U2 - Achtung Baby

My favorite cd from U2

Out of my whole U2 collection, I'd have to say this is my favorite one. U2 is a band that comes out with albums that never sound the same, but you know it's them. I love this album because it was an area U2 never explored as far as modern rock. Just like Bono said on the "Achtung Baby" Video, it's the most serious album with the least sounding title.
I love the whole allum, but "One", "The Fly", and "Ultra Violet" are my favorite tracks. Just like any other album they came out with, all 4 band members shine through with they're playing skills. I'm so glad the always do "One" when in concert. This is A MUST album to get for any U2 fan. I love this album so much, I can never get sick of it! May 6, 2008

My favorite U2 album....

This is my favorite U2 album. I saw them on their legendary, amazing Zoo TV tour (at the World Music Theater in Tinley Park, Illinois, more on the show later). This is a wildly creative, ambitious album. It's not the work of idle artists, but vibrant ones. U2 has managed that rare feat in rock and roll to keep exploring and pushing themselves without sounding self indulgent (except for Zooropa).

The opening track, Zoo Station, is a favorite, and the song they kicked the concert off with. One is one of their best ballads, and I absolutely love Until the End of the World. It was written for the Wim Wenders film, and it's one of the best things about Wenders's film (which, honestly, is a bit of a mess). The single Mysterious Ways (replete with a belly dancer during the show) is one of their best singles ever. I love the CD booklet as well, which has some amazing photographs and is one of the best examples of making a great CD jacket. It's like a great album cover, which is quickly becoming a lost art.

When I saw this concert, one of the best things was when Bono called the local police (honestly). The sound system that U2 was using was for huge arenas, and the World Music Theater, while a large outdoor arena, wasn't a huge one, but the sound system didn't know that. The Tinley Park police department received many complaints about the noise, so Bono called them on the third show they did in that venue to complain about the noise. Us in the crowd cooperated with Bono to let the police know that there was too much noise, if you know what I mean. It was a sensory overload type concert, with many monitors, lights, and even a car hanging above the stage (or a fake car). It was a very memorable concert, one of the best I ever saw. And this is my favorite U2 album.... May 6, 2008

achtung achtung!!

the time is the early 90's, gone are the excesses of the 80's, technology is trickling down to the hands of the masses. the world is in transition as the cold war has thawed. europe is changing, as mindsets, politics and geographic borders are different.

music is changing as it is going away from slick production to a more grimier, less polished finish.

U2 is aware of the world changing and are influenced by it.

rumors circulate about how U2 are changing their sound. a sample of it is released on "red, hot and blue", the song, "night and day" and it just made my jaw hit the ground.

then in the fall of 1991 "the fly". i heard it at 6AM, waking up to the dj talking about the new U2 song and how it was being played for the second time that day. when i heard that opening guitar lick, U2 had put rattle and hum and the joshua tree into a wood chipper (mind you there is nothing wrong with both albums).

when i finally purchased the album, it was just incredible.

from the opening "zoo station" all the way through "love is blindness", i was plugged in and could not put down my headphones.

every song stands out for me, with no favorites as i love them all.

this is U2's best album, hands down, no other album even comes close.

the tour was way ahead of its time, a mobile television studio, a true multimedia experience before the phrase was ever used in popular vernacular. April 9, 2008

ACHTUNG BABY ! : THIS IS ONE OF U2's BEST. (it's more cynical and experimental than War or The Joshua Tree, but just as good)

U2's Achtung Baby (1991) is an album that I really like. Now, I like War and The Joshua Tree, too, and consider those two to be the band's finest work. I also consider Achtung Baby to be on the same level as both of those albums. The best songs on War and The Joshua Tree are political in nature, but there are no overt politics on Achtung Baby. If there is a theme here at all, it's the fascinating nature of women and a cynical view of relationships with them. I like the modern sound of Achtung Baby. It's full of sound effects, feedback, and recording studio pyrotechnics. There's still plenty of emotional substance and melodic structure, it's just that the sound is more daring and stylish.

Zoo Station and Even Better Than The Real Thing both feature the new sound along with the classic U2 melodic rock formula. The Edge's guitar work here is some of his very best. It's bold and dramatic, and it's experimental sound gives the album it's character. One is a great song, one of the band's best. The purity of love gets lost in the haze sometimes.

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus to the lepers in your head?

Ultraviolet (Light My Way) and Mysterious Ways are highlights, too, and both are great songs. I also like The Fly, and Love is Blindness.

Achtung Baby is rocking, interesting, and inventive, and it's one of U2's best albums. This is one that you don't want to miss.

March 18, 2008

Achtung!.

On Achtung Baby U2 decided to completely change and renovate their sound and it has turned out to be quite effective, not only has this turned out to be one of their best albums ever but its also one of the best albums of the 90's this album has also managed to sustain their level of success.
Just from the opening riffs and electronic sounds of Zoo station you could tell that they were experimenting with song structures and some dance beats this however really does work and doesn't sound cheesy.

The album also has some swirling guitar riffs from The Edge as well as layers of effects and Bono seemed to have more personal lyrics this time instead of the usual political stuff, I always thought he was a brilliant lyricist and songwriter as proven in songs like One, Until the end of the world and Mysterious ways which has some brilliant drumming and a nice rhythm those songs were the highlight.
The album also was a huge hit and from start to finish there is not a single bad song, U2 have definitely delivered on this album especially after the huge success that was The Joshua Tree and in my opinion Achtung Baby was a hell of alot better than that album not that theres anything wrong with Joshua its just that this album rocks alot harder and I tend to listen to this album more often.
Achtung Baby is a great epic album which has some great acoustic numbers with some great rock songs like Even better than the real thing, The fly, Mysterious ways these songs are very energetic and almost have a tribal or world beat to them.

I consider this to be my favorite album of all time and despite it being 17 years old it still sounds as cutting edge and fresh as the day it was released, the general concept or theme of the album is about love and betrayal with some more emotional and inspired lyrics and Bono does a great job with these songs just check out the excellent So cruel it has a simple piano sound and some great and honest lyrics "You say in love there are no rules/sweatheart your so cruel" and the song Tryin' to throw your arms around the world where Bono sings I'm gonna run to you.
The rhythm and solid guitar work was great although the drumming at times could have been better like in the song Who's gonna drive your wild horse but thats just a minor complaint, this album is definitely a work of genius the type of album you would listen to over and over again, I cannot recommend this album highly enough. February 21, 2008

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