Let's play " Rank the 21st Century U2 albums !! "
For me this is easy.
1. All That You Can't Leave Behind. 2000The first time I heard " Beautiful Day " me and my bro were both like " Oh finally ".
. It was U2 sounding like U2 again. A few people claim it was them playing it safe -
- but they usually make their best music when they do what they do best - and this album is choc full of great songs that were even better live. The Elevation Tour DVD was amazing.
2. Songs of Innocence. 2014 Already better than No Line On The Horizon and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Just U2 being U2 and writing great songs with amazing melodies and choruses. The Miracle is a
fantastic opener and Song For Someone is probably their best song this century. There's no real dud track and when sequenced with Ordinary Love & Invisible - a really strong album
overall.
3. How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. 2004 Not quite as good as the two above but I absolutely adored Vertigo and wished the whole album was that rocking. Unfortunately - it's basically All That You Can't Leave Behind - just
not as good. Got a few really weak songs in the shape of " One Step Closer " and " Love and Peace Or Else ". As with the preceding album ( ATYCLB ) - the best track on the album
is the bonus track. The Ground Beneath Her Feet, and here - Fast Cars. However - Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own is gorgeous.
4. No Line On The Horizon. 2009Not entirely sure what to make of this album. The lead single was poor and really only has a handful of stand out tracks ( Breathe, Fez, No Line On The Horizon & Magnificent ) . The rest
are really dull ( " White as Snow " ) or just uninteresting ( " Stand Up Comedy " , " Unknown Caller " ). Good closer in " Cedars Of Lebanon " though. I like Bono's
Mark Knopfler-esque talky singing style on that one. But overall a really difficult album to like and not much to enjoy.