All That You Can't Leave Behind

Really don't like this album. I remember when it came out and it got all the acclaim it got. Didn't see it then, don't see it now. Admittedly I'm not the biggest U2 fan, but even by their standards this is clearly naff right. Absolutely souless and meaningless.

Favorite Track: Beautiful Day

I am not a big fan of U2. Never was. I just listened to the beginning of some of the tracks but they just didn't do it for me.

No idea why this is on the list. It breaks no new ground. It is average by U2’s standards. Very few sons are remarkable or stick out in any way. This is a throwaway for sure.

This list really slobs the U2 knob.

The vocals on this album always sounded to me like Bono was lying in bed while recording many of these songs. Think about that while listening to this record. Once that got into my head I realized quickly that it was Bono's voice that had driven me fully away from the band. Liked their early stuff a lot, started wavering in the late 80s, but this one it sounds like Bono mailed in. I think I bought this within a day or 2 of its release. Not at all sure why, maybe I got caught up in the buzz and was bored with whatever I'd been listening to at the time and wanted to like them again, but instead I just ended up never buying another U2 album. (aside: it's a bit weird isn't it how people hate Bono the person so much... really? Fine - he can come across as pompous and all-knowing but check your fking heads - if you'll rail on him but less-so on actual shithead wankers like Lou Reed, Stephen Tyler, Roger Waters, Jimmy fucking Page, or hello Eric Clapton who are actual for-real shitty people ... that ain't right) TL;DR: Inoffensive and bland but fine. The worst is that it was a formerly excellent band signing off from a run of creativity and authenticity but honestly who cares. First few songs were big hits and that catchiness carries the day as that second half is a real rough slog to get through. In retrospect this album highlights how U2 were the blueprint for the Coldplay career path. 5/10 2 stars

I think I am perhaps poisoned by my age to be so set against U2’s music. Some catchy tunes for sure, but so corny, so sappy, I can’t bring myself to rate it highly. It all sounds like the music in the credits of a feel-good movie about a dad learning to give a shit about his kids instead of working 24/7. Were I introduced to it in its own time, perhaps I wouldn’t be so cynical.

Another album that feels like it’s been included because of the popularity and past glories of a band when the album itself is poor. When the quality of the singles is this poor the album completely struggles. At least with previous U2 albums the singles were good enough to raise the overall album. Not with this one though. Dull and bland and reflective of a band well past its best.

Trying so hard to be deep and meaningful

Ok

Aside from Beautiful Day and Elevation, there's not a lot to love here. Skipped a couple of tracks.

I'm docking Bono points just for the Mole/Hole thing. C'mon try a bit harder than that.

A thorough yawn. U2 is so successful and they are so against my musical taste that I'm almost mad about it, haha. But mostly confused. This band does not offer anything for me. Beautiful day is a good hit, +1 star.

Beautiful Day and Stuck In a Moment are fantastic. The rest of the album doesn't come close to those two. Average album at best. 2.5 stars.

Tycker inte U2 på senare år är särskilt bra.

Heartwarming. U2 invent AI-generated music 20 years before it became a thing. Psychopath music.

Ok but by then they were a shadow of their heyday

Now, one can take the viewpoint that U2 offer nothing exciting/new to the world in musicianship. That therefore leaves you only with the lyrical stylings of Nobo on which to judge their performances. On that, one may also take the viewpoint that his inevitable long screaming parts either sound like a man struggling with a difficult poo, or who has just caught their left nad on the bicycle crossbar when getting on too quickly and carelessly. Or you may have other viewpoints. On this album, I certainly can and strongly wish to leave it behind.

Tedious

Morning album with 2.5 great songs

I like U2 the band but strongly prefer the earlier output. The later material just becomes more grandiose, more melodic, and more boring. Kind of the definition of arena rock, almost as silly as a band like Coldplay. It's hard to give this anything less than three stars because the instrumentation and production is so seamless and carefully done, but overall, it's pretty boring. I guess I'm giving it two stars largely out of disappointment. They are capable of so much better!

Maybe it’s Bono. Maybe it’s me. Probably both. But U2 just doesn’t land for me, and this album didn’t change that. I went in hoping for at least one song to stand out, but nope—nothing stuck. It’s not even offensively bad, just painfully bland. The whole thing felt like background music for a car commercial. I get that people love them, but I must be missing that gene.

i’m gonna be so real u2 lemme down here. it’s gotta be a 2. still love u2, just think nothing is going on here really, sorry u2

Bland album, just a couple of iconic singles and there's that.

2.5

Bit bland, not really my cup of tea. Ps The Edge is bald, pass it on

I used to be a huge fan, from their debut to Joshua tree, all bought on vinyl on day of release. They then started to bore me an Bono become insufferable. I never bought or hardly listened to any of their releases. I hoped I may have missed something but listening to this dull flaccid awful album shows I had good judgement. A travesty to be on the top 1000, this is becoming a theme.

U2 has gotta be one of the most overrated bands of all time

Oh man. Like, come on.

Shut up man. God I really think Vertigo might be the most irritating sound on the planet. What happened to them? Early U2, while still quite annoying, at least knew their way around a banger or three, but this is just pap from start to finish.

I know what I would leave behind

Insipid, uninspired, radio-friendly drivel. Giving this a '2' because the production is good; the music is trash.

Never been much of a fan.

Wasn’t awful, but I was counting the seconds until it was over

Boring but not terrible. Beautiful Day is a top tier tune, had that on every CD mix I made back in the day. Nothing else to give this album a higher rating though.

Enjoyed the first two songs. The rest was inoffensive and dull which is the worst thing and album can be for me. Beautiful Day saved this from a 1.

2-3 good songs, but it's a dull album. Not a fan of U2. I don't think I'm their audience. Sounds more pop than Rock to me. For the couple of songs, I can give it a 2, but that's already too high for my taste.

Ehhh not my cup of tea.

bland and not musically interesting but Beautiful Day went double platinum on my iPod touch when i was 13.

Not horrible, just very lame. You really don’t have to listen to this before you die!

I hate this

Meh

Couple of good songs couple of really teeth grindingly meh ones. It's U2

If the album ended after track 4, it would be an amazing album. Unfortunately it doesn't. I'll always love you, U2, but I'll never listen to this again.

I’m not a big u2 guy. The hits off this are alright, just not really my thing

On the album's Wikipedia page, it says that this album is meant to be a return of sorts to their earlier sound, after all the dance and alternative they tried out for the entire 90's. So, as part of my listening today I also took in their album WAR, and... Man, I'unno. Even without having WAR in mind, this album just sounds kind of... Dull to my ears? Sure, it's not without its moments—"Elevate" is one of them—but on the whole it kind sounds like the stereotypical image people have of U2. Kind of a bummer to hear given how much I like THE JOSHUA TREE and enjoyed WAR, but eh. At least I've got those albums to go back to if I want the band's early sound.

I like U2 but this is boring

This album clearly inspired Coldplay to make similar bland music, and Chris Martin to be as irritating as Bono.

Bored me to tears. It all sounds the same. I thought I was going to be pleasantly surprised during the first song, but no. I had to skip the second or third song too.

Such a bunch of dreary shit.

Starts alright, then descends into bland, lazy shite.. Basically a good summary of their career

The website threw us this album right after giving us the Joshua tree yesterday, which made the decline even more obvious. I’m not gonna be arsed to listen to you if you’re not even arsed yourself, Bonehead.

the Taylor swift of rock, except Taylor swift is good at what she does.

Severe drop-off after 3 songs.

Can't even pinpoint why this feels so hollow.

abiz zu schnulzig für meinen geschmack

meh

Somewhat disappointing album overall. Some great songs, while others feel like they were mailed in. Not great U2.

I like U2 but nothin past Rattle an hum

Ngl, definitely some songs I like here. Also a lot of meh and blah ones. Typical U2 album really, solid 2.5.

Dit is zo'n ontzettend poprock album, ik vind Elevation heel grappig, want het begint als een echt rock nummer, maar dan herrinneren ze zich denk ik weer dat ze dat niet zijn en dan gaat het allemaal weer een stuk trager. Ik was geen fan van U2, ik ben geen fan van U2 en ik word geen fan van U2. The Joshua Tree en dit is voor mij allebei hetzelfde: meh. FAVO: Beautiful day, Stuck in a moment you can't get out of

Not my favorite

An altogether disappointing effort from a band that can, and has, done much better. The mix is all over the place, Bono's vocals are barely in tune and his lyrics are almost adolescent.

U2 dialing up the cheese on this one.

Listened 3/16/24. I was surprised by this one. I stopped listening to U2 back during the mid 1990s. This was not what I was expecting. I may need to give the newer stuff (ie after 1995ish) another chance.

Ugh. No.

OK, but a lot of generic U2 songs really

Some really big hits, which is not my fav U2 songs. I really wanted to like this album, but it’s pretty forgettable. There are parts that are great though. Most of the lyrics sounds like a stream of consciousness and I’m not here for it. Last song is ok

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

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"

Detta måste vara Coldplays referensalbum för uppblåst musik helt utan innehåll. U2s sämsta av dom jag lyssnat på Luftslottsmusik

Har någon annan artist tvärdött konstnärligt så som U2 gjorde när de stod på sin topp efter Achtung baby och Zooropa? Det var total soppatorsk. Inga idéer kvar i förslagslådan. Jag vet inte hur många skivor de gjort sedan dess, men den här är en i mängden av grå massa. Kanske försöker de hitta tillbaka till det ovan nämnda soundet, men allt är bara så utplattat, oinspirerat, helt utan vilja att ta sig någonstans. U2 vill tillfredsställa så många att det inte blir relevant för någon.

Tänk om detta varit ett debutalbum? Inte en chans i helvetet att det kommit med i boken. Nu sitter några trötta rockrävar som av någon anledning fått för sig att U2 är bra oavsett vad och nickar instämmande i ett okritiskt grupptänkande. ”Den ska med”, klart att U2 är klass”. Nej, backa ett steg och inse att här har bäst före datumet sedan länge passerats. Pisstråkig radiopop.

Generisk mellopop anno år 2000.

The soundtrack to many a car journey when I was younger. Not a fan, I’m afraid!

This is the second U2 album I get in less than a week... let's stop it right here.

Going from the Beastie Boys yesterday, one of my top-10 all-time favorites, to this, something that I avoided even at the time when my musical tastes were fledgling, is jarring. This is not the same band that did The Joshua Tree. It's weak department store music. I listened to Metallica's Black album just an hour ago, so I know what generic is, but this doesn't even have any songs about lycanthropy on it. No, the yelping on Elevation doesn't count. I need a palate cleanser after this. If you do as well, may I recommend Transcend the Rubicon by Benediction, or maybe 90's hardcore band Threadbare. Perhaps if you do need something more mainstream, go to one of the best: Blondie. Okay, there's my playlist for the morning.

Soft rock sewage. Hard to believe this is the same band who wrote Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Poop lowkey

Never been much of a U2 fan. They have an occasional good song in their repertoire, in this case, Beautiful Day. The rest of the songs were shlock and yawn (the opposite of shock and awe, get it?). There just doesn’t feel like they have much left in the tank. New York is particularly egregious. They’re also on my shit list because they forced an album on to my iTunes library almost 20 years ago. I chose what to put in there very deliberately.

This might be the most offensively boring album I've ever heard, or it is at the very least right up there. Completely hollow, pathetic, vapid, weak shite without a single shred of charm, conviction, danger, individuality or anything otherwise remotely engaging about it. A bona-fide contractual obligation of an album. Genuinely don't think I could have been dealt anything worse for my soul after last night's England disappointment – in some perverse, sadistic way, it kind of accentuates that feeling of yet more hopes and dreams swirling down the plughole as entirely soul-destroying stuff. It's put me in a horrible mood.

God, I hate this album. There's something so visceral how much I hate this album. I don't know if it's because I was forced to listen to them in my teens becaue every Ipod was already preloaded with on of their songs. Or how their music videos for this album just look like Party frat boys who know their the shit just walking around. Who's daddy made these fuckers famous? Wait... THAT'S BONO? Ah, now I can attach this self aggrandizing prick to whatever pop culture I've heard about him. I could have peacefully died without having listened to this album.

I actually do like U2 decently well, for the record! All three of their other albums on here deserve to be here. This, on the other hand, does not. In their previous work, they felt like they were pushing boundaries in a mega-popular context, but this feels like one of those albums where they just phone it in because their fans will buy whatever they put out.

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

So painfully mediocre that it's worse than you can possibly remember. Just a real turd of an album, not because it's actively bad (the lyrics definitely are) but because it's so actively boring. Just really stupid all around from a band that had been on top of the world.

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.

I have never listened to this album before. By the time it came out I was done with U2 and had been for some time. I also did not love the bit I was forced to hear (Beautiful Day). So, in the spirit of project integrity and intellectual honesty, I gave it a listen. I only listened to about half of each track but I listened to all of them. To call this album a hate crime would be hyperbolic but I hated it. It is probably better on some level than the 1 star I am giving it but I don’t care. This is garbage.

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