Alphabet Beats #141: U is for....U2

U is for....

Currently out on their Innocence and Experience Tour U2 are demonstrating that they are still a live force to be reckoned with. Of course they are not without their critics (as the outrage to their latest album turning up on all itunes customers clouds attests) but on the face of it one would see that it's like water of a ducks back to them. Maybe away from the spotlight and the eyes of the media some of the criticism is deemed quite hurtful because more often than not it's not the music that people attack but the people who make up the band and metaphorically speaking the media and critics drag them over the torture rack and expose not only their musical lives but are even spiteful enough to launch assualts upon their personal lives. People justify it with the usual "well what did they expect they wanted to be in the public eye!" But that surely doesn't give reason to be so vicious at times about them, after all they are human beings first and foremost and then they are just four guys who wanted to make music together and I'm sure that they didn't sign up for the rest of the nonsense that followed.

It's true that Bono can sometimes be a little annoying, and we all wish he would just shut up sometimes but him and his band have opened up world issues that are going on that maybe we would never have really known about if he had just kept quiet! I throw that one out there as a freebie for your consideration.

Anyway, this is not the place to discuss these matters at present.

I first stumbled onto U2 prior to release of their debut album 'Boy' back in 1979 and found them a breath of fresh air to watch and to listen to. Since then I have fallen out of love with them (especially when Achtung Baby/Zooropa/Pop appeared), regained an affection for them when 'All That You Can't Leave Behind' was released, went back and listened to Achtung/Zooropa/Pop with many years distance and found there were actually a number of songs I was quite enamoured by, bought the live DVD's and finally went back to see them live on their 360 Tour for the first time since the Joshua Tree Tour. 'The Unforgettable Fire' is possibly my favourite U2 album and for reasons unknown 'Electric Co' off the debut is my favourite U2 song ever (though 'Kite' is a very close second)! The live Intro to 'Where the Streets Have No Name' still sends a shiver up my spine and hearing 'Walk On' brings a tear to the eye.

So I think enough of my nattering, let's get on with the music.

The Albums
    Boy (1980)
    October (1981)
    War (1983)
    The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
    The Joshua Tree (1987)
    Rattle and Hum (1988)
    Achtung Baby (1991)
    Zooropa (1993)
    Pop (1997)
    All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
    How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)

U218 Singles (2006)
    No Line on the Horizon (2009)
    Songs of Innocence (2014)

The Soundtrack4Life Top 20

U2

 20. Even Better Than The Real Thing.

19. Zoo Station.

18. Unknown Caller.

17. Song For Someone.

16. Running To Stand Still.

15. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of.

14. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own.

13. Stories For Boys.

12. Until the End of the World.

11. A Day Without Me.

10. A Sort of Homecoming.

09. Stay (Faraway, So Close).

08. Bad.

07. Out of Control.

06. Love Rescue Me.

05. I Will Follow.

04. Walk On.

03. Where The Streets Have No Name.

02. Kite.

01. Electric Co.