So I'm talking about ATYCLB, HTDAAB, and NLOTH. From what I've heard from other fans, it seems like there's very little regard for these three albums. I can agree with NLOTH being a weaker album with many songs that are decent on the album, but nothing spectacular in the live setting. But I really don't get why most fans are free to lay the hate on ATYCLB and especially HTDAAB. Personally, HTDAAB is my most favorite album, even more so than some of the classics. The only song on HTDAAB that I haven't really grown into is One Step Closer, but that song feels really out of place on that album for some reason.
I can somewhat see why people wouldn't mind hearing a bit less of ATYCLB. The album as a whole has been well overplayed, especially on the 360 Tour.
Anyhow, what are your thoughts on U2's post-2000 material in the studio and the live setting?
NLOTH (song) is one of the bands greatest ever live songs. MOS on the album can turn on the goosebumps just as easy as With or Without You. Cedars has more atmosphere than any other song this decade.
Other than a few songs on Leave Behind being good live and a soft spot for Miracle Drug, the rest I ignore.
I think ATYCLB is the worst U2 album, I don't like the sound/production of it. Some songs are really good live though where they sound much better. HTDAAB is what I'd consider an okay U2 album.
NLOTH however, I think is an absolute masterpiece! It's probably in my personal top 4 at least. I love it
But if I were compare the decades, 2000-2009 would be the weakest.
My thought is that their post-2000 stuff is irregular. They're able to create true masterpieces like Moment Of Surrender, Walk On or Cedars Of Lebanon, and then combine them with crap songs like Get On Your Boots, Grace or One Step Closer. I can't say that, as a whole, their >2000 material is bad... but it's absolutely not as good as their <2000 one. Sadly.
ATYCLB is what got me into U2, therefore I overplayed it. It was overplayed on every tour since Elevation tour so it kinda got old
HTDAAB was a great change as their "first rock album", the songs on that aren't overplayed on 360 so you don't get tired of them
NLOTH was a failed experiment, Boots, Magnificent, and Comedy got old fast. MoS was the best from that album and NLOTH (the song) and Breathe were decent
over all, these were a financial improvement from Pop
on a scale of 1-10 10 being best
Leave Behind 5
Atomic Bomb 9
No Line 4
I'm kind of in the minority but i genuinely like all three of the albums from this time period. I'm not here to tell you that they're all as good as Achtung or The Joshua Tree but i still like them. The biggest weakness with these albums in my opinion is the weaker songs. The better songs on the albums in my opinion are really good, but the "filler" tracks are weak (Wild Honey, Grace, A Man and a Woman, One Step Closer, Stand Up Comedy, etc..) That to me is the biggest difference from albums like Joshua Tree, Zooropa, and AB which are complete albums from start to finish.
I love all U2. The 90s are my favorite and I'm not sure what's #2 (the 80s or 00s). With regards to their 2000s work, I love it. All That You Can't Leave Behind was the first U2 album I owned and I loved it, and still do. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb was great as well. No Line On The Horizon was the first album I was able to get on release day and I was so excited for it. I think it's a wonderful album but it isn't as good (for me) as the previous two, though in comparison to other works from other artists, it still shines.
their post-2000 material has gotten progressively worse. there's the odd moment of magic (COBL, MOS, Kite) but most of it is good, but not incredible, as the 80s and 90s output was.
