Achtung Baby is without a doubt, a U2 masterpiece! (The title comes from Mel Brooks' movie 'The Producers'). Bono sort of sums up the album when he said "it's probably our most serious record yet it's got the least serious title... it just fooled everyone, they thought we were lightening up, which is totally untrue... we're miserable bastards!" The shock to their critics, aside from their totally new sound, was that all of a sudden they seemed to have a sense of humour after their long hiatus! Indeed, accusations of Bono trying to be God, a rock star and Jesus Christ, would have been enough to make anyone crack but U2 decided to become all that they had been accused of. Thus the confusion began!

On a scale of 1 to 10 I give this album a good solid 20. If post-modern had a sound, this would be it. Achtung Baby opens with 'Zoo Station', Bono declaring he's ready for anything (He's had his bastard lessons). The sound was fresh, new and unexpected of U2 [the first single 'The Fly' is like a phone call from hell, the devil feeding us truisms before cutting us off by saying "Look I gotta go, yeah I'm running out of change, there's a lot of things, if I could I'd rearrange"].

The songs dealt with the usual topics but with new twists: love (mostly based on Edge's marriage troubles at that time), sex (Bono with lots of amusing innuendos - "Did i disappoint you, or leave a bad taste in your mouth?" - 'One'), religion ('Until The End Of The World' - about judas betraying Christ) and basically everything and anything under the sun.

The most beautifully wriiten song in the whole wide world (my opinion of course) is 'One'. A song I wish I had fucking written. It's flexible and can be interpreted into so many things, lyrics simple yet accurate, music just perfect. Also when Bono used to sing it onstage during Zoo TV he'd sing "Have you come here to play Jesus? I did", substituting the "To The Lepers In Your Head" part with "I did" and then smile to himself! Take that critics!

'Acrobat' is another personal favourite of mine... it sounds like a very personal song Bono wrote to himself for e.g. he's still struggling with his faith ("Yeah I'd break bread and wine, if there was a church I could receive in").

Gorgeous music and gorgeous lyrics (I mean - "I'm in the black, can't see or be seen" - isn't that awesome????).

I could go on but I won't. All I have to say is that if anyone out there who does not own this album, how can you live with yourself??!

My Fave Tracks: All

Achtung Baby had a painful birth, first in Berlin and later in Dublin. It is one of those albums that mirrors the Beatles' White Album. Different versions of the same song.

"One" does have its innuendos but it is also a religious type of song that deals with many topics such as human sexuality. Remember the 1st version of the video--the Buffaloes? In the song, the Buffaloes are pushed off the cliff by forces they can't understand or prevent. Just as the deadly AIDS virus pushes people beyond limits, boundaries, and understanding. IN a way, the song also deals with homosexuality and how people are punished for practicing a certain lifestyle. Have we come we here for forgiveness? Have you come to raise the dead and play Jesus to the Lepers in your Bed? I noticed Bono uses "Lepers in your bed" in the song when they play it live...as opposed to "Lepers in your Head" on the album.

Contributed by: Al Alcala

Achtung Baby is revolutionary, fresh and innovative.It was a tough one to make but it may be the best album they`ve ever done.It's dark, sexy, tongue-in-cheek yet serious as a heart attack.

Bono asserts that he is truly a rock icon. The Edge put forth some of the best guitar work of his career, elevating the ambience of the album to unbelievable heights. Adam and Larry are the best rhythm section to be put together in a long time.They are always in synch, like they share a mind.

Few albums take you to another place, but this is definitely one of them.

Contributed by: Bonomars

Well, Achtung Baby! No matter how hard it was for me to spell it in the begining, 'Achtung Baby' was a turning point in the music i listened to. I was about 12 when it came out and I've had only heard of U2 and their music. I used to listen to Dire Straits, The Doors, Pink Floyd etc at the time. Then one day i had a copy of that album in my hand and I was pretty curious about it.. so I listened to it for the first time. A couple of years later, I had all U2 albums and had listened to 'Achtung Baby' over a thousand times(and still counting).

First of all, I was caught by Bono's singing, that way he has of saying the words, he made songs "alive". Then there was the music, the melodies would just go on and on, hitting you one after the other, you just want to listen to it all over again so you can enjoy evey part of it. The thing with U2's music is that it "fills" the songs, you never get the feeling of: "hmmm, that may have needed some more guitars here, or a little bit of drums there", it's all there.

The best part of it is when u start listening ot the lyrics carefully, I myself didn't pay much attention to the lyrics in the begining. for example, "Every artist is a cannibal, every poet is a thief, all kill their inspiration and sing about the grief" (The Fly). Devil's words? maybe. Ambiguous? Sure. How many people would call themselves cannibals?

"We crossed the line, who pushed who over?" (So Cruel), it could mean many things, to me it's that dilemma, who started it, the man or the woman, was it a good thing thing to do or a bad thing, it could make us the happiest lovers, but also the saddest people when it's over... the song closes on a lonely complaint from Bono.

"In my dream I was drowning my sorrows, but my sorrows they learned to swim" (Until the end of the World). This is the epic for me, it says everything, Bono will always have a stand against his fame, the press, the music, himself, there will always be a strugle, happiness is what we all look for but very few of us will ever attain. What U2 did was " You think we're playing Gods, we'll play you the devil."

Contributed by: Sherif ElSayed

I don't think U2 could have come up with a better follow-up to JT. Dream it all up again they did! A totally fresh sound when compared to JT, but still instantly recognizeable as U2. One thing I'll have to admit is that this album (at least for me) was not as easily accesible as JT - it took much more getting used to before I started really getting into the pieces. That's another major point in my list of reasons U2 is the greatest: Some of their songs don't sound that special initially, but as time passes they grow more and more on me, until they each have a special place for me.

Lyrically, this album is one of U2's strongest...definitely much better than JT. Very earnest lyrics...very painful in spots - a much darker album than anything U2 had put out (I personally think Exit could have fit very nicely on this album). The dipping into industrial sounds adds to this heavier and darker feeling - when I think of an album for the beginning of the 90's - this is it. Bono's voice is also a lot rougher on this album than previous ones, and it adds so much to the songs. Edge once again finds a way to make the guitar sound like a totally new instrument, and throws in some wicked solos while he's at it ;). I think a great contribution to this album's success is a much stronger showing by Larry and Adam - more complicated and prominent bass lines and drumming add a lot to the songs. I have to agree with BonoMars - this album takes me to another place - a much darker place than where JT took me, but still a place with hope for a better world.

Zoo Station: I'd have to say this is my least favorite song off the album - although I still like it. But for those expecting another JT, this must have been a real eye-opener (not to mention ear-opener). I think the lyrics are what make this song - U2 announcing that they've moved to a new level ("...I'm ready for what's next"). A very 'busy' song - lots of things going on (noises, background voices, guitar effects, etc...)...I think maybe a little too heavy for my taste. 3 out of 4.

Even Better Than the Real Thing: This is one that took some listening to before I got into it. I didn't like the intro initially, but now I can tolerate it a bit more (and it makes for a very cool video intro). Nice, full sound - not sparse like earlier U2 work, and Bono's voice sounds (ok, even though I'm a guy, I'll admit it) pretty sexy in this one. And Edge once again sends that, adrenaline rush feeling through me. A lot more complex drums from Larry....more than just the usual spare drum kit we're used to from him. Overall, I think it's the backbeat and rhythm that keep this piece going. 3.25 out of 4

One: I can't say enough about this song. If I had to pick one U2 song....well, I can't do that, but this song is true brilliance. If I absolutely hated every other song on this album, I would still buy it for this song. This song says so much to me...Bono sings as if he's in my shoes (another "Why U2 is the Best" reason: deeply personal and intimate songs). Like Bono said of Frank Sinatra, "...to sing like that you've gotta have lost a couple of fights, to know tenderness and romance you've got to have had your heart broken..." Bono IS pain in this song. One of the few songs that has made me cry on occasion. Truly beautiful lyrics, beautiful melody, beautiful instrumentation, and Edge again proves it's not how many notes you play, it's WHAT notes you play - and he plays the right ones! Only 3 notes, but they say so much. Best part of the song has to be from 2:40-3:04 ("love is a temple...") and then Bono's high pitched cries at the end. This song is so beautiful, so painful, but yet still hopeful (how do they keep doing that??). And the Miss Sarajevo version is (I believe) the best version they could ever do of this song. I could go on for pages about this.... HUGE 4 out of 4 (if I could give it a 5, I would!)

Until the End of the World: The return of a true guitar song for the Edge. Another addictive beat and drive from this song. Very interesting rhythm section to this - additional drums add a lot to this piece (bongos or tom-toms?). But the biggest part of this song is definitely Edge's solo - absolutely smoking, and probably the most notes you're gonna hear him play in that short a time frame . But man - what a solo! Another great vocal performance from Bono. The lyrics are once again, amazing, in part because they can be interpreted differently. Bono's interpretation is of Judas speaking to Jesus, but this can be a love song (to the simpler minded folk...lol - myself included, of course ). The Break on Through part added in on Popmart sounds awesome with this. 3.75 out of 4 (4 live)

Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses?: This song gets off to an interesting start, with heavily distorted guitar sounds, but as soon as Adam kicks in the song takes off. I prefer the Temple Bar edit better than the studio, but overall this is a great song. Great lyrics as usual. I think the best part of this song is the bridge. The transition into "the deeper I spin" with Edge's sparse guitar work just does something to me....absolutely great sound to that. Once the song gets going, I have no complaints, but that intro still bugs me a little. 3.75 out of 4

So Cruel: This one took a little getting used to, but now it is one of my favorites on the album. Being a pianist, I love seeing U2 put in some keys, even if it is a pretty repetitive line. Great drumming from Larry, very interesting beats he puts out. Bono's voice is especially good in this one, perfect, with that slight roughness that conveys so much emotion. And the lyrics are especially good. Very interesting imagery and again, a very personal song. Another awesome bridge here...U2 builds there songs so well...It's interesting, but this is for the majority of the time on one chord, and yet it is still very interesting - I never tire of it. Great song for those relationship problem times ;). 4 out of 4

The Fly: What better way to introduce the Fly and the U2 of the 90s? Great lyrics....my personal favorite is "they say the sun is sometimes eclipsed by a moon, you know I don't see you, when she walks in the room". I don't know what it is, but something about the drums just don't mix with me. I love the Gospel/falsetto voice in the chorus. Edge's guitar is doing it's thing again...great solo. But overall, this song has something missing... 3.25 out of 4

Mysterious Ways: This is an addictive song! Again, completely unique guitar playing on Edge's part. What makes this song - The drums and the feeling I get when Adam kicks in with that awesome bass line of his . Edge's guitar has a really interesting sound in this piece, very clean, that wawa effect is very cool, too. I think this is more a studio song than a live one, it seems to lose a little on stage, although Edge's guitar solos in Popmart were absolutely incredible! A great song...with another great melody line from Bono - quite a range that man has! 4 out of 4

Tryin' to Throw Your Arms Around the World: This song just doesn't have enough going on for me. It seems a bit too slow for my taste, although the actual sound and texture are very nice. It seems too laid back for what Larry described as an Irish drinking song. The line "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle" always gets a chuckle out of me (not to mention a funny image). But this song just doesn't have that something the other songs do. 3.25 out of 4

Ultraviolet (Light My Way): I have a very personal connection to this song. It helped me out of a really bad situation (strange and sad as that may sound). Great feel to this piece as the song kicks in after the brief intro. The exchange of lyrics with the intro verse and the first verse are great...wonderful question and answer type interaction. I think U2 knew they had to put an uplifting song on here or they'd be scaring people..., and this a very uplifting song....great message. Love Bono's voice on the bridge ("I remember when we could sleep on stones..."). I notice something new in this song every time I listen (just noticed bongo drums in the bridge today!). Even though it may not be up to par by others, I have to give it a 4 out of 4 (for personal reasons ).

Acrobat: This song rocks! Nothing else to say - well, much more to say ;). Absolutely brilliant lyrics - another good "mad at the world" song. Great song about faith and strength, again with that plaintive, questioning voice of Bono "I'd join the movement, if there was one I could believe in, yeah I'd break bread and wine, if there was a church I could receive in..." Great driving force from Edge, Adam, and Larry. In a way I see this as Bono looking at his old self (in a slightly tongue-in-cheek) kind of way...mocking his naivety and ambitions. Big 4 out of 4 (shame this wasn't in Popmart!)

Love is Blindness: This is an amazingly moving piece. Along the lines of Sunday Bloody Sunday. Love the organ intro to the bass line....great setup for a dark, disturbing piece. Edge's guitarwork here is very, very powerful. Like Bono said, I can't think of a more eloquent prayer than Edge's solo in this song. I can almost almost here the guitar crying out to heaven...asking why - then getting angry towards the end. Beautiful, introspective, moving lyrics emotionally sung by Bono. A great anti-terrorism song hidden under the guise of love. Again, U2 has an uncanny knack for finding the perfect closing track. 4 out of 4.

Contributed by: Adam Bukowinski

I'm not going to go on about what it means, because that's the thing about this whole album, it lets you decide. No other band has done that - U2 have finally set us free. It lets me laugh, makes me cry and makes me think. To most people that may not mean much but to me if a song makes me cry ..."it must be art!"

Remember, the band only constitutes a small portion of what in the end is one hell of an impact and influence on people. It's the songs that make us do what we do. Bono and the lads just provide and provide so well so that we, in U2 land will never be hungry or poor - emotionally that is.

And for this I say thank you from the bottom of my sometimes fulfilled heart.

Contributed by: Marti

If you would like to contribute your opinion on this album, you can do so by e-mailing me. Please write in the subject box "Achtung Baby"! Thanks!