Waller Reviews:
Written by UnhitchedWildhorsey for U2 Graffiti Wall: Gone were the glitz and glam, moneyed 80's; where U2's job seemed cemented in growing rock a political and social conscience. Asking the average "Joe" ---other than money and clothes, what else out there really mattered? In comes the 90's. The world was changing. We had the fall of the Berlin Wall, the beginnings of a neverending war for oil brewing in the Middle East( Operation Desert Storm), human genocide in Bosnia; and the gradual shift from manufacturing bliss and excess, to technolgy. If ever we needed U2 back it was then. Well, they came back with a newfound and stark reality.
Shockingly different than the familiar righteous and grand U2; Achtung Baby was a whole new Rock and Roll child. This Baby was the birth of Alternative Rock. It was hard and industrial at times--sly and sexual others. It manipulated and peverted mass media. It exposed and left both us and the singer raw with a roller coaster of emotion.
This was an unheard of blending of music styles. U2 took that collapsed Wall of communism and reconstructed it in Hansa studios, as a wall of sound. Here at once was hard driving guitar, Hip-Hop bass, wailing soul singing, and the use of every imaginable distortion of sound possible. 'The Fly' was the underbelly of society. 'One' was the anthem of Humanity--a cry for help, compassion, and love; beautifuly wound in a synergy together. 'Mysterious Ways' was the soldiers song--Johnny-- trying to figure it all out in a new kind of war of religions and power. It used a killer guitar oozing in sex and mixed with it a worldly beat to seduce the listener and mask the danger. 'Trying To Throw Your Arms Around The World' directly stold from Hip-Hop. White Man's soul. 'Ultraviolet'(Light My Way) is every person's need for that one individual in their darkest hours to swoop in and be their saving grace. 'Love Is Blindness' Is the consummate end song both to the album and to life. It is heartache and suicide. Someone or perhaps all of us(society as a whole) at the ends of our ropes---in desperate need of someone greater to intervene( maybe God?).
Achtung Baby was/is the Wars, The Fall of Communism, The End Of The Cold War, AIDS, Sexual explorations, relationships, religion,unsatisfaction; the search for more meaning in life. The search for God. It was a band pushing themselves so hard they nearly self destructed, but instead stuck together; creating groundbreaking musical genius. I personally believe Achtung Baby is one of the most complex, outstanding rock albums ever released.The tour which followed(ZooTV),was equally groundbreaking and record setting. One can listen to this album (CD) over and over and still come away with a fresh perspective. It is lyrics that have one thousand meanings. Thinking songs. Music so unique it launched hundreds of copycats. It is a force of singer and band that hit in such a way it leaves you stunned and craving more.
Yes, the 80's had seen success, greed and ambition rise up to be a God. Now the 90's had us worship at the feet of technology and media(Watch More TV). So in walked U2(or rather they "Swaggered" in), questioning just what it is we have to sacrifice and sell of ourselves to obtain life's goals. Achtung Baby is indeed to be approached with "Caution"----cautious respect.
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