Ranking U2's Albums: #11

U2

Since their debut album "Boy" swept across the ocean and exploded onto the airwaves in 1980, U2 has constantly turned out vibrantly textured, boldly anthemic,and creatively relevant music for 28 years and counting . With a new album expected in early 2009 and a tour as well (yes Jessica, I will be taking you this time!) what better time than the present to rank the 11 full length studio albums of the biggest band in the world. To focus on only their studio albums, this list will not include any Greatest Hits, EPs, B-Sides, Singles or all Live Albums...so no "Under a Blood Red Sky", "Wide Awake in America", etc.)

While I enjoyed U2's music for years, I didn't truly become a U2 disciple until the mid 90's and my first show came in the Astrodome on the PopMart tour. As an introduction to the live event that is U2 it was, to say the least, interesting. Not too many concerts I had been before had giant (not to mention mobile) lemons nor a tv so immense that it could have caused a blind epileptic to have a seizure. Needless to say, I was hooked.



Since then I've seen them 5 times on the Elevation tour (DC, Baltimore, NYC, Philly and Slane Castle in Ireland) and 3 times on the Vertigo tour (DC twice and Houston). I've got to say, few things compare to jumping in unison to the opening chords of "Elevation" with 120,000 of your closest Irish friends on a castle-topped hill just down the road from Dublin. Good times indeed!

Without further ado, here are the rankings as voted on by myself and 8 other diehard U2 fans.
Each album was given a number between 1 and 11, with a score of 1 representing the least favorite album of a voter, and a score of 11 representing their most favorite album:

11. October (1981)Votes: 21

Highest Rank: 6th (1)

Lowest Rank: 11th (3)

This is not to say that U2's sophomore effort October is a terrible album by any means, but I have to agree with the consensus that is the last one I reach for on my Ipod. One reason for its spottiness I believe is that Bono's lyrics were stolen during its recording and he had to re-create many of them on the spot and at the last second. However, 23 years after the fact he did get them back, albeit a bit late to have an impact on the album. The album seems less of refinement of their sound as it does a refinement of their spiritual beliefs. While October was being recorded, the band underwent a spiritual crisis (Adam Clayton was uncomfortable with the increased emphasis on religion placed by the other 3) and U2 almost ceased to exist after this album was finished. Thus, as one would expect, a spiritual undercurrent snakes through October, from the exalting "Gloria" ("Oh Lord, if I had anything, anything at all, I would give it to you" to the contemplative title track ("kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall but You go on") to the pleading of "Tomorrow" ("Open up, open up to the love of God").

There are some high points, both musically and lyrically. "Gloria" and "I Threw a Brick Through a Window" are still outstanding and there are some nice moments throughout (the piano in "October" is haunting), but overall it seems the least finished of their albums. Thus its place as #11.