I
am a major U2 fan. I've got all their albums, so I think I have a
fair opinion on the songs. I have definitely enjoyed all their albums,
with just some quibbles over some of their songs. But they still rank high
in my opinion. If you have any complaints or corrections for my commentary
here, please e-mail me and let me know. Don't flame me for my opinion.
I'm rating each album from 1 - 5 stars, 1 being "Bad" and 5 being "Even
Better Than The Real Thing". Let's take a look at the albums.
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To access the lyrics and song commentaries, just click on Tracks
or
B-Sides
U2 is Bono Vox (Paul Hewson) - Lead Vocal, The Edge (David Evans) - Guitar or Piano, Larry Mullen Jr - Percussion, Adam Clayton - Bass.
Boy - released in 1980
This was U2's debut album and it made quite the
impact on Ireland. The vibrant passion and unique guitar playing
skills of The Edge earned a distinct sound that would always be associated
with U2. It's not too bad, but there are definitely some songs that
could have used further work.
Grand Total: 2.5
Stars.
I Will Follow
Twilight
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Out Of Control
Stories For Boys
The Ocean
A Day Without Me
Another Time, Another Place
The Electric Co.
Shadows And Tall Trees
October
-
released in 1981
Sadly, this album did not get the credit it really
deserved. It was U2's choice to make an album that reflected their
Christianity, and this album is the endproduct. Your first inclination
is to groan and mumble somthing about "religious music". Well, you're
forgetting that this is U2 here! The album is about the same as the
last
one, but some of the tracks are by far better
Grand Total: 3 Stars.
Gloria
I Fall Down
I Threw A Brick Through A Window
Rejoice
Fire
Tomorrow
October
With A Shout
Stranger In A Strange Land
Scarlet
Is That All?
War - released in 1983
This album was truly a stepping stone for U2.
It had a few new surprises since the last albums, mainly the electric violin
for a really cool sound, and female backup singers for two of the songs.
The album's anti-war message is clear enough. The cover shows a boy
in the classic POW hands-behind-head position, and most of the songs are
about the futility of war.
Grand Total: 5 Stars.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Seconds
New Year's Day
Like A Song
Drowning Man
The Refugee
Two Hearts Beat As One
Red Light
Surrender
"40"
Under
A Blood Red Sky - released in 1983
This is a live album that U2 released at about
the same time as War. There are a few new songs, but
most are just recorded old hits with adjusted lyrics and music for the
concert scene. Although, listening to the concert versions of these songs
is a must. They really are played well live.
Grand Total: 3 Stars.
Gloria
11 O'Clock Tick Tock
I Will Follow
Party Girl
Sunday Bloody Sunday
The Electric Co.
New Year's Day
"40"
The
Unforgettable Fire - released in
1984
This album is generally considered a leap in
U2's popularity. U2 became a household name at this point, really
hot with songs like "Pride" and "Bad". A mellow album, with one of U2's
rare instrumentals. The album is unofficially dedicated to Martin Luther
King Jr.
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
A Sort Of Homecoming
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Wire
The Unforgettable Fire
Promenade
4th Of July
Bad
Indian Summer Sky
Elvis Presley And America
MLK
The
Joshua Tree - released in 1987
The one that became the turning point.
This was the an album with many different styles for U2. The old
Blues style "I Trip Through Your Wires", the heavy rock "Exit", to the
mellow "Mother Of The Disappeared". If you like The Edge's guitar,
this is the album for you.
Awards: Grammys:
Album Of The Year
MTV: Viewers Choice Award "With Or Without You"
Grand Total: 5 Stars.
Where The Streets Have No Name
I Still Haven't Found What I'm
Looking For
With Or Without You
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
Red Hill Mining Town
In God's Country
I Trip Through Your Wires
One Tree Hill
Exit
Mother Of The Disappeared
Rattle
And Hum - released in 1988
This one was a bit different for U2. Much
like The Joshua Tree's "I Trip Through Your Wire" there are
strong jazz and blues influence in here. Also included
are some U2 favorites played live, such as "Bullet
The Blue Sky" and "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For". The new
songs are a good follow up to the
U2 tradition. A great album! Sadly, the critics
saw U2 as being too "preachy" and U2 took this to heart. They felt the
need to reinvent themselves...
Awards: Grammys:
Best Rock Perfomance "Desire"
Best Performance Music Video "Where The Streets Have No Name"
MTV: Best Video From A Film "When Love Comes To Town"
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
Helter Skelter
Van Diemen's Land
Desire
Hawkmoon 269
All Along The Watchtower
I Still Haven't Found What I'm
Looking For
Freedom For My People
Silver And Gold
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Angel Of Harlem
Love Rescue Me
When Love Comes To Town
Heartland
God Part II
The Star Spangled Banner
Bullet The Blue Sky
All I Want Is You
Achtung
Baby - released in 1991
Whoa, here's another great one! This was
also a definite change from their previous style, yet it STILL retained
that U2 sound we know and love. According to
the band, U2 had come to the conclusion that
they had exhausted their creative talent and were going to seperate, when
Bono went to the mic and started singing "One". This is one of my favorites,
and I recommend it highly.
Awards: Grammys:
Best Rock Performance
MTV: Best Group Video "Even Better Than The Real Thing"
Grand Total: 5 Stars.
Zoo Station
Even Better Than The Real Thing
One
Until The End Of The World
Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses
So Cruel
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around
The World
Ultra Violet (Light My Way)
Acrobat
Love Is Blindness
Zooropa
- released in 1993
In a word: different. Bono walked in to the band
while touring and said "Let's write an album now!" They all thought he
was joking. This is the result. Some hits,
some misses, but overall, not too bad.
Most of the songs are really quite catchy and it's underappreciated by
far.
Awards: Grammys:
Best Alternative Album
Best Music Video, Long Form
Grand Total: 3 Stars.
Zooropa
Babyface
Numb
Lemon
Stay (Faraway, So Close!)
Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed
Car
Some Days Are Better Than Others
The First Time
Dirty Day
The Wanderer
Pop
- released in 1997
Any diehard U2 fan will love this album or hate
it. U2 went into the techno and the pop aspect of music for some of these
songs. For some reason, Bono has
gone Robin Williams with his hair, and The Edge
has become a pimp daddy with his cowboy hat and child-molester moustache.
Nice tunes though. The hits are super huge, but by the same tokens,
the duds are awful.
Awards: MTV: Best
Live
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
Discothèque
Do You Feel Loved
Mofo
If God Will Send His Angels
Staring At The Sun
Last Night On Earth
Gone
Miami
The Playboy Mansion
If You Wear That Velvet Dress
Please
Wake Up Dead Man
The
Best Of 1980 - 1990 - released
in 1998
This is a really great compilation album, and
deserves a buy. But definitely get it with the B-Sides.
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
| Tracks:
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
|
B-Sides:
Three Sunrises
|
All
That You Can't Leave Behind - released
in 2000
This album is fantastic, and after hearing a
few tracks I had to rush out and buy it. Many parallels between this album
and The Joshua Tree, which delighted most fans, myself included.
Good album done well!
Awards: Grammys:
Record Of The Year
Song Of The Year "Beautiful Day"
Best Rock Performance
MTV: Video Vanguard Award
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
Beautiful Day
Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get
Out Of
Elevation
Walk On
Kite
In A Little While
Wild Honey
Peace On Earth
When I Look At The World
New York
Grace
The
Best Of 1990 - 2000 - released
in 2002
An excellent collection, bringing more respect
for the albums of Pop and Zooropa. A
great compilation including songs that you'll have trouble finding anywhere
else. The B-Sides brings a great collection even more distinction, and includes three remixes from the infamous fan-club only remix album Melon.
Grand Total: 4 Stars.
| Tracks:
Even Better Than The Real Thing
|
B-Sides:
Lady With The Spinning Head (Dance
Mix)
|
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb - released
in 2004
Well, U2 has done it again. Right when we think we know what a band is capable of, they throw us a surprise. I don't know if anyone was expecting an album as acoustic as this (especially with Vertigo being the opening single)! Practically gone is the post-production that we're used to, leaving us with a far more raw "Here is my guitar, take it or leave it" album. Nevertheless it's a good album! And it's the type of album that really grows on you. Repeat listenings breeds deeper satisfaction. Originally titled "How To Build An Atomic Bomb", the band felt this intraspective album would make far more sense as being named after stripping something down, not building it up.
Grand Total: 3.5 Stars.
Vertigo
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love And Peace Or Else
City Of Blinding Lights
All Because Of You
A Man And A Woman
Crumbs From Your Table
One Step Closer
Original Of The Species
Yahweh
