U2

[101reykjavik]

I gave Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop a re listen this afternoon. I think the '90s were their best period and to me Pop is so underrated as a album and one of my favourite albums. It's a shame they bottled it and came out the such a MOR follow up!
Nice little documentary narrated by the late great Dennis Hopper about their career during that period.
https://youtu.be/y1dDWBLVwOk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Totally agree. The music press narrative at the time was that U2 were returning to a classic U2 sound with All That You Can't Leave Behind, but that was the beginning of the end for my true fandom with the band. It was more of a retreat than a return.

[KingLouieLouie76]

I know I will be in the minority here (which seems like I am for the most part), but I contend their best period was the mid-late 80s, but the 90s they again reinvented themselves and so successfully well that several bands are envious of that fact. I must admit that I haven't to "Zooropa" and "Pop" since way back then.

How does everyone rank "Sweetest Thing"? I believe it's within the top-10 songs they ever recorded!

[Mark72]

I played the sh1t out of the Unforgettable Fire & Joshua Tree albums as a kid, but to me when the sweetest thing single dropped a year after the pop album, lovely song but I think it was a reworked b side and I that's when I lost the interest. they started to reteated to safe MOR mode. Saying that the next LP SOE will be a nod to the AB, Zooropa, Pop days. Should be interesting once all the Joshua tree nostalgia clears.

[Mallard No. 22]

U2 (& Madonna) in the 90s are like Paul McCartney was in the 70s. They are associated with the decade prior, but were actually doing a lot of their greatest work

I liked 'The Sweetest Thing'. The style of the song was not of the late-80s when it was originally released.

It much more suited the pseudo-70s style with which it was re-recorded in 1998. Such a style was then popular - it was a good move by U2 to re-activate this overlooked song at this time.

[Mark72]

The Rattle and Hum movie had some moments.
This was one of them!
Exit https://youtu.be/XlUPAdPjvlw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[KingLouieLouie76]

The Rattle and Hum movie had some moments.
This was one of them!
Exit https://youtu.be/XlUPAdPjvlw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Oh yeah....definitely....one of the most music documentaries ever! "Helter Skelter" and "When Love Comes To Town" are also brilliant moments.... But nothing beats this! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa0WNP3Zwwo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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I must admit that I haven't to "Zooropa" and "Pop" since way back then.

Get on to it, they're perfect.

Honestly I could talk about U2 all day, so I might just do that tomorrow.

[KingLouieLouie76]

Get on to it, they're perfect.

Honestly I could talk about U2 all day, so I might just do that tomorrow.

Oh... I must listen to those again soon and definitely will..... I too could also obviously discuss U2 all day. They've endured practically my entire life (I recall falling in love w/"New Years Day" upon its release and I was merely 6 at the time). All their earlier albums would definitely fit my life's soundtrack since they all elicit several fond memories and such. I don't care if they essentially become a nostalgia band at the moment because they've already provided us with so much and then some!

[Mark72]

OK. Is The Joshua Tree a Classic album or overrated. Me personally I remember buying it as a 16 year old and playing it to death. But now looking back it was an "OK" album. But for me Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop were the classic albums of there time.
Any thoughts?

[bugman]

OK. Is The Joshua Tree a Classic album or overrated. Me personally I remember buying it as a 16 year old and playing it to death. But now looking back it was an "OK" album. But for me Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop were the classic albums of there time.
Any thoughts?

thank u to said this!

[KingLouieLouie76]

OK. Is The Joshua Tree a Classic album or overrated. Me personally I remember buying it as a 16 year old and playing it to death. But now looking back it was an "OK" album. But for me Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop were the classic albums of there time.
Any thoughts?

What an interesting post and I certainly can see where you're coming from.... Perhaps the "Joshua Tree" just hasn't aged well, while those other three indeed have?

[Mark72]

The Zoo TV era was U2 at there best
https://youtu.be/P8pJYU5GiaE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mallard No. 22]

It is a very good point Mark72.

At the time, 'The Joshua Tree' certainly got the accolades. But it wasn't exactly a great period for music, so the time was right for U2's type of rock, being up against cheesy synths and hair metal.

I think U2, like Madonna, did greater work during the 90s.

[Mark72]

Well this took me back!
The Fantastic Achtung Baby / Zoo TV era
https://youtu.be/YzH0Vf77714" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://youtu.be/7Xk8XzgqyMs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mallard No. 22]

The Radio One Vintage series (celebrating 50 years of R1) had clips from that U2 interview.

I hope to listen to it at a convenient time.

As you say Mark72 an interesting time musically, and a good period for U2.