Achtung Baby
by U2

Achtung Baby by U2
Year: 1991
Release date: 1991-11-18
Overall rank: 108th   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 1,842 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 5 albums of 1991 (5th)
Award Top 50 albums of the 1990s (21st)
Award Top 200 albums of all time (108th)

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U2 bestography

Achtung Baby is ranked 2nd best out of 38 albums by U2 on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by U2 is The Joshua Tree which is ranked number 51 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 18,259.

U2 album bestography « Higher ranked (51st)
The Joshua Tree
This album (108th)
Achtung Baby
Lower ranked (304th) »
War

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

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Achtung Baby track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 83 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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Track pick (1000 - 100 votes) Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

Achtung Baby rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 108th | 1990s rank: 21st | 1991 rank: 5th

Achtung Baby collection

Achtung Baby ratings

Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 1,842 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album.  | Show all 1,842 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
55/100
 
5 days ago oilnoilnoilnoil  Ratings distribution  26778/100
 
85/100
 
04/25/2026 20:17 CharlieBarley  Ratings distribution  3,25181/100
 
65/100
 
04/24/2026 15:22 Pavloss  Ratings distribution  38050/100
 
75/100
 
04/23/2026 13:47 davidleewrong  Ratings distribution  2,35881/100
 
80/100
 
04/23/2026 08:54 classicjoe  Ratings distribution  40078/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 1% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 80.4/100, a mean average of 78.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 80.4/100. The standard deviation for this album is 18.7.

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Achtung Baby comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 148 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
(Only showing comments with -2 votes or higher. You can alter this threshold from your profile page. Manage Profile)

Rating:  
35/100
From 04/12/2026 23:18 | #313902
I tried to love this album but Mysterious Ways was the only one that stirred that U2 feeling within.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 01/25/2026 13:04 | #312802
U2 used to be my favourite band, but this is still my favourite album of them
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 01/01/2026 13:19 | #312403
Shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 1992. The winner was Screamadelica by Primal Scream
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 07/17/2025 02:47 | #310182
I find a lot of this overproduced and the music not coming together in such a cohesive way; yet despite that, I somewhat like most of it due to strong songs and playing. "Until the End of the World" is tremendous. I could see playing a few tracks of this for someone just for easy enjoyment. I wouldn't claim it's essential.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 04/17/2025 08:21 | #308549
Shortlisted for album of the year at the 1993 Grammys. the winner was Unplugged by Eric Clapton. This should have won it hands down
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/20/2024 08:07 | #304420
U2 alternates Rolling Stone music style, so it's supposed to be Native-Alternative Album
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 01/27/2024 02:04 | #301493
Not a big U2 fan so I was highly surprised at how good this was. They got some deep groove and flow going on a lot of tracks. Dips off a bit at the tail end but definitely the best album to come from them.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
30/100
From 01/10/2024 16:05 | #301051
Sorry, I'm just not a fan of inspiration rock. Most of these songs are indistinguishable from one another.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -2 votes (0 helpful | 2 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 09/07/2023 19:17 | #299025
After a lacklustre response to rattle and him The band retreated and while they endured some initial difficulties, delivered an album of total reinvention and their critical zenith. A timeless masterpiece.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 07/10/2023 22:33 | #298050
This is probably their most enjoyable album for me, especially tracks like Until The End Of The World, So Cruel and Acrobat.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Best Albums of 1991
1. Nevermind by Nirvana
2. Loveless by My Bloody Valentine
3. Ten by Pearl Jam
4. Spiderland by Slint
5. Achtung Baby by U2
6. The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest
7. Laughing Stock by Talk Talk
8. Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. Metallica by Metallica
10. Blue Lines by Massive Attack
11. Screamadelica by Primal Scream
12. Out Of Time by R.E.M.
13. Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden
14. Dangerous by Michael Jackson
15. Trompe Le Monde by Pixies
16. Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses
17. Temple Of The Dog by Temple Of The Dog
18. Yerself Is Steam by Mercury Rev
19. Woodface by Crowded House
20. Innuendo by Queen