Achtung Baby (studio album) by U2

Achtung Baby by U2
Year: 1991
Overall rank: 111th   Overall chart historyOverall chart history
Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 1,782 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution   Average rating historyAverage rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 5 albums of 1991 (5th)
Award Top 20 albums of the 1990s (20th)
Award Top 200 albums of all time (111th)

U2 bestography

Achtung Baby is ranked 2nd best out of 35 albums by U2 on BestEverAlbums.com.

The best album by U2 is The Joshua Tree which is ranked number 52 in the list of all-time albums with a total rank score of 19,994.

U2 album bestography « Higher ranked (52nd) This album (111th) Lower ranked (326th) »
The Joshua TreeAchtung BabyWar

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The Struts: The Pretty Vicious Tour 2024
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Achtung Baby track list

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

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Achtung Baby rankings

Achtung Baby collection

Achtung Baby ratings

Average Rating: 
80/100 (from 1,782 votes)
  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 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 1,782 ratings for this album.

Sort ratings
RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
95/100
 Report rating
02/27/2024 14:54 TheDeflektor  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 4785/100
 
90/100
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02/25/2024 17:37 robertoveltri  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 33279/100
 
95/100
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02/22/2024 16:56 iann97  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 1,44175/100
 
90/100
 Report rating
02/12/2024 11:49 PAPPITUFO  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 11879/100
 
80/100
 Report rating
02/10/2024 22:00 CjHubb117  Ratings distributionRatings distribution 25987/100

Rating metrics: 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 80.5/100, a mean average of 78.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 80.5/100. The standard deviation for this album is 18.7.

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Achtung Baby comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 142 comments |
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Rating:  
85/100
From 01/27/2024 02:04
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
Sorry, I'm just not a fan of inspiration rock. Most of these songs are indistinguishable from one another.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 09/07/2023 19:17
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) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 07/10/2023 22:33
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) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 04/10/2023 22:31
This is a far more experimental record than anything else they have released but this does lead to weak moments. However, this experimental side of U2 makes for an extremely engaging listen with there being such depth and character to this album. Their layering is fantastic as well which gives us so much to explore on future revisits. Performance wise, it is probably up there with one of Bono's most consistent and diverse displays that demonstrates just how brilliant he is. This album made me respect Bono's vocal far more than I already did by him showing us such a large range that is packed full of emotion making songs like Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses and One sound so powerful. I think the production is incredibly strong as well with the sound being so clean and it flows brilliantly. Overall, a fantastic display of the talents of the group that might struggle quality wise in places but it also has some hidden gems that are amongst their best ever tracks.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
85/100
From 12/02/2022 01:09
Quite good
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
75/100
From 08/31/2022 03:44
Alright
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 07/24/2022 06:22
Good album, but I don't see how this is better than War or The Unforgettable Fire.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
70/100
From 04/07/2022 20:13
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Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -3 votes (0 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 04/01/2022 02:02
Arguably the most important record U2 would make in their career, they were able to successfully reinvent themselves with this and the Zoo TV tour that accompanied the record. The album itself is probably my favourite from them too because I prefer the more experimental sounds compared to that on the Joshua Tree. Also think this album contains some of Bono's best vocal performances and Edge's finest moments too
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 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. Trompe Le Monde by Pixies
15. Use Your Illusion II by Guns N' Roses
16. Temple Of The Dog by Temple Of The Dog
17. Dangerous by Michael Jackson
18. Yerself Is Steam by Mercury Rev
19. Gish by The Smashing Pumpkins
20. Woodface by Crowded House
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