Here's how I think the albums would rank lyrically:
AB, JT, UF, SOI/SOE, Zooropa, Rattle And Hum, Pop, ATYCLB, HTDAAB, War, Boy, NLOTH, October
Does this look about right? I think that even though HTDAAB was a middle of the road bore-fest it still had some of Bono's best lyrical work (in places) when compared to the other post-Pop albums.