Zooropa (1993)
This whole album is sort of an Achtung Baby Part II. Mostly made during a twelve week break between the American and European leg of their tour, they thought it would be challenging to record a whole album in that period. It was.
They used recordings from sound checks as well as ideas and melodies from songs that didn’t quite make it onto Achtung. They couldn’t get it done in the twelve weeks so to finish the project they would do a show in Europe, fly straight back to Dublin, record till morning, and then fly out to play the next show. That’s work ethic, a tribute to private planes, and a recipe for disaster for most bands.
“Numb”
A stand out because of its absurdist nature. Driven by Edge’s monotone voice over, it sounds more like INXS than U2.
“Stay (Faraway, So Close!)”
One of the verse and melody progressions left over from Achtung Baby, it’s got a superb opening lyric and a series of "ohh" that sound almost unworldly sung by 90,000 people in concert.
“Green light, 7-Eleven
You stop in for a pack of cigarettes
You don't smoke, don't even want to
Hey now, check your change
Dressed up like a car crash
Your wheels are turning but you're upside down”