Updated U2 Album Rank.

[snutes1]

I will now divide the u2 albums into tiers of greatness instead of ranking them 1 to 11

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby

Great

POP
Zooropa
Boy

Solid

HTDAAB
War
Rattle and Hum
ATYCLB

Uneven

October
Unforgettable Fire


My 2 cents

 

[korczykp]

Unforgettable Fire is lowest on your list?

Bad, Pride, Wire, UF, Homecoming O_O

 

[arsenalfan]

I'll have a go:

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby

Great

Zooropa
War


Solid

Unforgettable Fire
HTDAAB
ATYCLB
Rattle and Hum
Boy

Uneven
POP
October

 

[Bunbury]

I will now divide the u2 albums into tiers of greatness instead of ranking them 1 to 11

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby

Great

POP
Zooropa
Boy

Solid

HTDAAB
War
Rattle and Hum
ATYCLB

Uneven

October
Unforgettable Fire


My 2 cents

Agree

 

[nuke126]

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby

Great

HTDAAB
ATYCLB
Boy

Solid

Zooropa
POP
War
Rattle and Hum

Uneven

October
Unforgettable Fire

 

[theu2fly]

Classic:

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby
War
The Unforgettable Fire

Great:

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
All That You Can't Leave Behind
Boy

Solid:

Zooropa
October
Pop
Rattle and Hum

 

[Axver]

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

The Unforgettable Fire
The Joshua Tree
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Great

Boy
October
Under A Blood Red Sky
Wide Awake In America
Zooropa

Solid

War
Rattle And Hum
Pop

Uneven

Achtung Baby
All That You Can't Leave Behind

 

[nuke126]

hey Axver, i think your list is upside down. ............ at least it should be

 

[Axver]

hey Axver, i think your list is upside down. ............ at least it should be

Looks quite alright to me ... the best are at the top, the 'worst' are at the bottom (by 'worst', I mean they aren't quite as good as the best but still bloody outstanding).

I'm sure a lot of people would love to argue my placement of Achtung Baby, though.

 

[Aardvark747]

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

The Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Great

The Unforgettable Fire
Zooropa
Pop
Under A Blood Red Sky
Boy

Solid

Rattle And Hum
Wide Awake In America
War
All That You Can't Leave Behind

Uneven

October

 

[Aardvark747]

Looks quite alright to me ... the best are at the top, the 'worst' are at the bottom (by 'worst', I mean they aren't quite as good as the best but still bloody outstanding).

I'm sure a lot of people would love to argue my placement of Achtung Baby, though.

I would....but ive seen you in an arguement on here before Axver....I wouldnt win!

 

[Axver]

I would....but ive seen you in an arguement on here before Axver....I wouldnt win!

Heh, well, I'd be more than happy to simply explain why I labelled Achtung Baby as uneven. I think I might do that, just to make my position a little more clear. I do LOVE this album and it has a few of my favourite U2 tracks. However, I feel it has a couple of weak points and contains a couple of U2 songs that I just don't like.

Zoo Station - Weird intro, fun beginning, comes at you from nowhere. However, I feel as it progresses, it settles into a groove and doesn't continue what it started.

Even Better Than The Real Thing - I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but I get this feeling this is a kind of pop song for rockers who don't want to admit they find certain songs catchy. I still like it, but it's not exactly a shining light of U2.

One - Classic #1 on the album.

Until The End Of The World - Classic #2, though much weaker in the studio than live.

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - This song doesn't really stand out to me in any way. It's a solid song, but it's not one that I feel anything particularly strong towards.

So Cruel - This song is a difficult one to discuss. Most of the time, I find it to be boring and a little aimless; however, at some points in my life, it has been the perfect song for the emotions I was feeling. I think its biggest problem is you need to be feeling certain emotions to appreciate the song; it's not accessible to someone who isn't feeling those same emotions.

The Fly - Classic #3.

Mysterious Ways - Damn catchy, but much better live. Probably warrants the same criticisms as EBTTRT, but ... I just can't do that. Not only do I enjoy this song, but I find the interpretation that it's about the Holy Spirit to be quite deep and valuable.

Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World - Uh ... next?

Ultra Violet (Light My Way) - I think it would be safer if I skipped to the next song. We all know by now that I do not like this track.

Acrobat - Classic #4.

Love Is Blindness - Amazing song, might be classic #5 on the album, but ... for some reason, I hesitate in giving it that title. Acrobat/LIB is definitely a spectacular closing combination.

So there you go. For me, it's an album of distinct ups and downs. In any case, I simply prefer the eighties/Hut Dab sound.

 

[Aardvark747]

There's some pretty fair comments in there.
I know most people tend to leap to saying that JT and AB are the best things they've ever done..I suppose I do! But I try not to do it lightly! It still has a few faults for me too.

Wild Horses is not the best version by far. And I actually tend to skip EBTTRT and Mysterious Ways when listening to the album now. I really prefer the live versions of both.
Ironically, it's only really been the last year-18months that i've started to enjoy UV. Before then, it was always 'just another song', that I didnt really pay much attention to.
I know the "baby baby baby's" can get annoying, but I just try to stick with it!

HTDAAB is certainly in my top 3 now, especially since CFYT and OSC have grown on me, therefore there isnt a single song I dislike on there right now.

 

[Aardvark747]

I think actually what I mean to say about AB is that it's one of those albums that is much more enjoyable, when the songs are performed live.

(except for Acrobat of course...we'll never know!)

 

[U2_Guy]

Heh, well, I'd be more than happy to simply explain why I labelled Achtung Baby as uneven. I think I might do that, just to make my position a little more clear. I do LOVE this album and it has a few of my favourite U2 tracks. However, I feel it has a couple of weak points and contains a couple of U2 songs that I just don't like.

Zoo Station - Weird intro, fun beginning, comes at you from nowhere. However, I feel as it progresses, it settles into a groove and doesn't continue what it started.

Even Better Than The Real Thing - I'll probably get flamed for saying this, but I get this feeling this is a kind of pop song for rockers who don't want to admit they find certain songs catchy. I still like it, but it's not exactly a shining light of U2.

One - Classic #1 on the album.

Until The End Of The World - Classic #2, though much weaker in the studio than live.

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses - This song doesn't really stand out to me in any way. It's a solid song, but it's not one that I feel anything particularly strong towards.

So Cruel - This song is a difficult one to discuss. Most of the time, I find it to be boring and a little aimless; however, at some points in my life, it has been the perfect song for the emotions I was feeling. I think its biggest problem is you need to be feeling certain emotions to appreciate the song; it's not accessible to someone who isn't feeling those same emotions.

The Fly - Classic #3.

Mysterious Ways - Damn catchy, but much better live. Probably warrants the same criticisms as EBTTRT, but ... I just can't do that. Not only do I enjoy this song, but I find the interpretation that it's about the Holy Spirit to be quite deep and valuable.

Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World - Uh ... next?

Ultra Violet (Light My Way) - I think it would be safer if I skipped to the next song. We all know by now that I do not like this track.

Acrobat - Classic #4.

Love Is Blindness - Amazing song, might be classic #5 on the album, but ... for some reason, I hesitate in giving it that title. Acrobat/LIB is definitely a spectacular closing combination.

So there you go. For me, it's an album of distinct ups and downs. In any case, I simply prefer the eighties/Hut Dab sound.

Now it's all explained...

 

[Axver]

There's some pretty fair comments in there.

Thanks. I was trying my best to not come across as anti-AB (as I said, I really do love the album). I hope that now people can see a bit of where I'm coming from when I rank other albums above it and do not consider it to be a masterpiece.

And I actually tend to skip EBTTRT and Mysterious Ways when listening to the album now. I really prefer the live versions of both.

Oh, most certainly. They are incredible live. For all my complaints about ZooTV (mainly with regards to the static setlists), those are two of the songs that really get me into ZooTV bootlegs and jumping around the room, playing appalling air guitar.

And you know, there was once a time when I didn't even dislike Ultra Violet! Maybe those days will come back. I highly doubt it, though. I'm currently ranking it equal with Red Light (don't freak out on me!).

HTDAAB is certainly in my top 3 now, especially since CFYT and OSC have grown on me, therefore there isnt a single song I dislike on there right now.

Those songs are stunning. Definitely two of my favourites. I love listening to tracks seven to eleven ... I was lying in bed ill today, and I kept repeating that part of the album. Good medicine, I tell you!

 

[Aardvark747]

Oh, most certainly. They are incredible live. For all my complaints about ZooTV (mainly with regards to the static setlists), those are two of the songs that really get me into ZooTV bootlegs and jumping around the room, playing appalling air guitar.

Indeed. I always tend to opt for the ZooTV bootlegs, over say, the Popmart ones, for that very reason.
I understand what ur saying about the setlists, the U2 concert book (which im sure u have), is fantastic info for that. And from what I can see when I read it, they didnt really seem to rotate the stuff that much.
What else would you have put in and instead of, ideally?

And you know, there was once a time when I didn't even dislike Ultra Violet! Maybe those days will come back. I highly doubt it, though. I'm currently ranking it equal with Red Light (don't freak out on me!).

"Da da da, da da da, da da da, da da da. DA DA DA, DA DA DA, DA DA DA, DA DA DA"!!

 

[arsenalfan]

You know, I actually find that I've grown to like EBTTRT more as time goes on, and Mysterious Ways less. For some reason, I find EBTTRT exhilirating. Actually, it's the same feeling I got when I heard Vertigo for the first time.

 

[Aardvark747]

You know, I actually find that I've grown to like EBTTRT more as time goes on, and Mysterious Ways less. For some reason, I find EBTTRT exhilirating. Actually, it's the same feeling I got when I heard Vertigo for the first time.

Good comment....but didnt you draw with WBA at the weekend?

 

[Axver]

Indeed. I always tend to opt for the ZooTV bootlegs, over say, the Popmart ones, for that very reason.

For me, I go through phases. Right now, I'm on a ZooTV UTEOTW and Bullet/RTSS/Streets kick, but sometimes, I'll crank up Popmart bootlegs really loud for stuff such as Mofo/IWF and LNOE/UTEOTW. ZooTV and Popmart are the two tours of which I have the most criticisms (I'm a Lovetown fanlad myself), but despite those, U2 did make some WONDERFUL music then and I am in awe of the stage designs.

I understand what ur saying about the setlists, the U2 concert book (which im sure u have), is fantastic info for that. And from what I can see when I read it, they didnt really seem to rotate the stuff that much.
What else would you have put in and instead of, ideally?

Actually, I don't have that book! Lack of money, sigh. I'm hoping that someone in my family will buy it for me for Christmas. All of my setlist knowledge comes from browsing over websites devoted to the sets. I think what they should have done on ZooTV is included some rotation - i.e. In God's Country instead of Pride some nights, AIWIY instead of WOWY, Trip Through Your Wires instead of When Love Comes To Town, and so on. Just some minor adjustments to make it a little more interesting and variable.

"Da da da, da da da, da da da, da da da. DA DA DA, DA DA DA, DA DA DA, DA DA DA"!!

Aaahhhh, I hate that part! Heh, I think everyone does. Though it's so amusingly eighties that I just have to laugh sometimes. I do feel Edge plays some good guitar and there a couple of decent lyrics in the song, so that redeems it. Ultra Violet isn't all bad in my opinion either - Adam does some really nice bass work.

 

[arsenalfan]

Good comment....but didnt you draw with WBA at the weekend?

Zing! Yes, very frustrating to say the least. I keep telling myself that at least it's November, and not April.

 

[Aardvark747]

Just the lyrics in UV thats your main gripe then?

Yeah, I had the book bought for me last xmas. It keeps being updated after each tour. I think it was first released after ZOOTV. But you'll love it, with all the info it contains. Not just the gigs and set-lists, but 'minor' things, like the next one will no doubt include the radio one details and the NY truck gig.

 

[patrickU217]

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Achtung Baby
How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
The Unforgettable Fire

Great

All That You Can't Leave Behind
The Joshua Tree
War
Under A Blood Red Sky
Wide Awake In America

Solid

Boy
October
Rattle And Hum
Pop

Uneven

Zooropa

 

[Aardvark747]

Zing! Yes, very frustrating to say the least. I keep telling myself that at least it's November, and not April.

Yeah, i'm trying that...but as a UTD fan...it's getting increasingly difficult to remain optimistic!

 

[stagman]

Genius/Masterpiece/Classic

Joshua Tree
Achtung Baby
HTDAAB

Great

War
Pop

Solid

Zooropa
Unforgettable Fire
ATYCLB
Rattle and Hum
Boy

Uneven
October

 

[arsenalfan]

Yeah, i'm trying that...but as a UTD fan...it's getting increasingly difficult to remain optimistic!

You lads have had a good run, why don't you let us have a go? Besides, it's more fun to torture Chelski with the "One Team In London" chants when they actually mean something.

Anyway, looking at my list again, I of course want to make changes, but will restrain myself. For now.

 

[Aardvark747]

You lads have had a good run, why don't you let us have a go? Besides, it's more fun to torture Chelski with the "One Team In London" chants when they actually mean something.

Agreed. Im not one of those anti-Arsenal fans anyway. I love watching their games, almost as much I do ours. They've been playing so well for a while now, so they do fully deserve everything they win. Europe the next agenda now.....

(better stop this convo, before they move us to the 'Put em' Under Pressure' forum!

 

[Axver]

Just the lyrics in UV thats your main gripe then?

And I find it musically boring besides Adam's bass. I just ... don't feel it really goes anywhere or does much in particular. At least Trip Through Your Wires, my least favourite song on JT, has some fun harmonica.

And I feel all left out with this soccer talk ... I used to keep a very close eye on the Premier League, but in the last couple of years, I'm not sure what's happened. I guess it's just fallen by the wayside for some unknown reason.

 

[Aardvark747]

You've missed a huge change Axver! Arsenal have stolen Man U's crown. And Chelski have been bought by a Billionaire Russian oil businessman, and have so many foreign players now, they might aswell form a league of their own!

 

[arsenalfan]

Consider the convo stopped.

In U2 news, I was at the NYC show yesterday. I wrote a travelogue/review that I posted under the "Just Got back from the NYC show" thread. It's on page 5. I'd link it, but I can't post links until I've posted 15 times...