U2's Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall (33 1/3) [Paperback]

Stephen Catanzarite (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2007

Stephen Catanzarite takes a close look at what many consider to be U2's most fully formed album through the prisms of religion, politics, spirituality, and culture, illuminating its previously unexplored depths, arguing that it's a concept album about love and the fall of man.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stephen Catanzarite takes his readers on a metaphysical trip with Achtung Baby...The book reads like a well-written thesis, and Catanzarite is knowledgeable both musically and theologically. The songs are the bones on which the author fleshes out his theories, with the help of quotes by philosophers, poets, musicians (Axl Rose, of all people), and whole passages taken from books by religious scholars of different faiths. There are references to Neil Young, Led Zeppelin (the Tower of Babel is the original stairway to heaven), Bob Dylan and Morrissey for the rock cognoscenti, as well as a few Chinese proverbs thrown in for good measure." -@U2

"Stephen Catanzarite has reflected on a beloved Rock album and turned his reflections into a book. Not only that, but his book is theological, Christian, Catholic and concerned with humanity's place in the world. Ambitious, no? A lesser album would collapse under such ponderings, but U2's Achtung Baby is a "heavy mother," to quote the band's ever-quotable lead vocalist. And The Edge lists "betrayal" among the album's chief preoccupations, so bringing it all back home to Adam and Eve's betrayal of God does work. The book is a good primer on moral theology — an oddity in the 33 1/3 book series. Our guide cites Augustine, Newman and more luminaries without any quote seeming irrelevant. And still the book stays connected to the music, delving into both words and instrumental landscape. Two quarrels: First, three taboos fascinate U2: sex, God and politics. Catanzarite describes an Adam and Eve losing and finding each other and their Maker in a neon city. That covers sex and God. But politics? In an epilogue Catanzarite mentions upheavals occurring in Achtung Baby's era but not a whisper elsewhere. He quotes the exquisite apocalypse of Yeats' poem "The Second Coming," but relates it not to chaos in wartime but to breakdowns in personal relationships. Second, Catanzarite praises "Mysterious Ways" as an ode to feminine inspiration. He challenges disrespect of women and yet never quotes a single woman author. It's a glaring omission in a Catholic-worldview book — U2 themselves have spoken often of their indebtedness to, for instance, Flannery O'Connor. It would take 10 more books to maybe start to describe Achtung Baby. Catanzarite is brave to try." —CityBeat

"If you don't already know about the Christianity present in U2, or have never heard Achtung Baby, find a copy and listen to it. And if you are interested in a thoughtful engagement by a Catholic with the best of modern rock, you might like Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall." —Nathaniel Peters, First Things

(Nathaniel Peters )

"[Catanzarite has written] a surprisingly profound meditation on 'Achtung Baby' as a metaphor for the Fall of Man. I told Bono, rather sceptically, that I had met a man who theorised that Achtung Baby was a metaphor for the fall of man ... and had just given a lecture on 'the conservative voice in U2'. I thought Bono might get a kick out it, but I was surprised by his response. "Both theories sound bang on," he said."
-Neil McCormick, The Daily Telegraph

"...a surprisingly profound meditation on 'Achtung Baby' as a metaphor for the Fall of Man (part of the excellent 33? series of books about albums)..."

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/100003914/is-bono-a-conservative/

“Stephen Catanzarite takes his readers on a metaphysical trip with Achtung Baby...The book reads like a well-written thesis, and Catanzarite is knowledgeable both musically and theologically. The songs are the bones on which the author fleshes out his theories, with the help of quotes by philosophers, poets, musicians (Axl Rose, of all people), and whole passages taken from books by religious scholars of different faiths. There are references to Neil Young, Led Zeppelin (the Tower of Babel is the original stairway to heaven), Bob Dylan and Morrissey for the rock cognoscenti, as well as a few Chinese proverbs thrown in for good measure.” -@U2

“Stephen Catanzarite has reflected on a beloved Rock album and turned his reflections into a book. Not only that, but his book is theological, Christian, Catholic and concerned with humanity's place in the world. Ambitious, no? A lesser album would collapse under such ponderings, but U2's Achtung Baby is a "heavy mother," to quote the band's ever-quotable lead vocalist. And The Edge lists "betrayal" among the album's chief preoccupations, so bringing it all back home to Adam and Eve's betrayal of God does work. The book is a good primer on moral theology — an oddity in the 33 1/3 book series. Our guide cites Augustine, Newman and more luminaries without any quote seeming irrelevant. And still the book stays connected to the music, delving into both words and instrumental landscape. Two quarrels: First, three taboos fascinate U2: sex, God and politics. Catanzarite describes an Adam and Eve losing and finding each other and their Maker in a neon city. That covers sex and God. But politics? In an epilogue Catanzarite mentions upheavals occurring in Achtung Baby's era but not a whisper elsewhere. He quotes the exquisite apocalypse of Yeats' poem "The Second Coming," but relates it not to chaos in wartime but to breakdowns in personal relationships. Second, Catanzarite praises "Mysterious Ways" as an ode to feminine inspiration. He challenges disrespect of women and yet never quotes a single woman author. It's a glaring omission in a Catholic-worldview book — U2 themselves have spoken often of their indebtedness to, for instance, Flannery O'Connor. It would take 10 more books to maybe start to describe Achtung Baby. Catanzarite is brave to try.” —CityBeat

“If you don’t already know about the Christianity present in U2, or have never heard Achtung Baby, find a copy and listen to it. And if you are interested in a thoughtful engagement by a Catholic with the best of modern rock, you might like Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall.” –Nathaniel Peters, First Things

(, )

“[Catanzarite has written] a surprisingly profound meditation on 'Achtung Baby’ as a metaphor for the Fall of Man.  I told Bono, rather sceptically, that I had met a man who theorised that Achtung Baby was a metaphor for the fall of man … and had just given a lecture on 'the conservative voice in U2’. I thought Bono might get a kick out it, but I was surprised by his response. “Both theories sound bang on,” he said.”
-Neil McCormick, The Daily Telegraph

"…a surprisingly profound meditation on 'Achtung Baby’ as a metaphor for the Fall of Man (part of the excellent 33? series of books about albums)…"

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/neilmccormick/100003914/is-bono-a-conservative/

About the Author

Stephen Catanzarite is the managing director of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Centre, just outside of Pittsburgh. He has created a course tracing the history and development of American popular music from Tin Pan Alley to today - which will be delivered, online, to thousands of high school students across the U.S.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (September 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826427847
• ISBN-13: 978-0826427847
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best book ever about music and faith, September 17, 2007

By 

David F. Watts (Brighton) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2's Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall (33 1/3) (Paperback)

As the author helpfully reminds readers in the very first sentence, this is not a book about U2. If you are only interested in the technical details of how "Achtung Baby" was recorded, perhaps you should go elsewhere. But if you are expecting the sort of "This-is-how-Achtung-Baby-changed-my-life" drivel that often passes for music journalism today, you should also think again.

Stephen Catanzarite has done something almost miraculous: he has written a powerful and uplifting book of meditations about music and faith that shows he is incredibly knowledgeable about both subjects. (That's the miraculous part.) Much has been written about U2's spirituality, most of it centered around the band's early days and Bono's latter-day humanitarian efforts; you have probably read those books already. The subject of what Catanzarite argues is the band's most deceptively faith-based album -- and why it that is so -- has been left almost untouched, until now.

Because of Catanzarite's approach, this volume seems destined to have a long life outside this series. To call it an inspirational book seems the most accurate description; it seems like the sort of thing you might want to have on your nighttable for reading during those dark nights of the soul. I was reminded of the work of the late, great Trappist monk Thomas Merton, a guy who would probably have loved this album (and this book).

I was happy to see that the author makes no apologies for the way his Christianity informs his approach (also a novelty in the world of music writing), but this is not a "Christian" book, per se, nor a book about one man's faith. It is simply a book for everyone who grapples with the big issues; who loves clear, lucid (and often very funny) prose; and who cares about what we are all doing here on Earth, and how to make the best of it - as explained through the lens of one remarkable album, and one remarkable book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, December 13, 2008

By 

ichbindane - See all my reviews

This review is from: U2's Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall (33 1/3) (Paperback)

First off, I think Achtung Baby is one of the best albums ever recorded. And true to the title, this book was a tremendous and well written meditation on love told through the album. It really did Achtung Baby justice and made me think about it in a way I hadn't before.

And yes, the book is obviously religious, but it doesn't overtly proselytize. Instead its payload is based on the core theme of Christianity, presented in an uncluttered fashion: it is a book on love and the sacrifices necessary to maintain it. The message is universal and it cuts straight to the heart.

Many of the songs on Achtung Baby are about people failing to make these sacrifices. Catanzarite writes about why these failures occur in human relationships. It is a difficult narrative to thread through the album, but, in almost all cases, he really pulls it off.

As the previous reviewer wrote, it is a book that transcends its subject. Even if I had never listened to the album, I still would have enjoyed Catanzarite's book and will likely pick it up again in the future.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Smart and Soulful Contemplation of a Musical Milestone, February 29, 2008

By 

Tim Ogline (Marlton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U2's Achtung Baby: Meditations on Love in the Shadow of the Fall (33 1/3) (Paperback)

Just lovely... compelling explorations of each track with the attendant subtleties and nuances of the joy and heartache of love as Stephen Catanzarite leads the reader through this lyrical meditation of "Achtung Baby." Gripping metaphorical character sketches and beautiful turns of phrases as well as poetic discourse on instrumentation make this wonderful little book a worthy companion to this landmark album.