The Joshua Tree

I think this is the worst thing I've listened to yet. I tried. Honest. It was really a struggle to power through this. Every song was exactly the same. At its best, I found some of these songs to be somewhere between "Gen X Easy Listening" and "Songs to hear when you're in the dental chair". If you found a Gen Z kid who had never heard U2 and then played this album for them while saying "These guys sell out stadiums", they straight up wouldn't believe you

I still haven't found what I'm looking for, but I know it's definitely not U2.

I needed exactly this album today. I mean, this is one of those all-time-great albums anyway but there's nothing like listening to the perfect album for a particular time. This morning, this is the album I needed and I'm not even a U2 fan. But these tracks are undeniable monsters.

Seventeen year old me chalks this up as an easy 5. And upon listening again, 51-year old me is pleased to agree with my younger self. Bono can get on my nerves pretty fast, but I have to think even his harshest critics have to give him props for a lot here, especially With Or Without You and my favorite track on the album, Running To Stand Still. This was the moment for U2 when everything fell together, and they finally reached an audience who somehow missed their landmark performance at Live Aid two years earlier. The three hit songs from this album are arguably the three most popular of the band's career. It's almost the definition of a quintessential album. It's worth listening to the 30th anniversary edition, as not only is the entire original album remastered, but you get a great concert from this album's tour in 1987. For anyone tired of "With Or Without You", go watch how it was used in the final episode of The Americans. It'll make you appreciate the song all over again. As much as I cherish The Joshua Tree, it's my third favorite U2 album. Quick research tells me the other two will be coming up on this list.....

When I grabbed The Joshua Tree on cassette when dropped my senior year of high school, it was exactly what I needed and solidified that U2 was my favorite band. There was no album I knew better that year. Its symbolic and poetic lyrics are rich with very human truths and contradictions, as well as spiritual longings. I could write on and on about how each song has influenced my own writing, spirituality, and outlook on life, and how the musicianship from Bono, Edge, Adam and Larry in this piece of art framed a sound that I gravitated towards back in '87 as well as inspired my search for more of the same moving into college and beyond. There isn't 1 of the 11 songs that I don't love and that doesn't spark contemplation and joy in me. I know each one personally and have meditated on each with endless hours and emotional intention. Initially One Tree Hill was not a popular song, but it made it onto several mix tapes that Scott and I made. One of my Top 10 albums of all time, The Joshua Tree is one of my favorite representations of why an album is greater than the sum of its parts, even though each individual song is so powerful!

I'm not a fan of U2, and this is a great representation of their sound.

I've written and deleted the word "bloviated" at least five times. Thing is, despite each song being a short walk up a small hill stretched out to feel like an ironman challenge courtesy of those neverending synth lines, marching drums, and Bono's mouthful of cotton wool, these songs move at some kind of clip. Right, they spend longer in each section of the song than most artists would, but within their clearly defined aesthetic, they don't spend longer than they should. So I'm happy to call it a formal achievment, even if I found virtually nothing that made me want to come back.

U2 seem to be the band everyone loves to hate, mainly due to Bono. I never really felt that is particularly fair but I've never really previously found a good reason to ignore this viewpoint either. A further listen today hasn't changed this. I tried to be open minded and enjoy it, but I just cringed. Bono over-sings every line like a 3 years old who hasn't got his or her own way. Some people are just born to be really annoying and you can't quite pinpoint exactly why. With regret Bono, that's you.

My first 5* new discovery (although hardly a hidden gem) and of all the artists for it to be... not a weak song in sight though and there's just a weird kind of atmosphere throughout which I can't pinpoint but I'm all in for. Best track: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Perhapss the most important Irish rock album of all time and certainly the album that turned U2 into the biggest band in the world. It is both a political and religious album and makes no apology for it; ground well covered by U2 prior to Joshua Tree. On this record however there is a power and conviction in the songs as well as a confidence in the presentation and imagery of Americana, despite most of the songs not being directly about America. ‘WTSHNN’, inspired by Belfast, is as good an opener as you’ll hear on any album whilst the soaring ‘Red Hill Mining Town’ is about the UK miners strike of 1984. Although the second half of the album cannot match its powerful opening run of anthems The Joshua Tree is a triumph.

Beautiful album. The opening three songs are probably the best album opener of all time. The rest of the album is filled with mysterious atmospheric songs about American desert, which are not standout hits, however give a great vibe.

Classic! Everyone needs to hear these songs

U2 fucking sucks

As someone who grew up surrounded by desert but didn't appreciate the landscape until I grew up and moved away, I connect with U2's desire to build an album around their desert inspiration. The album builds up and opens with so much excitement and energy. That energy builds and is held throughout the entire album. This album marries unique rock instrumentation with Bono's soaring, ethereal voice to make every track something interesting, unique, and a little bit mysterious. Everything about Bono's voice seems deliberate; you can feel the emotion behind the way he sings, artistic and full of emotion, but in full command of his vocals. Bono's lyrics, inspired by political and world events, are also deliberate and done incredibly artfully, as if writing a poem. This album caught my attention and didn't let go until it was finished. Every song was strongly written, sung, and performed. This has definitely inspired me to dig further into U2's discography.

Hard to think of an album with a stronger opening three songs. This album turned U2 into global superstars and rightly so. It’s not just the anthemic Where the Streets have no name, Still haven’t found what I’m looking for or With or without you that make this such a good album, it is consistently excellent all the way through. Blues and Country influences add light and shade throughout as U2 tap into their American influences and the result is a near flawless record with some epic track that have more than stood the test of time.

Amazing, not listened to this in a very long time. Forgot how brilliant U2 are, when they are just being brilliant. I was back in the car with my Dad listening to this on cassette during the drive to school.

Greatest three-song stretch opener of all time. These songs are loud and orchestral, carrying New Wave into a more alt rock direction in the late 80s. This is an album hard for me to describe why it deserves all 5 stars, but it's intelligent and hardly possesses any negative characteristics. Between the lyrics and choice of instruments like the harmonica, the songs reflect strongly of American folk culture, speaking of the vast open space and American ideals. The gospel-like orchestral sound puts you in that environment, feeling insignificant yet open to opportunities. Did I mention Eno helped produce this piece? Explains a lot considering he invented the ambient genre. There is hope and optimism in these songs (also religiously influenced). This is U2's most impressive record yet and got me into plenty of their singles.

Hard to think of an album with a stronger opening three songs. This album turned U2 into global superstars and rightly so. It’s not just the anthemic Where the Streets have no name, Still haven’t found what I’m looking for or With or without you that make this such a good album, it is consistently excellent all the way through. Blues and Country influences add light and shade throughout as U2 tap into their American influences and the result is a near flawless record with some epic track that have more than stood the test of time.

Awful, like Phil Collins all the songs have completely rounded edges, anything interesting is sanitised for mass appeal. Anything that seems like it might be worth listening to is repeated for ages until you forget how it could have been interested in the first place. With or without you is the best track and it's terrible.

It’s been said that Elvis died musically when he reported for duty after receiving his draft notice. U2 died musically with Joshua Tree. The rating is not based on the music which is better than my rating. It’s a 1 because it marked the death of an excellent band’s music and how big of a letdown that was. Their first album Boy came when exciting music was staring to make its way to Sudbury. I expect MG procured Boy since I recall having it on cassette. I stayed a U2 fan for their first three albums picking up what I could on cassette. I saw WAR on release in the local record store, bought it on the spot and it was my favourite album. I was a big U2 fan. They were getting better known and their music kept getting better. They had a hard driving original sound, were exploring new areas, playing w passion and had an original and provocative sound. WAR was better than prior albums and they were on an insanely good trajectory. I could only dream about what might come next. Spoiler Alert Then came Joshua Tree. They simply followed what worked on WAR. They died musically. I think they realized this and tried to get back on the trajectory but never did. The ship had sailed. Of course the record buying public rewarded them which didn’t help. Its hard not to think of Joshua Tree when I hear the song American Pie.

The best album opening ever and one of the best albums ever made; should be played through high-quality speakers for maximum effect...

I struggle to think of a better opening three tracks of any other album - it’s quite something and nearly 35 years later the 3 tracks remain as iconic as ever. The rest of the album can’t cope to keep up but still holds some of U2’s best work by a distance. I debated a four but felt I would be doing this album a disservice so I listened again - it’s gets the five it deserves

Classic U2 album. Probably their best with some of their most well-known and best loved songs. Probably a band at their peak on this.

Love

Well shit I love this album. Second half cannot keep up with the galactic speed of the first but that is only because the first three songs left the world breathless. “Running to Stand Still” remains in my list of top 10 songs of all time.

One of the great albums of all time!

You can tell that U2 knew what album they wanted to make, and they succeeded on all fronts. All the singles are frontloaded but you never want to stop listening because every track could’ve been a single. Another example of albums as art.

I was going into this expecting to have a 5, I think I set myself up for disappointment. This is an amazing album, the first half being my favorites. After the half way point, however, I became less interested and impressed. A bit too similar in the later half. Standouts: Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, With Or Without You, Bullet The Blue Sky, and Red Hill Mining Town.

Starts off incredibly strong. It’s such a strong start that you might think to yourself, “are U2 going to defy the odds and pull off a perfect record?”, but it gradually falls off, song by song, and becomes evident that Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois’ production is doing a fair amount of heavy lifting on this record.

Some of the tracks on the second half of this album are a bit boring/naff but the first 4-5 really make up for it. Bullet the Blue Sky is slammin'

Joshua Tree? More like Jogging in Circles. 'Running to Stand Still' made me squirm—like, Bono, we get it, you're emotional, but why is he breathing so loud? Did someone forget to bring an inhaler to the recording session? Best tracks? Definitely 'Bullet the Blue Sky,' 'Exit,' and 'Mothers of the Disappeared'—at least there’s some edge there (pun intended). But overall? Yeah, it's kinda like being lectured by that one guy at the bar who really wants you to know how deep he is. Overrated? U(get)2. 2/5.

I am not too excited for today's album; I've been known to traditionally not like U2's music. I have never, however, sat down and listened to a full album of theirs either, so we will see how this goes. Right off the bat, three of their "hits" play back to back: Where the Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, and With or Without You. I am familiar with these songs, and don't particularly like any of them. It may be because radio stations have literally played them to death, or it may be the ethereal, slow, elevator music-esque atmosphere that all of their songs have, but I just don't like the music, I don't have a reason why. Also, a minute passes before anything happens in Where the Streets Have No Name for some reason. Bono's try-hard, angst filled vocal delivery is just grating. Leave it to Bono to not look at the camera for the album cover photo. He probably saw a koala in distress. What a tool. I think my favourite story about Bono is that one time, Shane McGowan (lead singer of the Pogues) was crashing with Bono for a time. Bono's house was quite handy to a busy railroad. Droves of people went by on the train every day to see Shane flapping his cock at them in the window of Bono's home, unbeknownst to Bono. Bono got the blame, and promptly kicked Shane out. Overall, this is bland Walmart rock. I just don't like U2. I will never listen again if I can help it. Favorite songs: Bullet the Blue Sky, Trip Through Your Wires (the little bit of energy this album has is during these two songs) Least favorite songs: the whole beige, bland album. 2/5

Still one of the greatest running starts to an album, first four tracks are brilliant and peak U2. The rest of the album holds up well too, in mu opinion.

Wow, the first three songs are back to back bangers. I’ll never not like Where the streets have no name with its subtle start from nothing to that great guitar line. Didn’t know the rest of the songs but enjoyed what I heard. Atmospheric sounds and nice rising melodies. Doesn’t sound like it’s from the 80s. 5* Highlights: where the streets have no name, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, with or without you

A foundational favorite, even far into the depths of hipsterdom the following decade and beyond. It does take itself a bit seriously (e.g., "Bullet The Blue Sky", the coda of "One Tree Hill") but fair enough, the tunes are more than sufficient to carry the weight of the ego (I even made a pilgrimage up the latter while in Auckland and, of course, have visited Zabriskie Point). Caused a spirited debate amongst my kids whether "Where The Streets Have No Name" is grammatically correct, and if "Running To Stand Still" is a stupid expression, so thanks for that Bongo. If you like this, and you like "War", check out "The Unforgettable Fire"; it's basically the average of the two, a bit more new wave with limited Americana and Enofication, epic soundscapes that are a bit rougher around the edges. I can't hide from my unfashionable tastes on this website - yes, I really do like U2 and The Doors, let's see who crawls out of the woodwork next..

I was in a pub once and I heard these two Irish voices behind me saying ‘I’ll have a pint of Guinness’, I turned round and it was Bono and his mate The Edge. Bono looked at me and said ‘Alright mate?’ and I said ‘Oh no, not YOU TWO again!’. Anyway we all laughed and I told that while I’m no U2 super fan, this is a perfect album. I asked him why he was wearing sunglasses indoors but I don’t think he heard me because he started talking about something else.

Classic. Nostalgic.

This one is easy, all time favourite of mine, there is only one song I usually skip, if I am in the mood, everything else is basically perfect.

The Joshua Tree by U2 (1987) The American spy plane with the designation “U-2” is an instrument of war designed to peer surreptitiously (from 70,000 feet) into things the enemy doesn’t want you to see. As the name of an Irish rock band, U2 is potently and multi-valently symbolic of what they’re trying to do. From the high altitude of their aesthetic perception, they endeavor to make these things seen by ‘you too’. And boy, do they succeed. When I first listened to this album at the time of its 1987 release, I concluded immediately that it was one of the greatest recordings I had ever heard. My judgment hasn’t changed in 34 years. Lead singer/lyricist Bono’s words stand as poetry on their own. Technical innovation by guitarist The Edge more than compensates for any deficiency in virtuosity. Adam Clayton on bass and Larry Mullen, Jr. on drums/percussion together provide a rhythm section that goes far beyond foundation, making compositional contributions that round out the near-symphonic sound. And Bono’s vocal delivery is infused with passion, sincerity, dynamism, and color. When one focuses all this Irish talent toward a not-so-surreptitious gaze at “God’s Country” (that would be the USA), guided by producer Brian Eno, the result is high art. What makes the sound so great on this record is the subtle use of silence. It creates distance, scope, and room for the reverberations and echoes. The Edge finds a way to make a guitar sound like chimes, church-bells, and pipe organ, all of which require sonic space. And Eno gives us plenty of it. Longing for a transcendence that leaves linguistic tags behind, the first-person opening track (“Where the Streets Have No Name”) summons the listener to join in an adventure of seeing—together. “When I go there I go there with you .” It’s part of what makes us human. But we’ve not yet seen clearly (“I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”), even if we’ve gazed intently into the Paschal Mystery. There are lots of angels and demons on this trip, helping us to see what some say ain’t even there. Plenty of metaphysical strife. And we’re caught right up in it. The beginning of the bridge at (1:47) on “With Or Without You” produces a shiver, as even the first-time listener knows what’s coming. And the gradual buildup in the dirge for a junkie “Running to Stand Still” (2:14 to 3:04) resolving in the hushed climax is powerfully poignant. Bono’s wailing lead vocal on the chorus of “Red Hill Mining Town” leaves one cold. And the screaming lament over Chilean singer/songwriter Victor Jara (at 4:09 on “One Tree Hill”) fires our passions. Jara was one of the “poets [who] speak their heart then bleed for it” (actually the bleeding wasn’t the worst part—he was tortured before being shot). These are musical moments of naked drama. And there are so many more on this record. How many tears ya got? In terms of socio-political outlook, this album gives unreconstructed Reaganites something to think about whenever America considers the use of lethal force to confront undoubted evils in places like Nicaragua and El Salvador (“Bullet the Blue Sky”, “Mothers of the Disappeared”). While such force may have produced measurable gains for good in Berlin, Moscow, Warsaw, and Prague, what would be the effect in Kosovo, Baghdad, and Kabul? And what lessons can be applied today in response to injustices in Xingjian and Addis Ababa? Do we “stoop so low” in order to “reach so high”? One should always listen to this record immediately after reading George W. Bush’s Second Inaugural Address. Because of The Joshua Tree, this U2 will persistently be there to help us see the innocent human element and “hear their heartbeat” (in “Mothers of the Disappeared”), even if the enemy prefers we look (and listen) elsewhere. This not just great music. It is has a cultural, political, and spiritual potency that gives voice to the world-soul. 5/5

Great album

Not much to say, really.

don't LOVE U2 but this album is pretty damn good

a classic

Gran disco, la verdad. Quizá hoy en día, U2 ha perdido vigencia, pero sin duda, tuvieron lo suyo. No sé bien cómo explicarlo, pero creo que es un álbum grandilocuente: en su conjunto, las melodías con las letras, la voz de Bono, tranquila en ocasiones, en otras, más bien hasta desgarradora. Creo que todas las canciones me gustan, la triada del principio está muy bien, pero quizá mi fav esta vez sea "Mothers of the Disappeared". Un cierre genial. Finalmente, un pensamiento random: ¿le debe mucho Muse —con sus atributos y carencias— a U2? 9.5/10.

Un classique. Le debut est incroya le 5*

Incredible. Epic. Interesting. Lyrically diverse. An all time classic.

A perfect classic.

There is literally nothing I can say about this album that has not been said by thousands of other Irish. It's a national heritage at this stage. It should be on a podium in Dublin Airport, and it probably is. Bono is still a gobshite though.

Easy to listen to with some iconic songs on here - much better than most of the drivel on this list.

Really starts off with a trio of bangers. The influence this album has is readily apparent. Sometimes it can be hard to view a work of art separate from the art it has influenced. It is hard to view a work alone and not think of the many pieces it has gone on to influence. Sometimes a work of art might not stand the test of time on its own but rather as a piece of all it helped create. I think this album is not that. I think it does stand on its own. I might like some of the music is inspired more, but I liked this quite a bit.

U2 really did a disservice to themselves by arranging the track list the way they did. The first 16 minutes of this album are literally perfect. The rest of the album is really great. But I felt like I was waiting for there to be another song that matched the high of the first 3 tracks, but it never came. Still really enjoyable, for sure.

And on the first day Bono said, Eno, make me sound like God. I wrote that on Friday, and on Sunday night I can’t remember where I was going for that. This is a very good record, front-loaded but never less than bold.

where the streets have no name is an incredible way to start the album and really leans into that moody 80s post punk which is a genre i really love. I still haven't found what ive been looking for and with or without you continued the trend of awesome fucking songs. the rest of the album couldnt really compare to the first three tracks but honestly thats fine: it was all enjoyable

This still stands up after all these years.

Great album, great band. This album touches all genres, rock, gospel, etc. Fantastic album. Alway a pleasure to listen to.

Nice music. Not a song on the album that I didn't like the sound of. Easy listening. Pretty hard to believe that some songs on the albums have so much more plays than the others. There's a lot of people who are probably missing out on some good songs because they all just listen to that one track.

listened before, makes me think of mom (surprise surprise), love that bono is a man with Feeling (tm)

Never been a huge U2 fan. Not bad, but pretty generic and samey sounding.

I do not love U2 and would go so far to say that they get a big eye roll from me, but I like the more muted rock from this album compared to their hits from the aughts.

U2 sucks. Which is probably just how Gen Xers feel about sixties and seventies rock. We all want to burn down what came before. Can’t understand how this is a totemic album if the eighties. Because the rest is so much worse? The hits are good but repetitive. I probably would have loved it if I were born in 1970 and 17 when this came out. Alas, I wasn’t, and I don’t. Bono’s carefully triangulated liberal Irish Catholicism - I wanna drink with my lefty friends but not offend the pope or Reagan, challenge them, convict their hearts for Jesus! but not offend - is exhausting. As is his keening wail. As is his self indulgence. And that thumping rhythm that a hundred bands drove to death - looking at you, Coldplay. Like all these albums, maybe great for someone sometime. Now a period piece curiosity at best. I’ve found what I’m looking for, elsewhere.

More confused than ever at how popular U2 are, especially this record. It’s not terrible. They arent terrible. But it isnt great either. Hated the first 3 songs - each one sounded tiresome and strained. Like theyd found a catchy hook and wanted to drag it out over and over and over. But then Bullet the Blue Sky came on which has a totally different sound. Almost Nick Cave at times in terms of the vocals. I’d go as far as saying the non-singles are what saves this album. Enjoyed Bullet the Blue Sky, In Gods Country, One Tree Hill, and Exit. None are amazing, but decent enough. Seems to me that when they arent striving to write a stadium rock song they aren’t too shabby. Either way, I wont be returning to this. It’s ok. Nout special. Dont get the hype. 2.5

Kinda begrudgingly didn't mind this. Much better than achtung baby that we've had previously, but mostly because I knew the hits on this album. Still not a u2 fan and I don't think I ever will be, but didn't dislike it like I thought I would. It's still all just so safe and dull though. Nothing remotely exciting here either With or without you is probably the best track, although not sure I would be bothered if I never heard it again.... They also look like knobs on the album cover 2.5, I enjoyed Alanis more so this is getting 2

It’s wild to me that the wiki page said this was a push for a harder hitting sound. As someone who hasn’t heard a U2 album before this, I can only imagine their previous albums were marketed as sleep aids. Everything is so soft and rounded off like the album was childproofed. Truly one of the albums of all time.

I knew one or two of these songs already. This album was not bad by any means, but I didn’t find it particularly interesting. It’s not something I would choose to listen to again.

Tried to get through it a couple of times, it just doesn't work for me. The calculating earnestness of their influences and output is very disingenuous, always has been. They're copyists rather than innovators - music for people without ambition or imagination. Some of their music is magical, but even that is lost in the face of the zealotry of their believers. The Manchester United of music

Gone back for a listen … No surprises, nothing intriguing hiding inside, never really a fan Just leaves me a bit cold to be honest …

This list has made me re examine a few huge rock albums which I have always written off as trite and I now love. This was not the case here. They have taken all the elemnts of post punk and ambient pioneers and just made it all so incredibly boring. Even the involvment of the great Brian Eno couldn't save them from devolving on every song into the same pseudo ambient shimmering guitar and Bono droning in exactly the same tone on every track. Fair enough they have fit on a formula and it works but wheres the variety? Apparntly their previous album was much more experimental. I'll check that one out instead.

It's like if 9/11 was an album

Listening to this album feels like I'm trapped in an MC Escher painting on a never ending staircase. Every song feels like it's building to a crescendo that never happens.

i genuinely do not understand the hype behind U2. how they have managed to cling onto relevancy is beyond me. album comes across as whiny and drab. entirely doleful. genuinely a hard 45 mins to sit through.

The first three tracks can easily be the most overplayed first three songs on a album of all time. Horrendous stuff. I almost turned this record off. Why did bullet in the sky get no play? Wow the rest of the album is really bad. If the next few out of these 1001 also bomb I probably won't continue to weed through this mediocrity. 1 outta 5 mics

I try to ignore my previous feelings about bands and artists and this was particularly hard for me. I hated U2 cos my elder sister and her chums loved them, as an angry adolescent I wanted to find my own thing and so shut them out. a crazy attitude as my sister is an awesome person with great taste in music, but that's hormones for you. still relistening with an open mind I find it's pretty shit. over produced, concieted annoying metaphors and just really dull. I tried to like those first three songs so universally played and enjoyed but they left me cold. it just total arse.

I want to punch Bono in his stupid little face

whats the difference between jesus and Bonio? Jesus doesn't think he's Bonio. musically this is actually fairly enjoyable but its dominated by the wailings of one of the biggest cunts going. an instrumental version of this album would be pretty good, but as it is its really diffuicult to get past the noises coming out of the egotistical, narcissistic self anointed uber cunt. i used to think the hedge was a cunt too, but i've got a bit more respect for his playing now i've endured an albums worth of Bonio.

U2 are a steaming pile of shit. The Joshua Tree hates the fact they named this album after it. Anyone named Joshua is hugely ashamed of any connections to this. All trees are thoroughly embarrassed too.

Ew

U2 suck.

Gross, U2 is the worst

U2 is the worst thing to happen to music - and I still have that other albums on my iTunes 😂

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was surprised that this came out in 1987. Many hits that I haven't listened to in awhile. I like U2 as long as it's on my terms. Don't put them on my cell phone without my permission.

If there's an easier 5 to be given, I don't know about it. I remember driving through Death Valley National Park, fighting back tears at my gratitude of where I was and who I was with. It's a biting commentary of what America thinks it is, and what America actually is, and a love letter to the tension between the two. It might be my favourite album EVER.

4,7/5

Say what you like, but this is a classic

Still love this album as much as the first time I heard it. Part of my university days memories.

A classic

This has an insane track run massive influence and one my dad would play in the car growing up and definitely influenced my music taste

If you can get over the endless epicness.......

god bullet the blue sky is so fucking good... rest of the album is great too

Where the Streets Have No Name: Such a great song, love everything about it I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: Amazing song, one of my top songs of all time, love the Christian connections With or Without You: Amazing, I don't what else to say Bullet the Blue Sky: Heavier, love the drums, I could see this being Roland Running to Stand Still: Another banger, beginning is a little weird Red Hill Mining Town: Decent In God's Country: Oh yeah, banger Trip Through Your Wires: Ehh, sounds too folky One Tree Hill: Love the tropical sound Exit: More heavy, which is a good thing, don't love how it slows down Mothers of the Disappeared: Very mellow I seriously don't think there's a better first 3 tracks of an album, absolutely amazing album Best Song: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Worst Song: Trip Through Your Wires New Song I Liked: Either In God's Country or One Tree Hill

One of my favs of all time.

Really good album

Having only really heard 'Beautiful Day' on countless Match of the Day end credit goal highlight sequences, my only other experiences with U2 have been watching a live performance on BBC 2 from the 80s when they shared a stage with Stiff Little Fingers before U2 got big; listening to my dad's copy of the live album they did which has the orange cover with Bono in a silhouette on tape; and my dad showing me the Las Vegas sphere live experience thing they did fairly recently. This is the first time I've properly listened to one of their albums. Firstly, I'm blown away by how many bands that came after who must've been influenced them. I can hear James, The Alarm (obviously to any Alarm fans reading (Mike Peters R.I.P)) and even some Big Thief-esque vocals in there, plus other big artists such as Coldplay, The Killers etc. Basically, I think anyone who wanted to take stadium rock seriously (i.e. not hair metal Bon Jovi types) post 00s would've probably gone to see U2 in the 80s/early 90s. Being of the inclenation to not pay more than £25 for a ticket to see someone live, with the hope that I can see more bands and redistribute my wealth (this rarely happens - I don't see enough live music !), I have only just started seeing Big Bands live over the last year (e.g. Foo Fighters, err Texas and err Kaiser Chiefs - with two of those being gifted as free tickets anyway). But this album would make me want to see U2 live. I am not quite sure what to think of this album. Is it a 4 because it's obviously very good, made incredibly well, still sounds fresh, probably could've only been made in the desert at that time, but I am not in love with it? Or is it a guilty pleasure 5 as I may not listen to this again unless I am playing the album in full on a record player, alone in my room, while the light slowly dies and day turns into night? It is special, but it is hard to tell if I love the songs enough to fully commit 100%. I am going to have to listen to it in the car on the way home from work to see if I still enjoy it or if it fully grates on me. Part 2: I think this album is the pinnacle of it's genre (Irish(/American) Christian rock). It's difficult to summise what makes this album so great; I don't even particularly like any one song, and I couldn't have told you that the first 3 songs were the singles. I read somewhere that the band wanted this album to be a bit like a film, and I can see that. I think it is an 'album' in the truest sense of the word. Having listened to a lot of albums for this project so far, rarely do I find a choice more than some songs, sort of put together, in some semblance of coherence. Maybe it's just the 15,000 pedals The Edge uses to make that reverb-y tremolo sound, but more than most there is no real duff sound in the album to my ears. Often I will like an album for some of the songs, with some clangers, leading to an uneven journey through; other times I understand why it is regarded as an all-time classic, yet just not 'get' some of the actual songs themselves. This album, I don't particularly 'love' any of it, but I think it just works so well it has to be a 5. It sort of sounds timeless (probably because bands still sound like this now) and the many subsequent imitators (U2 included) create a faux sense of feeling that I think this just about gets away with; with 'The Joshua Tree' actually being earnest, and not solely to satisfy the tastes of the mainstream. Sadly this has led to the death of many an interesting rock band becoming big, and a lot of the shite pop-rock today (Coldplay, basically any other all-male 4 piece since the 90s) but basing my review wholly on the piece of art itself, I guess it'll have to be a 5. Great stuff.

Classic

Favorite album of all time.

Killer

U2 is kind of a joke now, it’s nice to remember when people took them seriously.

Masterpiece!!

Another all time favorite and a reminder of younger days

Klassiker.