U2

Achtung Baby was originally released on 19th November 1991, and was the follow up to the successfully, but critically slated, Rattle and Hum. 20 years on it has been “polished” (not remastered) and is available to whole new generation of music fans.

As a band constantly re-inventing themselves, U2 choose to explore both European dance and industrial styles of music to interlink with the Edge’s guitar. This is really apparent on tracks like ‘Even Better Than the Real Thing’, ‘Mysterious Ways’ and ‘The Fly’. The former track was elevated further when Paul Oakenfold gave the track an even more dance orientated overhaul.

But the biggest single moment on the album is the inclusion of ‘One’; possibly U2’s finest moment, ever. This track still sounds so current now, and even though my 20 year old original CD single is showing plenty of signs of wear, it is still a treasured part of my collection. It is a magnificently written and performed track, partially influenced by the re-unification of Germany which happened just before Achtung Baby was recorded.

This 20th Anniversary collection is available in a multitude of versions; in addition to a single disc release of the album, a deluxe edition includes a bonus disc of remixes and B-sides from the album's five singles, and a vinyl edition includes the album on two LPs with two additional LPs of remixes. The 10-disc "Super Deluxe" and "Über Deluxe" editions include: the Zooropa album; three additional CDs with remixes, B-sides, and outtakes from Achtung Baby and Zooropa; a "kindergarten" disc with nascent versions of the album's 12 songs; and four DVDs, including From the Sky Down, Zoo TV: Live from Sydney, music videos, and documentaries. The "Über Deluxe" also includes the original album on double vinyl, five 7-inch vinyl singles and additional memorabilia.

For real fans or lovers of the album, Q Magazine this month also has a free version of the album re-recorded by artists of today including Glasvegas, Snow Patrol and Depeche Mode. Well worth getting along with the U2 re-issue.