a letdown

Review Score: (2/10)
This album has received such a huge amount of critical and popular acclaim-and that fact, coupled with my love of "Achtung Baby" compelled me to buy this CD. I wish I hadn't. I've listened to it a few times now-I see that many of the reviewers here have mentioned that it's an album which can't really be appreciated at first listen. However, I personally cannot recall ANY album which has taken me a few listens to "appreciate"-if it doesn't grab me right away, I take that as a sign that it's just not good. Having said that, I feel I have given ATYCLB a fair shake. After several listens, (not an easy feat-I want to turn it off and put "Achtung Baby" in-and dream that we will see more U2 of *that* caliber again) I still don't like this album. It's bland, insipid, and lacking in melodic appeal. I am baffled as to why this album is such a hit, and why it's receiving the reviews it is. If you are looking for a good U2 album, buy "Achtung Baby"-one of the best CDs out there, by anyone. ATYCLB is NOT indicative of U2's best efforts and is NOT deserving of all the praise it's getting. They can do so much better than this, and I for one am hoping they will do so in the future.

More Reviews:

• I'm just trying to find a decent melody
• Mainstream
• as bad as everything they've done recently
• I Know That This Is Not Goodbye
• One Of U2's Best
• great cd
• Some of this you could leave behind
• Boring... and it pains me to say so
• Lack of energy
• Excuses, i Rate this album in a bad mood
• U2 managed to make "The Perfect Album"
• Take this one with you everywhere
• ...And a Few Things You Possibly Could
• Brilliant album
• It was the summer of '74
• GREAT album...not quite 5 stars
• Puzzling. . .
• What was left behind?
• Inspiring veering on cheesy
• A Flawless Album
• Heaven On Earth
• All that you can't leave behind....
• U2, tours, with new album Atomic Bomb
• Return to Form
• Well Worth Your Time And Money
• Music for a New Generation
• You Sure Can Leave It Behind
• Blandness
• yet again, greatness
• Four and 1/2 Stars.
• Brilliant!
• All Things Being Equal, A Great Album
• Still around
• THIS CD ELEVATES ME!
• A truly dissapointing album !
• A Diamond In The Rough..But Not A Classic U2 Album
• Unfortunately one of my least favorite U2 albums
• this cd is awful
• A little less synthesizers
• See anything common with "The Joshua Tree?"
• Pleasant Surprise
• The Old U2 is Back!
• One of the more complete albums ever...
• A Classic
• Timeless Classic
• An uplifter.
• U2 return to there most definable sound
• One of their best
• Is aging well
• Bono , give up the Ciggies
• U2 In true form!
• beautiful lyrics
• U2 Returns To Their Roots
• Sunrise, Sunset
• A Classic, Beautiful Album.
• Where it all began
• Entire CD is good
• This is why albums are made!!! A modern classic!!!
• They just might be the best band in the world
• Let's set the record straight
• Clearly U2's Best Album
• Sequel is coming up anyday now
• Not really all that great
• Leave Some, But Not All, of this Behind
• So much for experimenting eh?
• U2 Just Keeps on Truckin'!
• U2 Soldout!
• They proved themselves
• U2 returns with a soulful look at the world, quality songs
• Less than Beautiful
• Every Day is a Beautiful Day for this Album
• Pedestrian rock
• FINALLY... U2 MAKES A GOOD ALBUM AGAIN!!
• Crowdpleaser
• Don't leave this CD behind
• U2 Show why they're still the best!
• Not the best, but still ultra fine
• Powerful "soul" music!
• Not Trite, And Hardly a "Worst Album"
• I can't leave this one behind
• Awesome
• Might be strong for lesser bands, but among U2's weakest
• U2's rebirth
• U2's Greatest CD!
• U2
• U2 Rules
• BEST CD
• Songs that will not leave your head.....
• Very Consistent
• Finally !
• A Masterpiece
• At their best
• They're back, baby!
• The anthem is back
• A Return to stripped down rock, but...
• Just have to add
• takes a little while, but grows on you
• This CD rules!! rock on (or walk on, haha) U2!!!
• Graceless, except for the end
• Huge dissapointment for a huge U2 fan