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U2 of 1980-1990 vs. U2 of 1990-2000?

In terms of music, be it LPs, EPs, singles, tours, etc., which era of U2 do you prefer?

Public Comments

1. 1980-1990. Achtung Baby would be the only post-1990 album I'd consider decent. Old U2 was raw, real, and poignant, long before Bono became ridiculously self-absorbed in his quest to spoof the self-absorption of rock stars. The music was also much more instrument reliant, not the sampled, mixed, and computer-altered stuff they've put out recently.

2. 1980-1990, prior to their sell-out.

3. 1980-90. I think Joshua Tree and War are the best.

4. 80's-90's. They are at their best during the New Wave era.

5. If you are speaking of the "Best Of" albums, I prefer the 1990-2000 without question. It is not that I actually /dis/like the earlier one, but there are SO many more on the second one that I have a particular attatchment to:

-Gone
-Electrical Storm
-Mysterious Ways
-Beautiful Day
-Staring at the Sun
-One
-Until the End of the World, et cetera...

It is tough to compare the two eras, though, with everything included.
But...even with "The Joshua Tree" and "Rattle and Hum," I think I would still have to say the later era.

6. The 80's are nice... Pride, all the Joshua Tree, most of R&H. This is early U2 with simply 4 instruments (although Edge's effects should count as 2-3 guitarists!) and their passion, angst, and heart is a 10 on a scale of 1-10.

The 90's are rockin'... U2 get even more original, and go into styles and shows that no one has ever gone. The # of awesome songs in the 90's may be less than the 80's, BUT they are so loud, groundbreaking, and daring. The Fly, Hold Me, Kiss Me, Thrill Me, Kill Me, and End of the World have very few rivals from the 80's. Creativity gets a perfect 10, even if the passion falls to a 5 or 6.

As for live shows... ummm.. 80's doesn't hold a candle to the 90's. The stage, the outfits, the gaudiness, the giant TV screens are unbeatable, an once again.. groundbreaking. They were the first to ever have a B-stage, now every band copies them. Even Pop, which is a weird/solid/ahead of it's time album wasn't the greatest CD (except for Mofo!), but that live show was possibly U2 at their best... when they learned the songs!

One day you will have to ask this again and include U2 since 2000, especially b/c of Vertigo and this U2 3d movie out now... The concerts now are something special to attend.