All That You Can't Leave Behind

All That You Can't Leave Behind is an album by the Irish alternative rock band U2. It was released in 2000 (see 2000 in music) by Island Records in the UK and Interscope Records in the US.

Related Topics:
Irish - Alternative rock - Band - U2 - 2000 - 2000 in music - Island Records - UK - Interscope Records - US

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Reuniting the band with the production duo of Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno--who also produced The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby--is often seen as a return to basics after the group's experimental nineties records. In many ways, however, this is an oversimplification, as the album retains the sonic nuances of their nineties work and reconciles it with the melodic, hook-filled rock of their eighties work. The first song (and lead single), "Beautiful Day", for instance, is an optimistic anthem that opens with a drum machine and a rhythm sequencer.

Related Topics:
Daniel Lanois - Brian Eno - The Joshua Tree - Achtung Baby

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The album includes "Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of", a song written by Bono for his friend Michael Hutchence, who killed himself in 1997. The song is written in the form of an argument about suicide in which Bono tries to convince Hutchence of the act's foolishness. Bono characterized the song as a good old row between friends which he felt guilty that he never got to have with Hutchence. Brian Eno was enthusiastic about the song and wagered with Bono that it would become the group's biggest single. While this did not come to pass, it is nonetheless a fan favorite, with its gospel-tinged melodies and saccharine guitar leads.

Related Topics:
Bono - Michael Hutchence - 1997 - Gospel

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The album met wide acclaim from critics and the public, debuting at #1 in 28 countries (but only reaching #3 in the United States). The first single released was "Beautiful Day", which reached #1 in the UK single charts (which track the popularity of individual songs) and in most European countries, Canada and Australia. All That You Can't Leave Behind was the third highest selling U2 album, with total sales of over 10 million. Both "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On" scored the prestigious Record of the Year Grammy in consecutive years; the former in 2001 and the latter in 2002.

Related Topics:
United States - UK - European - Canada - Australia - Record of the Year

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All That You Can't Leave Behind was voted #139 on Rolling Stone's top 500 greatest albums of all-time.

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