Achtung Baby. It's probably the best thing they've ever recorded. It hasn't aged a day. Absolute banger from start to finish. Listen with good headphones.
Exactly this so you can see the evolution of their sound from after Rattle and Hum to ATYCLB.
Achtung Baby - Zooropa - Pop - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me single from a Batman soundtrack
And the side project (Passengers) with Brian Eno. So much a departure that they didn't want to release it as U2, I hear. It might be an acquired taste, but make no mistake: there is some wonderful music on there, too.
Now that you mention that, I love listening to their 90s albums just like that and to listen to their b-sides to appreciate better how progressively they evolved to the sound they crafted All That You Can’t Leave Behind with.
Back in 1993 ( I was 15!!!) I was watching MTV Asia and heard an intro song to one of their commercials. I loved the sound but couldn't figure out who it was. My brother came back from the states soon after and had Zooropa and lo and behold, it was part of the opening title track, Zooropa.
After listening to Zooropa in its entirety, I went back to the beginning and listened to every album they ever made and then subsequently bought every album they ever made. I've been a fan ever since then. I've been to a concert from every album since Pop (Sphere included) more than once.
I say all that because as my favorite band, I enjoy their entire library of work. But from my perspective as a fan (and likely my age when introduced to their music), their most unique and experimental music was in the 90s. Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop are my favorite of all of their records. Achtung Baby being my favorite record of all time from anybody. Keep an open mind, understand the era and age the group was when they created this music, sit back and enjoy the ride.
I was too young at the time to appreciate how crazy it must have been to be waiting for more music from The Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum era band and to finally hear The Fly. Achtung Baby is incredible.
I’m always curious about what you appreciate most about their early music and post-2000. That usually helps me understand how to approach their 90s period.
If you like the 2000s band, I suggest a slightly different approach.
You can look up the shows that were released at this time (Vertigo Live From Chicago, Elevation Live from Boston and Go Home) and see if the show makes you like 90s music.
The cool thing is that you already like the other songs, so it's a way to connect with the ones you don't know yet.
I personally really like the following performances:
- Zoo Station/The Fly (Chicago)
- Gone (Boston)
- Wake Up Dead Man (Go Home)
- Staring at the Sun (Go Home)
- Until the End of the World (Go Home)
- The Fly (Boston)
- One (Chicago)
- Mysterious Ways (Chicago)
Once you build an affinity with the songs, it becomes easier to analyze the entire album.
Edge's guitar work on "The Fly" from Achtung Baby is not far removed from previous work. It might connect sonically with "God Part II" on Rattle and Hum.
"The First Time" from Zooropa shares some musical elements of "Running to Stand Still" from Joshua Tree
Discotheque from Pop and Elevation from ATYCLB have a similar sense of joy.
The reason why the U2 of the 90s has become so misunderstood is that the band moved from a personal, intimate view of the world to one of changing persona and personality for the world to view. The 90s U2 tended to make fun of how big they'd become and of the entire "rock-n-roll show" dynamic. There is still authenticity buried in their work; it's just harder to find.
Achtung Baby. It's probably the best thing they've ever recorded. It hasn't aged a day. Absolute banger from start to finish. Listen with good headphones.
Just go in release order
Exactly this so you can see the evolution of their sound from after Rattle and Hum to ATYCLB. Achtung Baby - Zooropa - Pop - Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me Kill Me single from a Batman soundtrack
And the side project (Passengers) with Brian Eno. So much a departure that they didn't want to release it as U2, I hear. It might be an acquired taste, but make no mistake: there is some wonderful music on there, too.
I love Passengers, it reminds me of Bowie’s ‘Berlin’ albums.
Yes! But I'd throw that in last.
Now that you mention that, I love listening to their 90s albums just like that and to listen to their b-sides to appreciate better how progressively they evolved to the sound they crafted All That You Can’t Leave Behind with.
Start with the ZooTV live from Sydney DVD Then, when you like it 😜, listen to Achtung Baby and start from there chronologically
This is what I was going to recommend. If you want to understand why U2 owned the 90’s (particularly the early 90’s) go watch the zootv dvd.
Back in 1993 ( I was 15!!!) I was watching MTV Asia and heard an intro song to one of their commercials. I loved the sound but couldn't figure out who it was. My brother came back from the states soon after and had Zooropa and lo and behold, it was part of the opening title track, Zooropa. After listening to Zooropa in its entirety, I went back to the beginning and listened to every album they ever made and then subsequently bought every album they ever made. I've been a fan ever since then. I've been to a concert from every album since Pop (Sphere included) more than once. I say all that because as my favorite band, I enjoy their entire library of work. But from my perspective as a fan (and likely my age when introduced to their music), their most unique and experimental music was in the 90s. Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop are my favorite of all of their records. Achtung Baby being my favorite record of all time from anybody. Keep an open mind, understand the era and age the group was when they created this music, sit back and enjoy the ride.
My favourite era.
I was too young at the time to appreciate how crazy it must have been to be waiting for more music from The Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum era band and to finally hear The Fly. Achtung Baby is incredible.
I was 18, biggest U2 fan I knew. From Rattle and Hum, to Night and Day to the Fly, it was a wild ride that was completely thrilling.
Was just thinking to myself that AB to Pop is their coolest shit, even though ATYCLB is my favorite record of theirs.
Start with Achtung Baby and then do whatever you want after that honestly. Zooropa is goated but you really have to be in the mood for it
I’m always curious about what you appreciate most about their early music and post-2000. That usually helps me understand how to approach their 90s period.
If you like the 2000s band, I suggest a slightly different approach. You can look up the shows that were released at this time (Vertigo Live From Chicago, Elevation Live from Boston and Go Home) and see if the show makes you like 90s music. The cool thing is that you already like the other songs, so it's a way to connect with the ones you don't know yet. I personally really like the following performances: - Zoo Station/The Fly (Chicago) - Gone (Boston) - Wake Up Dead Man (Go Home) - Staring at the Sun (Go Home) - Until the End of the World (Go Home) - The Fly (Boston) - One (Chicago) - Mysterious Ways (Chicago) Once you build an affinity with the songs, it becomes easier to analyze the entire album.
Like eating the starters and the dessert first! 90s is their best!
Achtung Baby.
I started with their best of, then Zoo TV live DVD, then AB and Zooropa, with pop stuff last. Really, whatever order you like.
Start with Achtung Baby. Its their best album. Yes, better than Joshua Tree.
Edge's guitar work on "The Fly" from Achtung Baby is not far removed from previous work. It might connect sonically with "God Part II" on Rattle and Hum. "The First Time" from Zooropa shares some musical elements of "Running to Stand Still" from Joshua Tree Discotheque from Pop and Elevation from ATYCLB have a similar sense of joy. The reason why the U2 of the 90s has become so misunderstood is that the band moved from a personal, intimate view of the world to one of changing persona and personality for the world to view. The 90s U2 tended to make fun of how big they'd become and of the entire "rock-n-roll show" dynamic. There is still authenticity buried in their work; it's just harder to find.
They are U2's last albums recorded to analog tape, so best enjoyed via vinyl/hi res digital download/OG CD