Music: 2U from Now to Then

Following popular demand we have assembled an annotated discography of the quixotic Irish rock band, 2U, excerpting reviews printed in these pages as their albums appeared over the last twenty years, right up to this spring when the group's latest effort (Boy)was released.

We hope this will give fans a fresh perspective on this, the world's most mystifying rock band.

All That You Can't Leave Behind (1980)

An unnerving but catchy collection, matching singalong anthems that sound as though they were mixed in a 288 track studio ("Beautiful Day") with a mystifying paeon to New York, where nobody in their right mind could surely want to live in this benighted year of 1980.

The songs are all too long. Some of the sounds on this LP beggar description--what on earth kind of synths are they using?--and for some reason I get a headache midway through each listen of it. Downright strange, but tuneful. Cover shows some futuristic scene when we all fly to work in Zeppelins or something.

Pop (1981)

Using synthesizers and heavy production seems to pose no credibility problems for these characters whose sleeve notes, given their relatively scanty sales to date, suggest the presence of a hidden philanthropist funding their Wagnerian productions. Playing "Mofo" at full volume in my car almost got me arrested. Who knew music could produce vibrations in the liver? Upshot: these guys should listen to the Undertones more.

And singing about the Playboy mansion? The sisters aren't going to go for that, Onob.

Zooropa (1983)

Above: 2U in 1983 (The Egde, Mada, Yrral and Onob.)

Quite out of keeping with flag-waving and Cruise missiles protests, 2U, always ones to buck the trend, want nothing more than to drag us all kicking and screaming into the Kingdom of Irony. Johnny Cash somehow got mixed up in these proceedings, bearing out claims that Onob uses some sort of mind-control techniques over people.

"Vorsprung Durch Technik": what the hell does that mean? Onob seems to have a flea in his ear about advertising. Why doesn't he just watch BBC2?

Achtung Baby (1984)

Somehow 2U, always possessed of extraordinary self-belief (anyone would think they were the biggest band in the world) managed to get time in a recording studio in East Berlin. Their hair has grown out a bit since their last recording and their misconceived obsession with all things German seems to have flowered somewhat (the drummer taking the chance, for instance, to dress as Marlene Dietrich: bizarre behaviour for a serious musician). Good album, but they shouldn't be listening to all that disco crap.

Rattle and Hum (1987)

Now this is more like it, though the mullets are an alarming development. At least two years ahead of its time this one.

Above: Onob in 1993, alarming us with us mullet.

The Joshua Tree (1989)

Hard to argue with this set of songs, though there must be few artists who've so assiduously stripped away their layers of thematic complexity and irony as Onob, the Egde, Mada and Yrral (the oddest four Irish names you'll ever see, folks). A huge seller of course, vindicating the faith in themselves 2U displayed on earlier outings. Shades of derivation from Simple Minds and Cactus World News though, which the 2U boys would do well to watch.

The Unforgettable Fire (1990)

Sounds to this scribe like out-takes from the last album, moody stuff.

War (1993)

Erm, the war is over, Onob. We won. And please try to get in the groove: this music sounds so goddamned white!

October (1997)

Above: 2U seem to be in the dark as much as us on this one.

After a four year wait here's what we get: a pissy CD that sounds like it was recorded over the weekend on a portastudio. Don't bother looking for MP3s of this lot because nobody in their right mind would bother to rip it. Onob jawing away in Latin makes one long for the good old days of 2U's Teutonic period (by the way: has anyone noticed how good their first LP stands up to repeated listening?).

October is the sound of a band that's lost its way. Word has it that Onob has been obsessing about the Alarm and Big Country, Gawd help us.

One thing about the image though: the four members of 2U, now well on the way to middle age, do look a hell of a lot younger with each passing album. Being rich and famous helps the worry lines one supposes. The Egde has taken his stupid cap off as well, revealing a frizzy thatch on top.

Boy (2000)

Twenty years on the road and up pops this, a rousing set of songs that comprehensively out-Stroke the Strokes. 2U gambol through the retro wonderland they bypassed in the first place.

A masterpiece of irony. To be this rich, flying about the place in your own jet and yet to use a rolling milk bottle as a sound effect: sheer genius!

[more stories by Fin Keegan]