Top 5 U2 Albums

To me, lists are both an opportunity for argument and an effort in futility. Case in point: ranking U2's albums. They’re one of my favorite bands and I like all of their albums for different reasons. “Pop” always makes me think of The Edge in glitter pants. “Boy” reminds me of when I played that album on a continuous loop on my then-cutting-edge Sony cassette player. And I’m likely to get chastised for leaving off my list one of their all-time biggest records, “The Joshua Tree”. But, it’s my blog! So here’s my favorite Top 5 U2 albums.

1- War

The album where I “discovered” them. “New Year’s Day” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” were unavoidable on the radio when this album came out. I was so excited by those songs, I bought the previous two albums the same week I bought “War.”

When I got more into “War”, I realized the hypnosis I was under with the tracks “Red Light”, “Surrender” and finally “40". The songs seemed to run into one for me, and I was unable to hear them as separate songs.

I even found a voice for my teen anger in “Like a Song...”. The lyric, “A new heart is what I need, oh god make it bleed...” kills me every time I hear it.

You can bet the song “Two Hearts Beat as One” made it onto every dance mix-tape I made for 10 years after!

This album goes beyond my Top 5 U2 discs. It’s on my Top 5 of ALL time!

2 - The Unforgettable Fire

Like “War”, this album has some very specific memories for me. But moving on from teen anger, there was simply teen angst. Lots of late nights with the boom box and friends under the summer night sky.

Admittedly nerdy, at the time I played the album over and over and wrote down the lyrics on paper since the sleeve jacket didn’t come with any. I’m sure I got some wrong, but “...red wine that punctures the skin...” I’ll never forget.

I still love “A Sort of Homecoming” and “Promenade.” The song“Wire” makes me want to break stuff! And “Pride” and “Bad” were invented to be anthems! Raise your fist and sing!

3 - Achtung Baby

I bought the CD single “The Fly” when it was released before the album. I thought, holy shit, is this U2? Did we just make a left turn? I wasn’t sure, but after multiple listens I realized, yes, this is the new face of rock and roll. We can use reverb and can distort Bono’s gorgeous voice and it still can be fantastic!

Seems silly now to think how timid rock radio was to this CD with the huge hits that followed “Even Better Than the Real Thing”, “Mysterious Ways”, and the brilliant “One.”

About 10 years after this was released, I was in Ireland at a family party. The host put on “Achtung Baby”. After several tracks, I stopped recognizing the music. I asked, did you change the CD? Nope they hadn’t. What seems like a huge error in my judgement, I hadn’t ever really listened to the last three tracks, “Ultra Violet”, “Acrobat”, and “Love is Blindness.” What had I been thinking to miss these songs?! “Love is Blindness” was a revelation, something that ends a brilliant album with a dose of musical morphine.

4 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Taking a lot of heat from loud-mouth journalists, “Vertigo” burst onto the scene within a TV commercial. Sell-out? I don’t think so. In this day and age, the music business is dead and this proved that even bands like U2 have to find new ways to get their music heard. And you can bet, the commercial stopped me in my tracks every time it came on.

This album is one electric riff by The Edge after another. Mr. Edge has ideas that make other guitar players lather with jealousy. “Love and Peace or Else”, “Miracle Drug”, “All Because of You” all breath-taking.

U2's strongest points have always been the anthems, in my mind away. “Original of the Species” and “City of Blinding Lights” kick my ass whenever they come on the random play.

And I can’t help but get lost in my thoughts with “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own.” Bono’s haunting vocals leave an ache in my head and heart. I think I need a tissue.

5 - All That You Can’t Leave Behind

“Beautiful Day” was the first single and got all of the attention. I love the song, but for me “Elevation” kicks ass. The way the band plays this one live, really makes me want to bounce. THIS IS A BOUNCING SESSION!

“Walk On” and “Stuck In a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of” and gorgeous ballads. One a bit personal and the other global... ah hell, vice versa. Bono’s lyrics have that quality where you can hear what you want to hear with each song.

I love “Peace on Earth” early in the morning. I know, weird to identify a song with a time of day. But it’s so damned serene and hopeful. The tunes “Kite” and “Grace” get me the same way too.

I think it’s the band getting back to basics on this album that makes me love it so much. They had really stretched their legs with “Zooropa” that “All That You Can’t Leave Behind” felt like a real cleansing...some sort of chakra refresh. I love it!

I’ll leave you with a clip from their Slane Castle concert, filmed in Ireland. It’s “Elevation”. Trust me, this is a bouncing session!

Comic of the Week

I hope it's not me!

"Spamalot"

I've never been a follower of Monty Python. I dunno, always seemed too English, or just maybe their fans are too rabid knowing every line from every skit. But we went to see "Spamalot" last night and I loved it. I laughed. I giggled. And I even sang along with the closing song "Find Your Grail".

Gary Beach, below pic, was hilarious in the lead (and with a better singing voice than Tim Curry, Broadway's original Arthur). Lesli Margherita, the gal who played The Lady in the Lake, had a gorgeous voice and did some great on-purpose over-acting. But I still think, how would she have compared to Sara Ramirez, the original Lady.

No matter, had a great time. And if you get a chance to see this show, do yourself a favor and go. The jokes and gags whiz by at 1,000 miles per hour. Really funny stuff.

Here's the Broadway cast from the 2005 Tony Awards. Sara Ramirez is great in this!