Achtung Baby (©1991 Island)

The Songs:Zoo Stations / Even Better Than The Real Thing / One / Until The End Of The World / Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses / So Cruel / The Fly / Mysterious Ways / Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World / Ultra Violet (fight my way) / Acrobat / Love Is Blindness

This is one of those releases I sort of liked right away, and didn't exactly play to death. Sure some of the songs were huge hits, and the U2 fans went nuts for the album, and subsequent tour. As a someone who has been following the band since Boy, I'm not new to the bandwagon. It's only over the last couple of years I've begun to appreciate the depth and artistic strength the band has. Like many people I confused Bono's personas with Bono the person. To be blunt, I wrote U2 off as a bunch of pretentious wankers. Always a spiritual, if not Christian influenced band, they've tackled issues of alienation and searching with an honesty that has served to only confuse those Christians who try desperately to claim the band as theirs - but the band doesn't fit into their mold. Achtung Baby launched a new face for the band, and served notice that they weren't going to sit still or take the easy way. Musically, this is still U2 with the Edge's instantly recognizable guitar riffs, Bono's dynamic voice, and the solid backing of Adam and Larry. All of it wrapped around lyrics that go far beyond the standard boy meets girl mold. If you care to listen there's a lot going on.

Reviewed February 8, 2002

Zooropa (©1993 Island)

the songs: Zooropa / Babyface / Numb / Lemon / Stay (Faraway, So Close) / Daddy's Gonna Pay For Your Crashed Car / Some Days Are Better Than Others / The First Time / Dirty Day / The Wanderer

There's always something a little different about each U2 release. This one was very different, and very rough. Songs like Zooropa, and Lemon are unpolished gems. Numb is a song so minding bendingly stupid that it's almost cool - but I still can't stand it (okay, a little harsh, I don't care for it) after all these years. The Wanderer is a fitting finale, featuring Johnny Cash.

For all it's rough edges this is a surprisingly polished effort.

reviewed August 13, 2000

All That You Can't Leave Behind (©2000 Island)

Beautiful Day / Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of / Elevation / Walk On / Kite / In A Little While / Wild Honey / Peace On Earth / When I Look At The World / New York / Grace

After over 20 years the boys once again show why they are one of the greatest rock and roll bands on the planet. Bono is still the searching spiritual vagabond, The Edge is still torturing his guitar while Adam and Larry anchor the band. I jumped on the bandwagon after the first album, and although there have been some bumps along the way, I’ve more or less managed to hang on for the ride.

It took me a year or so to pick this one up, and when I did it all sort of fell into place. This was still U2, and they were still relevant and dang if it this wasn't one the best things I’ve heard them do in a long time. It’s surprisingly consistent from start to end, which can’t be said of many of their previous albums.

It’s amazing to me how these guys are able to keep catching lightning in a bottle.

Reviewed April 2003

The Best of 1990 - 2000 & B-Sides (©2000 Island)

1: Even Better Than The Real Thing 2: Mysterious Ways 3: Beautiful Day 4: Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix) 5: One 6: Miss Sarajevo 7: Stay (Faraway, So Close) 8: Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of 9: Gone (New Mix) 10: Until The End Of The World 11: The Hands That Built America (Theme From "Gangs Of New York") 12: Discothèque (New Mix) 13: Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 14: Staring At The Sun (New Mix) 15: Numb (New Mix) 16: The First Time

B-Sides 1: Lady With The Spinning Head [Extended Dance Mix] 2: Dirty Day [Junk Day Mix] 3: Summer Rain 4: Electrical Storm 5: North And South Of The River 6: Your Blue Room 7: Happiness Is A Warm Gun [The Gun Mix] 8: Salomé [Zooromancer Remix] 9: Even Better Than The Real Thing [Perfecto Mix] 10: Numb [Gimme Some More Dignity Mix] 11: Mysterious Ways [Solar Plexus Club Mix] 12: If God Will Send His Angels [Big Yam Mix] 13: Lemon [Jeep Mix] 14: Discothèque [Hexidecimal Mix]

DVD: 1: The History Mix 2: U2 The Best of 1990 - 2000 DVD Trailer #: Please - Live Mural Cut 4: Beautiful Day - Eze Version

U2 continues to stretch musical boundaries and chart territory where none have gone before. I'll even go so far as to say that this is a band that has gotten better with time. Which is saying a lot. I've been on the bandwagon since Boy and have seen a lot of changes and growth. This second collection of hits is really strong, features some new songs, new mixes, and songs that have only appeared on soundtracks in the past. For those people who only want the hits I'm sure that the regular best of will be sufficient. For those who want a little more meat, I'd strongly recommend the collection with the B-Sides and the DVD. The B-Sides aren't as strong this time around as they tend to be most remixes, some of which are really good, and some of which sound like dance drek. However, for the most part they are pretty good. The DVD is mostly a tease with a video for Beautiful Day,a live cut and a trailer - but it's a nice little extra.

These guys have managed to stay ahead of the curve now longer than any of their contemporaries and have seen over two decades of musical trends come and go. To my friend David who argues no one will be singing U2 songs in 20 years. I can tell you that a lot of people are still singing U2 songs and it's been over 20 years. I'd have to agree that there are a lot of very good performers who get by with weak material (ooh the temptation to name names).

U2 has discovered the trick of marrying performance, with a solid song. They still defy a simple explanation and are truly one of the best bands in the world.

Period.

Reviewed July 8, 2003

How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb (©2004 Island)

CD 1: Vertigo 2: Miracle Drug 3: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own 4: Love And Peace Or Else 5: City Of Blinding Lights 6: All Because Of You 7: A Man And A Woman 8: Crumbs From Your Table 9: One Step Closer 10: Original Of The Species 11: Yahweh

DVD Documentary and Three Songs Videos 1: Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own 2: Crumbs From Your Table 3: Vertigo (temple bar mix) 4: Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own (acoustic couch mix) 5: Vertigo

How does one approach a new album by U2? There’s no easy way to start. I suppose I could immediately wade in with the “sounds like” comparisons. Or perhaps I could go on about how it’s new but old at the same time. Blah blah blah. Like just about everyone else who hasn’t been living in a cave (or the cold parts of Canada) for the last couple of decades, I have my favourite U2 moments, and all else is measured against those, but that doesn’t mean I can’t listen to this one with relatively fresh ears. I have the benefit of being there since the first album (I do like to repeat that fact), so I’ve been on a pretty interesting ride (I've said that before too, hmm, my well doth runneth dry).

In terms of the great ranking in the overall U2 catalog this one fits right where it should. “Where is that?” you ask. “Right where it should be.” I respond. Not much of an answer, but if U2 can be an enigma of sorts, why can’t I be one too? Think about it, these four lads have weathered a tumultuous musical storm. They’ve survived the last couple of decades – yes, decades! And successfully charted their own course and managed to do what they want, and still sound like themselves. Not a shabby accomplishment. To say that they are probably one of the greatest rock and roll bands ever would not be an understatement.

Which brings us to this collection of 11 tunes. These four guys are straight out of a J.M. Barrie story. They’re getting older, but someone has forgotten to tell them. They’re still banging away like they have something to prove. All of the songs are solid, accessible and have enough layers to bear repeated listenings. The boys are also savvy in the studio. They hire the big guns, but leave in the little hiccups and burps that keep things from sounding sterile. They are after all, a glorified garage band with a great singer.

I know people hearken back to the Joshua Tree as the quintessential U2 album (which for me had some killer and a lot of filler) I happen to think they’re a far more consistent band than they ever were in the mid 80’s. There are a few immediate standout tracks on this one, but it only takes a few listens to realize that this is all killer, no filler.

Of course the way this album is being hyped and marketed there are a lot of people who will dismiss this as the band’s great sell out to move more product and hate it without even hearing it on principle (just what those are I don't know). If you want to take the low road and blow the guys off (don’t go there, I wasn’t going for the double entendre, but since it’s there, blow away) it’s easy enough to do: Their songs all sound the same; there’s nothing new here, what’s the fuss all about? Blah blah blah. If you’re a fan, this is classic U2, and that’s all that needs to be said.

Hey, it’s rock and roll kids, and hats off to the guys. If you’re going to play the game, play to win.

The DVD is pretty cool too.

Reviewed January 5, 2005

No Line of the Horizon (©2009)

1. No Line On The Horizon 2. Magnificent 3. Moment of Surrender 4. Unknown Caller 5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight 6. Get On Your Boots 7. Stand Up Comedy 8. Fez - Being Born 9. White As Snow 10. Breathe 11. Cedars Of Lebanon

I bought this the day it came out . . . and then waited a while to post my thoughts? "Why so long?" you ask. The answer comes in two parts.

1. I couldn't quite get my head around the album
2. I was feeling kind of lazy, and over time to be honest kind of forget I had this one
3. (bonus excuse) I wanted to wait and see if this became a smash or trash

The one question that seemed to come up over and over again when this album was about to drop was "Is U2 still relevant?" In my mind that question was answered with the first single "Get on Your Boots" A song so painfully calculated to be a "hit" that all you had to do was add an "s" as the first letter and you had the result.

There is no doubt that U2 fans love new U2 and this album has a lot going for it in terms of being nearly great U2. The reality is that the band is among the elite of the elite in terms of rock acts, and as a touring band there are only a smattering of bands in their league. As far as relevance goes U2 have nothing left to prove, and even if they release an absolute turd of an album it will not diminish their stature. Do you think the Rolling Stones suffered as a result of their 80's output? Hardly. People who go to see them go to see them play their classics, not to pull out deep cuts from Voodoo Lounge or a Bigger Bang?

I'm getting ahead of myself. Allow me to get back to the task at hand. While the argument can be made that U2 has had its day - their latest effort is a worthy addition to their body of work. In fact one could even argue that they are still playing with a sense of urgency and fire most of their contemporaries would have a hard time matching.

Why is that?

Because they are U2, still arguably the best freakin' band on the planet that's why.

Not to sound like too much of a broken record (I do tend to repeat myself), but I've been riding on the bandwagon since their first albums, and to be honest I still look nostalgically at their first two albums as high water marks. War had some killer, lots of filler - same with Unforgettable Fire, and especially so with The Joshua Tree. Later albums would see the band more focused and the highs and lows would somewhat even out.

What I especially like about No Line on the Horizon is that the band delivers all the way through. Heck, even "Get your Boots On" is decent when taken as a part of the whole. There is no other band on the planet who sounds like U2, and has managed to survive the last few decades by moving with the times and remaining true to their own sound.

If there is a downside to this latest effort, it has to do with the band sounding too much like themselves. The songs seem to fall into categories. This one sounds like Joshua Tree era U2. This one is Achtung Baby - this one hearkens back to the rough early days. For me it was a nifty trick - the mixing of new wine and old wineskins as it were.

So to answer the question that still remains to be answered. Is the band still relevant?

The answer is a wonderfully vague: depends.

The proof in the pudding will be what their audience embraces as the band's catalog gets deeper and deeper (that was The Fixx, not U2, but you know what I mean). For the time being the band continues to defy the odds and release albums that are consistently top shelf.

Reviewed September 28, 2009

I Rose Falling (©2002 Innocent Media)

1: Behold 2: Medicine 3: Heaven Forbid 4: Line of Thinking 5: Belle-Laide 6: Super Terram 7: Fall 8: Hurricane 9: True (Things I Know) 10: Remembered (For Gene)

Attention Undercover fans: It's not you, it's me. I was surfing looking at reviews before picking this up, and dang it, I Rose Falling, the spectacular new record from one of Christian music's pioneering bands was rated better than sliced bread! How could I go wrong (I violently suppressed the little voice in the back of my mind that said, "Hey, but you thought they were crap when their first album came out ... what makes you think this will be different?")?

Often I'll plop my thoughts down after a single listen, but my thoughts were so hard to edit for clarity, I decided it was time to put on my special "Silver Lining" hat. I squeezed the second star out after a bout of agonizing soul searching. "It's a fair album" I said to myself after I listened to the album over and over and over.

A strange thing happened thanks to the wonder of my special happy hat. A couple of little gems started to emerge. They were the glimmers on which to justify my purchase. Those two nuggets are Super Terram which is actually surprisingly good, and Fall, which is okay. The rest are mostly noisy stinkers that you're likely to hear coming out of your neighbour's garage.

So to all you Undercover fans, I'm sorry - but I just don't get it. This is a legendary band (apparently), but I don't see what the fuss is about. I know there are people who ask why people (the other people, not the people doing the asking - and not the crappy band Larry Norman was in either) feel the need to write reviews that aren't positive and glowing, especially to small market indie bands who are trying to make a go of it in a ruthless market. My answer is pretty simple: Because I can and I pay for my own hosting; if you want a better review or a larger audience - here's some free advice: have a thick skin, and don't suck.

Reviewed September 25, 2004

(Holy crap, you'd think this one sucked or something - no this doesn't suck, that would be a one star review)