Neither ATYCLB nor HTDAAB stand up to Achtung Baby or even The Joshua Tree (great but a tad overrated in my view). The problem was that like a lot of bands in their middle age, they started looking back to move forward. I don't mind a little bit of that- retrenchment was probably required after Pop (outstanding as that album was) and it was nice to hear some chiming guitar again, but they went too far so many of the songs like pastiches of their old work- especially on the Bomb, which didn't have the sonic twists that just about kept ATYCLB interesting and vital.
Does this make ATYCLB the better album? Yes- although it is not the only factor at work. Bono's lyrics were better for a start (though poor in relation to his nineties work)- New York and Kite were especially poetic. His verses on The Bomb were vague, lazy and clumsy- perhaps only on One Step Closer does he write with any skill.
Also, the melodies on ATYCLB were often quite beautiful- "Stuck In A Moment" and "Wild Honey" come to mind- intricate, pleasing pieces which were great to hum along to. HTDAAB had a lot of generic stuff- only A Man And A Woman and Vertigo interested me melodically. It wasn't just the production that was the issue- it was the songs themselves that lacked bite.
The caveat is that Bono's voice was stronger on the latter album- nowhere near as good as in the Zoo Tv era, that came in late 2006, but still much improved. Nevertheless, I must disagree with the original poster and plump for ATYCLB.
