Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #12, Pop

 My freshman year in college, U2 released Pop, their 9th studio album and #12 on this less than scientific countdown of their best records.  When this very un-pop album came out, I could not wait to pick it up as it had been nearly four years since their last output.  In the early 1990s, U2 had begun to experiment with electronic synthesizers and dance beats.  With the Pop record, they had taken this experimentation to a new level, although in hindsight, it was a much more rocking record than it initially was given credit for.  In fact, compared to what is considered alternative rock in 2025, Pop was not only ahead of its time, it could have just as easily been given the name "Rock" instead of "Pop".

Although the record has sold over 5 million copies in its 28 years of existence, it was not well received critically after its release.  Yet, if one goes back and gives it a listen today, one is reminded that U2 has always been a step or two ahead of the pack.  I would venture to say that if Pop would have been released between 2010-2020 it would have gone down as a classic.  It was just a little too ahead of its time, at the time.  

U2, Pop - Released, March 3, 1997

Album Charts - #1, Irish.  #1, UK.  #1, US.

Worldwide Sales to Date - 5 Million

Singles - Discotheque #1, Ireland.  #1, UK.  #10, US.  Staring at the Sun #4, Ireland.  #3, UK.  #26, US.  Last Night on Earth #11, Ireland.  #10, UK.  #57, US.  Please #6, Ireland.  #7, UK.  If God Will Send His Angels #11, Ireland.  Mofo (did not chart).

Stand Out Songs - Discotheque, If God Will Send His Angels, Staring at the Sun, The Playboy Mansion, Wake Up Dead Man.

Weakest Track - Last Night on Earth

Hidden Gem - The Playboy Mansion

As good as these U2 albums are, they will only get better! - Shay 

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #13, No Line on the Horizon

On February 27, 2009, after playing in a co-ed softball game, Juli and I picked up a pregnancy test and soon learned that she was pregnant. 8 1/2 months later, we welcomed Ashlyn Nicole Smith into our lives.  Earlier on that February day when we discovered that Juli was with child, I made a lunch run to Best Buy to purchase U2's 12th studio album, No Line on the Horizon.  It is a fine record and it's cool that it shares a significant date with my family, but even that isn't enough to get it into U2's top ten albums.  But lucky #13 is not so bad.

For a band like U2, none of their records are poor by the standards of most musical artists.  But the reality is that bands like U2 don't compete against the rest of the pack - ultimately, they compete against themselves and No Line on the Horizon just doesn't measure up to most of the rest of U2's catalogue.  

There are a few decent songs when heard in isolation, but what hurts this album as a whole is its desire to be both radio friendly and experimental.  The result is that it is not terribly experimental, and the hits were short-lived flash in the pan kind of songs.

U2, No Line on the Horizon - Released February 27, 2009 

Album Charts - #1 Ireland, #1 UK, #1 US

Worldwide Sales to Date - 5 million

Singles - Get On Your Boots, #1 Ireland, #37 UK, #37 US Modern Rock Chart.  Magnificent, #4 Ireland, #45 UK, #11 US Alternative Chart.  I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, #11 Ireland, #69 UK, #66 US Hot 100 Chart.

Standout Songs - Moment of Surrender, Unknown Caller, Get On Your Boots, Breathe

Weakest Track - Standup Comedy

Hidden Gem - Unknown Caller 

For this to be the band's second worst record and to still achieve such commercial success, demonstrates that not only does U2 have a lofty ceiling, they also maintain a very high floor. - Shay 

Ranking U2's Albums from Worst to First: #14, October

Today marks the start of a new series of blogs here on Near St. Anne's and the Sea.  For close to 35 years, I've been a massive U2 fan, and I have a sneaky suspicion that sooner, rather than later they will be releasing their 15th album.  In anticipation of that momentous occasion, whenever it may be, I would like to spend a few posts counting down their previous 14 records from worst to first.  When I say worst to first, it's a little like ranking your children (though in my case, I only have 1, so she's definitely #1).   But you have to start somewhere, so today we start with #14 - October.

In the past, when bands were just getting started, they often spent months, if not years grinding it out on the live circuit, perfecting their sound.  If they were afforded a record contract, they had years of their best material to put on that first album.  Usually, the record companies would have expected a second album soon after the group toured their first record, and so it was more common than not for bands to struggle to match the artistry and sales of their first effort.  This is certainly true of U2 and their second album, October.  It is their weakest effort, by far, and yet it still has quite a few standout songs.  But its weakness stems from the rushed nature of the writing, recording, and production of the record.  

The recording of the album coincided with guitarist The Edge considering quitting the band as he struggled to reconcile his committed Christian faith with the rock 'n roll lifestyle.  Thankfully, he and Bono decided to use their music as a vehicle for the expression of their faith, rather than a hinderance to it.  Spiritual yearning is certainly evident in these songs, but gracefully the band managed to express their wrestling with God in a non-preachy or Bible-thumping way.   

More than anything, October provided Island Records with its required second album, allowed the band to continue to tour and hone their craft, and laid the foundation for U2 to write and record some of rock music's best albums of all time in the mid to late 1980s.  

U2, October - Released October 12, 1981

Album Charts - #17 Ireland, #11 UK, #104 US

Worldwide Sales to Date - 1.5 million 

Singles - Fire, #4 Irish Chart, #35 UK Chart.  Gloria, #10 Irish Chart, #55 UK Chart.

Standout Songs - Gloria, Tomorrow, October, Scarlet

Weakest Track - Is That All? 

Hidden Gem - Scarlet 

The record is certainly worth a listen, if only once a year at the start of the month of October. - Shay 

Ten Reasons to Live in Ireland

On June 23, 2010, my wife Juli, my 8-month-old daughter, Ashlyn, and I landed in Dublin, Ireland to begin what we did not know at the time would be one of the greatest 5 years of our lives.  As of June 30, 2025, we have now been back home in the United States for 10 years.  The 15 years that have passed since our move to Dublin and the 10 years that have flown since we've moved back remind me of the singer Roddy Woomble's line: "I got older, while I was waiting to get older.  I thought it would take much longer."

Dublin is my favorite city in the entire world, and I miss living there immensely, though I've enjoyed the 10 years I've spent in the US since our move back.  With it having been 10 years since I've called Ireland home, I would like to share what I believe to be the top 10 things that make Ireland (both north and south) one of the best countries in the world.

10. The Food 

Compared to many other nations of the world, the Irish are not known for their food, but the things that the Irish do well - they do really well.  Warm Irish soda or brown bread cannot be topped, except with butter and jam which is also very good in Ireland.  You would also be hard pressed to find better stew on a wet day than in the Emerald Isle.  And there's not much better than a full Irish breakfast with the requisite fried eggs, bacon rashers, black and white pudding, sausages, baked beans, fried tomato, and homemade soda bread.  Of course, you have to wash it all down with a few cups of tea!

9. The Friendliness 

The Irish are genuinely some of the friendliest people you will meet anywhere.  When they say "hello" or "how are you?" or "good morning", they really mean it.  I've have personally witnessed Irish friends taking the time to show tourists to their destination (whether walking or by car), rather than simply giving them directions. 

8. Sense of Humor (the craic)

What makes the Irish so funny is that they are more than happy to laugh at themselves before laughing at others.  In fact, one of the big no nos in Ireland is to take oneself too seriously.  No matter how bleak the world becomes, the Irish have a knack for finding humor in almost any situation.  

7. Spirituality 

Ireland used to be known as an island of saints and scholars, though some today might better describe it as the isle of cynics and the skeptical.  However, I have noticed that compared to much of the rest of secular Europe, Ireland has maintained a stronger connection with its religious past.  There's room and opportunity for continued growth in this arena.

6. Pub Culture 

Shifting from spirituality to spirits, I confess that I do enjoy a nice pint in a nice pub.  It was once said that it was near impossible for a person to walk through Dublin and avoid passing a pub, no matter which route you may take.  Though many of the pubs across the country have closed and are closing, pubs still function like they have for centuries, as public houses where people meet to not only drink a beer, but to chat and to share life and community.  Some of my favorite memories in Dublin involve sharing a pint of porter and conversations of both faith and football.

5. Ireland's Way with Words 

Some of the best writers of the English language come from Ireland.  For such a small country, Ireland punches well above its weight when it comes to literary masterpieces.  From Joyce to Yeats and from Wilde to Shaw (not to mention, many more), the Irish have a way with words that captivates readers far beyond their shores.  In addition to this, the Irish take great pride in education and seeking to be deep thinkers.  You don't have to look hard to find intelligent conversation in Ireland, whether in a coffee shop, a church, or a pub.

4. Music 

I love traditional Irish music.  But I also quite like modern Irish music, especially the rock bands that have been launched from Ireland.  The 1960s and 70s saw the emergence of Van Morrison and Thin Lizzy.  The 1980s and 90s produced U2, Sinead O'Connor, and The Cranberries.  Since then, the success of Glen Hansard (and The Frames), Snow Patrol, Hozier, Fontaines DC, and Inhaler demonstrates that Ireland will continue to produce world class musicians and music for decades to come. 

3. Landscape 

I am drawn to epic and surreal landscapes, and for such a small island (you can fit about 8 Irelands inside of Texas), Ireland has numerous epic and surreal landscapes, especially alongside the coasts.  Though it doesn't have large landscapes like the Swiss Alps or the Saharan Desert, it has what I would describe as quaintly dramatic terrain.  You might call it beauty on a small scale.

2. Pace of Life 

Americans live to work, whereas Europeans, work to live.  This might be a bit cliche, but it's true.  I used to make jokes that the Irish show up late to work and make up for it by leaving early.  That's only partially a joke.  Really, the Irish just know how to work smarter, rather than harder, and their lives are all the better for it.  Things move at a slower pace in Ireland, but it's a pace that allows a person to breathe. As Mel Gibson's character in Braveheart said, "Every man dies, not every man really lives."  We might say that every American works, not every American really lives.  The Irish know how to live.

1. The Kindness of the Irish 

My wife, Juli, has often remarked that the Irish are kind people.  And it's true!  Not only are the Irish funny and friendly, they genuinely care about other people too.  I'm not sure if it is still true, but at one point Ireland gave more money to charity per capita than any other nation in the world.  Why?  They experienced a famine in the mid-nineteenth century and they haven't forgotten the devastating effects of that food shortage.  And until very recently, Ireland remained a poor country.  After the Celtic Tiger of the 1990s, Ireland joined the rest of Western Europe in standard of living, but they did not forget what it felt like to be poor, and they are more than willing to give back to those less fortunate.  And it is not just their financial generosity that makes the Irish "nice", it's their authentic care for the underdog and for those without a voice.  I would challenge you to find a kinder 5 million people anywhere in the world!

I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to live in Ireland again, but even if I don't, I hope to visit that fair island as often as I can.  One of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me occurred when I traveled back to Dublin for a visit a few years ago and was greeted by my friend, Tony Murphy with, "Welcome home." - Shay

Will Texas be Back Again?

I have lived for 48 seasons of Texas Longhorns football.  I've seen some truly terrible teams (many of those between 2010 and 2020) and some amazingly remarkable seasons.  A few years back, after Sam Ehlinger declared that Texas was back, I compiled a subjective top 25 of Texas seasons (not necessarily teams).  Unfortunately, we were not quite back after that big Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.  But with the hire of Steve Sarkisian and two semi-final appearances, it's safe to say that we are moving in the right direction.  With that in mind, I've decided to update the list of the top 25 seasons in my lifetime.  Here's my admittedly subjective list.

25. 1982, 9-3, #17

24. 2020, 7-3, Alamo Bowl Champions, #19

23. 1979, 9-3, #12

22. 2000, 9-3, #12

21. 2003, 10-3, #11

20. 1994, 8-4, Southwest Conference Champions, Sun Bowl Champions, #23

19. 1996, 8-5, Big 12 Champions, #23

18. 2006, 10-3, Alamo Bowl Champions, #13

17. 1978, 9-3, Sun Bowl Champions, #9

16. 1998, 9-3, Cotton Bowl Champions, #15

15. 2007, 10-3, Holiday Bowl Champions, #10

14. 2018, 10-4, Sugar Bowl Champions, #9

13. 1995, 10-2-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #14

12. 1990, 10-2, Southwest Conference Champions, #11

11. 2002, 11-2, Cotton Bowl Champions, #6

10. 2001, 11-2, Holiday Bowl Champions, #5

9. 1981, 10-1-1, Cotton Bowl Champions, #2

8. 1983, 11-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #5

7. 1977, 11-1, Southwest Conference Champions, #4

6. 2004, 11-1, Rose Bowl Champions, #4

5. 2024, 13-3, Peach Bowl Champions, College Football Playoff Semi-finalists, #3 

4.  2023, 12-2, Big 12 Champions, College Football Playoff Semi-finalists, #3 

3. 2008, 12-1, Fiesta Bowl Champions, #3 

2. 2009, 13-1, Big 12 Champions, #2 

1. 2005, 13-0, Big 12 Champions, Rose Bowl Champions, National Champions, #1 

All in all, over these 25 seasons, the Longhorns compiled a 256-57-2 record, averaging just over 10 wins per season and a little over two losses.  Their win percentage over this quarter of a century of seasons was .813.  They finished with a final ranking of average of #9 during these years.  Hopefully, this list will have several more additions over the next decade - especially seasons that finish in the top 5 or 10.  Hook'em! - Shay 

Three Things I Learned from Michael Weed

Several months ago, one of my theological and pastoral mentors passed from this life.  Michael Weed, and his wife, Libby, both finished their races within the past several months.  But for over two decades, I and my family were blessed to know the Weeds and I will forever be grateful for the legacy they left so many.  Though time and memory would fail to do justice to all I gained from my interactions with Michael, I would like to share three things I learned from Michael Weed.

Faith Seeking Understanding 

Though some believers may shy away from theology due either to its seemingly foreign or high-fallutin' nature, essentially, theology should not be avoided but embraced.  Theology is simply faith seeking understanding.  Anselm of Canterbury is said to be the originator of this definition, but this sums up what Michael Weed tried to impress upon his students.  We begin with faith, but we do not leave our faith in an infant state.  We grow our faith; we mature our belief.  An unexamined faith is nothing more than blind faith.  But a mature trust in God is the kind of belief that isn't hindered by fear but overcomes fear.  Like perfect love, it drives out fear.    

I have been around some Christians who desire black and white answers and the avoidance of hard or dangerous questions.  These individuals tend to embrace indoctrination and avoid a robust education.  They would rather be told what to think, instead of figuring out how to think.  In the long run, this might, ironically, lead to someone losing their faith, rather than developing a tried-and-true trust in Christ.  Michael Weed never avoided the tough questions, instead he faced them head on and taught his students to do the same.

We Do Not Worship the Bible

It is easy to miss the forest for the trees.  In some circles of conservative Christianity, the Bible is so revered that it is nearly worshiped.  What a strange form of idolatry!  Michael Weed impressed upon me that we do not worship the Bible, but rather the God to which scripture points.  The word of God is not God.  But the word of God does lead us to the Word of God (Jesus - see John 1:1 & ff).  In fact, under Weed's guidance and through deep reflection, I have come to embrace an incarnational theology of scripture.  What I mean is that rather than believing that God dictated scripture in a mechanical way to human beings, the Spirit instead inspired the writing of scripture from the ground up through flawed, broken, and fallible human beings, with all of the limitations that entails.  This has led me to have an even greater respect for the Bible than I previously had.  God meets humanity where humanity is, including in the authoring of sacred texts.  In fact, the entire story of scripture is the tale of God using unlikely people and means to accomplish his will.  

Tradition is Not a Bad Word 

Tradition has taken a bad rap over the past few decades in some church circles.  I believe this is due to a couple of things.  For one, Jesus constantly harped on the Pharisees for their reliance on the tradition of men at the expense of YHWH's instruction through the Torah.  Another reason that tradition has a bad name in some faith communities is that the Roman Catholic Church has at times emphasized its own traditions at the expense of scripture.  No doubt, both of these instances should remind us that tradition can go awry, but tradition, in and of itself is neither good nor bad.  It all depends on the kinds of traditions we are considering.  Context matters.

Think of all the amazing traditions we honor each and every holiday season.  Consider your own family traditions at birthdays and anniversaries.  How many of us wholeheartedly embrace the traditions of our High Schools and Universities at sports games and graduations?  Traditions are crucial for creating and sustaining our identities as human beings and communities.  It's been said that tradition is the living faith of dead people, and that traditionalism is the dead faith of living people.  I think this is a healthy perspective and one that Michael Weed was always committed to.  Michael reenergized my appreciation for "tradition".  

Legacy 

I think we all desire to leave a legacy for others when our time on earth has come to an end.  Usually though, the legacies we leave will vary.  We may not leave the same legacy for each individual we impact.  I know Michael Weed meant so much to so many people.  What they drew from Michael will undoubtedly be different than the ways that he impacted me.  And of course, these three snippets are only snippets.  I have far more memories of my time under Weed's tutelage and pastoral care.  I will leave you with one anecdotal story that exemplifies Michael's pastoral heart, as well as his theological prowess.  

In the early 00s, I was perplexed by the shallow and short-sighted direction that many within evangelical churches were seemingly headed.  I couldn't get my head around why congregations were whole-heartedly and unreflectingly embracing mass-marketing and consumerist tendencies over rigorous discipleship and genuine community.  I expressed some of my frustrations with Michael and he invited me to his home one afternoon where he shared a "church history" lesson and then offered a positive vision for the future that he hoped I would carry with me as I continued my ministerial journey.  That afternoon was simultaneously theological, pastoral, and personal.  I know that I am not the only one who will continue to miss Michael and Libby Weed. - Shay  

Still Trying to Figure it Out

I do not possess a "scientific" mind.  I never took physics, I struggled in chemistry and biology, and mathematics is not my strong suit.  Engineering, medicine, or related fields were never going to be an option for me.  But I love it when experts in their field can make complex ideas understandable for me.  I am also thankful that there are incredibly intelligent people who can design and build stuff and help me get better when I'm sick.   

Though I'm grateful for the work scientists, doctors, engineers, and architects do, I am more intriqued by fields of study such as philosophy.  Like theology, what a person even means by "philosophy" can be quite fluid and diverse.  For me, philosophy is simply a way of describing how humanity, individually and collectively, has historically and presently tried to understand reality and make our way in the world.  Just as there is a "history" of everything (though we have yet to fully uncover, unpack, and understand that history), there might be a philosophy for everything.  In other words, every facet of human existence lends itself to "navel gazing".  We seek to understand why things are the way they are, and we also seek to, if possible, improve things in the future, either individually or socially.  

I recently listened to a philosopher speak on a podcast and what struck me was the way this particular thinker tried to break everything down into its material - and even its atomic structure.  So, according to this philosopher, humans are nothing more than a conglomeration of atoms and chemical reactions.  According to him, what we "see" as reality, is nothing more than an illusion.  I think I have a vague idea of where he's coming from, but it's a very strange way of looking at the world.  It also raises the question - if everything is an illusion, then who is this illusion fooling?  

Certainly, within each of us there are millions, if not billions or trillions of microscopic cells, organisms, and processes constantly working to keep us sound and whole.  How it all fits together and works, for the most part, in harmony, blows my mind!  But where does my "mind" even come from?  What is consciousness, and how does it even "arise" from the material substances that make up our bodies?  This is a question that science and philosophy has yet to answer.  But what should be plain to each and every one of us is that we are more - far more - than the sum of our parts.  I am someone - a person - a being with a past, present, and future.  I am not simply two feet, two legs, two arms, a torso, and a head.  Yes, those parts help to form and make me who I am - but they are not me.  How much more am I not simply a collection of atoms and chemical processes.  

I recently gave a ride to a philosopher who teaches at one of the many local universities in the area.  We briefly chatted about both philosophy and religion over the 20-minute drive, and he expressed his dismay at the overly "scientific" way of doing philosophy that many modern philosophers have adopted.  Yes, a table might at its most basic level be a collection of atoms, but it also functions as so much more.  It might be a place to write, draw, paint, or otherwise create.  It can function as the centerpiece of community as people gather around the table and share a meal and conversation.  When all of us talk about tables - we don't - or at least, should not simply talk about its atomic structure.  Equally, I would argue that there's far more to humanity than the building blocks that help to make us who and what we are.  Those building blocks are necessary, but they are simply a means to a far greater end.  And what is that greater end?  Well, that to me is what philosophy, theology, history, and religion are all about.  I'm still trying to figure it out.  What about you? - Shay