U2
albums:
from Good to Best
U2 is easily one of the
greatest bands of all-time, the very least one of the best bands of the
80's, maybe the best. Their musical output in the 80's was staggering, by far their
best decade.
With that being said they have written some equally interesting great work following
that era. Here is the ranking of their albums.
12. October
(1981)This very album could be is one of the most 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 (religious) influence in October,
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 3 albums in U2's
catalog.
11. Rattle & Hum (1988)
The controversial Rattle & Hum is a mix of live
tracks and studio recordings. The critics dismissed this album when it first
came out as bombastic and egotistical, but that probably had a lot to do
with the
film. Rattle and 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 on this very album.
The reinvention of the band might not of ever happened and we might have
never got Achtung Baby. So we all should be happy this album exists.
10.
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, many of these songs are fantastic. Just too many sub-par songs by the
standard the band has set.
09. Pop (1997)
This album was panned pretty harshly when it came
out. But over time I think it has aged well. U2 has always tried to show
incredible innovation in their music. This album is one of those attempts at
that
very thing.This album has something that so many other U2 albums
lack: explosive rock energy. It's unfortunate the album doesn't keep that
energy through out. The last half of the album is pops undoing. Things just
crawl to a stand still. The songs get slow and uneventful. This could have
been a top 5 album for the band.
08. 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 music. Zooropa takes some time
to understand and appreciate. That being said, Zooropa comes of as a
work-in-progress. Another one of their albums that had potential to be
so much more.
07. 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 some what new ground for U2. The first three
songs are fantastic. It's after that where the album starts to unravel. I
feel like if you take off a few off the play it safe songs and put in some
more challenging experimental songs, you could have one of their absolute
best albums.
