Pros Twelve impressive tracks and the use of electronica
Cons ...
The Bottom Line One of the most impressive albums of U2's career, Achtung Baby proves to be a musical masterpiece.
Full Review
I never got into anything from U2 until the release of Achtung, Baby. The first U2 album I ever had any exposure to was my cousin’s cassette of The Joshua Tree, but at that time I was too involved in hair metal to care one way or another about the popular Irish band. In retrospect, I really should have disregarded my fascination with White Lion and Bon Jovi to investigate more promising bands a bit further.
U2 is one of the few bands today that will go down in history as a ‘classic’ act. The Dublin foursome was formed in 1976 after drummer Larry Mullen posted an ad looking for band mates on his school’s bulletin board. Paul Hewson (Bono, vocals), David Evans (The Edge, guitar), and Adam Clayton (bass) all responded and an early incarnation of U2 was born.
Through the 1980’s, U2 released five albums of original material and increasing importance. 1987’s The Joshua Tree gave the band their biggest early success both critically and commercially. My favorite album of their career, 1989’s Rattle and Hum was something different altogether including covers, live cuts, and original material not to mention the beautiful All I Want is You.
The 1990’s brought U2 early success with 1991’s Achtung, Baby and later disappointment with Pop. In between those two poles, another of my personal favorites arrived�’s somewhat experimental Zooropa. Most recently, U2 was awarded Grammy glory subsequent to the release of 2000’s All That You Can’t Leave Behind.
For this review, let’s return to 1991’s Achtung, Baby. For reference, and for those curious, achtung is a German word for attention or look. That aside, Achtung, Baby is one of a few album that defines the career of U2 for most music listeners. Despite the switch in sound that Achtung, Baby represented for U2, the album proved to be a great commercial success. Combining the personal (instead of political) with the band’s typically impressive writing and newly discovered electronic elements (presented in a user-friendly manner), the resulting sound proved a step in the right direction for U2. While other bands floundered in the wake of grunge, U2 flourished.
Achtung, Baby, produced by the acclaimed Steve Lillywhite (who has also worked with the likes of Talking Heads, Morrissey, Dave Matthews Band, and XTC), consists of twelve tracks and runs almost an hour long. In addition, Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois and Flood contributed their talents in various technological capacities.
The songs range from the quietly emotional One to the upbeat favorite Mysterious Ways. Of the twelve tracks about half are easily recognizable while the other half are lovely little gems for fans not as acquainted with U2. As with the majority of albums from the Irishmen, it’s easy to get swept away and listen from beginning to end. Each track is of approximately similar acoustic value…it’s not often that I can say that with a straight face, but Achtung, Baby provides me with that rare opportunity.
Of course, I do have my favorite tracks aside from the obvious choices. For example, I have a long standing love for Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses and Even Better Than The Real Thing (both of which I vividly remember using in a 10th grade speech presentation during the Fall of 1992). I suppose it’s the combination of emotional rawness and modestly experimental rhythms that make this album pop for me more than some of their others (ironically including Pop).
With my version of the facts out of the way, it’s time to get on with the music. As everybody should be aware, Mysterious Ways was a huge hit for U2 both on radio and MTV. The track combines drum machines and rock guitars in a seamless, faintly Middle Eastern pop masterpiece. Bono’s falsetto is as perfect as ever, his voice complimenting the groovy instrumentation and melody. Sure, the song isn’t as political as past ventures. It’s something better. Mysterious Ways is sexual and emotional…a divine combination to say the very least.
The first single from Achtung, Baby was The Fly. Bono took on the persona of a human fly on the band’s subsequent uber-popular Zoo TV tour. The mix of guitar rock, programming, drums, and sound effects makes the track seem somewhat mysterious and somewhat mystic. Although, what resonates most with the track is the overall feel, most notably is Bono’s ‘fat lady’ wailing away in the background as with later U2 masterpiece, Numb.
One is reminiscent of the band’s earlier soft melodies and pop sensibility from The Joshua Tree. The lyrics are delicate and understated with an air of yearning. Undoubtedly, this is one of the loveliest tracks on this album although I still feel myself drawn to some of the more energetic songs. When released as a single, all proceeds went to AIDS research.
My two favorite tracks, Who’s Going To Ride Your Wild Horses and Even Better Than The Real Thing were only moderate hits in comparison to the others I’ve already mentioned. The one good thing about that fact is that neither song was overplayed on radio. Who’s Going To Ride Your Wild Horses begins as an all-out rock anthem, but quickly breaks down into a melodic and driving track. It’s got a strange tempo at times, but there’s just something that reels me in. Even Better Than The Real Thing is an easy-to-sing electronically driven pop-rock masterpiece. The Edge’s guitar actually seems to sing along with Bono.
The energetic tribal beats of Until the End of the World are brilliant while the lightly emotional ballad Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World lodges itself neatly in the heart. Each of the songs on Achtung, Baby helped to further solidify U2 as a force to be reckoned with. In fact, critics agreed…the band earned Best Rock Album at the Grammy’s while producers Eno and Lanois earned producers of the year for their work. Achtung, Baby was also nominated for the coveted Album of the Year.
It’s obvious that this album will forever be considered a classic of both music and U2. There are few things that are for sure in the world of music, but one is U2. Their talent is impressive, and after over a quarter century in the business, the band continues to release original, melodic, and poignant albums. The day that these guys feel over the hill, I guarantee they’ll get out before they turn into has-beens.
Track Listing:
1. Zoo Station
2. Even Better Than The Real Thing
3. One
4. Until the End of the World
5. Who’s Going to Ride Your Wild Horses
6. So Cruel
7. The Fly
8. Mysterious Way
9. Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World
10. Ultraviolet (Light My Way)
11. Acrobat
12. Love Is Blindness
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New to U2? There are a few essential albums for any beginner. First and foremost, pick up The Joshua Tree. Follow that up with War and Achtung, Baby in any order. After that, I think it’s a free for all. Check out All That You Can’t Leave Behind, Rattle and Hum, Boy and Zooropa. There is little you can do wrong when buying a U2 album aside from picking up some of the live offerings.
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