Amazon.com's Best of 2000: The foursome come roaring out of the blocks with their latest collection. The album's first single, "Beautiful Day," raced to the No. 1 slot on the U.K. singles charts and received a similar rapturous reception stateside. From its shimmering preamble to its sweeping, infectious chorus, it perfectly stakes out the middle ground between the anthemic U2 of the '80s and the more grounded group of the '90s. With Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno sharing production chores again after having taken a break with Pop, the U2 team enters the new millennium with their lineup--and mission--intact. --Steven Stolder
Amazon.com essential recording: If U2 hadn't used the title already, "A Sort of Homecoming" might have suited this, their 10th studio album. All That You Can't Leave Behind sounds, at various points, like any or all of U2's previous albums, as if the band is sending postcards back from a protracted ramble through previously conquered territories. The euphoric opening track, "Beautiful Day," reintroduces Edge's signature delay-laden guitar, which has been pretty much absent since The Unforgettable Fire. Elsewhere, the gospel stylings of Rattle and Hum resurface on "Stuck in a Moment," and the deranged, Prodigy-influenced dance textures that characterized 1997's Pop crop up on "Elevation." None of which suggest that this commendably restless bunch is running out of ideas. Having spent the '90s making three of the most bizarre and adventurous albums ever delivered by a stadium-rock band (the consecutive masterpieces Achtung Baby, Zooropa, and Pop), it's as if they're now trying to figure out what is the one particular thing they've always done best. Based on the evidence presented here, their forte remains a facility for making the epic statement alongside Bono's increasing lyrical intimacy: "Walk On" and "Peace on Earth" are two of the best things he's ever written or sung. All That You Can't Leave Behind confirms that U2's laurels are still making them itch. --Andrew Mueller
I love this album I wasn't surprised that I was going to love this when I heard it. Just like their previous albums, this is different but it still has the "U2 flavor" you'd expect to hear. The first side kicks off with a great introductory single called "Beautiful Day" that will get you excited and ends with a very mellow ballad called "Grace".
"Elavation" surely rocks and "Wild Honey" has a "Beattles" touch to it. "Walk On" is a song that just sticks in your head. The words are great thanks to Bono and the guitar just pulls you in thanks to the Edge. I just love the whole album.
The "Elavation Tour" was my 2nd time I saw them in concert and just like "Zoo Tv", it was just awesome. I also love "U2 Go Home". That is a great concert own on cd. I love the changing of the film when they did "Bullet The Blue Sky". I thought it was great how they played at the Super Bowl halftime. In my opion what better band to have play than them. They were considered the most influential group at the sad and unfortunate event of 9/11.This is a cd to add to your U2 collection.
Get Over Yourself Already !! I have tried to like U2 but after repeated listens and taking the time to digest this left over 80's band filled up with its own significance , I can no longer stand it . I lump them in with the Beatles, Stones and Springsteen as the most overrated artist of all time . It would take their whole catalog for me to fill 1 cd ...sorry folks but they are just a mass commercial outfit with one of most repetitive guitar sounds ever .
Horrible Amazing that these guys advertise themselves as the worlds greatest rock band.....when they aren't ROCK!!!! These losers are an insult to ROCK!
Absolutely Top three LP that U2 ever made. Packing your bag and let's go to airport and look at the world.
Wow. God-awful. It's AMAZING they can sell and win so easily. I thought "Beautiful Day" was a good track, 'cause it's got some energy, but when you listen, his vocal is buried, because his range is GONE. Then, I thought "When I Look At The World" was gonna be OK, but his voice cracks, and he misses some notes. Last, on "Grace" he's flat. (They were the only mildly-promising songs!) Like other reviewers said--too much booze and cigarettes. But WHY and HOW does it SELL and WIN like it does? Unfathomable. Pet Shop Boys foreshadowed it YEARS ago on "How Can You Expect To Be Taken Seriously," after parodying "Where The Streets Have No Name:" "DO YOU THINK THEY'LL PUT YOU IN THE ROCK-N-ROLL HALL OF FAME?"!!!
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Trevor
Megaton Man
