U2

All That You Can't Leave Behind

A Diamond In The Rough..But Not A Classic U2 Album

Review Score:

(8/10)
Before I get to ATYCLB, let me say that I (as so many others), have been a huge U2 fan for a long while, so I approach this album from that perspective.

Released in November of 2000, ATYCLB arrived to critical acclaim by fans & reviewers alike. Not surprising however when you consider the state of music the past several years. Rock has become such a formulaic exercise, and very few true gems have emerged in so long, that a U2 album is understandably a breath of fresh air in the otherwise stagnant void that is Rock music today.

Also ATYCLB is the follow-up to POP, which was a decent album if taken on its own merits, but was nonetheless a disappointment to many fans & critics.

But how does ATYCLB stack up when compared to U2's storied history?

The album launches with "Beautiful Day", a soaring anthem in the true U2 vein. The song is a bit of a throwback to the anthemic U2 of old, and kick starts the album in style.

Next we have "Stuck in a Moment". This track does have its charm, but I have never warmed up to it the way many fans have.

"Elevation" arrives next. While a good song on the album, it was made a great song live, so coming back to the studio version you feel a bit letdown. Also, the very good remix of this track on the Tomb Raider soundtrack is IMO superior to the album version as well.

"Walk On", definitely a fan favorite, it is a good song, but like Stuck in a Moment above, it has never struck a major chord with me.

"Kite", IMHO one of the best U2 songs ever. Bono's soaring vocals and Edge's atmospheric guitar makes this track a true gem. It truly evokes a sense of loss. This is my favorite track on the album.

"In A Little While" has a catchy guitar rift, but little else. A rather weak addition to the album. "Wild Honey" is also a major letdown. It sounds like a rather weak imitation of "Who's Gonna Ride You Wild Horses", albeit on a mellower note.

We follow with "Peace on Earth", which makes the third weak track in a row. Here we have Bono at his preachy best, or an empty imitation thereof, which is the problem. U2 have always been a band with a conscience, Bono leading the way standing atop his pulpit. But this approach has always worked because it has never come across as derived or unoriginal until now. This track comes across as way too formulaic, and musically offers nothing new.

"When I Look At the World" is my second favorite track on the album. This is an excellent song with great lyrics & guitar. It gives that kind of "Happy Melancholy" feel similar to tracks on Acthung Baby such as "Ultraviolet". A definite gem, and greatly overlooked track.

"New York" is a solid song, a bit heavier than the rest of the album, and seems to fit the trend of similar tracks in similar spots on other U2 albums such as "Exit" on the Joshua Tree and "Acrobat" on Achtung Baby.

"Grace" is a good close for the album. Though it does come up a bit short, it does grow on you over time.

Taken on its own (especially when adding in the circumstances laid out at the beginning of the review), ATYCLB is a classic album. However when you compare it to U2's other works, it honestly does not deserve the heralded title of their third classic with Joshua Tree & Achtung Baby. While there are some great tracks on this album, there are some that are not very good, leaving you with a lack of continuity we have become used to on most of U2's previous albums. It is also this lack of continuity that makes the album sound disjointed in a way, you don't feel that sense of being on a journey as you did with Achtung Baby, Joshua Tree or even War & Unforgettable Fire.

In the U2 catalogue I would rank it 6th behind the above mentioned albums & Zooropa. It does lack the spark of their previous works from War onwards (with the exception of POP), but nonetheless is a solid album that is sure to please the vast majority of fans. I give it four stars when compared to everything else out there, but three stars when compared to the rest of U2's work.

YMMV

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