U2 is easily one of the greatest bands of all-time, at the very least one of the best bands of the '80s, maybe the best. Their musical output in the '80s was staggering, by far their best decade. With that being said, they have written some equally interesting and great work following that era. Here is the ranking of their albums.
14. October (1981)
This very album could be one of the least satisfying U2 albums. The passion is there, the songs are not. At times it does show off the band's growing talents. The album also showed U2's raw, vulnerable and emotional state of mind. Sure, there is a great deal of spiritual and religious influence in October, and that is off-putting to many. I find it refreshing. October was a fine album that was leading up to what many consider the finest three albums in U2's catalog.
13. Songs of Experience (2017)
Where Songs of Innocence looked back at U2's beginnings, Songs of Experience considers everything that comes afterward: love, mortality, family, faith, and the passing of time. It's a warmer and more reflective record, with "The Little Things That Give You Away," "Landlady," and "Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way" standing among its highlights. Not every attempt at modern pop production works, but when U2 stops chasing the present and simply sounds like U2, the album carries genuine emotional weight. It feels like a band looking at how far it has traveled and wondering how much road remains.
12. Rattle & Hum (1988)
The controversial Rattle & Hum is a mix of live tracks and studio recordings. Critics dismissed the album when it first came out as bombastic and egotistical, but that probably had a lot to do with the film. Rattle & Hum is a good album. Though it gets a bit bloated and full of itself, it did give us "Desire," "Silver and Gold," and "All I Want Is You." Those three songs stand up against anything the band has ever written. If it wasn't for all of the critical backlash against this album, the reinvention of the band might never have happened and we might never have gotten Achtung Baby.
11. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (2004)
Some have criticized U2 for coming off as calculated and deliberate in the making of their albums. This album seems to back up those claims. Unfortunately, this outing feels like nothing more than a collection of well-written and well-produced songs that breaks no new ground musically or lyrically. The most frustrating thing about this album is that many of these songs are fantastic. There are just too many sub-par songs by the standard the band has set.
10. Zooropa (1993)
An experimental album by the band that satisfies and disappoints. At this point in their career they were still overly fascinated with electronic music, so it was only natural that they created an eclectic, infectious blend of electronic sounds. Zooropa takes some time to understand and appreciate. That being said, it comes off as a work-in-progress, another one of their albums that had the potential to be so much more.
9. No Line On The Horizon (2009)
No Line on the Horizon is an inspired and moving work. This is U2's best album in quite some time. Full of great ideas, it's sonically interesting and explores some new ground for U2. The first three songs are fantastic. It's after that where the album starts to unravel. If you take off a few of the play-it-safe songs and replace them with more challenging experimental material, you could have one of their absolute best albums.
8. Songs Of Innocence (2014)
Songs of Innocence finds U2 looking backward, revisiting the people, places, faith, and music that shaped the band. The album's infamous automatic iTunes release overshadowed the music itself, which is unfortunate because songs like "Every Breaking Wave," "Song for Someone," and "The Troubles" contain some of U2's strongest latter-day moments. It may not have the danger or ambition of their classic records, but underneath the polished production is a surprisingly personal album about youth, loss, belief, and becoming who you are.
