Rank the 2000s albums, track by track

[2861U2]

So this was done shortly after SOI and I thought it was an interesting idea, so I figured we could do it again since some time has passed.

Essentially, take all the track ones, track twos, etc, from the four 2000s albums and rank them 1-4 (1 for least favorite and 4 for favorite) and then add up the points to see how the albums compare.

Something like this:

Beautiful Day 4, The Miracle 3, NLOTH 2, Vertigo 1
Stuck 4, Magnificent 3, EBW 2, Miracle Drug 1
Elevation 4, California 3, SYCMIOYO 2, MOS 1
LAPOE 4, Song For Someone 3, Walk On 2, Unknown Caller 1
Kite 4, Crazy Tonight 3, COBL 2, Iris 1
In A Little While 4, All Because of You 3, Volcano 2, Boots 1
Wild Honey 4, AMAAW 3, Raised By Wolves 2, Stand Up Comedy 1
Cedarwood Road 4, Fez-BB 3, Crumbs 2, Peace On Earth 1
When I Look At The World 4, One Step Closer 3, Sleep Like A Baby 2, White As Snow 1
OOTS 4, Breathe 3, New York 2, Reach Me 1
Yahweh 4, Cedars 3, Grace 2, Troubles 1

ATYCLB: 35
HTDAAB: 29
SOI: 24
NLOTH: 22

 

[akann]

1) atyclb
2) nloth
3) soi
4) htdaab

 

[thefly418]

Beautiful Day 4, The Miracle 3, NLOTH 2, Vertigo 1
EBW 4, Magnificent 3, Stuck 2, Miracle Drug 1
MOS 4, SYCMIOYO 3, California 2, Elevation 1
Walk On 4, Unknown Caller 3, Song For Someone 2, LAPOE 1
COBL 4, Iris 3, Kite 2, Crazy Tonight 1
In A Little While 4, Volcano 3, All Because of You 2, Boots 1
Raised By Wolves 4, AMAAW 3, Wild Honey 2, Stand Up Comedy 1
Cedarwood Road 4, Fez-BB 3, Crumbs 2, Peace On Earth 1
Sleep Like A Baby 4, When I Look At The World 3, White As Snow 2, One Step Closer 1
Reach Me 4, Breathe 3, New York 2, OOTS 1
Troubles 4, Yahweh 3, Cedars 2, Grace 1

SOI: 37
ATYCLB: 26
NLOTH: 25
HTDAAB: 22

 

[Oregoropa]

Beautiful Day 4, Vertigo 3, The Miracle 2, NLOTH 1
Magnificent 4, EBW 3, Stuck 2, Miracle Drug 1
MOS 4, Elevation 3, SYCMIOYO 2, California 1
Walk On 4, Unknown Caller 3, Song for Someone 2, LAPOE 1
COBL 4, Iris 3, Crazy Tonight 2, Kite 1
Boots 4, Volcano 3, ABOY 2, IALW 1
Raised By Wolves 4, AMAAW 3, SUC 2, Wild Honey 1
Cedarwood Road 4, Fez-BB 3, Crumbs 2, Peace On Earth 1
Sleep Like A Baby 4, When I Look At The World 3, One Step Closer 2, White Ass Now 1
Reach Me 4, Breathe 3, New York 2, OOTS 1
Troubles 4, Yahweh 3, Cedars 2, Grace 1

SOI: 34
NLOTH: 29
HTDAAB: 24
ATYCLB: 23

The back half of SOI is so strong in my mind relative to the other albums. ATYCLB is the opposite.

 

[namkcuR]

The Miracle 4, Beautiful Day 3, No Line On The Horizon 2, Vertigo 1
Stuck In A Moment 4, Every Breaking Wave 3, Magnificent 2, Miracle Drug 1
Moment Of Surrender 4, California 3, Elevation 2, Sometimes 1
Walk On 4, Unknown Caller 3, Love And Peace 2, Song For Someone 1
Kite 4, Iris 3, COBL 2, Crazy Tonight 1
In A Little While 4, Volcano 3, Boots 2, All Because Of You 1
Raised By Wolves 4, A Man And A Woman 3, Wild Honey 2, Stand Up Comedy 1
Fez-Being Born 4, Cedarwood Road 3, Peace On Earth 2, Crumbs From Your Table 1
Sleep Like A Baby Tonight 4, When I Look At The World 3, White As Snow 2, One Step Closer 1
New York 4, This Is Where You Can Reach Me Now 3, Breathe 2, OOTS 1
The Troubles 4, Cedars Of Lebanon 3, Grace 2, Yahweh 1

SOI = 35
ATYCLB = 34
NLOTH = 26
HTDAAB = 15

 

[prbiker15]

Beautiful Day - 4 / Vertigo - 3 / No Line on the Horizon - 2 / The Miracle - 1
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of - 4 / Magnificent - 3 / Every Breaking Wave - 2 / Miracle Drug - 1
California - 4 / Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own - 3 / Moment of Surrender - 2 / Elevation - 1
Walk On - 4 / Unknown Caller - 3 / Song for Someone - 2 / Love and Peace or Else - 1
Kite - 4 / City of Blinding Lights - 3 / Iris - 2 / I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - 1
In a Little While - 4 / Volcano - 3 / Get on Your Boots - 2 / All Because of You - 1
A Man and a Woman - 4 / Wild Honey - 3 / Raised by Wolves - 2 / Stand Up Comedy - 1
Cedarwood Road - 4 / Fez-Being Born - 3 / Crumbs from Your Table - 2 / Peace on Earth - 1
When I Look at the World - 4 / Sleep Like a Baby Tonight - 3 / White as Snow - 2 / One Step Closer - 1
New York - 4 / This is Where You Can Reach Me Now - 3 / Breathe - 2 / Original of the Species - 1
The Troubles - 4 / Yahweh - 3 / Cedars of Lebanon - 2 / Grace - 1

ATYCLB - 34
SOI - 30
NLOTH - 23
HTDAAB - 23

 

[LemonMelon]

Beautiful Day 4 / NLOTH 3 / Vertigo 2 / The Miracle 1

Magnificent 4 / Every Breaking Wave 3 / Miracle Drug 2 / Stuck 1

MOS 4 / Sometimes 3 / California 2 / Elevation 1

Walk On 4 / Unknown Caller 3 / LAPOE 2 / SFS 1

Kite 4 / COBL 3 / Iris 2 / Crazy Tonight 1

In a Little While 4 / ABOY 3 / Volcano 2 / Get on Your Boots 1

Crumbs from Your Table 4 / Raised By Wolves 3 / Wild Honey 2 / Stand Up Comedy 1

Fez 4 / AMAAW 3 / Cedarwood Road 2 / Peace on Earth 1

When I Look at the World 4 / Sleep Like a Baby Tonight 3 / White as Snow 2 / One Step Closer 1

Breathe 4 / New York 3 / TIWYCRMN 2 / OOTS 1

Cedars of Lebanon 4 / The Troubles 3 / Yahweh 2 / Grace 1

NLOTH 31
ATYCLB 29
HTDAAB 26
SOI 24

Pretty close, considering NLOTH is by far my favorite of these.

 

[the tourist]

4. No Line On The Horizon | 3. Beautiful Day | 2. Vertigo | 1. The Miracle
4. Every Breaking Wave | 3. Magnificent | 2. Miracle Drug | 1. Stuck In A Moment
4. Moment Of Surrender | 3. California | 2. Sometimes You Can't Make It | 1. Elevation
4. Walk On | 3. Song For Someone | 2. Unknown Caller | 1. Love And Peace
4. Iris | 3. Crazy Tonight | 2. Kite | 1. City Of Blinding Lights
4. In A Little While | 3. Volcano | 2. Get On Your Boots | 1. All Because Of You
4. Raised By Wolves | 3. Wild Honey | 2. Crumbs From Your Table | 1. Stand Up Comedy
4. Fez | 3. A Man And A Woman | 2. Cedarwood Road | 1. Peace On Earth
4. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight | 3. One Step Closer | 2. When I Look At The World | 1. White As Snow
4. New York | 3. Reach Me Now | 2. Breathe | 1. Original Of The Species
4. The Troubles | 3. Cedars Of Lebanon | 2. Yahweh | 1. Grace

All That You Can't Leave Behind: 26
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: 20
No Line On The Horizon: 29
Songs Of Innocence: 35

 

[namkcuR]

4. No Line On The Horizon | 3. Beautiful Day | 2. Vertigo | 1. The Miracle
4. Every Breaking Wave | 3. Magnificent | 2. Miracle Drug | 1. Stuck In A Moment
4. Moment Of Surrender | 3. California | 2. Sometimes You Can't Make It | 1. Elevation
4. Walk On | 3. Song For Someone | 2. Unknown Caller | 1. Love And Peace
4. Iris | 3. Crazy Tonight | 2. Kite | 1. City Of Blinding Lights
4. In A Little While | 3. Volcano | 2. Get On Your Boots | 1. All Because Of You
4. Raised By Wolves | 3. Wild Honey | 2. Crumbs From Your Table | 1. Stand Up Comedy
4. Fez | 3. A Man And A Woman | 2. Cedarwood Road | 1. Peace On Earth
4. Sleep Like A Baby Tonight | 3. One Step Closer | 2. When I Look At The World | 1. White As Snow
4. New York | 3. Reach Me Now | 2. Breathe | 1. Original Of The Species
4. The Troubles | 3. Cedars Of Lebanon | 2. Yahweh | 1. Grace

All That You Can't Leave Behind: 26
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb: 20
No Line On The Horizon: 29
Songs Of Innocence: 35

I think you have Crumbs and A Man And A Woman mixed up...Crumbs is a #8 and AMAAW is a #7.

 

[LemonMelon]

Looks like I made the same mistake. Haven't heard that album in a while!

Points would be the same though.

 

[lazarus]

4. Iris | 3. Crazy Tonight

 

[the tourist]

I think you have Crumbs and A Man And A Woman mixed up...Crumbs is a #8 and AMAAW is a #7.

You're right of course. Haven't listened to that album in years so it isn't so fresh in my mind. That and I made my template based on Travis' list cuz it was right above my comment screen.

 

[the tourist]

I've liked Crazy Tonight from the first time I heard it despite all the naysaying. It's one of my favorites on that album.

 

[bobsaget77]

NLOTH 4/ BD 3/Vertigo 2 / The Miracle 1

Magnificent 4 / Every Breaking Wave 3/ Stuck 2/ MD 1

MOS 4 / Sometimes 3 / California 2 / Elevation 1

Walk On 4 / Unknown Caller 3 / SFS 2/ LAPOE 1

Kite 4 / COBL 3 / Iris 2 / Crazy Tonight 1

In a Little While 4 / Volcano 3/ ABOY2/Get on Your Boots 1

Raised By Wolves 4/ AMAAW 3/Wild Honey 2 / Stand Up Comedy 1

Fez 4 / Cedarwood Road 3/ Crumbs 2/Peace on Earth 1

When I Look at the World 4 / White As Snow 3/ Sleep Like a Baby Tonight 2 / One Step Closer 1

Reach Me Now 4 / New York 3 / Breathe 2 / OOTS 1

Cedars of Lebanon 4 / The Troubles 3 / Yahweh 2 / Grace 1

NLOTH - 31
SOI - 29
Bomb - 21
Leave Behind - 29

Looking back through these songs, I remembered why I hadn't listened to nearly any of them in years. Not much worth listening to from this bunch.
I quite like a handful of NLOTH.
Bomb is really bad, SOI had no staying power for me, Leave Behind has a couple good ones, but is mostly bland rubbish.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[lazarus]

This was a little confusing, because I haven't listened to the official track order of ATYCLB since around the year 2000.

4. No Line 3. Vertigo 2. Beautiful Day 1. The Miracle
4. Miracle Drug 3. Stuck 2. Magnificent 1. EBW
4. Moment of Surrender 3. California 2. Elevation 1. Sometimes
4. Walk On 3. Unknown Caller 2. LPOE 1. Song For Someone
4. COBL 3. Kite 2. Iris 1. Crazy
4. Volcano 3. IALW 2. Boots 1. ABOY
4. Wolves 3. Crumbs 2. Wild Honey -10. SUC(k)
4. Fez 3. POE 2. AMAW 1. Cedarwood (I really like all these songs, tough one to rank)
4. WILATW 3. Sleep 2. White 1. One Step
4. TIWYCRMN 3. Breathe 2. OOTS 1. New York
4. The Troubles 3. Cedars 2. Yahweh 1. Grace

ATYCLB: 28
Bomb: 25
No Line: 29
SOI: 28

And just for kicks:

4. Ground 3. Fast Cars 2. Crystal 1. Winter

Interesting result, as I consider ATYCLB to be the weakest out of the 4. And there are no songs I outright dislike on The Bomb, whereas I can't stand 2 on No Line (Crazy and SUC), and it finished with the highest score.

If I use the original, pre-release track order of ATYCLB, which is the only one I currently listen to:

4. No Line 3. Vertigo 2. Beautiful Day 1. The Miracle (no change)
4. Miracle Drug 3. Magnificent 2. Elevation 1. EBW
4. MOS 3. Walk On 2. California 1. Sometimes
4. Unknown Caller 3. Stuck 2. LPOE 1. SFS
4. COBL 3. Peace on Earth 2. Iris 1. Crazy
4. Volcano 3. Boots 2. Kite 1. ABOY
4. Wolves 3. Crumbs 2. New York 1. SUC
4. Fez 3. AMAW 2. IALW 1. Cedarwood
4. Sleep 3. White 2. One Step 1. Wild Honey
4. TIWYCRMN 3. WILATW 2. Breathe 1. OOTS
4. The Troubles 3. Cedars 2. Yahweh 1. Grace

ATYCLB: 24
Bomb: 26
No Line: 32
SOI: 28

This is probably more reflective of my actual rankings, the irony that my preferred order of ATYCLB actually makes it a weaker song-for-song matchup than the official order. The rearrangement also leaves ATYCLB with 0 first place finishes down from 2 on the previous list. Bomb edges it out by being a little more consistent. No Line enlarges its overall lead by scaling the highest peaks (4 first place finishes and 4 second place), and SOI rallies from a weak first half (only 7 points through the first 5 tracks) to finish with 5 out of 6 first place finishes itself.

 

[Axver]

4 Beautiful Day 3 NLOTH 2 Vertigo 1 The Miracle
4 Magnificent 3 Miracle Drug 2 EBW 1 Stuck
4 MOS 3 Elevation 2 California 1 SYCMIOYO
4 Walk On 3 LAPOE 2 Unknown Caller 1 SFS
4 COBL 3 Kite 2 Iris 1 Crazy
4 ABOY 3 Volcano 2 Boots 1 IALW (lesson learnt: track six always blows)
4 AMAAW 3 Wild Honey 2 RBW 1 SUC
4 Cedarwood 3 Fez 2 Crumbs 1 POE
4 WILATW 3 White As Snow 2 OSC 1 SLABT
4 New York 3 Reach 2 Breathe 1 OOTS
4 Troubles 3 Cedars 2 Grace 1 Yahweh

ATYCLB: 30
HTDAAB: 27
NLOTH: 26
SOI: 25

Literally the exact reverse of how I rank the albums overall. And geez, a song I quite enjoy like Crumbs gets just 2, while ABOY makes off with 4 just because its competition is so awful. This method of ranking is cruel.

 

[hasin73]

1. Soi
2. Atyclb
3. Htdaab
4. Nloth

 

[hasin73]

1. SOI : TIWYCRMN ( best track )
2. ATYCLB : KITE ( best track )
3. HTDAAB : STYCMIOYO ( best track )
4. NLOTH : WAS ( best track )

 

[Oregoropa]

I feel like the number 1 spot is the strongest out of the 4 albums. It's the best we have of a murderer's row, but I feel like 2 in the lineup are simple felons.

 

[digitize]

Let's try this.

Beautiful Day 4, NLOTH 3, Vertigo 2, The Miracle 1
Magnificent 4, Stuck 3, Every Breaking Wave 2, Miracle Drug 1
Moment of Surrender 4, California 3, Elevation 2, SYCMIOYO 1
Walk On 4, Unknown Caller 3, Love and Peace 2, Song for Someone 1
COBL 4, Kite 3, Crazy 2, Iris 1
In A Little While 4, Boots 3, ABOY 2, Volcano 1 (I'm shocked that ABOY can beat something, but Volcano is terrible.)
AMAAW 4, Wild Honey 3, Stand Up Comedy 2, Raised By Wolves 1
Fez 4, Cedarwood 3, Peace on Earth 2, Crumbs 1
White As Snow 4, WILATW 3, One Step Closer 2, Sleep Like A Baby 1
Breathe 4, OOTS 3, New York 2, Reach 1
Troubles 4, Yahweh 3, Cedars 2, Grace 1

No Line: 35
ATYCLB: 31
Bomb: 25
SOI: 19

No surprise for me.

 

[TinKnight]

NLOTH 4, Vertigo 3, Beautiful Day 2, The Miracle 1
Magnificent 4, EBW 3, Miracle Drug 2, Stuck 1
Moment of Surrender 4, California 3, Sometimes 2, Elevation 1
Walk On 4, LAPOE 3, Song For Someone 2, Unknown Caller 1
Kite 4, Iris 3, COBL 2, Crazy Tonight 1
In A Little While 4, All Because of You 3, Volcano 2, Boots 1
Raised By Wolves 4, AMAAW 3, Wild Honey 2, Stand Up Comedy 1
Cedarwood Road 4, Fez-BB 3, Crumbs 2, Peace On Earth 1
Sleep Like A Baby 4, When I Look At The World 3, White As Snow 2, One Step Closer 1
OOTS 4, Breathe 3, Reach Me 2, New York 1
Troubles 4, Cedars 3, Yahweh 2 , Grace 1

SOI: 32
NLOTH: 27
HTDAAB: 27
ATYCLB: 24

Interesting. I definitely think I prefer SOI over the rest, but I don't think I would put ATYCLB at the bottom.

 

[cobl04]

4 Beautiful Day - 3 No Line - 2 Vertigo - 1 The Miracle
4 Stuck - 3 Miracle Drug - 2 Every Breaking Wave - 1 Magnificent
4 Moment of Surrender - 3 Sometimes You Can't Make it - 2 California - 1 Elevation (tomb raider mix would probably beat California)
4 Walk On - 3 Love and Peace or Else - 2 Song for Someone - 1 Unknown Caller
4 Kite - 3 City of Blinding Lights - 2 Crazy Tonight - 1 Iris
4 In a Little While - I refuse to give out points for the other three tracks they're all that shit
4 Man and a Woman - 3 Wild Honey - refuse to give out points again
4 Fez Being Born - 3 Crumbs - 2 Peace on Earth - 1 Cedarwood Road
4 WILATW - 3 One Step Closer - 2 Sleep Like a Baby - 1 White as Snow
4 New York - 3 oots - 2 Reach me Now - Breathe
4 Cedars - 3 Troubles - 2 Grace - 1 Yahweh

 

[lazarus]

Add up your totals by album, you lazy knob.

 

[LemonMelon]

Track 6 has been by far the weakest slot for them this century. I had to call In a Little While the best at something.

 

[The_acrobat]

NLOTH 4, Beautiful Day 3, Vertigo 2, Miracle 1 (Miracle would be lower if possible)
EBW 4, Stuck in a moment 3, Magnificent 2, Miracle Drug 1
MOS 4, California 3, Elevation 2, SYCMIOYO 1
Walk On 4, LAPOE 3, SFS 2, Unknown Caller 1
Kite 4, COBL 3, Iris 2, Crazy Tonight 1
IALW 4, Volcano 3, GOYB 2, ABOY 1
Raised by wolves 4, Wild Honey 3, AMAAW 2, SUC 1
Cedarwood Road 4, Fez-BB 3, CFYT 2, POE 1
WILATW 4, SLABT 3, White Ass Now 2, OSC 1
TIWYCRMN 4, Breathe 3, OOTS 2, NY 1
Cedars 4, Troubles 3, Yahweh 2, Grace 1

ATYCLB- 30
HTDAAB- 20
NLOTH- 27
SOI- 33

Great thread, BTW! I knew HTDAAB would be last, but this is still very interesting information. I never before have thought about rather I dislike ABOY or GOYB more, but I have to say for me, GOYB wins it!

 

[The_acrobat]

Track 6 has been by far the weakest slot for them this century. I had to call In a Little While the best at something.

Yeah, I really struggled with this as well and came to the same conclusion!

 

[The_acrobat]

I've liked Crazy Tonight from the first time I heard it despite all the naysaying. It's one of my favorites on that album.

I honestly never got the hate for Crazy Tonight. I always liked it and felt it flowed fairly well with the 4 songs the proceeded it. I think it unfairly gets lumped in with GOYB and SUC.

 

[Hollow Island]

i'm bolding the songs that are good

1. beautiful day, nloth, the miracle, vertigo
2. every breaking wave, stuck, magnificent, miracle drug
3. Moment of Surrender, California, Elevation, Sometimes
4. Unknown Caller, Song For Someone, Walk On, LPOE
5. Kite, Iris, COBL, Crazy
6. Volcano, IALW, Boots, ABOY
7. Wild Honey, Wolves, Crumbs, SUC
8. Fez, POE, Cedarwood, AMAW
9. Sleep, White, WILATW, One Step
10. New York, TIWYCRMN, Breathe, OOTS
11. Cedars, The Troubles, Grace, Yahweh

atycb - 33
htaab - 13
nloth - 30
soi - 34

 

[womanfish]

NLOTH 4/ BD 3/ Vertigo 2 / The Miracle 1

Every Breaking Wave 4 / Magnificent 3/ Stuck 2/ MD 1

MOS 4 / California 3 / Elevation 2 / Sometimes 1

Walk On 4 / SFS 3 / Unknown Caller 2/ LAPOE 1

Kite 4 / COBL 3 / Iris 2 / Crazy Tonight 1

Volcano 4 / In a Little While 3/ ABOY 2/ Get on Your Boots 1

Raised By Wolves 4/ AMAAW 3/Wild Honey 2 / Stand Up Comedy 1

Fez 4 / Cedarwood Road 3/ Crumbs 2/Peace on Earth 1

Sleep Like a Baby Tonight 4 / When I Look at the World 3/ One Step Closer 2 / White As Snow1

OOTS 4 / Breathe 3 / Reach Me Now 2 / New York 1

The Troubles 4 / Cedars of Lebanon 3 / Yahweh 2 / Grace 1


SOI - 34
NLOTH - 27
ATYCLB - 26
HTDAAB - 22

This comes out just about right when in think about how much I enjoy each of these albums.

 

[digitize]

It's interesting how much NLOTH has lost stock in these parts over the last few years. Until SOI, it definitely felt like it had a sort of Revenge of the Sith reputation - the best of the least-popular U2 trilogy. Now, it looks like it's liked about as much as Bomb (not very much).

NLOTH is still by far my favorite of the post-Pop albums, but I see that that opinion isn't very widely shared anymore.