Readers of NME Originals have determined the best U2 album of all time. An online poll conducted by the magazine revealed that fans believe “Achtung Baby” is the band’s best work and “The Joshua Tree” second best.
64 thoughts on “Baby’s the Best”
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Nice to see it officially recognized, be it a reader’s poll. We all know “Achtung” really is the best.
Nice to see it officially recognized, be it a reader’s poll. We all know “Achtung” really is the best.
Hell yeah!
Hell yeah!
i agree. i listened to that album constantly for soooo long. and of course i still do, it never gets old.
i agree. i listened to that album constantly for soooo long. and of course i still do, it never gets old.
Damn right. Still the most lyrically brilliant of all their albums.
Damn right. Still the most lyrically brilliant of all their albums.
Gee, didn’t expect that result at all! 🙂 (Although I think that U2 have done at least three other albums that are at least just as good as AB and JT).
Gee, didn’t expect that result at all! 🙂 (Although I think that U2 have done at least three other albums that are at least just as good as AB and JT).
Even though this is like picking a favorite child or something, I have to stick by Joshua Tree as my pick, but good Lord what a close one between these two!!!
Even though this is like picking a favorite child or something, I have to stick by Joshua Tree as my pick, but good Lord what a close one between these two!!!
Also nice to see Pop in the top 5, where it belongs if not higher!!!
Also nice to see Pop in the top 5, where it belongs if not higher!!!
“Pop” absolutely is the most underrated of all their albums.
“Pop” absolutely is the most underrated of all their albums.
Awesome. Finally the true best album tops one of these polls for once!!
Awesome. Finally the true best album tops one of these polls for once!!
Pop is my favorite U2 album, even though I believe Achtung Baby is their best.
Whenever I hear Achtung, it always sounds the same, but I get something different every time out of Pop.
Pop is my favorite U2 album, even though I believe Achtung Baby is their best.
Whenever I hear Achtung, it always sounds the same, but I get something different every time out of Pop.
YES!!!!!
YES!!!!!
Not to second guess the voters, but I’m kind of surprised to see Unforgettable Fire as high as it is (especially above Pop)… =)
Not to second guess the voters, but I’m kind of surprised to see Unforgettable Fire as high as it is (especially above Pop)… =)
I’ll chime in here. I suppose I would say AB is their best, but JT is still my favorite. That’s fair to say.
I’ll chime in here. I suppose I would say AB is their best, but JT is still my favorite. That’s fair to say.
I’m actually surprised to see ATYCLB that high up.
I’m actually surprised to see ATYCLB that high up.
I’ve seen quite a few music polls over the years, and I noticed that U2 fans usually vote for AB as the best album, while the more “general” opinion tends to hold JT as an ultimate U2 album.
I’ve seen quite a few music polls over the years, and I noticed that U2 fans usually vote for AB as the best album, while the more “general” opinion tends to hold JT as an ultimate U2 album.
“October” is the best album, followed by “Rattle & Hum.” Everything else pales in comparison.
“October” is the best album, followed by “Rattle & Hum.” Everything else pales in comparison.
There’s a lot of life values behind Achtung’s lyrics. The second best album’s ATYCLB, with a lot of other life values (more spiritual than achtung…)
There’s a lot of life values behind Achtung’s lyrics. The second best album’s ATYCLB, with a lot of other life values (more spiritual than achtung…)
I think the poll got it right. All of us hold a very special place for Joshua Tree – but Achtung Baby is the true departure point on the lifetime ride with U2. And I predict one day that POP, to date grossly misaligned by the masses, will justifiably be recognized as the third piece to round out the Top Three, with ATYCLB being a tough competitor. Then again – imagine how cool it would be if U2’s next album is so good that it knocks Achtung Baby off the top spot!
I think the poll got it right. All of us hold a very special place for Joshua Tree – but Achtung Baby is the true departure point on the lifetime ride with U2. And I predict one day that POP, to date grossly misaligned by the masses, will justifiably be recognized as the third piece to round out the Top Three, with ATYCLB being a tough competitor. Then again – imagine how cool it would be if U2’s next album is so good that it knocks Achtung Baby off the top spot!
I am so pleased to see Pop up there in votes. Also, I love Unforgetable Fire.
I agree with Bleh as to hearing something new everytime I listen to POP. Just one cool concept all around.
I am so pleased to see Pop up there in votes. Also, I love Unforgetable Fire.
I agree with Bleh as to hearing something new everytime I listen to POP. Just one cool concept all around.
Do you guys ever think of October as almost a concept album??? Sometimes the album in whole sounds like Bono finding his faith, but maybe it’s just me… Also it’s one of the best!!!
Do you guys ever think of October as almost a concept album??? Sometimes the album in whole sounds like Bono finding his faith, but maybe it’s just me… Also it’s one of the best!!!
AB is the most complete album in pop/rock history as far as I’m concerned and JT and ATYCLB are in the top 20!
Special place with October and Boy for me. WAIA’s live version of “Bad”, assisted in motivating me out of a dark time in life. We all have our own place with the songs…Cheers~~
AB is the most complete album in pop/rock history as far as I’m concerned and JT and ATYCLB are in the top 20!
Special place with October and Boy for me. WAIA’s live version of “Bad”, assisted in motivating me out of a dark time in life. We all have our own place with the songs…Cheers~~
AB is the most complete album in pop/rock history as far as I’m concerned and JT and ATYCLB are in the top 20!
Special place with October and Boy for me. WAIA’s live version of “Bad”, assisted in motivating me out of a dark time in life. We all have our own place with the songs…Cheers~~
AB is the most complete album in pop/rock history as far as I’m concerned and JT and ATYCLB are in the top 20!
Special place with October and Boy for me. WAIA’s live version of “Bad”, assisted in motivating me out of a dark time in life. We all have our own place with the songs…Cheers~~
My favorite U2 album is whatever one I’m listening to at that moment! They are all that terrific!! 🙂
My favorite U2 album is whatever one I’m listening to at that moment! They are all that terrific!! 🙂
Well, I don’t think that any album U2 might do in the future will be as much of a radical departure as AB, simply because at this point everyone got used to U2 re-inventing themselves.
Well, I don’t think that any album U2 might do in the future will be as much of a radical departure as AB, simply because at this point everyone got used to U2 re-inventing themselves.
Of all of this brilliant band’s albums ,’Achtung Baby’ is simply the album where the boys kicked some serious butt .’JT’, ‘ATYCLB’,
“Under a Blood Red Sky” & “Zooropa” are among my favourites but seriously the tracks on ‘AB’ are simply awesome , especially live .For example ‘Even Better than the Real Thing”,”ONE”,”Mysterious Ways” and “THE FLY ” among others. I just like to pose a questtion to everyone what the best live song everyone has heard .Mine is probably Mysterious ways (especally during the ZOO concert)followed very closely by ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’
Of all of this brilliant band’s albums ,’Achtung Baby’ is simply the album where the boys kicked some serious butt .’JT’, ‘ATYCLB’,
“Under a Blood Red Sky” & “Zooropa” are among my favourites but seriously the tracks on ‘AB’ are simply awesome , especially live .For example ‘Even Better than the Real Thing”,”ONE”,”Mysterious Ways” and “THE FLY ” among others. I just like to pose a questtion to everyone what the best live song everyone has heard .Mine is probably Mysterious ways (especally during the ZOO concert)followed very closely by ‘Where The Streets Have No Name’
Greg – Not sure what my favorite live song was – that’s too tough to call. But the most incredible show for me was Elevation Montreal in October 2001 right after 9/11. They started that tour leg at Notre Dame doing a very sombre setlist – sort of in memorium. They then came to Montreal – and while it was equally sombre in its own way – they had a different plan in mind. U2 lifted that stadium to a unified emotional high that I will NEVER forget. It was without question the most electrifying religious moment I’ve ever experienced. And I’m not saying that because of the religious tones in U2’s music – it was just an intense bonding of the human spirit en masse and EVERYONE – even U2 – felt it. The entire crowd sang every word of every song – such that Bono many times just stopped and held the microphone up for entire verses. It didn’t ebb for a minute. With every song it just built to a higher level. You almost couldn’t take it. At the end of the show, no one wanted it to stop – not even U2. After the second encore – for which they totally abandoned the customary faux departure, the boys literally just stood there looking at the crowd and refused to leave for well over 5 minutes. No bows, no waves, nothing – just four exhausted people standing there listening to the crowd roaring their approval – both sides completely unable to disengage. Finally, Edge and Larry physically dragged Bono off the stage, then Edge turned around, bowed his head and raised his his index finger as high as he could stretch it.
Greg – Not sure what my favorite live song was – that’s too tough to call. But the most incredible show for me was Elevation Montreal in October 2001 right after 9/11. They started that tour leg at Notre Dame doing a very sombre setlist – sort of in memorium. They then came to Montreal – and while it was equally sombre in its own way – they had a different plan in mind. U2 lifted that stadium to a unified emotional high that I will NEVER forget. It was without question the most electrifying religious moment I’ve ever experienced. And I’m not saying that because of the religious tones in U2’s music – it was just an intense bonding of the human spirit en masse and EVERYONE – even U2 – felt it. The entire crowd sang every word of every song – such that Bono many times just stopped and held the microphone up for entire verses. It didn’t ebb for a minute. With every song it just built to a higher level. You almost couldn’t take it. At the end of the show, no one wanted it to stop – not even U2. After the second encore – for which they totally abandoned the customary faux departure, the boys literally just stood there looking at the crowd and refused to leave for well over 5 minutes. No bows, no waves, nothing – just four exhausted people standing there listening to the crowd roaring their approval – both sides completely unable to disengage. Finally, Edge and Larry physically dragged Bono off the stage, then Edge turned around, bowed his head and raised his his index finger as high as he could stretch it.
Achtung Baby barely slips by as my favorite, but I think it wins out. So hard to tell. Best lyrics are on Pop, no question. Most cohesive, Joshua Tree. Most likeable, ATYCLB. Every album is terrific, and every one has that one song I just don’t get into (ok, Pop has 2). Most brash, War. Ahh must stop. Most eclectic, Zooropa. I love them all! 😛
Achtung Baby barely slips by as my favorite, but I think it wins out. So hard to tell. Best lyrics are on Pop, no question. Most cohesive, Joshua Tree. Most likeable, ATYCLB. Every album is terrific, and every one has that one song I just don’t get into (ok, Pop has 2). Most brash, War. Ahh must stop. Most eclectic, Zooropa. I love them all! 😛
JoMan- my most intense live experience too was after 9/11 – in Baltimore…the first moody notes of Please and I thought my heart would break. How can something so trancendant come out of something so tragic? At the time it was so fresh and raw. Horrible, and yet I hope we don’t ever forget how it felt.
JoMan- my most intense live experience too was after 9/11 – in Baltimore…the first moody notes of Please and I thought my heart would break. How can something so trancendant come out of something so tragic? At the time it was so fresh and raw. Horrible, and yet I hope we don’t ever forget how it felt.
I agree with the poll…for the reason that I bought the cd AFTER buying JT and it was better than JT. Secondly, cuz the ZooTV tour took ALL of U2s live performances of their old songs to a whole other level…like my level in the stadium…higher :). The technology of AB was used for good u2 and not evil U2.
I agree with the poll…for the reason that I bought the cd AFTER buying JT and it was better than JT. Secondly, cuz the ZooTV tour took ALL of U2s live performances of their old songs to a whole other level…like my level in the stadium…higher :). The technology of AB was used for good u2 and not evil U2.
It seems to me that ATYCLB spoke more with the feelings we can all associate with,(personally my U2 favorite), but it goes without saying U2 has been and always will be the best rock band around.
-Matt
It seems to me that ATYCLB spoke more with the feelings we can all associate with,(personally my U2 favorite), but it goes without saying U2 has been and always will be the best rock band around.
-Matt
Lucy – Please was haunting in Montreal too – especially when the lyrics revealed themselves to be so incredibly prophetic – as did the lyrics to New York. So much so that Bono had to change the lyrics to even be able to sing them. You know – I was going to say this in my previous message – but it was too long already (as this one is becoming..!) – I was standing in the Heart right in front of Bono at Elevation Earl’s Court the day after his father died. You always dream you might get to meet Bono at some point – but to be so close to him while he was in such clear and intense pain – was really not at all the experience I had planned for. It wasn’t uplifting in normal U2 terms – but it was inspiring and humbling to see the human spirit prevail the way his did that night. Hard to say it was the best show I’ve seen – but I’ll certainly never forget it.
Lucy – Please was haunting in Montreal too – especially when the lyrics revealed themselves to be so incredibly prophetic – as did the lyrics to New York. So much so that Bono had to change the lyrics to even be able to sing them. You know – I was going to say this in my previous message – but it was too long already (as this one is becoming..!) – I was standing in the Heart right in front of Bono at Elevation Earl’s Court the day after his father died. You always dream you might get to meet Bono at some point – but to be so close to him while he was in such clear and intense pain – was really not at all the experience I had planned for. It wasn’t uplifting in normal U2 terms – but it was inspiring and humbling to see the human spirit prevail the way his did that night. Hard to say it was the best show I’ve seen – but I’ll certainly never forget it.
I would have to agree with the fact that it is like picking a favorite child. I do believe that the AB package- songwriting, image, tour, etc.- was the best as a whole, but in terms of lyrics, Pop is still my number one. Pure genius, and completely underrated as well.
I would have to agree with the fact that it is like picking a favorite child. I do believe that the AB package- songwriting, image, tour, etc.- was the best as a whole, but in terms of lyrics, Pop is still my number one. Pure genius, and completely underrated as well.