It's not even their second best album.
Bullshit. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses is fucking thrilling, and so far from rote. What a ridiculous thing to say. That first minute or so is absolutely thrilling, as Laz says some of the sonics going on pushes the boundaries for them, the chorus is an absolute monster. I remember the first time I listened to it with good headphones, years after I first heard it, and it was like hearing it for the first time. There's so much going on in the very back of the mix, different instruments coming through different channels.
And So Cruel is a huge achievement. I can see how some could consider it a slog but the slog is the fucking point of the song, imo. It's the band wading through a heap of shit and coming out on the other side. Bono's vocals in the final take of the chorus are stunning, to me: a man finally snapping out of the haze, realising the toxicity of the relationship he's in and coming to a place of acceptance; I can see Bono smiling as he sings that reworded final line: "to stay with you, I'd be a fool / oooh love, sweetheart, you're so cruel..." The music is great as well. The rhythm section is the winner, and then there's some lovely guitar playing from Edge as well as the piano.
The lyrics to both - in particular So Cruel, as LM says, one of Bono's top performances both vocally and lyrically - are stellar if you ask me. I have never had an issue with the empty lot line. Who gives a shit. It hardly takes you out of the song. Maybe it's a slightly clunky metaphor but it's delivered well and the song's great.
