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Reinventions rarely come as thorough and effective as Achtung Baby, an album that completely changed U2's sound and style. The crashing, unrecognizable distorted guitars that open "Zoo Station" are a clear signal that U2 have traded their Americana pretensions for postmodern, contemporary European music. Drawing equally from Bowie's electronic, avant-garde explorations of the late '70s and the neo-psychedelic sounds of the thriving rave and Madchester club scenes of early-'90s England, Achtung Baby sounds vibrant and endlessly inventive. Unlike their inspirations, U2 rarely experiment with song structures over the course of the album. Instead, they use the thick dance beats, swirling guitars, layers of effects, and found sounds to break traditional songs out of their constraints, revealing the tortured emotional core of their songs with the hyper-loaded arrangements. In such a dense musical setting, it isn't surprising that U2 have abandoned the political for the personal on Achtung Baby, since the music, even with its inviting rhythms, is more introspective than anthemic. Bono has never been as emotionally naked as he is on Achtung Baby, creating a feverish nightmare of broken hearts and desperate loneliness; unlike other U2 albums, it's filled with sexual imagery, much of it quite disturbing, and it ends on a disquieting note. Few bands as far into their career as U2 have recorded an album as adventurous or fulfilled their ambitions quite as successfully as they do on Achtung Baby, and the result is arguably their best album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Daniel Lanois, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Paul Barrett, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Sean Leonard, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Mixer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Sean Leonard, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Mixer, Co-Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, String Arranger, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Recording Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Duchess Nell Catchpole, Viola, Violin, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Lillywhite, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Mixer, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Composer - The Edge, Composer, Mixer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Eno, Producer, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Lillywhite, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Sean Leonard, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Daniel Lanois, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Eno, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Arnie Acosta, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Island Records, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
DISC 2
Paul Barrett, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer - Larry Mullen, Composer - The Edge, Composer
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Sean Leonard, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Lou Reed, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barrett, Producer - U2, MainArtist - The Edge, Producer
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Producer, Mixer, Piano, Recording Engineer, Strings, Moog Bass, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - Robbie Adams, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stewart Whitmore, Editor, StudioPersonnel - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, Piano, Strings, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ian Bryan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shannon Strong, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fiach Cooling, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Andrew Loog Oldham, Producer - Dave Hassinger, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - KEITH RICHARDS, ComposerLyricist - MICK JAGGER, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - The Rolling Stones, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Limited under exclusive licence to Mercury Records Limited in the UK, Interscope Records in the US and Universal Music Group for the rest of the world
Paul Barrett, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Daniel Lanois, Producer - Brian Eno, Producer - Steve Lillywhite, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bono, Author, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Robbie Adams, Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Declan Gaffney, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - The Edge, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Paul, Remixer, StudioPersonnel - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer - Scott Sedillo, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Sean Leonard, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Bono, Author - U2, Composer, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - P Oakenfold, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - S Osborne, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Limited under exclusive licence to Mercury Records Limited in the UK, Interscope Records in the US and Universal Music Group for the rest of the world
Cole Porter, ComposerLyricist - Paul Barrett, Producer - U2, MainArtist - The Edge, Producer
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Daniel Lanois, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - Flood, Mixer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robbie Adams, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, ComposerLyricist - Shannon Strong, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - John Fogerty, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Noel Eccles, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Paul Barrett, Producer, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - U2, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer - Dave Clayton, Programmer, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Larry Mullen, Composer - The Edge, Composer, ComposerLyricist - Ian Bryan, Producer, Assistant Producer - Ingmar Kiang, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Noel O'Gorman, Soprano, AssociatedPerformer - Jerry O'Gorman, Soprano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Paul Barrett, Producer - Bono, ComposerLyricist - U2, Producer, MainArtist - Adam Clayton, ComposerLyricist - Larry Mullen, ComposerLyricist - The Edge, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Ltd.
Album review
Reinventions rarely come as thorough and effective as Achtung Baby, an album that completely changed U2's sound and style. The crashing, unrecognizable distorted guitars that open "Zoo Station" are a clear signal that U2 have traded their Americana pretensions for postmodern, contemporary European music. Drawing equally from Bowie's electronic, avant-garde explorations of the late '70s and the neo-psychedelic sounds of the thriving rave and Madchester club scenes of early-'90s England, Achtung Baby sounds vibrant and endlessly inventive. Unlike their inspirations, U2 rarely experiment with song structures over the course of the album. Instead, they use the thick dance beats, swirling guitars, layers of effects, and found sounds to break traditional songs out of their constraints, revealing the tortured emotional core of their songs with the hyper-loaded arrangements. In such a dense musical setting, it isn't surprising that U2 have abandoned the political for the personal on Achtung Baby, since the music, even with its inviting rhythms, is more introspective than anthemic. Bono has never been as emotionally naked as he is on Achtung Baby, creating a feverish nightmare of broken hearts and desperate loneliness; unlike other U2 albums, it's filled with sexual imagery, much of it quite disturbing, and it ends on a disquieting note. Few bands as far into their career as U2 have recorded an album as adventurous or fulfilled their ambitions quite as successfully as they do on Achtung Baby, and the result is arguably their best album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 26 track(s)
- Total length: 01:57:38
- Main artists: U2
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal-Island Records Ltd.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2011 Universal-Island Records Limited under exclusive licence to Mercury Records Limited in the UK, Interscope Records in the US and Universal Music Group for the rest of the world ℗ 2011 Universal-Island Records Limited under exclusive licence to Mercury Records Limited in the UK, Interscope Records in the US and Universal Music Group for the rest of the world
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