I've been reading a lot of posts about how much certain people around here despise U2's 90's stuff, and I'm a bit sick of it myself. I think musically, lyrically, production-wise, U2 was at their best in the 90's. They weren't afraid to be something other than U2, which took some real guts after the massive success of their 80's sound.
To me, there is yet to be an album recorded by anyone that equals the perfection of Achtung Baby. It just doesn't get any better. The band manage to totally augment their sound, yet keep the same spirit in the music. They also created their most introverted, personal album to date. Bono at his lyrical peak, and it flows like nothing else.
Zooropa sounds pretty damn amazing for something that was supposed to be a few leftovers shoved onto an EP! Musical innovation at its finest, despite all the very strange sounds coming at you, the heart is still there. Bono says Stay is the most beautiful song they've ever written, and it's hard to debate sometimes. Lemon can make you laugh or cry, depending on your mood. And The Wanderer is just chilling. Nobody else could make something this brilliant in this stretch of time.
POP. Oh, the red-headed stepchild of U2 albums. In all honesty, I listen to this album a lot more than the Joshua Tree. This may have been billed as techno dance music, but U2 has never been as dark, as doubtful, or as vulnerable than in this gem. Sure, the production is rushed, but heart-wrenching songs like Gone and Please mixed with foot-tappers like Discotheque and Do You Feel Loved, along with straight-forward classic U2 (Staring At The Sun), this is easily U2's most underrated album. I think the image of the band at the time hurt this album a lot. If they had been wearing black overcoats and cowboy hats on the cover, I think it would have been different for POP.
All in all, a marvelous decade for U2 that I believe saw their finest work.
(PS-to all you 80's lovers, this is in no way an insult to the earlier albums, I just think the 90's work shines brighter, despite what MTV and radio DJ's may have us believe)
Edit: I can't believe I made that many spelling errors in the title. My apologies.
[This message has been edited by Dustybot (edited 12-25-2001).]
To me, there is yet to be an album recorded by anyone that equals the perfection of Achtung Baby. It just doesn't get any better. The band manage to totally augment their sound, yet keep the same spirit in the music. They also created their most introverted, personal album to date. Bono at his lyrical peak, and it flows like nothing else.
Zooropa sounds pretty damn amazing for something that was supposed to be a few leftovers shoved onto an EP! Musical innovation at its finest, despite all the very strange sounds coming at you, the heart is still there. Bono says Stay is the most beautiful song they've ever written, and it's hard to debate sometimes. Lemon can make you laugh or cry, depending on your mood. And The Wanderer is just chilling. Nobody else could make something this brilliant in this stretch of time.
POP. Oh, the red-headed stepchild of U2 albums. In all honesty, I listen to this album a lot more than the Joshua Tree. This may have been billed as techno dance music, but U2 has never been as dark, as doubtful, or as vulnerable than in this gem. Sure, the production is rushed, but heart-wrenching songs like Gone and Please mixed with foot-tappers like Discotheque and Do You Feel Loved, along with straight-forward classic U2 (Staring At The Sun), this is easily U2's most underrated album. I think the image of the band at the time hurt this album a lot. If they had been wearing black overcoats and cowboy hats on the cover, I think it would have been different for POP.
All in all, a marvelous decade for U2 that I believe saw their finest work.
(PS-to all you 80's lovers, this is in no way an insult to the earlier albums, I just think the 90's work shines brighter, despite what MTV and radio DJ's may have us believe)
Edit: I can't believe I made that many spelling errors in the title. My apologies.
[This message has been edited by Dustybot (edited 12-25-2001).]