Sep
30
2011

'More Than A Rock Band'

17

'The album revealed they were more than a successful rock band… they were Artists.'

In the run-up to the the twentieth anniversary re-releases of Achtung Baby we're inviting a series of guest writers to reflect on what the album originally meant to them, why it's so significant  in the U2 canon and how it fits with their own story as a fan of the band.

First up, Dutch writer Caroline van Oosten, author of 'U2 Live – A Concert Documentary', who's been listening to the album again and thinks that 'Twenty years after the release of Achtung Baby, I’m finally ready for it.'


'My U2 journey began during the Unforgettable Fire tour. I was drawn in by their notion of Irish romanticism and Judeo-Christian mysticism fed through The Edge’s Vox amp, all given a good Northside kick up the arse by Larry Mullen’s bass drum. I rolled my eyes at their infatuation with Americana, but my love of them survived. But by 1991 my interests had changed. Led off the path by Gavin Friday’s Each Man Kills the Thing He Loves, I was exploring my European roots and listened to Brel, Weill and Eissler.

I enjoy change in a band, I think it’s essential. I like singers adopting personas, it elevates them from frontmen to performers. Achtung Baby had all of that and more:  while U2 had shown promise as craftsmen with The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby was the true start of them becoming serious tunesmiths. The album revealed they were more than a successful rock band… they were Artists. Even the press couldn’t deny it. It was a rare moment in U2 history: universally loved and artistically appreciated, while raking in the money. So I appreciated the album as a many coloured document of U2’s development as musicians. But it didn’t speak to me.

When I reviewed Achtung Baby for Collectormania Magazine (issue 5, 1992), the title of my article was ‘Love is Danger’. I spoke of its romantic, religious and profane themes. The problem was, the subject matter went right over my head. I didn’t know relationships, let alone break ups and betrayal. I didn’t feel it. Achtung Baby arrived at the wrong time and the wrong place in my life. So I dismissed it, its ‘design by committee’ artwork and the subsequent tours – which I wasn’t that keen on until ‘Macphisto’ arrived on the scene.

This week, to aid me in writing this piece for U2.com, I listened to Achtung Baby for the first time in at least 15 years and was surprised at how good it sounded, its layers and depths finally revealed to me through my iPod and Sennheiser headphones. I was also surprised at how much it affected me emotionally. Even the songs I used to hate, even the ones that have become ubiquitous and worn. Now I’m afraid to listen to the albums I said I preferred: Zooropa and Pop. They might disappoint.

Twenty years after the release of Achtung Baby, I’m finally ready for it.'

Caroline van Oosten de Boer
Founding editor of U2log.com (2000 – 2011), author of U2 Live – A
Concert Documentary (Omnibus Press, 2003)
This article is tagged to:
Achtung Baby 20, Subscriber Exclusives
17  Comments
caroline - 18 October, 2011
Update?
Hey, thanks for all your lovely comments. I don't know about an update to the book - it would be up to the publishers! Is there a market still for books like that?
alibono - 04 October, 2011
Achtung Baby
...is now on my body - for ever in my neck!!! U2 - my heroes for lifetime!!
howl - 04 October, 2011
Like Dylan '65
it was a huge Album in my personal life. It was the sound of "this is what is next, get on board or stay in the 80's forever" Like Dylan going electric, reactions were odd. I have friends who loved U2 but just didn't get it and STILL don't. I lost friends who thought I had sold out and become an idiot because I loved it. And seriously these people are still living like it's 1987. But it was an Album of adventure, loss, regret, shaking your fist at god, against the backdrop of futuristic beats and sounds. Humanity in a crush of emotion and technology. It stood out like "loveless" or "Screamadelica" as the sound of the 90's. The cold war was over and we were facing an uncertain future but a future that had to be more fun. A complex stew of emotions and ambition. The best thing you can say about Albums is that they fitted the time. Job done guys and still sounds like it was made yesterday.
wildeoscar - 04 October, 2011
The Omnipresent Achtung Baby
It's the music to which you can dance, cry, fly, moan and groan, celebrate, write, stare into space and ponder, be happy, be sad...it is simply so powerful that you wonder how come you've made it through yet another listening session. It's the one album that, I believe, outU2ed U2. Thank you boys ;-)
musicabona - 30 September, 2011
Very inspirational
As a U2 fan I love getting to know new insights into the band;s work by reading reviews from great writers. This outstanding piece from Caroline perfectly sums up what Achtung Baby stands for. Through her eloquent and very personal writing I get aware of the album;s whole complexity of different colours, shades and emotions once again. After 20 years those exceptional songs still have the great potential to shine in a new light, still developing and expanding in so many ways. They will never cease to touch many universal themes that are relevant in our lives.
cluttercoco - 29 September, 2011
Achtung Baby= perfect title
What a great title for this record. So appropriate because it just commanded all your attention. I remember being completely blown away by the different nature of The Fly when that was released as the single before the album. Then the album came and it is still my favourite album by U2. At first I was disappointed that less No Line songs were on the 360 playlist this year, but it was actually very exciting to see so many AB songs this year!! I am very happy that I saw 4 360 shows in 2009, so I got my share of No Line songs that year, and changing it up was a brilliant move by U2.
Falling At Your Feet - 29 September, 2011
My #1 U2 Album of all time
Nice wrap up Caroline, and when is the next installment of THE greatest U2 Live Book available coming out ? Here are my own thoughts on AB. AB was the 3rd U2 album I acquired on actual release day, and the first time one of their albums really stirred me up. It was so different. On first play, most of it sounded just loud and messy, apart from the slower tracks. It was the first U2 album I listened to that i thought, WTF ? on the first few plays. The second time that happened was the Pop album, and it hasn't happened since. AB was such a radical departure for the most part, it's glue, was it had a little of the past in there, but most of it was striding foward much faster than anyone would have thought possible. It's still the bands best album and it's no wonder thay have not got even remotely close on each album since then. It's a such a soaring peak of achievement , that it's doubtful if the band can deliver anything with the same impact. There are no fillers on this album. "Acrobat" remains my favourite U2 track never to be played live. Until The End Of The World is still played live regularly and still stands up well 20 years later. What an album - it has everything, it's angry, it's vulnerable, it's way out there A truly superb collection of songs, they are like a good wine and get better with age.
greydogblues - 28 September, 2011
backwards
it's funny, what one is ready for, and another - not quite. i've been a fan since college, early 80s. saw zoo tv in three states and it spoke to me. "zooropa" & "pop" notsomuch. life took over too and i picked up again with HTDAAB, etc... not until after seeing 360, did I revisit and rediscover these two works. it's pretty cool to be in that discovery state all by myself :)
NunYoBusiness - 28 September, 2011
So Cruel
When I first picked up the Achtung Baby CD, I was stunned, it was to me the finest moment in an already stellar catalog. As I listened to each track over and over again, one just stood out "So Cruel", was, is, and will always be my favorite song. As I listened to the song it became very personal to me. It is for me an experience I will never forget. I listen to the CD often and each time I play it, I always find myself listening to "So Cruel" over, and over. Even twenty years down the road and many releases after the fact 'Achtung Baby' will always be my favorite.
Anam - 28 September, 2011
Great Review/ Great Book
Great review Caroline, a view that I echo. More importantly though, don't be conned by all this internet tour info compilation nonsense; it's time to update the Concert Documentary! That book was glorious, a true triumph and there have been a few decent gigs since 2003. Warmest Regards from Scotland. ;o)
father ted - 28 September, 2011
acthung baby vinyl
i remember playing the vinyl (probably the last vinyl album i brought) to a friend. i put the needle on the record, zoo station started to play and he stopped the record to clean the needle....! he was a fan up to that point but it was a world away from his favorite the joshua tree.i loved the reinvention of already the world's greatest band into the world's coolest......
gevans - 28 September, 2011
The baby was born....
sorry pressed submit by mistake!.....anyway I was lucky enough to be at Wembley Stadium, London for 2 nights in a row at the Outside broadcast shows,I will never forget the opening and Zoo station, The Fly kicking you in the face, and Mr Rushdie coming on stage and giving Mr Macphisto a good seeing too. Zoo Tv was recently voted the greatest tour ever, and through the 360 shows I've seen, which were pretty close in my opinion to the spectacle of Zoo TV, I always got goose bumps when an Achtung Baby track was played....the power of an album, a show and ultimately a memory that is carved for ever.
Marcel76 - 27 September, 2011
Oh my god!
Heard 'Achtung Baby' the first time. I tought, oh my god, that's not U2. What happened with U2. What's that crazy sound, and Bono's voice? But then... Then I saw the 'Outside Broadcast TV Special' which was broadcasted around the globe. Where is the 'Achtung Baby'-CD? I must hear is. Again, again and again. YES. A new ultimate U2-Fan was born. Thank you for the Best Album ever - 'Achtung Baby'
caroline - 27 September, 2011
:-)
@avion Thanks, that's very kind of you!
valentinab - 26 September, 2011
Achtung Baby
My absolute favorite U2 album, great for working out. I do about 5 miles on the eliptical three times each week. I know every word and beat by heart now. SOOO glad to see the band do so many of my favorite live this summer. ONE MONTH AGO TODAY was my final 360 show in Pittsburgh. U2ROCKS
Avion Espia - 26 September, 2011
Great words!
There´s a few people in this world with the gift of sharing emotions through words. And you have it Caroline. I love your text! Cheers!
albion - 26 September, 2011
When U2 RULED THE WORLD
I bought AB in the spring after hearing some of the songs on the radio, but I didn't expect songs like zoo station and until the end of the world. I memorized the whole cd and eventually wore it out. I just recently replaced it so I could listen to it again. Its still my second favorite to the Unforgettable Fire. Hearing 6 of the twelve songs at 360 this summer made the extra year wait all worthwhile too. I cant wait to buy the up coming re-release.
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