The Joshua Tree

"I hate U2..." "You too?" "That's what I said."

Really good chill album for background music, but nothing really sticks to my brain.

For me it was only about the hits

I don't really mind U2, but there are a few things that make this album not a great album to me. First of all it's the production. The echo, background synth orchestration, extra choir in songs like Red Hill Mining Town really take away from the songs. Secondly, the album drops off after the first four songs. After the absolute highlight of this album (Bullet The Blue Sky) the album becomes a bit forgettable, with the exception of One Tree Hill It's really not bad, but also not great and I've never really understood the U2 fans' reverence for this album.

like some of the hits but generally not my jam

Not very interesting to me

It was fine. I've heard most of these songs before but I can't say that I understand the appeal.

A couple high points, but overall, nothing that made me feel strongly.

Maybe a 3 is a bit unfair, but I know this is not an album I’ll return to. The famous songs are good but the rest just don’t really hit for me

Rating: 6/10 Best songs: With or without you

The first three tracks are hard to argue with unless you already hate U2. I mean, Bono is an acquired taste. Probably less back then than now. But anyway, the first three songs are very strong. And if the rest of the album could've kept up that pace, it would be a five-star album. 'Where the Streets Have No Name' sets a scene that the rest of the album doesn't quite live up to. They do stay in their bucket the whole time - there's not a late album polka or anything. And 'In God's Country' is a nice little boost toward the end there. Through, there's the jangly U2 sound that lets you know who you're listening to, and that's comforting for some reason. So - it starts strong, it fades into nice background. Three stars.

B 5/10 A 4/10 toujours pareil

U2. Every song sounded similar. Had it on in the background and was a nice listen but wasnt fully concentrating on the music so cant pick out particular songs except one tree hill sounds alright as im typing this

Really tricky to listen to U2 objectively for me these days, ever since the now infamous iTunes incident. This is a stonking album which opens with some stone cold anthems, but for me I prefer Achtung Baby and Zooropa as complete albums.

Better than expected

There are a couple of really great songs. Classics, now. But I've never really been a fan of this band. I like their hits but have never owned an album and never liked anything outside of their hits.

Was expecting a lot more from this than I got. A really strong start with those first three tracks, but even those are a bit elongated and could've done with shaving off a minute apiece. The rest is just a bit dull. Middle of the range 3, really all because of the beginning.

Songs for easy listening on a road trip while you're driving down a highway with the windows down. (Outside, it's America.) It has that old-school masculine energy that's compelling sometimes but a little melodramatic and tiring unless the atmosphere is right. Bruce Springsteen does it better. So does Simon & Garfunkel. I don't find the component parts of these songs (vocals, melodic line, percussion etc) too interesting but a few of the songs (With or Without You, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For) are memorable on their own outside the context of the album.

Not too bad, recognized a few of the songs. Lowkey has a worship vibe to it, but it’s nice.

This album is weird for me the first 4 songs are really good but the rest if the album is hit or miss and never really reaches the best parts of the first 4 songs.

I'll admit that I was a bit biased going into this with my feelings towards Bono and U2. Overall the first couple songs were really catchy but the rest of the album was just ok. I didn't hate listening to this as much as I had expected. I wouldn't add it to my regular rotation of music I listen to but I enjoyed the experience enough to maybe later down the line giving this another listen.

Kinda cool ngl

I have to admit the first half is pretty strong. Kinda falls off a bit though towards the end.

3.4 - not a huge U2 fan, but thought this was a solid album. Some classics on here - especially the first 3 tracks. Album tapers off a bit toward the end, but easy to see why this band and album were so big at the time.

Why are they all on one side of the album art? Why do they have two different songs about hills? First three songs are p good but then falls off after that (I wonder what this project would look like if you only rated the hits from each album)

Better than expected for U2. First half of the album was begrudginly good, the second half dragged a bit, but I understand why people enjoy so much. 3.5.

Hmmmmmm ok, love it, frst three songs are an absolute vibe. Heard them while cycling home from an unforgettable night. The album couldn't keep my attention though. 3

Salvo las tres conocidas, un poco rollo.

Partially slapped.

It opens with three of the biggest stadium rock anthems you could ask for, and the rest of the album just kind of happens

This is my second favorite U2 album, for me it starts very strong then it drags into the barely enjoyable… I actually think that my favorite songs by them are from albums which are not on this list, Stay and If God Will Send His Angels are great songs but it’s been a quarter of century since those, why is U2 still a thing?

3.5

Earnest and well-meaning in '87; pompous and self-important in '25. But give credit where credit it due. Fathomless self-belief alone produces this material. They ought to bottle it up and sell it.

I’m on a road trip right now and bored out of my mind so what better way to cure boredom than to listen to a whole new album? Sadly, this album didn't help cure my boredom since it's kinda boring itself. It sounded like what I imagine walking through an endless desert dying slowly of dehydration sounds like, mind nulling.

gangs of new york credit sequence trauma

Pretty good actually

J'ai écouté cet album perché sur la Tour Eiffel et croyez-le ou non, ça ne m'a pas empêché de confirmer mon hypothèse selon laquelle With Or Without You est une chanson surcôtée.

it was an announcement in 1987, now it has badly grown old

Great start to the album with 3 classics but it tails off in the middle before ending well.

starts strong but is ultimately weaker than some of their other albums 3.5

Good listen, will listen to some more U2 after this but the sound quality of the actual album felt tinny, wasn't a fan

This is pretty OK. Sorry I don't have anything more intelligent to say.

I am not a big U2 fan. There are 3 well known songs on this album and they are all at the beginning. The rest of the album is just ok. I still would not say I would listen to this whole album again but it is better than some.

Seriously? Wow. This album is GOOD. I've never listened to it in its entirety. And WTSHNN as an opening track?? WTF. Tho I'm not a U2 fan, I'd lisiten to this again.

Ugh. I should hate this more than I do according to, "people" but fuck them, it's got some catchy ones. This album is very middle of the road 2pm traffic updates coming next. It's sponge cake with decent jam; the excitement of junk mail when you've been at home too long; that clean numb feeling of strange teeth after the dentist's given you a really full-on polish; the smell of opening a jar of Asda's own brand instant; landscapes you don't remember in the family photo album; the back of the head of the person next in queue which is the twin for your presumably long dead school teacher's pate.

My natural, intrinsic hatred of Bono will have to be put aside here. Not least because the first three songs are all brilliant - I can't deny reality here. Where the Streets Have No Name, Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For and With or Without You are all canon. The run couldn't be endless though. Thankfully Bullet the Blue Sky is the sort of bland Yankophilia that defines everything wrong about U2, and would define their output after about 1995. Running to Stand Still is pleasant but slight. It then chugs along, not overly excitingly. The last few tracks have a dark, moody feel to them, but I'd be hard pressed to remember much about the back end of this album. On the first three tracks, this'd be a five star album. On everything hence, two stars. I'm rounding down, cos there's more of the latter than the former.

Ça part (vraiment !) en force avec les 4 premières chansons, mais ça drop de plus en plus après. Mais ça reprend bien avec les deux dernières.

норм

Beginning of the end for U2 imo. The transition from alternative to stadium rockers is apparent here, and whilst they got bigger from here this was the last i3 album I enjoyed.

Great album

I see the appeal, the first half of songs being very catchy, strong 3

The songs are decent, just don’t do anything for me

had a negative image about U2 due to their later work. didn't hate this, but also wouldn't go out of my way to listen again despite some pretty nice tunes

The big songs are big and very good

I can see why they were so popular. It's a little like if the Andriod default music got a little more exciting, though

It's okay but a lot of it just sounds like generic rock music? I don't really get the hype

Rating this one higher than expected for how modern it sounds and how gracefully it has aged. The band still may be riding the success of being the first outfit to use a delay pedal on every song, but the compositions, productions, and rare 80s tendency not to overindulge in dated synths makes it seem at least some of that success was warranted.

Some good songs, some schlocky schlock.

A few good songs ("Bullet in the Blue Sky", "In God's Country", "Trip Through Your Wires"), but as an album not memorable.

It's not bad, it's more or less a pass for me. Couple of bangers on here. It's a cool atmospheric album. But I can never figure out if I like Bonos voice or not.

First time I listened to the full album... These guys might go places

Good at first but the end let me down.

First 3 songs are huge, not a fan of U2 but this is a great album. Can see why it’s on the list, the impact it had on U2 and music at the time.

Good

Full of week known hits. Not my cup of tea but I liked it

Classic.

The first half of the album I have heard before and have loved for years, the rest was far less memorable.

Kinda had some soothing rap vibes, not all of it was my jam. Interesting black experience dialogue though.

Anthemic stadium rock. Sounds like contemporary worship music, although that's not U2's fault. Very front-loaded album. Split up the hits, kids!

some meh, some ok

OK couple of songs I heard before, but forgot about.

Started well but tailed off

pretty good album but not really for me i can appreciate it contextually, it’s an impressive show for something from the 80s i don’t know, maybe I should listen to it again, but off a first impression I’ll give it a 6/10

It's good, it's atmospheric, it's well produced. Some cracking songs, some filler.

they're cool and evocative, but I was a little bored tbh.

Personalmente no es de mi gusto, demasiado pop. Algunas buenas melodías

Melancholy

First of the album is all the big hits, with that jangly guitar / ephemeral U2 sound, and of course Bono's pipes. Polished and skillful, but not my style. Greatly preferred Bullet the Blue Sky.

It's a fine album though a little over-rated. The production is overly dark with the guitars buried, perhaps even dated sounding. But the songs are pretty good though, again over-rated and over played. A pretty enjoyable listen though. 3 5 🌟

Too poppy

Quite boring. Except song 3 and 4. But like bullet better on r&h. Some songs even painfull to hear.... the torture of bono's voice..... Maybe i need high quality speakers.... 3 because i liked it in the past.

This album has some great hits but the latter half of the album isn’t anything special. Feels like it attempts to be better than it is. Overall it’s above average though. 6.6/10

It didn’t age as well as I expected….

An amazing opening with three fantastic tracks back to back. The remainder is just a tad samey and unremarkable. Solidified my belief that U2 are one of the most overrated bands in the world.

pretty nice

I still don’t get the popularity behind U2 but it was an interesting album nontheless!

4 great opening songs in a row "Through the storm, we reach the shore You give it all but I want more" Great song, used perfectly in friends lots of religious references throughout the album is running to stand still about dublin/heroin? u2 at this time are one of the best examples of a band which are better than the sum of their parts no disrespect to them individually Brian eno is a genius this is a strong 3 possibly a 4 but very front heavy with first 4 tracks and then a bit tedious in parts

solido 8/10

For me it's a 3.5/5, but it leans more towards a 3/5, than a 4/5, if you know what I mean.

A classic of course. Nice way to start my day.

It's U2.

Lush instrumentation with some brilliantly written songs. However, quite a few of the deeper cuts fell flat for me.

Starts off great with the four hits that got tons of airplay. If I rate as an album, not that great.

some songs I already knew very calm songs, but nice to listen to

Opening salvo of 'Where The Streets Have No Name', 'I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For' and 'With Or Without You' is as good a start to an album as any. The rest of the record doesn't quite live up to that opening but still chugs along nicely, nailing it’s anthemic, stadium filling rock brief. Meanwhile, Coldplay called and said thanks for the inspo.

Tricky 3 or 4 Good album on the whole. Flows really well. One tree hill is a stand out track.

Good album, lotta songs I forgot about

Honestly more boring than i expected. The opener is great though.

É bom, tem algumas das melhores músicas deles.

Did you ever notice how "Where the Streets Have No Name" kind of lifts its intro build-up from "Pinball Wizard"? Solid pop crossover record. As Tim put it well, this signified the end of one era for U2 and the beginning of one full of mainstream success that often blunted their more insurgent, early sensibilities. This album ushers in an era that produced some of the best and some of their most cringe-inducing music, but it's hard to hold that against this record in particular, because it's altogether well-done, if not a little too well-done. Favourite track: "With or Without You"

U2 sounds like a bank commercial.

Bij U2 erger ik me soms hoe geforceerd het gezang van Bono soms klinkt. Ook nu merk ik dezelfde frustratie hier in op. Goeie nummers, dat wel

You know, not a big U2 fan but this album does have like all of their hits. It’s a good album with good songs, I just am not a huge fan of the U2 sound.

Mit ungefähr 17 hab ich mir mal ein T-Shirt gekauft, per Sammelbestellung beim Frontline-Mailorder, darauf stand sehr groß "KILL BONO", garniert mit einem Revolver. Fand ich eine sehr witzige Idee und hatte ungefähr 3 Wochen lang viel Spaß dran. Als das Shirt dann ankam hatte sich der Gag irgendwie schon totgelaufen und ich hab's eigentlich nie angezogen. Weiß gar nicht wo das gelandet ist; wahrscheinlich hat meine Mutter es heimlich weggeworfen weil schlimm. Was ich nur sagen wollte: U2 war damals die Musik der Leute von denen man sich abgrenzen musste; nicht die ganz großen Arschlöcher zwar, aber beschränkt, uncool, dorfig. Hab das Album also nie gehört. Jetzt mit 35 Jahren Abstand: was ist das für ein Move, die Platte mit 3 der größten Singles der 80er Jahre anzufangen, wer kommt denn auf sowas? Und vor allem: was soll denn kommen, nach sowas? Zentrales Problem scheint mir zu sein, dass die Latte so hoch liegt und das The-Edge-Denkmal aus so festem Granit gehauen, dass alles dahinter wie Filler wirkt. Mir entsteht der Eindruck, dass Pathos und Emphase der zentrale USP von U2 sind: wo Eno und Lanois diese großflächig draufgekleistert haben, bekommen wir Welthits, nehmen sie es zurück, sind die Songs bisschen Durchschnitt - und Bonos Stimme nervt dann doch zu sehr. Fazit: ich würde mir das T-Shirt nicht mehr bestellen, bereue aber nichts.

It’s Interesting how polarizing this band is. Their musicianship is good, the production by Daniel Lanois and Brian Eno is certainly good but after hearing the singles from this album for the gazillionth time and Bono acting like a douche I’ve put up a mental wall against them. But I’m trying to be objective here in rating this album so I’ll bump it up to a 3.

Surprisingly good

Starts off powerfully, but wanders off toward the end. 3.5

Decent classic rock. First three songs are by far the best songs. 7/10

Not a big U2 fan but this song has a ton of well known hits and was honestly better than I remembered.

Good old U2, with those tunes that have permeated pop culture. An enjoyable listening experience but not much out of the ordinary

Great album, classic sound and songwriting by U2. Always a great listen and takes me back to when it was released. Still holds up as great album years later.

This has some real belters on it that know how naff they are and they just don’t care. Sadly the whole things falls off a cliff in the middle RIP

Kinda pop-ish, but not bad

Such a famous album. I totally see the appeal, it’s just not my style. The songs are catchy, but at the same time don’t stick with me, if that makes any sense.

Some great songs and some duds. I don't have a problem with this album being on this list, but it's not stellar all the way through

It's a truly great album, but aside from the singles I really couldn't connect with it. It's very focused on America, obviously, and yeah pleasant but not mindblowing!

Lotta hits!

I get the appeal, just not for me

Generic at best 3

Recognize its status as a trend setter and U2's best work... but even this early hard to miss how so many songs sound the same. The first third of the album is the same song with a different chorus and The Edge being a dickhead on the guitar at a different tempo.

Some singles on this album that I had heard before but didn't know where they were from. Chill listen, some nice singles

Knew some of the bigger hit songs already. Good sound

I knew we eventually had to get to a U2 album. They are probably the blandest band I can think of but I'll give it a listen. After the 4th song there really is nothing there, just a bunch of filler. This band elicits zero emotion in me which I find very strange. Usually I have some type of emotion about a band either positive or negative, but this is like the saltine of bands for me. Zero emotion elicited and that freaks me out. Although I will admit that With Or Without You is a decent song. Definitely not a band for me. 2 stars for them creating music I don't hate.

Starts strong but then fizzles out. I remain unconvinced by U2 and think it’s a huge Gen X hallucination. That or I’m not Irish enough.

Ok. Gets tedious

When Bono discovered the power of the American dollar. Bland.

Voce insopportabile, scialbo

I've heard about U2 before... I honestly hope it's good Okay, one song in and I'm curious now.... MHMMMM, I think I've heard With Or Without You before... MHMMMMM 2, Bullet The Blue Sky sounds very good... Tbh I skipped the end of a few songs but Exit is not quite bad... Skipped the last one too because it was making me sleepy. KINDA DISAPPOINTED.

I really liked the lyrics but musically is really not my style

#415 / 1089 Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ This is about the time when U2 went to shit for me. I liked "War" and feel "The Unforgettable Fire" was a sidestep, but also led to "The Joshua Tree" and some of the new influences started to happen. Around the time "Rattle and Hum" came out I was still keeping up hopes that they'd do something I like, but by the time "Achtung Baby" was released I've had enough and haven't really followed their music since then. I was actually turned quite anti-U2 with the Apple/Ipod thing, that effin' release is still haunting some of my digital collections. hate to give 3/5, but feel 2/5 is not fair just because I don't like what they've done later.

Already knew several of these songs, but this time I listened to the whole album in one go. I find the vocals too whiny, and the songs seem to go on too long (had to skip some part way through).

There's a few songs on here that sound kind of huge and emotional. The others just kind of sound like dad rock in the worst way. I'm not really a fan of their deep cuts and don't really see the appeal. 5/10

First album of this endeavor, and a first proper listen to a band who I'm only aware of by ambiently taking them in via the radio etc. And while I do like some of the earlier singles I've heard, one of which is on this record, sadly it did not do it for me as a whole. I can't deny With or Without You and found myself enjoying Mothers of the Disappeared thinking that the album had ended and the algorithm had moved me on. Otherwise it's a real trudge that's not saved by two all-time greats producing. Also Bono looks a bit like my high school girlfriend in that photo.

Underwhelming 😢

big kings of leon vibe, I like the genre kind of like a slow electronic rock. Album started great, however got pretty unforgettable by the middle. Felt like so much and so little going on at the same time. Favourite song - bullet the blue sky

I'm just wondering why we all hate U2 so much now. I never used to, but Bono just seems like he is complaining in my ear. Is it because he is number two?

A droning babble about god knows what. Perfectly fine but it practically never caught my attention for its entirety of its fifty minutes, Exit being an exception.

Generelt blass, tafatt, kjedelig og uinspirerende

Couple decent tracks but it's still U2 and I still don't really like it.

deadass coldplay in een alternative universe i fear

A few good ones, especially early on. Boring towards the end though

This album a bit like a great value version of The Blue Nile. The stuff everyone's head already was fine, but the rest of the album sorta slid by without comment, most of it sounded like sims 3 menu music. Mothers Of The Disappeared was a nice way to end the album.

"In this presentation we'll break down our FY27 goals and the key role you play in helping us achieve them" ahh album

Was not a fan of the vocals, but the instrumental was pretty good, nothing crazy though.

It was ok. Not really my thing. Hate that one song with or without you.

Found it hard to get through this album. I understand it is an album that had a big impact, but I find it overly dramatic. Maybe you had to be there.

2.5

Messianic

Overrated as a group. Bono does not have a great voice.

Christ this is so boring. Every song sounds the exact same

Really not my favourite U2. This feels like a weird transition album - the classic vibe of War is gone, and the distortions and sonic experiments that would later make Achtung Baby so interesting aren't here yet. As a result, this just sounds like competent but forgettable radio pop-rock with weirdly out-of-place American themes. It's not a bad album, it just doesn't speak to me at all. The only song I liked is Exit, the rest left me indifferent. A very unnecessary addition to the list in my opinion. 4/10

Ну...Скучный рок. Типично для U2

NO WONDER HE CANT IT, THE STREETS NEED SOME DAMN NAMES!!

damn, this was zzz

Makes me want to listen to Echo and the Bunnymen. Not terrible. I probably would have thought it was great if I had heard it when it came out. But now it sounds to me like a Vonage commercial. I like With or Without You, one of the first songs I learned on the bass.

Album#4 ----------- 1) 3/5 2) 3.5/5 3) 3/5 4) 4/5 5) 3/5 6) 2.5/5 7) 2.5/5 8) 2/5 9) 2.5/5 10) 2/5 11) 2/5 ----------- This album is the first one that I found to be a chore to listen through. The first half is okay but that second half is so boring to listen to. Other than "Bullet the Blue Sky", there's nothing special here.

not u2

Kinda have to view this album as the three overplayed singles and everything else. The former are fine, but I really can't overstate the 'overplayed' part. The latter felt like filler filled with filler. Even with the singles, this feels like a 2 to me... and since I already gave U2 the benefit of the doubt with 'Achtung Baby', I won't be rounding up here.

Ugh, no

Oi! Gobshite! Shut the fuck up and let us hear the guitar!

I had a lit teacher in high school named Mr. Tucker. Now Mr. Tucker was generally a cool dude - he taught the classics like 1984, Brave New World etc and was probably in his early 50s at the time. Mr. Tucker was obsessed with U2. He was convinced they were geniuses and their work transcended those who listened to a higher plane. I would argue about how my angsty bands at the time were better (namely Tool and Porcupine Tree) but he would always come out on top. Listening to The Joshua Tree I could not help but come up with quips to arm my 16 year old self with: "the Coldplay of the 80s", "pop rock so soft it should only be played on the speakers of a Goodwill" etc etc. The thing is, no matter how hard bono yelps and that little guitar strums I just don't hear passion, nor a cause. I hear pandering dribble to numb the masses. Not for me. 1.7/5 -> 2/5

I don't like U2 Very much kinda generic car commercial music to me

Just a sound I have really grown tired of. Some singles are alright but in general I zzzz

With Or Without You //

It is fine. I have always thought Streets with no name, still haven't found, and with or without you are basically the same sounding song. And to put them front loaded as the first three tracks is quite the choice. Rest of the album is meh.

Sehr überraschend, dass U2 wie U2 klingt.

Fjottkjedelig.

Hørt på vakt søndag. Noen fine låter her. Men blir veldig fort lei av han Bono.

Put 3 massive bangers as the first 3 tracks, then provide absolutely nothing for the rest of the album. Best track: I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

This certainly is an album, it has songs, they have choruses and melodies. IDK its maybe the most forgettable thing Ive ever heard but that's not criminal. Not a great sign when the most positive thing I have to say is: I recognized some of those songs 2.5/5

a bit boring

America breaking album from the Irish lot

No conecto conmigo

First record we've had that I actually own. Can really visualise Bono and 'The Edge' just jamming figuring this out solemn faces earnestness. Using any surface they can find as drums in the making-of DVD extra montage. Eye contact and a smile because they know they've really got something here.

Meh

My first experience with U2 was the appearance of their album on my iTouch, and generally I've considered them a band that only middle aged dads listen to while working on a car. I won't say my opinion has been swayed much, but I did find The Joshua Tree to be an ok listen. The album kicks off with a great three song run and then peters out as it goes.

I just have a hard time caring about this.

Mid pop. Well assembled but kinda flat

I liked a few songs at the start of the album, which were the biggest hits from the album. But, after those songs the album didn't hit the same as I hoped. Rock genre definitely isnt for me, but I think Bono has a great voice and I liked some of the lyrics, but just not for me.

ok

has their only good song on it, so giving it a big respect 2 stars

mid

Great sounding album enjoying the textures and blend of instruments. I just feel that a lot of the songs sound a little similar, and towards the end of the album I can't remember which was which. They undeniably sound great though, it just misses that song separation for me

Look at us! We love America! We love Elvis! Edge - hold this spotlight on me while I vamp.

Don’t need to hear this again

Every time I start a new project, I’m given an album I dread and never even listen. Repeat this process about 7 times for a year. Only makes sense I’m given a U2 album for my new project, but this time I actually listened to all of it. I wasn’t wrong. So boring. I’m happy other people like this- I am anxiously awaiting however many U2 albums I will be given, and undoubtedly give 1 or 2 stars. I’ll give it a 2 because I finished it. I don’t need to hear these ambient guitar sounds anymore, or Bono’s insanely boring vocal style.

songs of yearning, with a huge, widescreen production - but I didn't find any connection with it

One of arena rock's insipid early offerings. Should make for fine elevator music in the near future. I imagine if a JC Penny catalog came with a soundtrack, this is it.

People love this album. I feel like it has been stomped into my brain so hard that it falls flat as shit now.

Jamais écouté avant. Un album compétent, très bien produit, mais parfaitement lisse, calibré et sans aspérités. Comme un super frigo design, c'est indéniablement bien fabriqué, mais c'est froid et ça ne procure aucune émotion. Top : Exit Flop : With or Without You

Даже не дослушала. Не цепляет. Спокойная музыка, без какой-либо изюминки. 3/10

Fist 3 songs are good then my goodness does the quality drop off a cliff.

Fine

I just can’t with U2

Meh. I remember liking this so much when it came out. It seems really dated now. Does not hold up well.

Meh

this was a hard listen for me, I’m not a big fan of U2 to begin with, especially Bono’s voice, and to see this album was 2 hours near enough, I wasn’t looking forward to it. It wasn’t all bad, I enjoyed a handful of song, for their instrumentation, like track 2, or silver and gold. But the majority of this album was really tiresome for me to get through, a slog. It’s down to personal taste really, their sound has never excited me, I can’t get into the dreary rock and roll. That being said, the band is talented, and the music was well done throughout, just not for me.

This one’s really boring, there’s like nothing going on. If you like this, suit yourself, but it’s just not doing anything for me. Everything just falls kind of flat for me. Most of these songs sound like old ringtones or bland commercials. Red Hill Mining Town is kinda good. In God’s Country sounds like an old Nokia ringtone at the beginning. I swear I’m not trying to be oh so different, but I hate the hits the most. No, hate is a strong word. It’s not like they are bad musically. They are boring. They don’t make me feel anything at all. They are all also kinda the same? I don’t understand why they became hits in the first place. The second half of the album is honestly more solid than the first. Still not great, but a bit better. I’m not saying you have to overcomplicate everything, but this album is so simple, just too simple. That makes it easy to garner a wider audience, I suppose. You can’t go wrong with simple.

Stinker

bono moaning all over this isnt for me. he sings like his voice is a guitar solo. Their best songs have interesting enough instrumentation that it feels like hes jockying for attention. the worst songs has the music way back and and is a bed for bono's wailing. RED HILL MINING, I'm looking at you. Bullet in the blue sky is kinda cool. there are some 3/4 songs on here but overall its a 2 listening experience for me as a whole

eh... idk im not really a fun of U2

I low-key feel like a 50 year old yearning white man. The songs get kinda repetetive

It’s not like I want to hate on U2; I thought I did but then I listened to War and I quite liked that album so that sort of changed my judgement of them. This album is just boring. Sure, the opening tracks are good but not really exciting or anything. The tracks that followed were very slow and didn’t grab my attention. I liked the outro of Exit, but the last track again didn’t do much for me.

maeh

I didn't realize that I would know so many of the songs from this album. So many of these remind me of the early 2000s and I enjoyed this album because of it. But, I feel the album was front loaded with the good songs. Favorites: Where The Streets Have No Name - classic song, love the opening guitar I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - I enjoy the vocals on this song With Or Without You - reminds me of The Office Running To Stand Still - enjoy the softness of this song

only tracks 3,4,5 standout, overall: 1.5/2

If given two words to describe this album, I think I’d go with “Relentlessly Boring”.

I know this is classed as a classic album, and I did singalong to the 1st 3 songs, but not really for me.

Wankers. 2 stars for Bullet the Blue Sky.

Average Album, Never heard it but the singles released. Pretty boring. Not a fan of U2. Tight band, solid, just boring.

Mid-tempo rockers. Always makes the safe decision. Production has filed off all the rough edges.

Cinematic & ethereal. A couple of “hits” on here, but the general vibe + Bono’s voice just doesn’t really do it for me.

Another one I just do not understand. One of the greatest albums of all time? Really? For who? Its so boring, what is appealing about this?

13/01/2026 1. where the streets have no name - initially, liking the summary of the themes from wikipedia, but not looking forward to the actual sound of u2 from what i've heard. liking the fade in.... organs are really nice. guitar kinda sounds like the end of a cheesy american high-school movie.... like it was meant to be used in the behind a crane shot. bass is real nice though:) don't know how i feel about the vocals..... he sings every single line very melodramatically. 2. i still haven't found what i'm looking for - not massive on the start... the lyrics are sweet though :) just a bit boring though.... generic mass-appeal love song. doesn't have the energy/newness/not blandness of someone like phil spector to carry it beyond. like the slide guitar at the end though 3. with or without you - still as bland as the previous song about halfway through. lyrics are getting a bit dramatic. melodramatic but without any energy in the music to back it up, just ends up falling flat. *4. bullet the blue sky - drums are nice... liking the guitar a lot more.... more screechy, less boring. bass is still great :) liking his vocals more in this one. the drama of his delivery actually suits the intensity of the music. like the lyrics more... very atmospheric... assuming this is about vietnam? us intervention in general? love the spoken bit in the bridge.... hoping the rest of the album is more like this!!!! 5. running to stand still - love the folksy, twangy guitar at the start. harmonica at the end? not incredible, but wouldn't complain if this one was on in the background... ending is really lovely. 6. red hill mining town - goin down t'pit?? like the bass :) his singing is really great in the chorus, love the guitar and the backing vocals as well. like how the intensity is building throughout. 7. in god's country - at the start, the guitar sounds exactly the same as the first song. like the guitar version of that one coldplay song in the nonce psa. bass is still great. getting better as it goes on though. liking the more screechy guitar towards the end. like the vocalising at the end. 8. trip through your wires - drumming is nice. harmonica again?? not complaining though. like the organ. alright. 9. one tree hill - immediately sounds more dated than the rest of the songs. bit stomp-clap. songs for supermarket shopping. his voice towards the end just sounds strained and annoying. 10. exit - bass is nice. like the more atmospheric feel of this one. 11. mothers of the disappeared - bass still great. like the softer sound.... ending is nice :) despite never having consciously listened to any u2 song ever (probably heard one in the background somewhere), i was not looking forward to this album because of their reputation as basically proto-coldplay. did like some of the lyrics, especially loved the biblical elements, but the music was just so generic. the only song i really enjoyed was bullet the blue sky, which i realllllly loved. might listen to their earlier albums in the hopes it's more like that song. the start and end of the album were a bit of a slog, only liked tracks four to seven. sounds more modern than 1987, but not that much and just dull to listen to! maybe i'm biased because of their bad reputation, but i wouldn't listen most of this album again.

J'ai beau avoir écouté toute la journée et aimer certains tubes de U2, là ça veut pas, c'est mélancolique, je n'arrive pas à dire ce qui me déplaît mais ça me donne envie d'écouter autre chose...

Boring, yawning, sloppy

الالحان جيده لكن مب جوي احس 4.5/10

muito chatinhoo, segui gostando só das mesmas (still haven’t found, with or without you). achei bullet the blue sky diferente, um rock mais pesado. engraçado que me apareceu no Twitter que esse álbum vinha automático nos produtos da Apple uns 10 anos atrás. que tortura

I actually enjoyed this far more than I was expecting to, although that comes from a position of knowing that I don't like U2. The album gets off to a really strong start, the first three songs had me reconsidering my opinion and perhaps finally understanding why U2 might be so popular. Unfortunately, the album peaks early and then swiftly descends into uninspiring, self indulgent fluff. I found myself cringing regularly through the last three quarters of the album. Its like American style stadium rock with the corresponding complete lack of self awareness. Listening to this gave me a greater appreciation of U2's place in cultural history whilst simultaneously confirming that I don't like U2.

nope

Never really got The Bono as a rock star. Tried plenty but not for me.

Meh, U2.

buns

This was peak U2 and yes, it has some good songs, but is it a great album? It's dull and soulless for a good stretch there.

Not my style

Leuk. Beetje 2010s folk pop vibes bij sommige liedjes wat niet helemaal mijn smaak is. Fav: bullet in the blue sky

not my kind of music

Hadde ein U2-periode på ungdomsskulen. Ikkje fan lenger

3 songs are very good, however, I feel that the rest of the album is a bit overrated

Had its moments

Okay, but kind of annoying

ughhhh Bonoooooo

Do I have to listen to this?

Ist okay, aber nicht meine Musik.

Was it down hill from here onwards for U2? The change after this album, subtle on Rattle and Hum but more pronounced on Achtung baby, wil be a better one for some, a shame for others. This album is a showcase for Bono’s voice. He carries the melody and hook for most songs here. Its a karaoke album. Full of songs that are big, grand and great to belt out in karaoke, but a bit full of trans fat and sugar.

Just don't get this album or the appeal of it. To the ears I have attached to my head all I hear is bland ass yacht butt rock attempting to be deep and emotional without actually get there. Just want to add it's the most rated thing I've ever heard...have a nice day🤮

I'm kind of a hater on U2 but the start of this album is iconic, but it quickly devolves into repetitive boring nonsense. 4/10

Not for me, Clive. This is supposedly their best one. I knew the hits from this album beforehand, didn't like them, gave album a fair chance and still didn't like them.

I'll give it credit, they managed to make an album that sounds 20 years ahead of its time, but when that sound fits in with your Matchbox 20s (who I actually like the singles of, for the record) and other bands of that late 90s, early 2000's adult contemporary ilk, its not as glowing an endorsement to say it was ahead of its time. The first three tracks were the soundtrack to the most bland radio rock I heard in the 2000's that I was waiting to end for the next song to come on, hopefully that I liked. And it doesn't help all the big songs off this album that I remember hearing all sound the same, with the same high pitched guitar sound (tremolo picking?). Bullet the Blue Sky is a straight rip off of Ted Nugent's Stranglehold (good song, but being compared to Ted Nugent is not something you want). Yeah, I just don't like U2. Some of the most toothless sounding music I've ever heard. Apparently they have cutting political commentary, but I wouldn't know with the music being so ineffectual and dull. Writing political lyrics but setting it over really bland, uplifting stadium rock isn't a good mix.

I know it became fashionable to hate U2 very quickly after the success of this album, and I say that as someone who, ostensibly, hates U2. I just haven't listened to enough of their back catalogue to fairly assess them, but I have heard and seen enough to be mildly repulsed by them. And it's not just Bono, it really is the music... the whole package. So now is their chance to impress me as I properly digest "the part of this album that is not the first three tracks" for the first time... While we are there, yes, those are three solid 80s pop singles right there and even I cannot deny that is a bold way to open an album. The album is pretty underwhelming from thereon in though - powerful, theatrical vocals, but nowhere as profound or deep as it imagines it is. It's a unique sound, but its appeal is very shallow and the bare bones of the songs become very formulaic when you scratch beneath the unmistakable venir of echo-drenched guitars. I can see why people like U2, to me I guess they don't really seem to do anything that groundbreaking other than be U2.

Honestly, I found this album pretty underwhelming and forgettable. First three songs are good, which is why they’re on the radio. The rest was pretty whatever. Very boring guitar work.

Ehhhhh

can we be done u2 now?

Kinda boring and just not my thing.

I like a guitar arpeggio into delay and reverb as much as anyone else, but I think that's the only trick this album's got.

I was really disappointed in this album. I heard it when I was younger and remember having a generally positive opinion, but relistening now, it's droning and far too slick for its own good. It's certainly easy to listen to, and I get why people like it, but a close listen really turned me off. Everything about it is too "good", too polished, too calculated. And it's odd to hear rock music with zero blues influence, it feels soulless. I get that I am well in the minority here, and it's considered one of the best albums ever, but it's not for me. The cover is good, not great, but nicely composed and certainly thoughtful, it's a 3/5 for me.

U2 is just not my thing, "Trip Through Your Wires" was about the only song I liked on here.

Was waiting for this one to see if U2 is good, still not really into it Will I listen to again: 10%

Never really liked this band, but didn't hate this.

Technically very good, not for me

you know those airbrushed paintings you get on the side of fairground rides? Like a slightly off picture of tom cruise doing a stunt or a gurning generic superhero? this is to music as those are to art.

Every one of these songs feels like a great emotional intro or bridge to a rock epic, but they never actually pick up from the slow plodding, and mostly just follow verse chorus verse. Bullet The Blue sky is a decent pastiche of Joy Division and the Bad Seeds/Gun Club. Hadn't heard that one before and I liked it pretty well. I went in wanting to hate on U2, but it's not terrible, just kinda boring. Had to come back and edit it because the second half of this thing is such a fucking slog to get through. Still not offensively bad, but it feels like a waste of time. Really dull after the first few tracks

I have never enjoyed U2, they were always a band that was just there, all over the radio, and MTV. I was in Junior High in 1987, and I remember I had a teacher who was a massive U2 fan, had Joshua Tree posters in the classroom and forced us to listen to U2 during tests. Maybe I was scarred from those experiences. Tried going into this with fresh adult ears, but I still don't care much for U2!

This was ok - solid enough but nothing to write home about. It became background music at one point but it was background music I could tolerate. I was more interested in the fact that this was produced by Brian Eno. I know this is a masterpiece to many but I start to lose interest after the first 3-4 tracks. I’m not sure I’d listen again outside of a few songs.

Niet mijn ding

eh

It seems to be a nice album, but I cant stand Bono, so i Will rate It 2 stars, as I Will never listen to it again but I understand some people may like It.

Så var dagen omsider kommet: jeg skulle høre mitt første U2 album. Hva er det som har holdt meg unna? Dårlig bandnavn + veldig populært + alt. rock (en "sjanger" jeg har hatt mange dårlige opplevelser med) + et omdømme som kommer forut vårt møte med dem er ikke akkurat en veldig innbydende pitch. Etter halvannen låt er det OK. Kanskje litt bra? Føles litt ut som noe jeg kan like gjennom exponeringstherapie, men vil jeg fortsatt være meg selv om jeg tipper over på liker-siden? Det er overdådigheten til hele lydbildet som får meg til å cringe litt, det balanserer på en syltynn linje mellom overemosjonell manipuleringsmusikk og hva enn det motsatte er. Det er lett å se at Coldplay ville være mer enn bare Radiohead etter å ha hørt dette.* (With or Without You kom på nå mens jeg skriver fotnotene, og det høres jo faen meg ut som Chris Martin.) Bullet the Blue Sky er mer mitt tempo. Som egentlig er litt frustrerende. Dette er jo åpenbart et band som både kan og vil, men så velger til å ta enkle musikalske valg. Under Running to Stand Still begynner jeg oppriktig å lure på om Bono er hovedproblemet. Det er ikke noe direkte galt med stemmen hans, men hvis du isolerer instrumentalen på den låta, så er det nesten litt Velvet Underground adjacent til tider. Hver gang han begynner å synge derimot, så trekkes jeg ut av å tenke at dette er litt VU, og tenker at dette er enda litt sånn halvkjip, manipulativ, pseudo-emosjonell drittlåt. Jeg tror jeg har knukket koden. Folk har brukt så mye tid på å fortelle verden at Bono er en kjip og selvhøytidelig person, og altfor lite tid på si at han er en ræva musiker med ræva smak. Jeg kan høre en ålreit låt under gneldringa hans i Red Hill Mining Town, men så kaprer han instrumentalen og tar den med seg til et helt annet territorie enn dit jeg ville tatt den selv. Se for deg at Stephen Malkmus synger over den i stedet. Jeg tror det kunne funka. Men så kommer denne idoten og tror at meningen med musikk er at det skal spilles på fotballarenaer. Fuck off. In God's Country har jeg ikke noe pent å si om. Klarer om mulig å være dårligere enn navnet skulle tilsi. Hard pass. Trip Through Your Wires er også complete trash. One Tree Hill høres ut som Rolling Stones uten edge, uten mål, uten mening. Hva er poenget? Exit er nok den beste låta etter Bullet. Jeg tror ikke det er tilfeldig at det er fordi bandet snakker høyere enn Bono. Siste låta er ganske intetsigende, får tre ut av fem mulige gjesp. De skulle tatt sin exit med Exit, og skiva hadde vært sterkere for det. Var sikkert Bono sitt påfunn. Så det var en rollercoaster av en lytteopplevelse. Jeg føler i hvert fall at jeg har lært noe. Jeg har lært at jeg er en Bono-hater mer enn jeg er en U2-hater. Jeg har om ikke annet litt sympathie for resten av bandet som trolig ble holdt for gissel av Bono frem til de opplevde et slags kollektiv Stockholmsyndrom. Det kan også hende jeg gir dem for mye cred, at de ikke har noen ryggrad og ved uhell ramler over noen kule musikalske ideer i ny og ne. Samme faen kan det være. Men hvis du hater Bono som person og tror du har funnet et venn i meg, sier jeg: stopp! vi er ikke støpt i samme form. *Jeg tar dette som en fotnote. The Bends, altså Radioheads første skive,^ balanserer også på denne linjen, men der føles det så hyperemosjonelt at det virker selvbevisst. Ta Fake Plastic Trees, et av de beste (og mest populære) cutsa fra The Bends. Selvfølgelig kan man ta låta med et straight face, noe jeg er sikker på at mange teens gjør, men det er noe som er like fake plastic med sentimentaliteten som objektene han synger om. "If I could be who you wanted all the time" er ikke sunget som et oppriktig ønske som skal tolkes bokstavelig; Thom er fullt klar over at dette er et futilt "ønske" -- et slags ønske om muligheten til et ønske. The Bends-era Radiohead er post-ironisk, mens U2 og Coldplay er oppriktige. I tillegg til å ha bedre vokal og bedre tekster, har Radiohead også en vilje til å bevege seg til mer interessante steder enn de var med The Bends. ^Jeg har fortsatt ikke hørt Pablo Honey, så jeg vet faktisk ikke om den er så kjip som folk skal ha det til.

Fire akkorder og noen sentimentale floskler.

Bono! That overly reverbed, anodyne guitar sound that's synonymous with U2 is all over this album. It's boring

They are such stand up people so how does their music come across so douchey?

So, this EP recorded by... wait, hold up. Whatcha say? It's not an EP? It's a full length album?! I'm afraid I don't understand you. All I see is tracks 1-4 and that's it. You must be mistaken.

I still haven't found what I'm looking for (in this album) - I know it's a masterpiece, I know it's perfect, but every time I listen I just feel it's very very slow, U2 gets 2 from me

Meh

Wow the first three are just single after single, huh? The more powerful hits are really good but I can't get over how weird it is that they were like "we're going to do an America album" and the less-intense songs were a bit slow/forgettable to me. I find Bono a little either over the top or just flat and the over the top parts are at least fun, so without that, what are we doing here. 2.5

Ma fait chier l'album #OnDort

The hits still hit. The rest not so much, although Exit was a cool little surprise. Driving, propulsive, claustrophobic. Trip Through Your Wires sounds like The Frames (who I love) took some influence from them. A 2.5/5.

j'ai pas écouté j'aime pas U2

The album blows it load in the opening three tracks and then after that it becomes a bit forgettable. Bonos voice is self-indulgent and self-mastabatory. Nicely produced though. The simple clean guitar lines allow plenty of space for the bass to cut through. Most songs build up only to go nowhere. I guess they didn't know what they were looking for arf arf.

man music, ні, скоріше навіть dad music. така не агресивна, навіть якщо вони і намагаються такими бути, але нарочито маскулінна. чомусь в дитинстві мені подобалося слухати юту, хоча зараз в них нема нічого, що мене би зачепило, така ностальгія в мені змушує мене пройнятися цим альбомом трішки сильніше. на жаль, пройнятися там особливо нічим

I used to listen to U2 a lot in high school and early university. Up until Pop. I used to like those albums. I don't anymore. This was a weird experience. I though some of the positive feelings would come back, but none did. Looks like I'm off U2 for good.

I knew a lot of songs on this album. U2 is generic. Bono’s voice is generic. There were some great guitar licks and drums and arrangements. Bono will always be number 2

nope

For my money, U2 is one of the top five most overrated bands of all time (and they ain't five). Even so, I cannot argue with the influence or hits on this album. The first three songs were monster hits and are still fairly ubiquitous almost 40 years later. We all know all the words to each chorus - even if we don't want to. And they are nearly indistinguishable from each other. U2 is really just very high quality pop-rock. Which, at least to me, means there's nothing here to complain about, but there's also nothing here to get excited about. I mean, seriously, if you ask a random group of people, "what is U2 known for? What makes then unique?" I think you'd get a long pause followed by several several vague answers that have little or nothing to do with music. It's just really very mid. 3

At this point, U2 had lost their edge (no pun intended) and were now just up themselves.

This was so dull to me. I know U2 is disliked by many but I don’t dislike them for being socially aware, I think it is a good thing to strive for generally. I wanted to like this but I have heard the first three songs way too much over the past 35+ years and the others didn’t really do it for me. Last song was ok, at least a bit more interesting. Very dull and lifeless music with overdone vocals, nothing interesting to think about or leave you with an impression.

Just boring from front to back.

The hits are great. The nots are....not. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For has always been great, and With Or Without You is incredible. Trip Through Your Wires and Exit were decent. The rest of the album is ok. Best song: With Or Without You

this vs achtung baby is guns vs frocks for normies

Not for me.

Not my thing. Only stayed for with or without you and still haven’t found what i’m looking for, which I can confirm Glee did better. It’s just so boring, unenthusiastic and lacking any depth to me. Maybe I would understand if I were around when it was released, but I could very happily never listen to this album ever again. Some songs I did enjoy of course, it’s not a top ranked album for no reason. I just think it’s appreciated heavily mainly due to nostalgia for the sound.

U2 the second. It’s been way, way too long since the first U2 album. 201 albums ago, to be precise. I don’t remember liking Achtung Baby much, but in all fairness I don’t trust the reviews I’ve written prior to my hundredth. U2 strike me as a very polished, strait-laced rock band, so I’m willing to give these guys a second chance. Yeah, what I said in the previous sentence is pretty much what this is. No-nonsense, rock-solid rock music, albeit with a bit of a grandiose atmosphere this time. This style of music is vaguely within my sphere of interest, though a lot of it admittedly loses me along the way. This site has inflicted me with way worse listens than this one, so far be it from me to complain. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard “The Streets Have No Name” before, but I could be mistaken. Standard U2 fare, really. In any case, it’s good. I like these kinds of songs that build and intensify. The guitar outro isn’t half-bad, either. I’ve definitely heard “With Or Without You” before, though I much prefer the succeeding song, “Bullet the Blue Sky”. The atmosphere of that track is pretty sweet – I quite dig the reverberating sound. “One Tree Hill” is a good tune. The lead guitar hook is pretty gripping, and I like how it devolves into a pluckier sound before eventually being engulfed by the great strings near the end of the track. I’m inclined to agree with this inclusion solely because of how massive U2 are, though I’m still curious as to why this is in here regardless. I’m checking the book. The album where U2 found their footing. A whole lot of waffling thereafter, though I think that single reason is good enough. I cosign this inclusion.

Some great song writing, but I just can’t really enjoy U2 anymore

Christ he’s whiny isn’t he

I love Eno. I love Eno/Lanois collaborations. I love that U2 hired them multiple times and that Eno/Lanois made a mountain of money on these albums. But I just can't listen to U2 any more, this album in particular. PLAYED. TO. DEATH.

Equis, no me encantó, además es hombre en vocalista

Listening to this record, it made me shed a tear...for the loss of the dynamic, forward-looking version of U2 that made *Boy* and *October*, fantastic albums that sounded like nothing that had ever come before. By contrast, the grossly oversimplified arena rock lunkheadedness of *The Joshua Tree* is unforgiveable. Every song sounds like it was designed to get those lighters in the air. Oh, and the emoting. So much emoting.

In general I can't really stand U2. This album mostly follows that rule, though I do like the song In God's Country quite a bit for some reason. But it's not quite enough to get me to want to listen to the whole album again. 2.25/5

Irländare som lajvar myten om Amerika. Det här ger mig inte mycket. Medelmåttigt.

Didn’t really do much for me… sorry Brian eno

The drop off after the 1st 3 tracks is gigantic. From brilliant to barely tolerable

It's just so beige, isn't it? I've tried multiple times with U2, each time sure that I was missing something. I just don't think I am. I think they're beige.

Canzoncine anche carine, ma nel complesso l'album è noioso e confermo che la voce di Bono alle mie orecchie è insopportabile

One of the big albums I’ve never listened to on this list. Blegh. It’s like if you had a boring Irish Bruce Springsteen who sucked

Can’t get into U2. I appreciate what they did for music and they definitely have some hits I wouldn’t skip but not for me

Meh, middle of the road

Went into this knowing I don't like U2 but trying to keep an open mind. I can't really put my finger on what I don't like about their sound, but I've always just found it too open, too flowy, maybe too earnest? I also tend to gravitate towards artists with vocals that really speak to me, which just isn't the case with Bono's rasp. I think I'm just looking for harder-hitting songs - faster tempos, thicker textures, more excitement. Everything about this album just felt bland and flat to me - same-y songs, safe for radio, nothing that tries too hard.

Strange. It's close to the type of music that I actually like, but I really cannot take to it.

If this track list was a baseball lineup; the first three songs are all-stars and the rest are barely scrapping by

Meh I don’t love u2????