I feel the same! It's my favorite album of theirs, always has been, always will be. Everything associated with that album and that era of the band just grabs my attention like nothing else. Favorite track: One Tree Hill. I love Streets, Red Hill Mining Town, and In God's Country as well. Well, I love it all but those are my four favorites. ;)

However, I do think Achtung Baby is perhaps their strongest/most important/groundbreaking album. They could've gotten away with making another Joshua Tree and the general masses would've gobbled it right up. But they didn't, and I think it is just a wild mix of sounds and moods and colours. I'd say it's my third favorite U2 album though, with The Unforgettable Fire being #2.

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I disagree slightly with jentwo. I think that The Joshua Tree was their most groundbreaking album in the sense that it brought them to the forefront of mainstream music. Artistically (sp?), I think that Achtung Baby reigns supreme.

For me, it's hard to pick a favorite between the two. They're so different that, and they give me totally different sensations. When I'm in a quiet, content mood, I'm pop in The Joshua Tree and listen to the B-Side Tracks for hours (Red Tree Hill, In God's Country, and Trip Through Your Wires are my favorites). However, when I'm feeling a bit spunky or pissy, I'll listen to Acrobat, Until the End of the World, and The Fly.

I respect both of the albums equally, though.

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I have no idea the average age of people in the U2 community, but chances are that plays a major role in this.

When I was 14 years old, I was subscribed to Wire, and at the time I was practically the youngest person there. That was in early 1995. The average age of the people on Wire then were people in their early-late 20's. When polled, the favourite album of most people was "The Joshua Tree", mostly because the majority of them became U2 fans during that era, or it was the first major world wide breakthrough for U2. Sure they were around before the Joshua Tree, but it was THAT album that put them in the news, put them on the cover of Rolling Stone, Time, etc. They were THE band of the 80's, all because of that album. They won Grammy awards for it, and who knows what else. It was the year of the Joshua Tree. So many new U2 fans were made during this era, and because of it, many people hold that album close to their hearts.

Meanwhile, several years later in 91/92, U2 had changed their style completely, not only in the way they played music and wrote lyrics, but in the way they dressed and acted. A lot of fans who really loved the down to earth, bluesy/country, American roots U2, had no idea what to think of their new direction. It was flashy, heavy, and just didn't have the same feel as The Joshua Tree or Rattle & Hum. It was like a new band. So while a lot of fans felt alienated by the "new U2" and wanted the "old U2" back, a new generation of fans emerged because of it. People that probably wouldn't have gone out of their way to be a U2 fan during the Joshua Tree, were now all over U2's Achtung Baby.

This is when I became a U2 fan. Chances are, this is when many people in my age group became a U2 fan (ie: early 20's).

I personally think The Joshua Tree is a FANTASTIC album, and if you know the history of world music at the time, you'll know the impact the Joshua Tree had on the world. It touched SO many people and was considered a very important album. Not only that, but many of U2's most famous singles are on that album (WTSHNN, ISHFWILF, With or Without You, etc). But it's different than the U2 of the 90's.

Because the average age of Live Journal users are still in their teens, they were obviously exposed to either Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop or ATYCLB, and experienced the U2 hype surrounding THOSE albums. They probably developped a taste for THOSE albums more than the older U2 era of the 80's.

That's my take on things anyhow...

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(Just to make myself clear, I wasn't trying to say that all older U2 fans love the Joshua Tree more and all younger U2 fans love Achtung Baby more.. but you'll find in general, that's one major reason)

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yeah I understand what you are saying.
I was on wire for about half a year before it's well "downfall" and such. I'm on Rewired (now U2rewired) at yahoo groups, I was on Boy-Girl for a while and u2tours too. it seemed to me that even the older fans and ones who ha been there before AB seemed to like AB more too. but you bring up a good point.

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You may be right, and I might just be an anomaly. ;) I became a big fan at age 14, when JT was released (I had heard songs from earlier albums but didn't become obsessed until JT). But AB is my favourite album by any band, ever. A lot of that is because of my emotional associations with it, as it matched my general mood at the time it was released and it comforted me during a very dark time. I really got into their ironic self-mockery, too. But I think most people my age probably do prefer JT, or even earlier albums.

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That's a good point; age and when one became a fan. I do know of two older fans, fans since the War era, who actually aren't that hot on The Joshua Tree BECAUSE it got so big and mainstream. They felt like their treasured little secret had gotten out and EVERYONE liked the band. I have to admit I feel that way a bit about ATYCLB.

I turned 10 a few months after The Joshua Tree was released but I didn't pay attention until the following year when I knew the hits from the radio and decided I liked them. I finally got the album on cassette for my 11th birthday in June of 1988. Since that time it's been my favorite album, by any artist, ever.

The way you described what pre-Achtung era fans thought of Achtung Baby just pegged me exactly. Of course this was before the days where the Internet existed in almost every home, so I had very little way of keeping up with the changes in their style. I just watched Rattle & Hum religiously and waited anxiously for the day when I would get to experience it firsthand. hahahaa! I loved the European feel of Unforgettable Fire and the more American feel of Joshua Tree and of course, Rattle and Hum. So when Achtung Baby came out it was a shock to my eyes and my ears. It seemed like it came from outer space! I thought "my band" had totally lost it. It was rather unsettling for a 14 year old who's sun rose and set to these four guys! Oh and "The Fly" especially freaked me out. But I got used to it and I was lucky enough to see them on the Zoo TV tour three times. (I LOVE my parents! Each show was a 3-4 hour drive from home! Yet they came along with me. It helps that they also like U2. ;))

I laugh at it now, because I've loosened up a lot and I understand and appreciate what U2 were doing and continue to do. But at that time I was this ultra-serious kid who couldn't handle her idols turning into such weirdos! ;)

Ah but this is turning into a bit of "how did I get into U2?" post so I'd better end here and save my longer story for later! =)

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I am sure your parents were also happy that they didn't have to go to a NKOTB or Vanilla Ice concert ;oP!!!

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That is actually pretty interesting...also the thread about age/when you first started listening to U2. I think that along the same lines that it often occurs that the first album you buy of a bad sometimes become your favorite. ATYCLB was my first U2 album after having only Best of 80-90 for a long while. ATYCLB is my favorite, although I have to admit it ties with WAR and The Unforgettable Fire very often. ;oD JT was the last album I bought, I love it, but it isn't my favorite....

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