U2 entered the new millennium as a band that had already conquered the 1980s with anthemic rock and reinvented itself in the 1990s with electronic experimentation. With the release of All That You Can't Leave Behind in 2000, the Irish quartet stripped away the digital bells and whistles, returning to a guitar-driven, emotionally resonant sound that reminded the world why they were one of the biggest bands on the planet.
While their output over the last 25-plus years may not match the consistent brilliance of their first two decades, there are still plenty of standout moments—anthemic singles, experimental deep cuts, and heartfelt ballads. For this ranking, we're focusing on original studio albums only, so 2023's Songs of Surrender (a collection of re-recorded classics) is excluded. From the highs of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb to the lows of Songs of Experience, here is every U2 studio album since 2000, ranked.
5. Songs of Experience (2017)
The companion piece to 2014's Songs of Innocence, this album finds U2 collaborating with Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Haim, while producers like Jacknife Lee, Ryan Tedder, and Danger Mouse lend their expertise. Lyrically, it's a collection of letters Bono wrote to the people and places that shaped him. Singles like "You're the Best Thing About Me" and "Get Out of Your Own Way" are catchy, but the album feels more experimental than its predecessor—and not always in a good way. Still, deep cuts like "The Little Things That Give You Away" and "13 (There Is a Light)" showcase the band's knack for personal, soaring rock.
4. Songs of Innocence (2014)
Love it or hate it, Songs of Innocence made history as the most controversial album rollout of the decade. U2 partnered with Apple to automatically download the album onto 500 million iTunes accounts—a move that sparked backlash but also brought the band's music to an unprecedented audience. Beneath the PR storm lies a solid album, produced by Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, and Flood. Tracks like "The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)," "Every Breaking Wave," and "Song for Someone" honor the band's punk and post-punk influences while delivering deeply personal lyrics. It earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album, proving the music itself had merit.
3. No Line on the Horizon (2009)
After two albums of arena-rock dominance, U2 took a left turn with No Line on the Horizon. Recorded in Fez, Morocco, Dublin, London, and New York with their dream team of Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Steve Lillywhite, the album blends the experimental spirit of the 1990s with global influences. Songs like "Magnificent," "Unknown Caller," and "Breathe" are among the band's most underrated, while the electro-funk of "Get On Your Boots" divided fans. The album's atmospheric moments—"Fez / Being Born" and "Cedars of Lebanon"—show U2 still willing to take risks, even if the results are uneven.
2. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004)
This is U2 at their most muscular and radio-friendly. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is a straight-ahead rock record that won eight Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year in 2006. The singles "Vertigo," "City of Blinding Lights," and "All Because of You" dominated airwaves, but the album's heart lies in its emotional deep cuts. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" is a gut-wrenching tribute to Bono's late father, while "Miracle Drug" and "Original of the Species" showcase the band's softer side. It's a tour de force that proves U2 could still craft anthems for the masses without losing their soul.
1. All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)
Widely hailed as U2's third masterpiece—after The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby—this album marked a triumphant return to form. Bono famously said the band was "reapplying for the job of the best band in the world," and they delivered. From the opening chords of "Beautiful Day" to the soaring "Walk On," every track is a gem. The album won seven Grammy Awards, including Record and Song of the Year for "Beautiful Day." Even the deep cuts—"Kite," "Wild Honey," "In a Little While"—stand toe-to-toe with the band's earlier classics. All That You Can't Leave Behind is a no-skip album and the best U2 has released this century.
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