Wow Angell... froma person with the ATYCLB Suitcase those are (or seem) harsh words (You consider War a bland release? Interesting.) Each to their own though
Anyway, I think I agree with most people that say ATYCLB is weaker by the end. I absolutely love the first 6 tracks. All incredible. But the last, are meh. I should listen to it again though as it has been a while...
HTDAAB is stronger overall... Much stronger. The only tracks I don't like too much are One Step Closer and Yanweh(like it live much more).
Let me Compare
Beautiful Day vs Miracle Drug Battle of the Hope songs
Beautiful Day is much better. Hands down. I can't say enough good about Beautiful Day. I like Miracle Drug but you can't compare it to the beauty and hope in Beautiful Day. people say the lyrics in Beautiful Day are weak, but they are some of the best lyrics I have ever heard and mean so much to me.
Vertigo vs Elevation Battle of the Rockers
Sorry Elevation. Can't beat the speed and energy of Vertigo. Its a swirling storm... a hurricane. Unstopable. I love Elevation, but the album version isn't as good as live or as the remix, whereas Vertigo kicks ass recorded AND live.
Kite vs Sometimes Battle of the Ballads
Both amazing. I can't really find a song which is better. Sometimes has beautiful falsettos and is about Bono's father - more heartfealt... but I have read that Kite is a song Bono wants to leave to his kids. It can be interpreted many different ways, to kids, to his father, to a lover. Hearing this one live on Slane and reading the lyrics made me teary eyed. But than again... hearing Sometimes on the record got to me.
Both amazing.
The thing is, if you keep going down the list (I wasn't going in track listing, but by the song type, according to moi)
I like Bomb more.