Brian features U2's seventh studio album “Achtung Baby” from November of 1991 (Even Better Than the Real Thing / Mysterious Ways / One / Until the End of the World). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Theme from the motion picture “The Addams Family” STAFF PICKS: “Everything About You'” by Ugly Kid Joe— Wayne. “Lies” by EMF — Rob. “The Sky is Crying” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble — Bruce. “Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt — Brian. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Where's My Thing” by Rush. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
If "The Joshua Tree" was the album that propelled Irish band U2 to the stratosphere of rock success, Achtung Baby was the album that would cement them in that status permanently. The band was coming off mixed success with their hybrid live/studio album "Rattle and Hum," and were struggling directionally. The band felt that they were not prepared for the success they had received, or as drummer Larry Mullin, Jr. put it, "we were the biggest, but we weren't the best.”
Achtung Baby draws its inspiration from German reunification, much like the Joshua Tree and Rattle and Hum drew inspiration from America. U2 began recording in Berlin at Hansa Studios. They arrived just before German reunification. Rather than being inspired by reunification, the band found places gloomy and neglected. Morale continued to falter as they struggled with the direction of the album, and actually considered breaking up. With the encouragement of producer Brian Eno, the band continued on, and recommitted themselves to the group after returning to Dublin during Christmas. Recording was relocated to Dublin in February of 1991.
Musically, the album has a more Eurocentric feel. Bono and the Edge were gravitating to electronica and new sounds while Clayton and Mullin, Jr. preferred sounds more reminiscent of classic rock. The synthesis created a sound that was less "over the top" than previous U2 works, and really opened up the commercial success of the group.
While the sound might be less "over the top," the forthcoming tour called "Zoo TV" was the epitome of "over the top." By this time, U2 was performing not in concert halls, but in stadiums.
This is an album that will definitely get your attention.
Even Better Than the Real Thing
This second track on the album was the fourth single released. The song originated from a guitar riff created during the "Rattle and Hum" sessions. The song is about the instant gratification of commercialism and its effects on society. There's a more "techno" sound in this song, with the guitar delays and the double octaves throughout.
Mysterious Ways
What a great hook at the start of this song! Jesus Jones was an influence on the group at the time, and you can feel it on this track. The song itself is an idealization of women, and the trap of separating them into angels and devils. The video was shot in Morocco and used a belly dancer to portray that "she moves in mysterious ways."
One
This is the song that brought the group back together when they were struggling in their recording sessions in Berlin. The song itself is vaguely about relationships and may have been influenced by the dissolution of the Edge's marriage to Aislinn O'Sullivan.
Until the End of the World
This deeper cut from the album is set in a Biblical setting with Bono singing as Judas in a conversation with Jesus. "We ate the food, we drank the wine. Everybody having a good time except you. You were talking about the end of the world." It was never released as a single.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the motion picture “The Addams Family”
The movie based on the 60's television series was released in November.
STAFF PICKS:
“Everything About You” by Ugly Kid Joe
Wayne kicks off the staff picks with a song off the EP Ugly As They Wanna Be. The song describes everything the singer hates. The name of the group is a spoof on the name of the group "Pretty Boy Floyd," and they have been described as the last glam metal band.
“Lies” by EMF
Rob takes us into the British alternative rock scene. This is off EMF's debut album Schubert Dip. EMF takes its name from a fan club of the band New Order called "Epsom Mad Funkers." The album made it to number 3 on the UK charts, though it didn't do as well in the United States.
“The Sky is Crying” by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Bruce's Brings us a song posthumously released after Vaughan's helicopter crash in 1990. It was originally recorded by Elmore James in 1959, and was performed by The AllmanBrothers Band at Duane Allman's funeral in 1971. Jimmie Vaughan compiled the songs on this album, also called "The Sky is Crying," and all but one song had not been released previously.
“Something to Talk About” by Bonnie Raitt
Brian's pick is Bonnie Raitt's breakout single. Originally written by Shirley Eikhard, the song is about friends in a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business. If everyone is assuming we're a couple, maybe we should give them something to talk about!
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
“Where's My Thing” by Rush
This instrumental from Roll the Bones came after several songs started as instrumentals but became perfect for a particular lyric. Finally, drummer and lyricist told the band “You keep promising to do this instrumental, and I'm not giving you any more lyrics until you write this thing.”