulting.

Its half an hour later and I dont remember a thing about it

Ok - this is better than I remembered it being Had a memory of it being middling at best but those 1st 3 songs are great FM rock classics (though the single version of elevation is massively better than the album one) Gets a bit Bono in the pulpit after that and considerably less enjoyable Thought it might be a 1. Briefly looked like a 3. Before it settled into a fairly good 2

Accodring to Bono, with this release, they didn't write an album, they wrote 12 singles. - Well, where are they?!? This is just middle-of-the-road adult contemporary music, and not even very good one at that. I didn't hear a any song standing out or keeping my interest, and I can't even remember a single one. This is lightyears away from Joshua Tree, Rattle and Hum and Achtung, Baby, by far their best albums. 2/5

Rock by the numbers.

Meh of the highest possible order

Man, there are few acts of music that I understand the appeal of less than U2. As far as U2 goes, Beautiful Day is actually a quite alright pop-song. I like the reverberating effect at the outset and otherwise layering on display -- in a way this song feels influenced by Radiohead. Bono's vocals are on point here and don't feel too douchey. This is the kind of song that should be listened to with bright lights shining. Production here feels surprisingly crappy. Something about the drums feels tinny, and the guitar feels over-compressed or something. Stuck In A Moment moves into ballad territory. Feels like stock music for a sad rom-com montage (images of sitting on park benches alone in the rain come to mind). Peace on Earth, while somewhat cheesy is an okay enough song. Blissful vibe with guitars dripping in reverb and the drum/vocals floating over everything else. Similar feelings about When I Look At The World. This isn't really the type of music I would pull out for myself to listen to, but it is inoffensive. I will say though that the closing vocal layering is a bit cringey -- super thin and lame sounding. Yeah, I dunno... I'm unmoved on U2 by this record. By all accounts it is fine music, but I just don't get the broader appeal. At best it is fine, at worst it is cringey. High point for me is Beautiful Day. Mixing could definitely have been better throughout -- I'm all around pretty meh on this. 2 / 5

Extremely front loaded. Second half doesn't have a good song. Stuck in a moment is good and Kite is ok but some of the singles are annoying. I am a mole and I live in a hole. Also yeah the blueprint for every diminished return that came after. Not good.

starts great, drops off markedly

Very entry level rock, nothing too outstanding or groundbreaking. Just very vanilla.

This is the point in U2’s incredible trajectory where they settled for the middle ground. Music for the masses, unit selling, tour accompanying, money making blandness. The opening salvo of Beautiful Day, Stuck & Elevation are well crafted. The video for lead single BD at the time whipped up the excitement, beautiful marketing makes a beautiful day, and sell units. But compare these to the earlier material and you realise how far they had fallen. U2 are much maligned these days, but the run of records from the debut up to Zooropa (caution should be taken with R&H, not a true studio album) was where their greatness was shaped. I can remember hearing “seconds” from War for the first time at a mates house. It drifted down the stairs of his parents house and I was immediately under their spell and then I heard New Years Day……wow. This isn’t a record that demonstrates U2’s craft and power, it was where the magic started to fade.

Don't get this pick at all, a few ok songs but this album gets boring fast.

I didn't turn it off but I wanted to skip most of the songs. Maybe an extra star for Elevation.

U2 starts out as a meh band for me. On top of that, this is a very meh album. Some popular songs that you can't escape but nothing here that is worthy of going back to.

My - this record is so front heavy, if it were a cat it would oversteer so much it would spin like a… never mind. A stack of rather decent hits in the beginning and the a tail end of some of the most cringe set of songs in a modern record. ‘peace on earth’ whimpers Bono feebly - and ‘Grace finds beauty in ugly things’ explains Bono hopefully. The Edge’s guitar bits are sparse and interesting actually here - understated and suitable at many times. Anyway the hits are masterfully crafted but as a record this is terrible.

Très très mid

Started ok, but soon turned in turgid mess

I knew two songs - Beautiful Day and Elevate. Those were the only good songs on the album and the rest is completely unnoteworthy.

u2kertaa u2viikon aikana u2 albumia... u2000vuonna tehty eli u2vuotta ennen meikän syntymää...ei varmaan haittaa että annan u2tähteä tälle aika pliisu viisu albumille...en u2toistoa laita tähän näin... kite

IN THE NAAAAAAAMMMMEEEE OF SUCK! WHAT MORE IN THE NAME OF SUUUUUUCCCKKK

I've listened to it before, I've listened to a lot of U2 in the past, this was one of their most ho-hum.

Few catchy songs but a bit samey

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ PREFS : Beautiful Day, Elevation, New-York MOINS PREF : Peace on Earth

A few good tunes but quite bland for the most part

I like the songs I knew. The rest were just meh. I like older U2 but this just didn't do it for me At least they didn't force this album onto everyone's phone

Listening to this made me question whether I felt more sorry for Bono or my ears, as both felt like they were in pain.

2.5

A very sterile, commercial album to me. It sounds very manufactured and made to make a hit, and that’s not really my thing. Beautiful Day is the most popular song off of it for a reason and it’s that it’s the only memorable thing here. Not gonna be a return for me.

Idk. I used to kind of like u2 and was looking forward to listening to this one. Kinda disappointed. They are so cheesy and that’s gotta be the worst song ever written about New York. They do have some decent songs but they’re not on this album. I’m sure we’ll get at least one more u2 album on this list.

2,5

I have no idea what to expect from U2's sound, I haven't really listened to a lot of songs by them. Elevation kind of pushed me away but Walk On brought me back. The only way I can describe this is divorced dad music. Like I could totally see this CD in some guy pushing 50s glove compartment next to Breaking Benjamin and Saving Abel.

Ah, another U2. Instrumentally does not offend. Vocally pretty bad.

What is this pabulum doing on the list? I'm no U2 fan but I know just enough to be dangerous, and this barely scrapes their own top five. Still, 'Beautiful Day' gives me massive nostalgia vibes from ITV's shoddy soccer highlights show 'The Premiership', so there's that.

U2 was the first band I ever saw live - back in 1984 on the Unforgettable Fire tour. They were fantastic - great songs to sing along with, crowd getting into it and Edge sounding great. I never saw them again and didn't listen to much past Rattle and Hum, it just seemed like they chased the US market and blanded out. This album is so flaccid and bland. Insipid. I have no idea how they went from almost alternative music in 84 to this - but what a mistake.

nope

Pretty boring. Mostly feel-good stadium rock that is stale and doesn't go in any direction.

It’s a U2 album for sure

ok

Radio friendly pop rock... but to the point where it feels bland and uninspired (which is shocking considering Brian Eno was involved with producing this album)

Hmmmm

in the famous words of my 12 year old cousin: “it’s the guy from u2, bonzo!!!l” . shut up bonzo this album sucks go listen to parklife. best track: beautiful day

POO2

There’s a particular type of person who will listen to this version of U2 and love this album. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people. It’s not terrible, in fact it starts quite strongly with ‘Beautiful Day’, ‘Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of’ and ‘Elevation’, but from there things start to inevitably peter out, and you’re left with an album that ends up being more forgettable than memorable.

Bij dit album was ik inmiddels al een tijdje afgehaakt. De eerdere platen varieerden van briljant tot behoorlijk goed. Hier werd het heel slapjes. Heel saai eigenlijk. En die radio-friendly tracks Elevation en Beautiful Day kan ik eigenlijk niet meer horen. Dus kort samengevat: nope.

meh, not even one of the better u2 albums

I was excited after listening to Joshua Tree but this is meh. 2/5

meh... it's U2

nah dog

Not a whole lot to love about this album. It starts with a popular song and probably the best on the album. Then it doesn’t really go anywhere and it’s a bunch of U2 sadness and things aren’t perfect kind of songs. Nothing really worth revisiting. 3.6/10

U2's reinvention of itself every now and then is pretty impressive just as a sober fact - not many bands can release the Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby and then THIS, across three separate styles and decades, and only build in popularity. U2 managed that, and I have to give them kudos for it. I guess what I don't understand is FUCKING HOW?! This album is an hour of dreary boredom. The only way I can describe it is drawn out - it goes for ages but doesn't have any reason to. There are a few singles I recognised but most of the album was just one long amorphous blob of slow, mopey nothingness. Yet it was really popular, those singles were everywhere. I am by no means on the U2 hate bandwagon (I actually like Achtung Baby), but this album is getting a 2/5.

Two stars. The first three tracks were so boring. Good on them for continuing to evolve and make music together 25+ years on. But this just isn’t the sound/lyrics that bring me to U2.

U2 in their legacy band phase. You can't even like this album ironically. I mean, it's fine, but kind of dull. The only redeeming feature, is that 'Beautiful Day' was used as interstitial music for televised football games in England for about 5 years and so it stirs some excitement in me. Albeit excitement for football, not U2.

Surprisingly boring

This is the worst. Generic as all hell. I really could have died without listening to this and been just fine.

Pretentious nonsense. ‘A mole digging in a hole, digging up my soul’ - it was my soul that that mole took!

Bland. Got bored listening to it.

I’ve never liked U2 and this album didn’t really change that situation

I saw U2 at Skydome with the roof open. To be sure there was no doubt about how rich and how famous they were, lights bordering the elevator banks on the CN Tower lit up at the exact time the chorus of Elevation started. Did I forget to mention that I was impressed? I rated Joshua Tree a 1 since it was such a let down. U2's first three albums delivered a ground breaking sound and they had so much promise which is what made Joshua Tree such a let down. By the time "All that you . . . " was released I was well beyond being let down by U2. This is another middle of the road album made by four gazillionaires that were previously ground breaking. Not a let down; it delivered what was expected.

Even if the album is full of huge successes, I think I do not really like U2...

The Joshua Tree was OK but otherwise I really don't understand the hype around U2. completely overhyped band for no reason at all. This album wasn't horrible, but not very good either. I was glad when it was finished. Probably more of a 2.5 than a 2. Rounded down because we've already had two U2 albums before this one and that's really more than enough for this band.

Christian elevator/hold music. Last song is the best one

Meh.

Sums it up better than I can: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ-K74QzNzM

I can listen to it but I don’t want to

I can see the appeal. It's well-produced. I dislike it, very cheesy.

I could name several U2 albums that are well known off the top of my head. This is not one of them. It makes me think how many are going to be on this list of 1001....

Bands should only exist for one decade.

I've never been a big fan of U2.

I listened to this album just now. Didn't really do it for me. I've had an on-again/off-again relationship with U2 since the early-to-mid-80s. I listened to them a lot in high school, a bit into college, then drifted away from them. In the 90s, the same thing; had a few moments of listening to them, then faded out. Never really came back to them in earnest, so I guess it's been mostly "off-again." I don't dislike them, but I must admit I get bored quickly. And I know U2 fans will tar and feather me for this, but Bono's singing can sometimes annoy me. I saw them live (might have been '85) and remember loving The Edge as a guitar player. Still do. I honestly think he's a vastly underrated guitarist, probably because he doesn't really do long solos and doesn't shred, or whatever. I find him quite innovative and interesting.

Единственное, что я знал о группе U2 до нынешнего момента - что примерно каждый третий человек в мире считает Боно тщеславным самодовольным мудаком в тёмных очках. И честное слово, я не видел ни одного его интервью, ни одного живого выступления или клипа, я просто несколько раз послушал этот альбом - и уже полностью согласен с тем, что это наверное самая тщеславная, самодовольная и мудацкая музыка из всего, что я слышал (хотя в этом списке и есть немало претендентов на данное место по типу Тома Петти). Боже мой, я не представляю, какой хуёвый вкус надо иметь, чтобы слушать Beautiful Day, Wild Honey или Peace on Earth. Порой лирический гений Боно достигает поистине Макскоржевских уровней, только без присущей Коржу харизмы и образа. Вот например Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - это поразительно отвратительно антисуицидальный гимн, который посвящён вокалисту INXS, дружившему с Боно. И я абсолютно верю в эту дружбу, потому что следующая же песня - Elevation - звучит один в один как хуёвая песня INXS с кучей попросту необъяснимых поросячих визгов в начале и конце. И всё равно это лучше практически всего, что есть на альбоме, потому что в остальном это оверпафосный и оверунылый двухтысячный рок, который я попросту ненавижу. Опять же, может напомнить того же Роби Вильямса, только без запоминающихся припевов и рифов. Тут вообще нихуя нет, почему эта группа нытиков так известна-то? Вероятно потому что весь мир ненавидит музыку. 3/10 за элевейшн и закрывашку.

I've never liked U2. I still don't like U2. I imagine this is what a Coldplay album sounds like

U2 has a couple really good albums. This is not one of them.

Un peu ringard, bono saoule encore. « It’s a beauriful day » passe car je la connais d’avance, mais l’album est globalement ennuyeux et mou. The ground beneath her feet qui finit l’album est pas mal

Ein ganzes Album Bono Geschnulze pack ich einfach nicht

Everything is well put together, it’s just not very interesting.

It's U2. You've heard the singles from this album. Just trad stadium rock. Meh. BT: Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of, Elevation

I like some early U2 but this was a struggle

Not a fan of U2 and listening to this album didn’t change that.

Was having a bit of a shitty day and U2 didn't help. 4/10

Bono gonna Bono. The big singles has stood the test of time, but the rest of it was a massive slog. Very 1 paced and wanky lyrics. Living off the past by this point with nothing new to offer

I find Bono's voice quite grating Downhill after the first song

I don’t remember listening to this album much but I seem to know a lot of the songs. Some bangers tbf, but a lot of dross as well

U2's last Hurrah. Its alright and has some catchy songs but all the edge and heart is gone from music making it a bunch of average songs pandering to their fans. I got to the end of wild honey and looked at the names of tracks left and turned it off. Peace on Earth? no thanks Bono you insufferable prick, pay your fucking taxes. Music for people who hate music. 2/5

Nothing makes me cringe more. Sung like it's the most important music ever made, with nothing to back it up. Having said that I actually like track 2

Was surprised to see this album on the list - I suppose some of the 1001 will end up fairly forgettable. This album marked the point where I definitively stepped off the U2 fan train, after enduring the underwhelming "Pop." To me, this album feels more like a vehicle to fuel the stadium-filling U2 tour machine, and less a labor of artistic expression. Most of the songs lean on earnestness and overblown anthematic choruses - the kind that can keep an arena of fans on its feet. Lyrically, this album contains more than a few dud moments (see "Elevation", atrocious word in "Kite"). In the rare occasions I need a U2 fix, I'm reaching for Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, or maybe even Zooropa, which certainly contain an excess of pop anthems but are balanced with more atmosphere, more experimentation, more fun risks that made U2 exciting to me in the first place.

I'm reminded of that old man in Love Actually who is trying to get the #1 Christmas hit. I just don't think it's for me.

nto as horrible as I remembered but it is a bit cringe and a big meh...

I did not care for this album. My memory of it is beige and I can barely remember anything about it a day later

false

Bit lame

Between 'Beautiful Day' and 'Elevation,' this quickly turns into a greatest hits of songs I hated as a teenager. I don't hate them anymore, but I don't like them either. Most of these songs make me cringe a little.

Very meh. 1 or 2 good songs at the start, all downhill from there.

Meh too pop for my taste

This does have a few Dad Rock Killers™️ but it’s a bit of a snooze fest apart from that

Yer da called, says he loves it. Naw for real this album is throwing mad shade at this whole thing. Can fuck with in a little while and one or two others but it’s all v pedestrian.

The Edge works hard to prop up Bono's totally uninspired writing. In A Little While is nice and Elevate is a classic but Peace on Earth is a sickening piece of music, shut up Bono.

sonically so y2k that it makes me puke, lyrically and melodically childish to the point of grating. i do not like to listen to this. fav track: stuck in a moment you can't get out of

Wet. Pure wet dad music tosh.

Better than expected, but still a far cry from the first four albums.

Bloated and shiny. There are some interesting musical ideas here from the band, I just can't get past Bono and his weird lyricism on this. Never was a big U2 fan, so sue me. Favorite tracks: "Beautiful Day", "Walk On"

Awful. It started as the pop rock band of the 80s and turned into the cheesiest cringiest dullest band ever. That album is incredibly bad.

I didn't like the first half of this album, stopped listening after track 5, skipped through to make sure I didn't miss anything and went back to my day. Beautiful day annoys me. What the hell is New York?

I like U2. Under a Blood Red Sky was one of the first CDs I bought when I was in middle school. Unforgettable Fire was just about a perfect album. But this? This is a band that is afraid of taking chances. It feels genetically engineered to make 35 year old white women feel good while driving to Starbucks. Front loading the album with the singles seems like an admission that no one is expected to listen to the whole thing.

Is stuck in a moment meant to be inspiring? I can't think of a more dreary tune for its message. It's offensively mid. The sort of thing David Brent woukd find philosophical. Dad rock in the worst way. The rhymes are so predictable. I normally give an album at least a tune if the lead singer can sing and the band can play. However I find this album so offensively dull that it's getting a 1.

2 - u2 sucks

I e lei han Bono nå.

I wish they’d left this behind! U2 at their worst. Inane lyrics with a nice middle of the road sound.

Good lord U2, stop making music. This was just awful. Just a bunch of boring song ideas full of childish lyrics.

I am a big fan of their earlier work, up until probably the album Pop. I just can access this album it sounds overblown

Just not very interesting?

If I could stop getting U2 that would be great. Yes this has beautiful day, but if this is your tenth studio album and it’s called back to basics and it sucks ass, then I don’t get the whole thing. I really didn’t enjoy this one a lot.

Gud bedre!

Jeg hater alt ved dette. Hver gang jeg tror jeg ikke kan hate dette mer, så kommer det ny låt som klarer å irritere på atter en måte. Dette er -- og jeg sier ikke dette uten omtanke -- kanskje det dårligste albumet vi har hatt så langt. Gir i hvertt fall Emmylou Harris konkurranse i bunnsjiktet...

U know what? There’s 2 many albums by this band on this lists. Could have left this on behind.

Awful album that shouldn't have been made, and definitely shouldn't be on this list. Overproduced, dull songs, trite lyrics. So bad it makes me angry it exists.

nope. one of my most beloved bands turned to shite. will not listen.

Hello, hello... F you Bono! And while we're at it, what grown adult calls themselves 'Bono' or 'The Edge' without a sense of satirical irony? Even Johnny Rotten moved on from the 70s punk scene. Your names are Paul and David and you're old men.

unlucky for U2 that two of their albums came up in quick succession, but I don't think either one deserved to be on this list and I'm sick of it gonna side with the haters. Their style is like a pharmaceutical commercial

Soulless, risk-less corporate rock slop

Holy shit guys you have to listen to this album. It's so bad.

Astonishing that they were once the biggest band in the world.

1. day - 2 2. moment - 1 3. elevation - 2 4. uualk - 1 5. kite - 2 6. little - 1 7. honey - 1 8. peace - 1 9. uuorld - 2 10. neuu york - 2 11. grace - 1

I refuse to listen to U2. Listen to FEX instead.

Fuck U2

Grow up

Like if you wrote the first line of a phrase and asked AI to finish it

I can definitely leave this album behind.

Perfectly boring

No

Absolute garbage

An interminably dull arena rock record. Album cover being the band in an airport that looks like a featureless limbo is probably the best representation of the music here.

Absolutely not. This is as painful as listening to Coldplay oh my god

I liked Beautiful Day when I was 12 and still kinda enjoy it. don't want to listen to U2, can't quite give it 1 star.

Firstly I Love U2! 3 of their albums are in my absolute favourite list. The unforgettable fire, Achtung Baby and Zooropa are master pieces. Joshua tree ain't too shabby and even rattle and hum has a special place in my heart. This though folks ain't one. They lost their edge. It's just paint by numbers radio rock pop schlop. The masses seemed to love it, but it is absolutely NOT worthy of being in this list. I hate the singles on this album and the rest is not great. Ground beneath her feet is probably the only song I'd willing listen to. That though possibly could have been due to my joy of the album being over.

Radioactive levels of pre-9/11

Actual shit from a butt. One of the more baffling inclusions on the list. We already have higher quality U2 albums included, so I am confused why this one was chucked in.

U2 sucks so hard

so boring I cant believe I made it through so many songs.

Could very easily leave this behind. Mostly Bono on his treacly bullshit with studio presets for the arrangements. Kind of insane that that New York song was written *before* 9/11! Favorite Song: Grace

I bought this CD when it came out, I liked the song 'Elevation' they were playing on the radio. I listened to it maybe four times. This relisten confirms I was right on the quality of the album

I can leave this one behind. What a load of garbage.

This is turgid

Sounds like shit. How could Brian Eno do this. Imagine the worst of 2000 production with Bono’s dog ass warbling voice singing what amounts to self help book jacket blurbs. Fuck this I hate U2

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B9t1THQWKAY&pp=ygUOQm9ubyBzb3V0aHBhcms%3D I’ll just leave it at that.

Why in the goddamn fuck is this on this list. 1 out of 5 courics

The best thing about this album is that it doesn't have Vertigo on it.

We switched lists, this is 1001 Albums I'd have rather died than listen to

I thought U2 was an amazing band. This was hot shit...

Not really my cup of tea

Treacly dreck

Why is this on here, WHY? Bloviated, devoid of charisma, and has absolutely nothing to say.

A couple of years ago, doing this, I experienced Achtung Baby and I'm still recovering. The thing is I liked Boy when it came out, it was part of that whole Irish Boomtown Rats/Stiff Little Fingers thing which was fantastic. So what happened? How did they get this level of approbation and adulation? This record, like Achtung, is just so boring, it does not move me in anyway deadbeats. That's the problem, they are really boring. They've got the exact same moves, every record. Did the one with the beanie spend a lot time listening to BB King and have a eureka moment? Could he play Smoke on the Water, cause BB couldn't. Its the musical equivalent of a glass of water.

Gave it a shot, not for me. Just doesn’t do anything for me

I don't like U, nothing personal

When this album was released didn't like any of the songs that got radio play but I gave the whole thing a listen. Didn't like any of the songs that didn't get radio play.

U2 sucks.

Some U2 is ok but this ain't it chief

What a mess. My distaste for the band was cemented by whatever this was. A horror.

All of this album's singles are jammed right at the start, giving you the impression that the album is going to be fine. It doesn't sound like the band is trying anything new, sure, but maybe it will still be a pleasant listen. But "uninspired" quickly turns into "bland," which highlights the album's negatives. Like how Bono sounds too earnest and strained on the weirdly soul "In a Little While." Or the clumsy lyrics, from Bono defining grace to rhyming "mole in a hole" (to give one example of a distractingly obvious rhyme among many). By the time we get to "Peace on Earth" things sound like a parody of the band. There are some good melodies here - "Walk On" has my favorite - but as a whole it's painfully one-note.

This album is how I imagine AI music sounds, clinically perfect, but lacking any soul and sucked dry from any purpose other than to sell records. Music that's perfect for elevators or when you're on hold to the bank. 1 star.

Easy to dislike U2 because Bono used to be everywhere, wasnt shy about giving his opinion and no one likes being told they are shit and what to do by someone who is close enough to a billionaire. I also admit to some Bono induced eye rolling. So i try to put this aside and listen just to the music. I liked Joshua Tree. Maybe I’ll like this. Track 1. Isnt this a Coldplay number? Elevation, the Dr Zeuss of U2 songs. I’d call it a better album than every other one between Joshua Tree and this one but the bar isnt high. Tough to het through for me. Meh.

I hate U2's radio singles with a passion, so I came in expecting to despise this album. I just found it boring. It sounds like a generic pop band from this era, not a stadium selling legacy rock act. Even worse, some of the songs(Peace on Earth, New York) have absolutely terrible lyrics that sound like a 10 year old wrote them.

I’ll tell you what I can leave behind U2 : every single one of your albums. I only uncovered 47 albums out of a 1000. 3 of them are U2 albums. I feel cursed, like somebody hates me and wants me to quit this project. I apologize to the music gods, stop waterboarding with the blandest tap water in the world. Listening to this record in particular, feels like waiting in line. It is only kinda bearable in the beginning, mostly dull and the payoff is never worth it. I would rather do anything else than wait in line ever again.

I've liked maybe 3 U2 songs ever. This album does not further their cause. Poor

What a load of rubbish!

Hate U2

I actually hate Bono's voice. Perhaps it was better when he was younger?

I hadn't listened to any U2 other than the singles from the radio, television, and what have you. Going to be the only time I listen to it by choice. This adult rock shit just ain't for me. Woof

Bono should have been left behind.

Why in the hell is this on this list? If I died right after hearing this I’d be a pissed off dead guy. I take back what I said about them not being cheesy in my Achtung Baby review. This version of U2 sucks. This album is instantly forgettable.

Dogshit

Bad even by U2 standards.

Aggressiivisen tylsistyttävää musiikkia. 1/5

What is this doing in the list? By this point it was clear U2 had lost their unique voice and this is bog standard fayer.

I hate this band

Mole Hole. Soul. What in the nursery rhyme, infant lullaby bullshit were those lyrics?! Is Bono the World's Oldest Toddler? Worst album. I no longer fear the next Coldplay cut.

This is just so bland and boring and overproduced.

I never listened to this before (apart from 'Beautiful Day' which was on every radio playlist), being under the impression that apart from a few interesting early albums U2 had turned into a terrible clichéd parody of themselves. With my admittedly skewed starting point I am pleased to confirm that Bonio and the boys haven't failed to deliver. Truly terrible.

I was working at Blockbuster Video when this album came out, the promo was on a constant loop. There's only so much of Beautiful Day a soul can take! 1.5

I'm in the "I can't stand U2" camp and it was a real grind to listen to this. I can't listen to Bono, The Edge creates such boring, repetitive riffs usually drowned in delay and/or some other effects that are uninteresting or appropriate for what they're playing and even Larry's drum patterns are child's play. Not a song worthy of listening to on this album, and no, I didn't listen to it all.

boring af

I gotta hand it to them, I don’t like this at all

Beautiful Day was so ubiquitous on radio, tv, ads, public space when this came out I almost have a nostalgic fondness for it just from sheer pavlovian force of repetition. The rest of doesn't benefit from this. Lots of great guitar sounds, but they're all wasted on an album composed almost entirely of insipid therapy platitudes, self help affirmations and car commercial anthems. The formula of minor chord -> major chord plus lots of delay and a big sound is the cheap spirituality of megachurch worship music, creating an ultimately empty sense of oneness and catharsis. In the 80s U2 used to be able to pull this off, bits it's so hollow here. It's so blandly uplifting it's not just grating, but insulting - it's music to cheer up people who are so simple they can actually be cheered up by saying, 'hey cheer up mate'. Oh ok!

Uninspiring. Average. Was this the album forced on millions of people?

You know what? I mean this sincerely, I really face this album a chance. I ruined my algorithm to give this album a shot at not being horrible preachy bullshit. Sadly it wasn’t meant to be. It’s kinda frustrating too that I agree with bono politically on almost everything but his music is so god awful that it actually ruins the points or arguments he’s trying to make. I tried several times to finish the album, I did eventually, but it took several tries before I could actually stomach this garbage. Honestly giving out one stars is incredibly rare for me. If I can find even ONE redeemable aspect of the album or if I can see real talent and creativity being displayed, I’ll give the album a 2. Which I think clearly shows that I didn’t like the album but it has redeemable qualities or it could be just a situation of this isn’t for me but I could see what others like. I don’t feel that way about this album, in fact the only time I’ve felt so confident in giving out a flat out one star is when I heard Bruce Springsteen’s The rising. Which says a lot about how bad this album is because that album was completely irredeemable and this album is somehow worse in every conceivable way. This is probably one of the ONLY albums I’ll say this about, JUST SKIP THIS ONE AND GIVE IT A ONE STAR. It literally doesn’t deserve your time or attention.

Pale imitation of a once great band. Boring. 1/5

Very much generic drug store music, some good singles but so overplayed and nothing with any teeth, production is very dull.

I just really hate U2.

Not listening

0 stars. utterly worthless. we can leave this behind

Fuck you. NO. Let’s get this over with. The worst band in the entire world can only be saved by what I’m learning is the first bloody song. The only reason I can tolerate that song is that sweet HHH recovery video package from 2000. Look what I willingly put myself through? I really am history’s strongest soldier. Onward to battle. Beautiful Day - If I didn’t have images of huge Madison Square Garden crowd reactions dancing in my head, I’d be on the verge of calling hotlines of various purposes. I wouldn’t even stop at the suicide hotline. I’d hit up movie phone, homework hotline, a few adult party lines. Basically whoever will listen to me tell them U2 has no business having a released record, let alone the career they’ve had. Long live pro wrestling, and may the decades erase Bono and the Edge from our collective consciousness. Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of - Oh I know the feeling. This is Radiohead performing “Waiting on the world to Change.” You haven’t found a song you can sing yet there Boner. This is truly awful. Elevation - The brand new Mazda Miata has YOU in mind. And when YOU’RE in mind, you’re in control. Drive a Mazda Miata. Drive YOU. Or maybe this is an ad for elusive elevator manufacturers, Otis. I see that name on every elevator. You’ll never see an Otis ad. Complete ballers. EL EL BEAN. Oh my god. The Christianity break at the 2 minute mark. This is just such a radio bait stinker. Devoid of meaning. Walk On - Don’t whisper to me. I am sprawled on the floor, typing through spasms and convulsions. Alive in name only. Saliva foaming mixing with the blood exiting every orifice on my body. Ruination of music. I didn’t know it was dead until I heard this song. Kite - More like shite. Full disclosure, it took a few weeks in the writers room, but after some great collaboration we got there before I even heard the first note of this song. Now that I have heard the first note, I have to say; I liked the first note. Little did I know, that was the last meal prior to a botched execution. They didn’t use enough of the lethal injection formula. Permanently screaming, drawn and quartered over the infinity of the afterlife. Not fully in any dimension. In a Little While - I said “Are You Kidding Me?” Out loud. This isn’t a bit. I’ve said this too often and it’s lost all meaning. If you are reading this, I implore you to heed these words. I mean it this time. This is without a doubt, the worst song I have ever heard. Will I regret those words? I’m on “the edge” of my seat. Wild Honey - “I was a Muhhuhhnkey.” Viagra Boys do the evolutionary lyrical themes. They’re fun. They make good music. There’s a sense of humour. This is a gross comparison of a woman (?) to the honey you ate when you were a monkey? WHAT? Peace on Earth - You know what would give me peace? The dissolution of U2. Whoa! Bono is sick of bad stuff happening? What a swell guy. Sick of the Pain. Amen sister. Wait I thought you grew up as a monkey and you swung from the trees eating wild honey. This song has a suspicious proximity to 9/11. I think it caused it. Somebody call Michael Moore. When I Look at the World - Let’s get this deeply nuanced perspective from terrible millionaire musician who has never been told no. Go ahead. Tell me about the world. New York - My favourite lyrical topic. This city man. It’s lonely. It’s tough. But it draws me like a moth to a flame. My heart beats in conjunction with the G Train. Please don’t tell people I’m from Boise, Idaho. I will literally kill myself. I need to pay 4500 dollars a month and walk through human shit. That is my price to pay for a personality. Your humble narrator Grace - Very easily could’ve wrote Grave. And I did. One of the rare typos that I actually catch. I believe I subconsciously want myself to fail. Anyway. Water is wet, hippos are rotund and this song is awful. Life goes on. I am a progressive guy. I really do abhor violence on a large scale and I think macho tough guy posturing is pathetic. I do also believe with all of my heart, that “Bono” (Paul Hewson) and his definitely bald friend “The Edge” (David Evans) needed to be hit. With a fist or perhaps a palm. There is just too much ill-gotten confidence between them. It is for this confidence that the world has paid ultimate price in a hellish positive feedback loop. Whether through auto loading your shitty album to peoples phones or just having the balls to continue to release music that sounds like this. Why is it that I struggle to maintain eye contact at a social gathering, but these talentless blobs have the gall to have released anything, let alone their extensive catalogue of half-imitation waterlogged pop rock? I struggle to find words outside of the realm of hatred and malice. Once more I find myself carving a swath through the fetid jungle that is the musical output of U2. This stretch of the wilderness was particularly troublesome. I believe I may have come down with something. 0 HIGHLIGHTS: Uncle o’ Grimacey remains the king of Ireland.

nooooo

I have never engaged with U2 and am dipping in mid-discography with no context. I have to ask: why do U2 sound like Take That on this album? This is quintessential 90s cheesy boy band fare. Easy listening. Adult contemporary. Whatever euphemism you want to use. Stuck in a Moment is especially toe clenching… At odds with the reputation they’re supposed to have - no? The more palletable moments veer into “cool” era Robbie Williams, but without the hit power. Bono emphatically singing the chorus lyrics “a mole, digging in a hole, digging on my soul now, going down, excavation, ionide in the sky, you make me feel like I could fly so high, elevation.” Had me with my jaw so wide you could see through to my stomach.

Nothing has changed, and I still don't like U2. However, the album is not bad in general.

Mate, nah.

nope... U2 is U2... daar beginnen we zelfs niet aan

Beautiful Day is a banger that warranted being overplayed into oblivion, but the rest of this is the very steep hill U2 deliberately climbed to become aggressively mediocre dad rock

Als dit zeven Grammy’s heeft gewonnen weet ik het ook niet meer hoor. Het is gewoon saai en combineert alle kutte punten van U2 (veel).

This album follows the awful trend of the 90s and 00s where all the singles are upfront and the rest doesn’t matter. Unfortunately, I only liked Beautiful Day and did not care for the rest.

How does this have an average rating of nearly 3 stars? Pure schlock. What a joke. They couldn't even get people to buy this album at release, they had to make everyone go through the trouble of deleting it from their iPods.

Stadium pop.

What a middling effort by a band that otherwise has some pretty good material. I don't really care for the hit singles on this album and the deepcuts are even less interesting. Bono's voice is still pleasant to listen to and there's some nice moments that remind you of the good band they once were back in the 80's, but overall it's an unremarkable album.

This truly might be the album least deserving of its success. Utterly devoid of emotion, inspiration, and innovation. I know they’re capable of better (Achtung Baby, Joshua Tree), but this one was so sterile and boring. Coworker music at best.

I don't like this song because it's too sad at the start. I would not recommend this song. I don't like this song because it kinda gives me rock vibes. I would not recommend this song. I don't like this song; it's too sad again. I would not recommend it to anyone.

i like this song i like the beat and i like how the song sounds and it sounds more like a happy song. I like the second song because i like the guitar . i recommend this album because of the beat

the first one Its kinda weird I don't like it I do like the lyrics the second one I don't really like it its just not my style of music I just don't like how the voice cause I can the second one I didn't really like

the first song is alr i dont really like it because it has good background music but the voice or the way it sounds isnt good. the second song is kinda good the end was good. the last song is uhm not cool I don't really like it

I dont like this album, I dont like it because it's just weird and the songs are annoying I would not recommend this album to anyone I know because they would not like it.

Nah. Out of 1000??? This doesn't go here.

I wish I could leave this behind. Pure cack

ugh

U2 sucks so much

More dire shit from U2. I cannoth for the life of me see how this album deserves to be on this list.

Eeeurgh! U2 at their most bland, lowest common denominator, commercial rock, music for adverts.

U2 on its own is a boring band for me. It got famous just because of Bono and his ego. I got bored.

Vapid. "a mole, digging in a hole, digging in my soul ...."

Gear: Focal Clear (ZMFed) Artwork: 📸🛫🥱 Production: 🎧😐🆗 Music: ❌❌❌ Rating: ❌/5

These guys are from England and who gives a shit!

I was never a fan of U2, the hits/singles were always ok but not great and i never got the hype. Listening to this made me question how they are so big. This was just dull and felt made by committee

Oh lord, I can’t stand U2 with every ounce of my being. Such pretentious nonsense I can’t even comprehend how they got so popular. Sadly there are another 3 or 4 albums of theirs on this list… sigh

Sorry. No U2. 0/5

stuck in a moment - random sgt pepper bside elevation i hate everything about this oh god the fucking phaser vocals bono is genx john lennon? where is genx mark david chapman wild honey -ringo drums, paul melody, the worst singing and lyrics you've ever heard peace on earth - trying to rewrite imagine after hearing it once

I regret that the minimum is one star.

I didn’t finish this when I first gave it a try a few years ago and went in with a more lenient mindset. I’m still not a huge U2 fan but I’ve got something out of their other albums on this list, and think I gave them all either 3s or 4s Anyway this one still sucks. Beautiful Day is a fun opener and the second track is good too, but it all goes very quickly downhill from there. The production is so clean and the lyrics are so awfully basic and soulless, and at least half the songs on here have at least one part where it’s completely out of Bono’s vocal range. If he was at least giving it some effort and emotion and straining for the high notes I’d forgive it (I just gave Bone Machine by Tom Waits a 5 for Christ’s sake) but it just sounds so flat and lazy, like he doesn’t care that it sounds bad. It’s just all so forgettable and meaningless, and even the songs with an important message (like Peace on Earth, which was written after a car bombing that killed 29 people and Bono described as being ‘as bitter and as angry a song as U2 have ever written’) just sound so flat and empty of anything

Oh, please. These are supposed to be 1,001 albums I need to hear before I die. What is this shit?