My Greatest 100 (or so) Albums...

The Joshua Tree (1987) and Achtung Baby (1991) by U2. U2 has turned out to be one of the most important bands of my era, and I think it was their ability to keep growing that has helped them last so long. In 1987, they hit it huge with The Joshua Tree, a cycle of incredibly powerful songs, that struck the heart like the works of Dylan and Springsteen always had. You know the songs I'm talking about. Anyway, as the album was overplayed, I started to worry that they would never get over their dedication to Springsteen. This fear was not allayed when they released Rattle and Hum, but it was when they came out with Achtung Baby. Achtung Baby was a new sound for U2, and Springsteen's influence was not nearly as monumental as it had been. You know the songs again, here, but it was their ability to create this album, just as great as The Joshua Tree, but totally different, that proved they'd be in it for the long haul. Rock on, U2!