# What is U2's best album? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 29, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100 "2017-06-29T00:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/1 "2017-06-29T00:42:44Z")
I really only discovered U2 for myself a couple years ago. Yes, I knew who they were and even knew a few songs, but the band was not a band I had actually listened to. I would now consider myself a fan. They aren’t my top band, but I really respect their work. What’s their best album? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/2 "2017-06-29T00:45:24Z")
Joshua tree It’s the album that made me love them…and then be sick of them. I can’t listen to ANY U2 now despite knowing they are a quality band. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/3 "2017-06-29T00:46:14Z")
[War](http://www.allmusic.com/album/war-mw0000650916) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/4 "2017-06-29T00:49:58Z")
Achtung Baby. Only album of theirs I own. Transcends their standard recipe and has a bit of swing in their groove. Has One, their best song. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/5 "2017-06-29T00:54:52Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Achtung Baby. Only album of theirs I own. Transcends their standard recipe and has a bit of swing in their groove. Has One, their best song. Which is? My vote is Joshua Tree. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/6 "2017-06-29T00:59:10Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Which is? He said. One. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/7 "2017-06-29T01:01:51Z")
Joshua Tree. Rattle & Hum is pretty good and I even like All That You Can’t Leave Behind. The top songs in number of plays in my iTunes are; 1. Bad (Live version off the EP Wide Awake in America) 2. Where The Streets Have No Name 3. Walk On #4 is Rakim by an obscure band called Dead Can Dance. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it. 🆒 _Beautiful Day_ and _Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For_ are the other U2 songs in my top 10. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/8 "2017-06-29T01:06:15Z")
Achtung Baby. Just a few more compelling cuts than Joshua Tree, its only real competition. [top 5 here] 1. An Cat Dubh/Into the Heart 2. Even Better Than the Real Thing 3. Beautiful Day 4. I Will Follow (the 1st cut of theirs I ever heard, back in '80, instantly hooked) 5. Gloria ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/9 "2017-06-29T01:33:42Z")
Top 3: 1. Achtung Baby 2. War 3. Joshua Tree I feel like this question requires a defense of the choice to not rank Joshua Tree #1. To me, the opening three songs are too similar; these days it’s rare I want to sit and listen to that solid 15 minutes of Edge delay/reverb stylings. The album has polish, but little spark. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/10 "2017-06-29T01:37:23Z")
Nah, picking a different album requires no defense. You’re picking what you like, not what others think you should like. If you’re into Pop (the album), just go for it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/11 "2017-06-29T01:40:38Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > I feel like this question requires a defense of the choice to not rank Joshua Tree #1. To me, the opening three songs are too similar; these days it’s rare I want to sit and listen to that solid 15 minutes of Edge delay/reverb stylings. The album has polish, but little spark. I totally agree. The only song on the album that had any staying power for me is what most people usually rank as their least favorite; of course I’m talking about _Bullet the Blue Sky_. I like their albums before Joshua Tree best because they still had a lot of rawness to their sound; I felt like I could feel and hear their passion loud & clear. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/12 "2017-06-29T01:44:43Z")
I like **Joshua Tree** the best but **Zooropa** and **Achtung Baby** have some cool tunes. _Wild Horses_ comes to mind, along with “Numb”, “Mysterious Ways”, and “Even Better Than The Real Thing” Oh yeah, and “One” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/13 "2017-06-29T01:46:47Z")
I can’t really listen to One anymore after basically living through it with my ex-wife. Did I ask too much? More than a lot You gave me nothing, now it’s all I got We’re one, but we’re not the same Well, we hurt each other, then we do it again You say love is a temple, love a higher law Love is a temple, love the higher law You ask me to enter, but then you make me crawl And I can’t be holding on to what you got When all you got is hurt ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/14 "2017-06-29T01:48:00Z")
The Unforgettable Fire. I like the mood and sounds from that album… especially “Wire”. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/15 "2017-06-29T01:50:35Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > He said. One. Read it too quickly. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/16 "2017-06-29T02:04:35Z")
Then there’s the ‘secret’ U2 album. Passengers: Original Soundtracks 1 Basically U2 with Brian Eno. “Original Soundtracks 1 is a studio album recorded by rock band U2 and Brian Eno under the pseudonym Passengers as a side project. It was produced by Eno and was released on 6 November 1995. The album is a collection of songs written for mostly imaginary films (the exceptions being songs for Ghost in the Shell, Miss Sarajevo, and Beyond the Clouds). Due to Eno’s involvement as a full songwriting partner and the album’s experimental nature, the moniker “Passengers” was chosen to distinguish it from U2’s conventional albums. It was commercially unnoticed by the band’s standards and received generally mixed reviews. Guest musicians on the record included Italian opera singer Luciano Pavarotti (on “Miss Sarajevo”) and producer Howie B, who would co-produce U2’s following album, Pop (1997).” ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/17 "2017-06-29T02:09:37Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I like **Joshua Tree** the best but **Zooropa** and **Achtung Baby** have some cool tunes. _Wild Horses_ comes to mind, along with “Numb”, “Mysterious Ways”, and “Even Better Than The Real Thing” > > Oh yeah, and “One” +1. Joshua Tree was phenomenal. Achtung, Baby and Zooropa also get regular play on my iTunes/ipod. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/18 "2017-06-29T02:11:20Z")
[Bad (Live), 1985, Wide Awake in America version.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPyhYczii8I) If you twist and turn away… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/19 "2017-06-29T02:13:38Z")
Joshua Tree, followed closely by Achtung Baby for me. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100/20 "2017-06-29T02:18:45Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > I totally agree. The only song on the album that had any staying power for me is what most people usually rank as their least favorite; of course I’m talking about _Bullet the Blue Sky_. That’s a new one for me. Usually the least favorites are “Exit” and “Trip Through Your Wires.” Maybe even “In God’s Country.” I’ve literally never heard anyone say “Bullet the Blue Sky” is their least favorite, and I grew up in apparently U2 central in high school. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-u2s-best-album/790100.md?page=2)