For all you U2 fans, 2009 is a promising year. We get a new Cd (No Line On The Horizon), and a tour hopefully coming through your market. With every release, every critic and U2 fan hopes that Bono and the boys can achieve the greatness they so often do. The hope, is at minimum, the new disc will bring a couple gems that’ll stand beside their best songs. So, have you wondered where the new U2 CD ranks with their others? Well, so do I. Below is a ranking of all 12 studio releases, from their least to best. For U2 fans, enjoy the trip down memory lane. For newcomers, feel free to use as a guide to navigate through their 30+ year career. On every CD, I recommend key tracks notated with the word “Buy”, and their lesser tracks with the word “burn” (yes, a clever pun to implore you to copy off your friend or to simply toss the song into an imaginary, very forgettable fire).
Note- next to the album, you’ll see a number. A little back of the clock info: How I got this number was I gave each track a value between 1-10 (1 being the worst), got a total of all tracks, and then divided that number by the number of tracks. So for the math challenged, if there was ten cuts, and each song was amazing and had a value of 10, that would be 100 total for the album, which I would then divide 100 by the amount of tracks (10), and the album would be a 10!
Ranking from their worst to best:
12. Boy (1980) 6.3
Boy is the debut CD from U2, and their least to date. It’s an amazing debut, and one can hear the U2 of today at moments, however it’s clearly a band finding themselves. A good album, just not a great U2 album. They clearly sound young, well, and like boys.
Buy (I Will Follow, Out Of Control)
Burn (The Ocean, Shadows and Tall Trees)
11. October (1981) 6.8
From the album cover you can tell that these weren’t rock stars (Adam’s hair???). And, they weren’t really trying to be. They had no look and they made a too serious, emotionally heavy, not too catchy sophomore release; not the album Island records were looking for. The follow up to Boy is a mature record for such a young bad. The touching “Tomorrow” is about Bono’s mother’s death; a subject he also tackles on Pop’s dark, techno rock “Mofo”. Not a singles record, but one that showed the band had depth and quality. An admirable follow-up to their debut. Simply, the band made the record they felt they had to, and in a way, aren’t they still doing that today?
Buy (Tomorrow, October)
Burn (Is That All?, Stranger In A Strange Land)
10. Pop (1997) 7.4
The negative press was truly not warranted on a record that has some great moments. Yes, Pop has its obvious shortcomings and one of the worst U2 songs ever in the hideous “Miami”. However, it’s original and does push the sound of rock, electronica and U2--- and when it works, it’s glorious. U2 blame the albums lack on the fact that a tour was booked and they had to rush it out in time. Yes, the big Lemon and the kitschy press conference may have detracted from the quality of the record, but when I look at this record as one that is basically unfinished, I appreciate it even more.
Buy (if God Will Send His Angels, Gone)
Burn (Miami, The Playboy Mansion)
9. War (1983) 7.65
When an album as great as War is lower ranked in a catalog, it quickly calls to attention just how great the band we’re talking about are. What I consider the last of their straight ahead rock CDs. U2’s first number one album in the UK is also their first political CD. Hello flag waving Bono and enter the foundation of them turning into rock stars, in their music and personality.
Buy (The Drowning Man, New Year’s Day)
Burn (The Refugee, Red Light)
8. Zooropa (1993) 7.7
Originally intended to be an EP recorded on tour to bridge the gap between full-lengths, the Type-A guys pulled many all nighters and created a quick, unplanned full-length. Zooropa sounds sparse at times for it, but is very experimental. Two of my least faves in their catalog are the playful “Daddy’s Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car” and “Some Days are Better Than Others”. It also has brilliant moments like the now classic “Stay “(with its intensely beautiful simple guitar lead). It also has the gorgeous “The First Time” which is musically reminiscent of “Running to Stand Still”. The album ends with someone else singing a U2 song—and if someone is allowed, it’s Johnny Cash who lends leads to “The Wanderer”. I see this release as what it is, an unexpected gift.
Buy (Stay, The First Time)
Burn (Daddy’s Gonna Pay, Some Day’s Are Better Than Others)
7. No Line On The Horizon (2009) 7.8
So, the new U2 fits right in the middle. That’s really good considering most bands 30 years in, are dead, just touring or releasing material when they shouldn’t be. The first 5 cuts are U2 at its absolute best. The latter half, I feel is some of their weakest material ever; it feels incomplete at times for me. I feel “Get On Your Boots” is easily the worst lead single from any U2 release, and one of their worst songs ever. The second half of the CD is a little boring at times (White as snow) and interesting/unique (Fez). If the second half of the record was even as 50% as good as the brilliant first half, this would be top 5 of their catalog. I also wonder why they needed long time Producers Lanois and Eno to write with them, when they handled songwriting duties on their own for their entire career until now. I’m not convinced it’s a good thing that U2 let anyone mess with the songwriting formula. Incidentally, I feel like the CD sounds, at times, like the U2 side project The Passengers (which also featured Eno as a songwriter), and suffers for it. A solid effort with U2 at their best (Unknown Caller) and worst (Stand Up Comedy) all in one CD.
Buy (Unknown Caller, I’ll Go Crazy…)
Burn (Stand Up Comedy, Get On Your Boots)
6. Rattle and Hum (1988) 7.9
In this ranking, I’m only considering the 9 new studio cuts. A rootsy, “American” feeling record with songs recorded in the states. It’s U2 in their prime, Bono sounds amazing on cuts like “Heartland” (maybe the most unappreciated U2 song, and easily in my top 5 of their best) and “All I Want Is You”. A nice follow up to Joshua Tree that spawned the simple hit “Desire” (Billboard #3 on Pop singles charts). The songs are grounded and it seems like the guys can write songs like this all day.
Buy (Heartland, Hawkmoon 269, All I Want Is You)
Burn (Love Rescue Me)
5. How To Dismantle The Atomic Bomb (2004) 7.95
I personally got sick of the IPOD “Vertigo” commercials, and that song is all bark and no bite for me. However, it’s pretty much all uphill from there. Winning Grammys (Album Of The year) that are well deserved, the album had the wonderfully familiar , in that U2 way ,“City Of Blinding Lights” and a song about Bono’s dad (originally titled “Tough”) called “Sometimes You Can’t Make it on Your own” (Grammy song of the year). This song has one of the best moments in U2 history, which Bono’s voice reaches an intensely gorgeous peak and collides with Edges swirling climaxing guitar (Can - you - hear - me - when - I -Sing, you're the reason I sing, You're the reason why the opera is in me). Bono giving a nod to his old man for his voice; Bono’s dad would often sing opera around the house. It’s all there on Dismantle. Edge’s chiming guitar, great lyrics, social commentary and amazing songs. “Miracle Drug” is U2 at their best. A touching story (look it up), uplifting guitars and a chorus that makes you soar and feel like you can fly.
Buy (Miracle Drug, Yahweh, Sometimes You Can’t make It)
Burn (Love and peace Or Else)
4. All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000) 8.04
Coming out of the 90’s experimental phase, U2 got back to basics and kicked us all in the ass with the lead single “Beautiful Day”; a bombastic pop record that everyone can sing-a-long, but with nothing cheesy about it. A huge chorus and Edge at his finest. Everyone instantly embraced the comeback (coming off the heels of the weak selling Pop). Stadiums were sold out and records sold. It is the only album ever to have two singles win Grammy’s “Record of the Year" in two consecutive years; “Beautiful Day” in 2001 and “Walk On” in 02. From the sad/angry ode to Michael Hutchence of “Stuck In a Moment” to the inspiring “Walk On”, the CD is full of great tunes. “Kite” is an amazing song about being a father. Bono is vocally at his best, and Edge just soars under him, like a Kite in the air. ATYCLB is pretty much a rock record, with some experimental sound. Some brilliant lyrics on this CD like: (Beautiful Day) “You’ve been all over, and it’s been all over you”. Also this line: (Stuck In A Moment) “And you can never get enough of what you don't really need now”. Bono says so much in that one line. That’s why it’s ingenious. The idea being, be careful where you put your attention, because what you think about comes to fruition, good AND bad. The beauty of this album is very simple: it’s U2, well, just being U2---and thank God for that.
Buy (Beautiful Day, Kite, Walk On, When I Look at The World)
Burn New York (awful song), and the very sweet, but boring album closer “Grace”
3. The Unforgettable Fire (1984) 8.4
As we hit the top tier of the U2 catalog, note that this is the first of much collaboration with Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois. This is the first record that sounds like what we now call that U2 soundscape. More importantly, it’s the first album where The Edge sounds like what we now know and love, and part of that is credited to the new production team. Any album that has “Bad” is instantly among the best. What non U2 fans will hear as a long monotonous two chord song, well, U2 fans know better. We hear that epic slow build, and the now so familiar delay pedal, and the magical wonder of how something so simple can be so utterly amazing? How? Brilliant lyrics (If I could through myself set your spirit free) about heroin addiction, phenomenal vocals, a drum and bass working so well together, all colliding into an emotionally connected tune and something very few bands have captured before.. It also inspired the captivating Live Aid performance (however try to ignore Bono’s mullet). A great sounding record that also spawned their first Billboard Top 40 hit (Pride, #33). U2 are the masters of milking a simple groove, song structure and building off of it---this CD was where that started. The Unforgettable Fire was the calm before the storm in America.
Buy Bad, The Unforgettable Fire, Pride
Burn The pointless “4th Of July”
2. The Joshua Tree (1987) 8.45
Enter the storm. “With Or Without You” is/was such an odd choice for a first single. A ballad can never be a first single, right? Wrong. It probably works because it’s not a love song. It’s actually a song about the struggle of Bono juggling the life of a rock star and the life of domesticity. Can I be the artist I’m meant to be, if I’m married and have responsibilities? So it’s about whether or not he can live “With Or Without” the band or “With or Without” day to day life as a husband and one day father. This song gave us all a taste of what was to come, and what came was a record that many feel is in the Top 10 of the best albums ever made. A ridiculously great grouping of songs, coupled with a desert soundscape, mostly thanks to the production and Edge’s shimmering, angry pulsating, but somehow beautiful guitar. It won Grammy’s Album Of The Year. Widely regarded as U2 at their best, and well deserved. The One, Two, Three punch of Streets, Still haven’t Found and WOWY is unprecedented and maybe no album has kicked off with such strength since. It gets a tad spotty on the second half, but it still works. A true masterpiece.
Buy The Joshua Tree
1. Achtung Baby (1991) 8.8
"the sound of four men chopping down The Joshua Tree”- Bono
They didn’t just chop it down, they threw some Molotov cocktails into the desert , poured some gasoline and dropped an H bomb on it, and then quickly drove from the desert, hopped on a plane and landed in cold Berlin. The word “baby” is all over the song lyrics on this album, hence one of the reasons for the title. Also, Bono’s second daughter was born while they made the record. It’s an appropriate title, because Achtung Baby is a rebirth, and a stunning one. The depth and quality of the songwriting and production are unprecedented. This is Michael Jordan in his prime. It has the swagger, the ambition and there were so many reasons why they shouldn’t have experimented with their sound, but they did and it’s mesmerizing. “Who’s Gonna Ride You Wild Horses” is a beautiful song. The lyrics are poignant, touching and they yearn, as does the song. “Ultraviolet” is so U2, in every way—and again, thank God for that. It’s their sound. The sound they have become known for. There are some people that feel “One” is one of the best songs ever written; it’s often spoke of in those conversations. It’s not about love, but about people having the ability to help one another (We get to carry each other). It’s not an option—lets unite and do it is the idea. Not a love song---but almost a cry for help. From the never before heard structures/sounds of “The Fly” to the gorgeous simplicity of “Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World”---this is U2 at their best. Groundbreaking, awe-inspiring and head scratchingly magnificent.
Buy Achtung baby right now.
Now I realize U2 fans are very passionate and each fan is gonna agree or disagree with this U2 recap. Please know that I’m a huge fan, so at the end of the day we’re on the same side. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and if we disagree on something, let’s grab a Guinness together and chat about it.
Guest blog by Jon Bergen
um, yeah I was told there would be no math here ;0 awesome breakdown, as I'm more of a casual fan of U2...love the hits. but i'll check out the BUY stuff and go from there...thanks Jon!
Posted by: Mickey | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Great analysis! From one U2 to another, much appreciated. I would obviously rank some things a bit differently, as I am less a fan of HTDAAB and a much bigger fan of Pop.
I agree so far with your assessment Re: NLOTH though I do like Breathe quite a bit.
Posted by: Joe | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 12:18 PM
This is great... I'm a fan of U2, and this is pretty damn accurate in my opinion. Achtung is on the top of my list too. Kudos for mentioning "Stay", a real gem that doesn't get much credit.
Posted by: Missingmat | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Great look at the band's career, though I've got to disagree with where you placed HTDMAB and ATYCLB--they are good, but I would take "Pop," "War,""Zooropa," "Rattle and Hum" and the new album over both of those any day.
Also, I still think that "Acrobat" and "Lemon" are some under-appreciated songs that really deserve more attention...
Regardless, again, great article!
Posted by: Jared | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 01:52 PM
Thanks for the enlightenment, I didn't know as much about U2 before checking out this article. My personal favorite track on NLOTH is 'Moment of Surrender,' it's a great song. I agree with you about Wild Horses, also one of the best. I will definitely have to check out some of your other suggestions.
Posted by: Emily | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 04:09 PM
Wow! What a great read! That is pretty much how I view the U2 world but I would rate HTDAAB a little higher becasue it is an awesome listen. It would be interesting to see how you rate other bands and their changing stlyes over the decades. I like the rating system.
Posted by: Nigel | Friday, February 27, 2009 at 04:12 PM
Great article. I am a longtime U2 fan and you broke it down perfectly. I love the scoring system. It was an entertaining and enlightening read.
Posted by: Nic | Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 09:13 AM
nice work Boo, great stuff. And I agree - Miami - worst song ever. and that's coming from a casual fan!
Posted by: Nala | Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 01:55 PM
Anyone seen the video from their crazy rooftop performance in London last night yet? It's all over You Tube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBJqWPv7IGo
Posted by: Nala | Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 03:52 PM
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!! Excellent insight into one of the most compelling stories in rock and roll... the EVER evolving journey of U2. The new album "No Line.." gets better and deeper and more rewarding with each listen. Personally, I would have liked to have seen "War" rank higher on the list (ESPECIALLY over Zooropa), but I understand. Your article is something that I will refer to again over time and will definitely share it with others. Will make GREAT conversation over many a Pint! GOOD ONTO YA MATE!
Posted by: Jason | Monday, March 02, 2009 at 07:32 AM
I agree with you for the most part, little disappointed not to see 'If you wear that velvet dress' rated as a BUY though!
Posted by: Heather | Wednesday, March 04, 2009 at 02:21 AM
cool article. the great thing about u2 is that there is something for everyone. i hope that statement doesent take away from the fact that i think they are the greatest band on earth. love every second of it.
i also dont care for the second half of the new disc as much as the first, but i absolutely do not think it is u2 at their worst. i think 'stand up' is one of my favorites on the disc. its got a bit of swagger and sounds like it'd be fun to play. and after being a hater for a while, i'll be damned if 'get on your boots' isnt growing on me!
meet me in the sound.
Posted by: erin | Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 08:30 PM
well...i kinda agree with your list...mainly Achtung Baby and Joshua Tree are obviously the best...but here's things i dont agree with:
1)Boy is not even close to as bad as the hideous October.
2)Pop deserves to be 4 or 5. It is that genius.
3)No Line on the Horizon deserves to be 3. It is a great album (and Get On Your Boots is awesome!!!)
4)ATYCLB and HTDAAB are not that great. They are in the bottom half. (especially Leave Behind. It's 2nd half is snoozeville)
Posted by: Jackson | Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 08:18 AM
I have the same feeling as you, so good. however, if you add some explanation below the pictures, it's better.
Posted by: Puma Shoes | Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 01:44 AM
Hi Webmaster, commenters and everybody else !!! The blog was absolutely fantastic! Lots of great information and inspiration, both of which we all need!Keep 'em coming... you all do such a great job at such Concepts... can't tell you how much I, for one appreciate all you do!
Posted by: 传奇私服 | Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:44 PM
Standing on waving and jolting horizon of our life, we portray our drawing with youth and lifeblood.
http://www.yaahshoes.com/
Posted by: Asics shoes | Tuesday, August 03, 2010 at 02:37 AM
So cool you said in your articles,and how did you think about them?I want to know that what you will write in your blog,so waiting.and now link my name to know me,and each other we all get the good things.don't think that I cheat you,pls.
Posted by: Jordan Spizike | Monday, October 04, 2010 at 01:22 AM