Top 200 Albums of All Time: U2

War: U2 (1983)

U2 changed with War. It is the moment the band became overtly political. Whereas their previous works focused on the spiritual and youth, War made them activists. U2 wanted to be the Clash. In 1983, they made the first foray into their hero’s territory.

The Joshua Tree: U2 (1987)

U2 loves America. The Joshua Tree is part rock album and part sociological examination of the U.S. The album portrays the band’s love of America, but also criticizes some elements of the country. It is America through the eyes of four Irishmen. The Joshua Tree is as close to social science as music can become.

Actung Baby: U2 (1991)

U2 can be pretentious. This pretentiousness almost ended their career. In 1991, U2 reinvigorated themselves in Berlin and released Actung Baby. The four decided to embrace celebrity culture, consumerism, and lightened up. The end result is a brilliant reinvention that embraced alternative rock, classic rock, industrial, and Euro influences.

All That You Can’t Leave Behind: U2 (2000)

Once again, U2 had to reinvent itself. The “Discotheque” video from 1997 nearly destroyed the band. Refusing to destroy themselves, U2 returned to their 80s form with All That You Can’t Leave Behind. With the album’s release, Bono claimed U2 was reapplying for “best band in the world.”

No Line on the Horizon: U2 (2009)

After experiencing wild success in the 2000s with their return to form, U2 experimented again in 2009. No Line on the Horizon incorporated Middle Eastern influences into the record, which sold “only” five million copies. The band was disappointed with album sales which may indicate another “return to form” in the offing.

Presidential Songs: Barack Obama

Barack Obama admits to having varied musical tastes. He likes everything from Bruce Springsteen to Lil Wayne. During his presidential campaign, he adopted a U2 song for his theme. When he announced his candidacy, "City of Blinding Lights" blared over the crowd.

City of Blinding Lights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pCqii5Po_s

Bruce Springsteen was inspired by the Obama campaign and wrote "Working on a Dream":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZMfPXgd_M

On a humorous note, Obama and the Mayor of Las Vegas engaged in a bit of a spat. In honor of that, here's Elvis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFw5a5Bp_Pw

Favorite 80s Albums

Appetite for Destruction- GnR (1987): Gritty and unglam. It was fresh and refreshing. The anti-Poison.


The Joshua Tree- U2 (1987): The anti-everything at the time.

Back in Black- AC/DC (1980): AC/DC doesn't need Bon Scott?

Born in the USA- Bruce Springsteen (1984): Who needs Michael Jackson or Prince?

Synchronicity- The Police (1983): Made them the biggest band in the world; then Copeland broke Sting's ribs.

Document- REM (1987): It's the end of the world...

Hysteria- Def Leppard (1987): Probably the most important album during my HS years. This was a greatest hits album.

Pyromania- Def Leppard (1983): Almost as good as Hysteria.

War- U2 (1983): U2 broke from New Wave here. The album has all time classics on it.

New Jersey- Bon Jovi (1988): I just like the album...better than Slippery When Wet.

Best Riffs of the 80s

Here are the best riffs of the 1980s...not in any order...

Paradise City- GnR

Rock You Like a Hurricane- The Scorpions

Back in Black- AC/DC

Breakin’ the Law- Judas Priest

Master of Puppets- Metallica

Seek and Destroy- Metallica

Photograph- Def Leppard

Sharp Dressed Man- ZZ Top

Money for Nothing- Dire Straits

Start Me Up- The Rolling Stones

Rockin’ in the Free World- Neil Young

Spirit of Radio- Rush

Eminence Front- The Who

Run Like Hell- Pink Floyd

Couldn’t Stand the Weather- Stevie Ray Vaughn

Crazy Train- Ozzy

Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

You Shook Me All Night Long- AC/DC

I Love Rock n Roll- Joan Jett

Sunday, Bloody Sunday-U2

The 10 Greatest Albums of the 80s

Not in any particular order...

Thriller- Michael Jackson (1982): It's now fashionable to claim Off the Wall was better, but those folks are on crack. This was a monster that opened doors for black artists and changed pop music. Today's hip hop, pop, and rap are all influenced by Thriller. No Thriller, no Hip Hop and today's pop is different.

Purple Rain- Prince (1984): For a time, people asked "Michael Jackson or Prince?"

The Joshua Tree- U2 (1987): U2 went in a totally different direction than everyone else in the mainstream with Joshua Tree. It was a rejection of plastic modern society and is probably more relevant today than in 1987.

Raising Hell- Run DMC (1986): Rap comes to the suburbs. Blondie introduced it to white America, Grandmaster Flash brought the streets to MTV, but Run DMC brought Hip Hop to the forefront and legitimized it. Although MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice made it mainstream, Run DMC became the first to explode onto the scene.

Appetite for Destruction- GnR (1987): Like U2, Guns n Roses took popular music in a radical direction in 1987. Unlike U2's examination of America and modern materialism, GnR took a darker approach and examined the underworld in a way no had since Exile on Mainstreet.

Back in Black- AC/DC (1980): AC/DC somehow survived the death of Bon Scott and turned that loss into one of the greatest tribute albums ever.

Born in the USA- Bruce (1984): Just about every song on this album became a hit. Bruce became a phenomenon and the embodiment of America. No one bothered to listen to the lyrics of the title track...

Murmur- REM (1983): While pop music was heading in multiple directions during the eighties including hair metal, new wave, hip hop, and some groups which defied categorization (Huey Lewis was played on rock stations that would follow Heart of Rock n Roll with Led Zeppelin), R.E.M. ushered in the alternative movement. Murmur represented an attempt to get back to basics and bring fresh rock n roll back to an audience.

London Calling- The Clash (1980): The west appeared on the verge of utter collapse in the late seventies. High unemployment, stagnant economies, and disheartened populations wanted to go to the disco. London Calling reflects the postwar apocalypse that hit during the seventies. Despite the coming ice age and sun zooming in, the album ends on an uplifting note with "Train in Vain."

Synchronicity- The Police (1983): Synchronicity made the Police the biggest band in the world. The album and its songs was omnipresent from summer of 1983 and into 1984. "Every Breath You Take" is one of the songs that defined the eighties.

My Favorite Albums from the 1990s

Actung Baby- U2 (1991)

Ten- Pearl Jam (1991)

Vs.- Pearl Jam (1993)

Monster- REM (1994)

Automatic for the People- REM (1992)

New Adventures in Hi-Fi- REM (1996)

Metallica- Metallica (1991)

Use Your Illusion I and II- Guns n Roses (1991)

From the Cradle- Eric Clapton (1994)

For Unlawful Carnel Knowledge- Van Halen (1991)

Singles Soundtrack (1992)

Albums of the 90s

Here are the top 10 albums of the 1990s. Basically based on impact. Interestingly, six of the ten came out in 1991 or 1992. They are not listed in any particular order. These are not necessarily my favorite albums. Too lazy to do write-ups...if questions, ask or look it up...

Nevermind- Nirvana (1991)

Ten-Pearl Jam (1991)

Ok Computer- Radiohead (1997)

Automatic for the People- REM (1992)

Actung Baby- U2 (1991)

The Chronic- Dr. Dre (1992)

Metallica- Metallica (1991)

Jagged Little Pill- Alanis Morrisette (1995)

Unplugged- Nirvana (1994)

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)- And then she went crazy...

Man of the Decade: 2000-2009

Here are the candidates for Person of the Decade:

The American Soldier: Without a draft, the volunteer force had to sacrifice more than anyone during the last decade. It's been a long time since so few have had to sacrifice for so many.

Bono: Not only did U2 return to prominence, but Bono began a crusade for third world debt relief. His efforts culminated in the Live Eight Concerts in 2005.

George W Bush: Bush led the country threw a very decisive and troubled epoch. His accomplishments include liberating Iraq, Afghanistan, and leading the country through 911. His failings include forgetting Afghanistan, not corrected the excesses of the prior decade which led to the economic collapse, and the appearance of federal incompetence in the aftermath of Katrina.

Simon Cowell: No one exemplifies the collapse of the music industry than Cowell. American Idol helped change music by creating stars out of karaoke singers.

Creators of Facebook, Google, etc: Technology took off this last decade. Lord only knows what is coming next.

The Curse Breakers: The Red Sox, the White Sox, the Angels, and others broke long droughts to win championships.

Rudy Giuliani: Rudy was the hero of 911. He ran for president, but his heart did not seem to be in it.

The Iraqi Information Minister during the early days of the Gulf War: Before Robert Gibbs, there was the Iraqi Information Minister. As American tanks entered Baghdad, he claimed Iraq was winning the war. After the war, he apparently retired and became the inspiration for current White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Derek Jeter: In a decade of athletes behaving badly, Jeter was a beacon of light. He is the modern Joe Dimaggio. Oh yeah, he is also Captain of the New York Yankees and won two of his five world titles in the aughts.

Steve Jobs: I-Phones, I-Pods, etc etc.

Barack Obama: Obama became the first black American President and gave a nice speech at the 2004 DNC.

Vladimir Putin: Putin returned stability to Russia and is in the process of making them into a world power once more. The international geopolitical situation is now in a state of flux. Putin is largely to blame.

The Winner: The American Soldier

My Favorite Aught Albums

Overall a weak decade...

Audioslave- Audioslave (2002)

All That You Can’t Leave Behind -U2 (2000)

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb- U2 (2004)

The Rising- Bruce Springsteen (2002)

Magic- Bruce Springsteen (2007)

American IV: The Man Comes Around -Johnny Cash (2002)

American Idiot-Green Day (2004)

Gladiator Soundtrack (2000)

Welcome Interstate Managers-Fountains of Wayne (2003)

Have a Nice Day- Bon Jovi (2005)

Nostradamus- Judas Priest (2008)

Albums of the Decade: The Aughts

Here are ten of the most important albums to be released from 2000-2009. They are arraigned chronologically.

The Marshall Mathers LP- Eminem (2000): Hip Hop had gone stale and then Eminem came along. Ten years later, Hip Hop is once again stale.


Kid A- Radiohead (2000): It took less than a week for Kid A to go platinum. Would not be an accurate list without Radiohead.


U2- All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000): U2 decided to get out of electronic music and return to form. The end result was a monster.


Songs in A Minor- Alicia Keys (2001): Keys mixed blues with jazz and R&B. The comparisons to Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Billie Holiday followed.

American IV: The Man Comes Around- Johnny Cash (2002): This album signalled the greatest comeback in music history. All of a sudden, a 70-year-old was a superstar once more.


A Rush of Blood to the Head- Coldplay (2002): After this album, they were being compared to U2. This made Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.


The Rising- Bruce Springsteen (2002): Reinvigorated after a decade of experimentation, Springsteen returned with one of his strongest albums ever harkening back to his 80s glory.

Elephant- The White Stripes (2003): Garage rock lives! The White Stripes are one of the last of the rock bands.


American Idiot- Green Day (2004): American Idiot is probably the album of the decade. Green Day really connected to its audience as well as the zeitgeist of mid-decade America.


Magic- Bruce Springsteen (2007): This is generally considered the best (or second best) album of 2007. The album is about disillusionment with society, condemns the Iraq War, and could almost be a companion piece to American Idiot.

The Aughts Entertainment Awards

Best Song: Hurt-Johnny Cash

Song that Best Reflects the Decade: Boulevard of Broken Dreams-Green Day

Worst Song: You’re Beautiful (James Blunt)

Best Act: U2

Worst Act: Lady Gaga

Worst Band: My Chemical Romance

Worst Trend: Emo

Most Overrated: Jay-Z

Best Album: The Rising: Bruce Springsteen

Best Movie: Gladiator

Best TV Show: Rome (HBO)

Riffs of the Decade: 2000-2009

Here are the best riffs of the decade. This is one of the few posts I actually had to research! Interestingly, the best known riff of the decade was probably a piano riff. Coldplay's "Clocks" became omnipresent and iconic during the aughts especially when the media needed some background music for a story. The riff is not as important to music as it used to be. Perhaps all the great riffs have been written.

Here are the riffs of the decade:

Kryptonite- 3 Doors Down

Judith- A Perfect Circle

Cochise- Audioslave

Suicide Messiah- Black Label Society

The Pretender- Foo Fighters

Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand

American Idiot- Green Day

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades- Green Day

Sleep Now in the Fire- Rage Against the Machine

Vertigo- U2

Slither- Velvet Revolver

Seven Nation Army- White Stripes

2009 Entertainment Awards

Song of the Year: Magnificent-U2

Worst Song of the Year: Pokerface-Lady Gaga

Worst Act of the Year: Lady Gaga

Most Overrated Act of the Year and All Time: Jay-Z

Act of the Year: Blackeyed Peas

Album of the Year: No Line on the Horizon- U2

Movie of the Year: Star Trek

Best TV Show: Fringe

Best New Show: V

2009 Quotes of the Year

1. “We’re all victims of our gene pool. Someone peed in yours.”

-Walter Bishop (John Noble) from Fringe

2. “I'm in the Batcave learning to tweet.”

-Adam West

3. “Attila liked to hang by the pool when he wasn’t raping and pillaging.”

- Documentary on Attila the Hun

4. "I started to cry and I said, 'I'll never be able to climb up that hill,' And he lifted me up in his strong, gentle arms and said something I will never forget. He said, ‘I‘ll help you if it takes all day. I know you can do it. There is nothing that you can't do.”

- Ted Kennedy Jr at his father’s funeral

5. “I’m the Reverend Jesse Jackson.”

- Jesse Jackson after being misidentified as Al Sharpton on MSNBC

6. "I think he's that good a melodist, but he's a wanker." Bono added that Martin was "obviously a completely dysfunctional character and a cretin, but he happens to be a great melodist and up there with Ray Davies, Noel Gallagher and Paul McCartney."

-Bono on Chris Martin of Coldplay

7. “I never understood how a great man, a nice guy coached the Bad Boys.”

-Charles Barkley on Chuck Daly

8. “Like Kennedy, we failed to give the Cubans air cover!”

-Pat Buchanan on Watergate

9. “There is no I in team, but there is in win.”

-A humble Michael Jordan at his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame

10. “Kill All The Lawyers!”

- Sandra Day O’Connor at a Shakespeare reading

#13 U2

U2 formed in Dublin while still in their teens. They emerged during the New Wave era and really did not seem all that different from other Euro New Wave acts. However, they soon began to distinguish themselves. By 1983, they were clearly superior to their New Wave contemporaries. They added credibility and depth with hits such as "New Years Day" and "Sunday Bloody Sunday". They continued their socially conscious brand of rock with The Unforgettable Fire which was an ode to Martin Luther King Jr.

U2 were stars by the mid-80s. In 1987, they became superstars when they released The Joshua Tree which was a concept album inspired by America. The album scored a number of hits; some of which criticized modern materialism. Stardom seemed to trouble the band. Despite this, they filmed a movie. Rattle and Hum was perceived to be nothing more than an ego-fest and seriously annoyed fans. After the tour, the band went into hiding.

They re-emerged in Berlin and seemed to see where the music biz was going. They reworked their sound and incorporated electronic and alternative influences into their music. Actung Baby is now considered classic. The album included the song, "One", which documents the band’s near breakup. The band also mocked the materialistic lifestyle by embracing it through satire. They invented the modern large-scale concert event with their Zoo TV Tour and continued it through the decade. By the end of the 90s, the band scared fans away by overdoing the satire and appearing as The Village People in the video for "Discotheque". Additionally, their Pop Mart Tour was a money pit.

After the Village People/Pop Mart fiascos, the band returned to its roots. They released two monster albums and were the biggest band in the world for the third time. They began to rack up the awards once more, were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and played the Superbowl. In 2009, they released No Line On the Horizon which incorporates Middle Eastern influences and The Edge filmed a movie with Jimmie Page and Jack White.

Throughout their career, U2 have been activists for various causes. In recent years, Bono has campaigned for Third World Debt Relief and launched his One Campaign to help achieve this goal. In 2005, he organized the Live 8 Concerts to bring the cause to the attention of the world.

Rock n Roll Moment: During the Pop Mart Tour, they got stuck in a giant electronic lemon ala Spinal Tap.

Essential U2:

War (1983)
The Unforgettable Fire (1984)
The Joshua Tree (1987)
Achtung Baby (1991)
All That You Can’t Leave Behind (2000)
How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb (2004)

U2’s Top 10:

I Will Follow
Sunday Bloody Sunday
New Year’s Day
Bad
Pride (In the Name of Love)
With or Without You
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Where the Streets Have No Name
Beautiful Day
Mysterious Ways

#32 B.B. King

B.B. King essentially influenced every blues and blues based guitarist that followed him. After a failed trip to Memphis, King decided to learn music. His hard work paid off. In 1949, he earned a recording contract. By the 50s, King was one of the most important R&B artists. His biggest hit came in 1968 with “The Thrill is Gone.” King continued to work throughout the 70s. He recorded less frequently by the 1980s. However, in 1988, he recorded “When Love Comes To Town” with U2. It was a smash. Today, he occasionally performs at festivals. In 2008, he performed at the Kennedy Center Honors in honor of Morgan Freeman.

Rock n Roll Moment: He named his guitar “Lucille.”

Essential King:

Singing The Blues (1956)
Indianola Mississippi Seeds (1970)
The Ultimate Collection (2005)

BB King’s Top 10:

Three O’Clock Blues
When Love Comes to Town (with U2)
Worried Life
The Thrill is Gone
Paying the Cost to be the Boss
Please Love Me
You Upset Me Baby
Don’t Answer The Door
Sweet Sixteen (part 1 and 2)
Chains and Things

Quotes of the Year

Here are the best quotes for 2008....not in any order...

"I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail." -Ringo Starr

"I go three, maybe four times a year to get tested for sexually transmitted infections and most of the time I don't even need to." -- Kelly Osborne.

“If they knew the plane was faulty, why did they let it fly?" -- A relative of one of the 153 passengers killed in the Spanair crash at Madrid airport.

"I read the script and it's not bad. The message is I'm a dangerous lunatic, and that I'm possessed by monkeys." -- Singer Iggy Pop on a movie based on his life.

"What is the difference between God and Bono? God doesn't wander down Grafton Street thinking he's Bono." -- Louis Walsh.


"If the human race is to continue for another million years, we will have to boldly go where no on has gone before." -- Stephen Hawking


"I saw this crocodile and thought I'd tease it a bit with a small bit of bait, just to get it in quite close to me for the picture. I was playing around, pointing at it, laughing - when it suddenly jumped at me. I didn't realize crocs were so aggressive" -a tourist in Australia that pissed off a croc

"It's not allowed for a woman to sit with a strange man and talk and drink coffee together." -- Saudi Arabia


"Sorry for being topless." -- Carla Bruni of France greeting a British journalist


"Wall Street got drunk." -President Bush