U2 – Achtung Baby – A Classic Album Under Review
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Documentary: C+
Despite
Bono’s commendable fight for Africa, against poverty and for civil rights, I am
no larger a fan of U2 now than I was when I felt they peaked in the 1980s. I give them credit for surviving, though
Bono’s work outside the band almost ended the band. Being as popular as they are, they are one of
the only bands to have titles in all three optical video formats, as the
following links show:
Rattle & Hum Blu-ray
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4431/U2+-+Rattle+&+Hum+(Blu-ray)
HD-DVD
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4059/U2+-+Rattle+&+Hum+(HD-DVD
Classic Albums – The Joshua Tree (DVD-Video)
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4425/Classic+Albums:+U2+–+The+Joshua+Tree+(Eagle+reissue)
The first
is one of the poorest music films ever made, while the latter celebrates one of
the most overrated of albums. It is with
great irony that the Under Review
series sudden coverage of classic albums would take on the other most overrated
U2 album ever, Achtung Baby. Not only does it feature two of their most
annoying hits, One and Even Better Than The Real Thing, but
also has a song specifically for one of Wim Wender’s worst films, Until The End Of The World.
The
pretentious connection between Wenders and the band produced a phoniness the
band has never matched before or since.
As I watched this hour-long program, the predictable pre-calculation of
the albums making was so much so that this showed a band on automatic pilot
beyond belief. All the experts showing
up to tell us how great the album is become increasingly bizarre, so much so
that you actually have to see it to believe it.
At least
the band proved they could take risks with the likes of the grossly underrated Pop album, but fans seem happier with
the cool-burn complacently of something like this and it is no wonder the Rock
genre is in such a sorry state. Fans
will say the lesser-known tracks are not being addressed and some of them are
better, but not enough to garnish all this praise. At least the quality of this video production
is good.
The 1.33
originated on professional analog PAL video and is somewhat soft throughout,
while the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is simple at best with no surrounds. It is watchable, though it reminds us how old
this album really is. Extras include
text bios of the interviewees, the toughest quiz on the band “ever” (though it
is the weakest in this DVD series to date, being too easy before watching the
program) and bonus interview footage not in the main program.
Needless
to say, this is for fans only or those who are not and need a good laugh.
- Nicholas Sheffo
